Students explored those questions Wednesday, Sept. 23, during the Sutton Area Chamber of Commerce’s eighth annual Career Exploration Day at Sutton Public Schools. The event brought speakers into classrooms, sent seventh- and ninth-grade students on business tours and gave students a chance to work through the financial decisions of adult life with Reality U.

In small-group sessions, speakers discussed their work, the training it requires and the paths they took into their careers. Kim Lemkau and Preston Franzen represented agriculture; Blake Schmer and Bailey Seaton spoke about health science; Tristan Hoffaker and Diane Smith represented communications and information. Students also heard from Elizabeth Garza in business, marketing and management; Nao Trejo, Brett Gibson and Eric Aksamit in skilled and technical sciences; and Ted Griess and Ben Venteicher in human sciences.

Hoffaker, Schmer, Jackson Perrien and Franzen also took part in panel discussions, giving students another opportunity to hear about career paths and ask questions.

For some students, exploration continued outside the school. Seventh-graders toured Cornerstone Bank, Cornerstone Insurance, CPI, Paint & Paper Palace and Off tion. Ninth-graders visited Jim’s Agri-Air, T-L Sutton Irrigation & Repair and Central Nebraska Wood Preservers. Brandy VanDeWalle and Holli Alley from Nebraska Extension also participated in the day.

Reality U brought the question of earning a living into sharper focus. In the financial literacy program, students imagine themselves at age 26 and receive a scenario with a monthly income and circumstances that may include debt or family responsibilities. They make decisions about expenses while trying to keep their budgets from falling below zero.

Community volunteers staffed every area of Sutton’s activity. Ty and Anna Itzen helped students work through food costs, Michele Gibson and Kathy Griess covered child care, and Sutton Area Chamber of Commerce President Monica Smith and Annette Drummond helped with housing. Other stops included utilities, transportation, insurance, clothes and hair, student loans, phone and entertainment choices, emergency funds and investments. Volunteers also helped students facing an unexpected life event or a budget that no longer worked.

Again and again, adults working at the stations remarked that students had not realized how much everyday things cost or how quickly the expenses add up. One student said he had to get a second job in the simulation to afford both a car and groceries.

His experience captured the point of the exercise. A car may make it possible to get to work, but paying for it affects what is left for food. Housing comes with utility bills. Insurance, child care or an unexpected expense can change a budget that seemed manageable just a few decisions earlier. Students could see those connections for themselves and adjust their choices when the numbers did not work.

The career sessions and business tours showed students a range of work close to home. Reality U asked them to look beyond a job title and consider what their income might need to support. Together, the activities gave students a fuller picture of the choices ahead without expecting them to have their futures figured out now.

Brooke Marshall organized Career Exploration Day with help from Smith. Marshall also credited Jason Cline, Jason Cafferty, Ashley Ulmer and Sutton’s junior high and high school teachers for helping make the event possible.

Ella Crumbliss, a junior from Fairfield, and Connor Calderon, a senior from Fairfield, competed in several livestock divisions during the fair. Both students are fourth-year FFA members with years of experience in the show ring.

“They exceeded all expectations and were very successful, doing something that has not been done in recent FFA history,” Sandy Creek agricultural educator and FFA adviser Abigail Switzer said. “I am very excited to show them off.”

Crumbliss, who has shown sheep for seven years, competed in FFA showmanship and market lamb classes.

She received a blue ribbon in showmanship and another blue ribbon with her Class 4 middleweight market lamb. Her Class 3 heavyweight lamb earned first place and a purple ribbon, advancing her to the Supreme Championship selection.

Crumbliss went on to place third in the heavyweight division and received another purple ribbon. Her performance earned her a place in the FFA Championship Selection, an accomplishment the chapter has not experienced in recent history.

Her success came while competing against some of the strongest and most experienced exhibitors from across Nebraska.

Calderon brought experience showing both poultry and sheep to the State Fair. He competed with poultry, breeding ewes and market lambs for Sandy Creek FFA and Clay County 4-H.

He earned a blue ribbon in poultry and a blue ribbon in sheep showmanship. Calderon also placed among the top five in the lightweight breeding ewe class, earning a purple ribbon, and finished among the top five in the market lamb crossbreed class with another purple ribbon.

Crumbliss and Calderon’s results reflected the confidence, preparation and determination required to compete at the state level while setting a high standard for future Sandy Creek FFA members.

Nebraska voters can now register to vote, update their information and check important election details through one online system.

The Nebraska Secretary of State’s Office introduced the new system Sept. 15 as part of National Voter Registration Day. It combines the state’s online voter registration application with its VoterCheck website, placing several election-related tools in one location.

Voters can use the system to register, change their name or address, change their political party affiliation, confirm their registration information, find polling information and check the status of an early voting or provisional ballot.

Secretary of State Robert Evnen encouraged eligible Nebraskans who are not registered to complete the process and asked current voters to make sure their information is accurate.

“We’re proud to unveil this new online voter registration system to make it simpler than ever to fulfill our civic duty,” Evnen said.

For Clay County voters, one of the most important details to verify may be the mailing address listed on their registration.

Clay County conducts elections by mail. Active registered voters with confirmed mailing addresses receive their ballots through the mail before Election Day. An outdated address could prevent a ballot from reaching the correct location.

Voters should update their registration after changing their name, moving to a new address or changing their political party affiliation. Moving from one Nebraska county to another also requires a new registration. A person does not need to register again simply because the person missed a previous election.

The deadline to register online for the Nov. 3 general election is Friday, Oct. 16. Mail-in registration forms must also be postmarked by that date. Residents may register in person at their county election office until 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23.

Seventeen-year-olds who will turn 18 on or before Nov. 3 may register now if they otherwise meet Nebraska’s eligibility requirements.

A valid Nebraska driver’s license or state identification card is required to submit a registration electronically. Those who do not have either may still complete the form through the online system, print and sign it, then return the paper application by mail or in person.

As of Sept. 1, Clay County had 4,129 registered voters. Republicans accounted for 2,995, or nearly 73 percent of the total.

The county also had 517 registered Democrats and 559 nonpartisan voters, making nonpartisan the second-largest registration category.

The remainder of the county’s voters were spread among Nebraska’s smaller political parties: 41 Libertarians, 16 Legal Marijuana NOW voters and one America First voter. No Clay County voters were registered with the Nebraska Working People Party as of Sept. 1.

Nebraska now recognizes six political parties: Republican, Democratic, Libertarian, Legal Marijuana NOW, Nebraska Working People and America First.

While Republican and Democratic are familiar choices, some voters may be less certain about what the other names represent.

The Libertarian Party emphasizes individual liberty, personal responsibility, limited government and free markets. Its platform generally calls for less government involvement in economic decisions and people’s private lives.

The Legal Marijuana NOW Party was organized primarily around ending marijuana prohibition and legalizing cannabis. Nebraska officially recognized the party in 2021.

The Nebraska Working People Party and America First Party are newcomers to Nebraska’s voter registration rolls. Both gained official recognition this year after organizers collected the required petition signatures and the Nebraska Supreme Court cleared the way for their formation.

According to its filing with the state, the Nebraska Working People Party seeks to represent working families, middle-class Nebraskans, rural communities, small businesses, farmers and ranchers. Its stated goals include improving economic opportunity, strengthening communities and promoting accountable government.

The America First Party identifies itself as conservative. Its stated priorities include reducing government spending and foreign aid, stricter immigration enforcement, opposition to abortion and protecting Second Amendment rights.

Neither of the two new parties will have a candidate on Nebraska’s 2026 general-election ballot, but voters may now register with either party.

Nonpartisan, despite appearing alongside the parties in registration reports, is not a political party. It means a voter has chosen not to affiliate with any recognized party.

That choice matters most during primary elections, when political parties select their nominees. Nonpartisan voters receive a nonpartisan ballot for state and local offices and may request the federal portion of one recognized party’s ballot for U.S. Senate and House races. If a political party chooses to open its full primary, a nonpartisan voter may request that party’s full ballot.

During a general election, voters are not bound by their registration. A Republican may vote for a Democrat, a Democrat may vote for a Libertarian and a nonpartisan voter may choose candidates from several parties.

Registration records show affiliation. They do not—and cannot—show how a person votes on a secret ballot.

Clay County’s recent turnout numbers show how much participation can change from one election to another.

During the Nov. 5, 2024 general election, which included the presidential race, 3,379 of the county’s 4,179 registered voters cast ballots. Turnout reached 80.86 percent.

The May 12, 2026 primary drew 2,186 of 4,104 registered voters, resulting in turnout of 53.27 percent. That was 1,193 fewer voters than participated in the 2024 presidential election.

The upcoming Nov. 3 general election will not include a presidential race, but voters will decide contests for governor, U.S. Senate, Congress, the Nebraska Legislature and local offices. Statewide ballot measures will also be decided.

Clay County voters may return their completed ballots by mail, deliver them to the Clay County Election Office or place them in the ballot drop box in the south parking lot of the Clay County Courthouse. Voters may also vote early in person at the Election Office before Election Day.

Because Nebraska requires voter identification, Clay County voters returning a mailed ballot must write their Nebraska driver’s license or state identification number on the return envelope, include a copy of another acceptable photo identification or complete a reasonable impediment certification if eligible. Instructions are included with each ballot.

Clay County residents with questions about registering, updating their information, mailed ballots or voter identification requirements may contact the Clay County Election Office at 402-762-3463 or elections@claycountyne.gov.

The office is located at 111 W. Fairfield St. in Clay Center and is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Jacob A. Tomes is charged in Clay County District Court with first-degree sexual assault of a child, a Class IB felony; incest, a Class IIA felony; and intentional child abuse resulting in no injury, a Class IIIA felony.

If convicted, Tomes faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and a maximum of life imprisonment on the sexual assault charge. The incest charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. The child abuse charge carries a maximum sentence of three years in prison, 18 months of post-release supervision, a $10,000 fine or a combination of those penalties.

According to a warrantless arrest affidavit filed in Clay County Court, the Clay County Sheriff’s Office was contacted June 19 after the girl disclosed alleged abuse. She later participated in a forensic interview at the Family Advocacy Network in Kearney, observed by law enforcement and a Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services caseworker.

The affidavit states that the girl was afraid Tomes would punish or hurt her if she refused him. Despite that fear, she spoke about what had happened, setting the investigation in motion.

Tomes was taken into custody June 19 and booked into the Clay County Jail. A judge found probable cause for his arrest and detention and set bond at $250,000. If released, Tomes would be prohibited from contacting the girl or going to the Harvard residence. As of Sept. 18, he remained in custody.

Tomes waived his right to a preliminary hearing, during which the state would have been required to show that a crime was committed and that probable cause existed to believe he committed it. The case was subsequently transferred to Clay County District Court on all three charges.

He entered a written plea of not guilty July 8.

During an Aug. 18 pretrial hearing, Tomes requested a continuance. The state did not object, and District Judge Morgan Farquhar granted the request. His next pretrial hearing is scheduled for Oct. 19 at 2:30 p.m.

Tomes is represented by Benjamin H. Murray. Clay County Attorney Jennifer Fleischer is prosecuting the case. The charges against Tomes are allegations. He is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.

What was thought to be a “Clash of the Titans” instead became a night of all big nights for Sandy Creek, as the Sandy Creek Cougars, ranked third in Class D-1, dominated the Central Valley Cougars, the top-ranked team in Class D-3.

Powered by a 22-point second quarter and a well-balanced offensive attack, Sandy Creek claimed the battle of the Cougars in convincing style, taking down the unbeaten Central Valley squad 44-8 in front of Sandy Creek’s home crowd on Homecoming night for SC.

Sandy Creek jumped out to an early 8-0 lead after junior quarterback Kamerin Sealey scored on a 26-yard run late in the first quarter. Sealey then hit senior Wes Biltoft for the two-point conversion to give SC the 8-0 lead with 1:19 left on the first-quarter clock.

Moving to the powerful second quarter for Sandy Creek, the Cougars opened the second frame with Sealey and senior Logan Tomky hooking up for a 63-yard touchdown pass at the 7:56 mark of the quarter. Another Sealey-to-Biltoft two-point conversion lifted Sandy Creek to a 16-0 lead.

With 4:56 left in the second quarter, Sealey ripped off another big play against the Central Valley defense, scoring on a 66-yard run, giving Sandy Creek a 22-0 lead after a missed conversion.

Sealey then sealed up the first half of play with a oneyard run into the end zone, and again hit Biltoft on a two-point conversion pass to set the Cougars up with a 30-0 halftime lead.

In the second half of play, Central Valley finally hit paydirt just over four minutes into the third quarter with a 34-yard run into the end zone, setting the game at a 30-8 Sandy Creek lead.

The big plays kept coming for Sandy Creek, as Sealey and Alex Watts connected for a 68-yard touchdown pass, and after a failed conversion, Sandy Creek held a commanding 36-8 lead with 3:06 remaining in the third.

The final score for Sandy Creek proved to be a four-yard touchdown run for Wyatt Livgren with 5:27 left in the game, with Sealey and Biltoft again connecting for the two-point conversion, giving Sandy Creek the 44-8 lead and eventual win, as the game ended early, thanks to Mother Nature cutting the game short due to lightning strikes in the area.

BYTHE NUMBERS

Sandy Creek’s balanced offensive attack produced 221 passing yards and 214 rushing yards in the win for a total of 435 yards.

Sealey was 10-for-14 passing in the big win. Tomky led the receiving attack, catching four passes for 88 yards and the second-quarter touchdown bomb.

Alex Watts grabbed the 68-yard third quarter touchdown strike from Sealey and finished the game with two catches for 75 yards. Livgren hauled in two passes for 23 yards, Biltoft made one catch for 21 yards, while Wyatt Hemberger had one catch for 14 yards.

The rushing attack was led by Sealey, who gained191 yards on 19 carries and scored three times while Livgren scored once while gaining 23 yards on six carries.

Although final tackle numbers were unavailable, the Sandy Creek defense held Central Valley to just 48 yards passing, while CV was just 6-18 in the passing game. On the ground, Central Valley rushed for 206 total yards on 36 carries.

Score by Quarters

Sandy Creek...................... 8 22 6 8 -44 Central Valley.................... 0 0 8 0 -8 SC CV

Rush Att-Yds 25-214 36-206 Pass Comp-Att-Yds..............10-14-221 6-18-48 Total Offense............................ 435 254

THISWEEK

With the big win over Central Valley, Sandy Creek will now hit the road to take on Arcadia/Loup City this week in Loup City this Friday, Sept. 25, at 7 p.m.

A/LC holds an 0-4 record with losses to Alma (8-6), West Holt (36-22), Amherst (30-6), and to Elm Creek (18-8).

McBride finished just inside the top 20 of the girls 5,000-meter race, placing 19th in a field of 85 total runners.

McBride finished the race with a time of 21:44.73 just over four seconds faster than the 20th place medalist, Stella Morrissey of Tri County.

White filed with the Clay County Election Commissioner’s Office on Sept. 4. Because he is running as a write-in candidate, his name will not appear on the ballot. Voters wishing to support him will need to write his name in the space provided and fill in the corresponding oval.

White has lived in Sutton for approximately 12 years and is originally from Harvard, where he attended school. He and his wife now make their home in Sutton.

White said his decision to run grew from a desire to become more involved in the community and help address the city’s needs.

“I just want to be more involved,” White said. “I want to do what I can to help out and see that things that need done get done.”

He previously served on Sutton’s economic development board for approximately one to two years. White also became familiar with the Sutton City Council when he attended numerous meetings during work on the community’s ball field project.

White brings additional leadership experience through his career with Cooperative Producers Inc. He began as the location manager in Holdrege before coming to Sutton as location manager. He later became an area manager responsible for as many as eight CPI locations.

As he approaches retirement, White has returned to serving as location manager at CPI’s Sutton location. He said he currently plans to retire Jan. 31, 2028.

White said the employees already working at the Sutton location were an important factor in his decision to come to the community.

He began seriously considering a run for mayor after reading that no candidate had filed for the position.

“I read through it and thought, ‘Why isn’t somebody stepping up?’” White said.

White’s filing changes the situation outlined in an earlier Clay County News article. At that time, no candidate had filed for mayor. If no one were elected, Nebraska law provided that the Sutton City Council president would assume the office for the unexpired term.

With White now registered as a write-in candidate, Sutton voters have the opportunity to elect their next mayor. If White or another qualified write-in candidate is elected and accepts the office, the provision placing the council president in the mayor’s position would not come into play.

White encourages other Sutton residents who are interested in serving the community to consider entering the race.

Prospective write-in candidates must first obtain the required paperwork from Sutton City Hall, then submit the completed documents to the Clay County Election Commissioner’s Office in Clay Center. The deadline to file as a write-in candidate is 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23.

Clayton C. Roberts, 40, pleaded not guilty to all three charges during an Aug. 18 arraignment in Clay County District Court.

According to an affidavit filed in Clay County Court, deputies with the Clay County Sheriff’s Office responded to the residence May 24 after a child under the age of 11 called 911 and reported that Roberts was on top of the child’s mother and hitting her.

Deputy Dillon Hall wrote that when he entered the home, he found Roberts seated in a chair near the front door with two children standing in the living room. Roberts initially refused repeated commands to step outside and away from the children.

“I then placed my hand on my Taser, unclipped it from my holster, commanding Clayton to step outside,” Hall wrote in the affidavit.

Roberts then complied and went outside, according to Hall.

The affidavit alleges Roberts had begun striking his oldest daughter with a belt. The children’s mother told the responding deputy that she attempted to stop Roberts by pushing him away from the child. She alleged that Roberts then grabbed her and threw her to the ground.

Another child attempted to intervene while Roberts was on top of the mother, according to the affidavit. The mother was eventually able to get outside, while Roberts allegedly prevented the four children from leaving the residence.

The responding deputy reported that two children said Roberts had struck them with the belt. Hall also reported observing visible marks on both children.

According to the affidavit, Roberts acknowledged striking the children with a belt. He described his actions during the confrontation with their mother as self-defense.

The two child abuse charges allege that Roberts knowingly and intentionally caused two minor children to be cruelly confined or cruelly punished. The charges specify that the alleged abuse did not result in serious bodily injury.

The terroristic threats charge alleges that Roberts threatened to commit a crime of violence with the intent to terrorize one of the children. The court documents provided do not include further details about the alleged threat.

Each charge is a Class IIIA felony. The maximum penalty for each is three years in prison and 18 months of post-release supervision, a fine of up to $10,000 or both. The possible penalties do not indicate what sentence would be imposed if Roberts were convicted.

Roberts was initially also charged with one misdemeanor count of third-degree domestic assault. That charge alleged he intentionally and knowingly caused bodily injury to the children’s mother.

The domestic assault charge was dismissed without prejudice when the case was transferred from Clay County Court to District Court. A charge dismissed without prejudice may be refiled.

Bond was set at $5,000 with a 10 percent provision, requiring a $500 deposit for Roberts’ release. Court records show the bond was posted and continued when the case was transferred to District Court.

Roberts waived his right to a preliminary hearing in July and was bound over to District Court on the three felony charges. District Judge Morgan R. Farquhar presided over his Aug. 18 arraignment.

A pretrial hearing is scheduled for Oct. 19 at 2 p.m. in Clay County District Court.

The charges are allegations, and Roberts is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilt

The increase in slow-moving equipment is a familiar part of fall in an agricultural community, but it requires additional attention from motorists.

Large farm equipment travels considerably slower than most other vehicles. A driver traveling at highway speed may close the distance between a vehicle and a piece of equipment more quickly than expected, leaving little time to react.

Farm machinery may also be wider than a single lane and difficult to move onto the shoulder. Mailboxes, bridges, road signs, ditches and soft ground can require an operator to remain near the center of the road.

An equipment operator may move to the right before making a wide left turn into a field or driveway. That movement should not automatically be interpreted as an invitation to pass.

Drivers should wait until they have a clear view of the road ahead before attempting to go around farm equipment. Hills, curves and intersections can hide approaching vehicles, while dust from fields and gravel roads may further reduce visibility.

Large equipment also has blind spots, particularly behind the machine. Leaving additional space gives the equipment operator a better opportunity to see surrounding traffic and gives other drivers more time to respond if the machine slows or turns.

Extra caution may be needed near grain elevators as truck traffic increases. Drivers may encounter trucks entering or leaving elevator property, waiting along nearby roads or moving more slowly while carrying a full load.

Harvest activity frequently continues after dark when weather and field conditions allow. Although farm equipment uses lights, reflective markings and slow-moving vehicle emblems, its size and speed can still be difficult to judge at night.

National Farm Safety and Health Week will be observed Sept. 21 through 25. The annual observance has taken place during the third week of September since 1944, coinciding with one of the busiest times of the agricultural year.

This year’s observance includes a focus on equipment and rural roadway safety, along with farmer health, multiple generations working in agriculture, confined spaces and cancer prevention.

The safety campaign recognizes that rural roadways are shared by motorists, farm equipment operators, school buses, bicyclists and pedestrians. Each may travel at a different speed and have a different view of surrounding traffic.

Harvest also changes ordinary traffic patterns. Equipment may enter a road from a field rather than a marked intersection, and trucks may turn into locations that are not normally busy during the rest of the year.

Allowing additional travel time can reduce the temptation to pass when visibility or space is limited. A short delay behind farm equipment generally lasts only until the operator reaches the next field or finds a safe place to allow traffic to pass.

As corn and soybeans reach maturity, harvest traffic will become more common across Clay County. Slower speeds, increased following distance and patience when approaching farm equipment can help everyone using the roads reach their destinations safely.

Senior running back Connor Hinrichs continued his strong rushing performance for the third straight week, helping guide the Sutton Mustangs to a powerful 54-6 win over the Elm Creek Buffaloes Friday, Sept. 11, pushing the Mustangs’ season record to 2-1 overall.

Through three games, Hinrichs has ran for 562 yards on 50 carries, an average of 11.2 yards per carry and Friday night against the Buffaloes it was his biggest night of the season.

The senior speedster scored three touchdowns, all in the first half, as he toted the ball just 12 times for 200 yards, an average of 16.7 yards per carry.

Two of his three scores came in the first four minutes of the game, as Hinrichs scored on runs of 46 yards with 11:20 showing on the first-quarter clock, with his longest score of 63 yards coming at the 8:17 mark of the first.

Sutton led the Buffaloes 24-0 after the first quarter, with an Ian Spearman to DJ Hajny touchdown pass closing out the scoring in the first quarter. That pass covered five yards into the endzone, lifting Sutton to the early 24-0 lead.

The Mustangs then forced one of two Elm Creek fumbles to open the second quarter, leading to a Spearman touchdown run of 35 yards with 11:02 left to play in the second quarter and giving Sutton a 30-0 lead after a missed conversion attempt.

Sutton went on to score two more times in the second. Hinrichs gained a one-yard score with 5:56 left in the second, while the Spearman to Hajny connection hit paydirt in the final three minutes of the first half, this time the passing touchdown covered 45 yards and put the Mustangs ahead 46-0 heading into the halftime break.

Elm Creek came out in the second half and pushed the ball down the field, scoring the lone touchdown of the game with 8:02 left on the third quarter clock. A missed two-point conversion left Sutton with a 46-6 lead.

Sutton’s backup squad took over from there, led by sophomore Mason Ehly.

Ehly connected on a 40yard pass play with sophomore teammate Everett Yost late in the third quarter, but the Mustangs couldn’t convert the big play into points.

Midway through the fourth quarter, however, Ehly made the Buffaloes pay, as he struck touchdown gold with a 44-yard run, with Harrison Schurman adding the two-point conversion to give Sutton their final eight points of the game and preserve the 54-6 victory.

BYTHE NUMBERS

Following Hinrichs’ big night on the ground was Spearman, who totaled 67 rushing yards on eight carries, while Ehly ran for 47 total yards on four carries.

Griffin Bergen gained 19 yards on six carries, Rexx Meyer claimed 11 yards on four carries, Schurman had eight yards on three carries, Hajny toted the ball once for three yards, Creighton Jones carried once for three yards as well, while Yost carried once for two yards.

As a team, Sutton carried the ball 40 times for 360 yards, an average of nine yards per carry.

In the passing game, both Spearman and Ehly passed for 48 yards. Spearman completed three of four passe, including two touchdown passes to Hajny, while Ehly was 2-3 passing.

Hajny led the receivers for the Mustangs, hauling in the two touchdown passes for 50 total yards, while Yost had one catch for 40 yards, and Schurman made one grab for eight yards.

Defensive leaders proved to be Hinrichs with nine tackles. Max Huxoll was in on eight stops and had one sack, Juan Reyes recorded seven tackles, including two tackles for loss, Aydin Banta had five tackles and a sack, while Aaron Sanchez and Schurman were both in on four tackles.

In all, Sutton had 61 tackles in the win, nine tackles for loss and two sacks.

Score by Quarters

Sutton....................................24 22 0 8 -54 Elm Creek................................0 0 6 0 -6 Sutton EC

Rush Att-Yds.................... 40-360 25-65 Pass Comp-Att-Yds...........5-7-96 8-13-44 Total Offense...................... 456 109

THISWEEK

The Mustangs have a rare Thursday night game this week, where they will travel to Gibbon for their second straight battle with a Buffalo squad, with kickoff set for 7 p.m.

Gibbon comes into the game with a 1-2 record, with their lone win being a 63-46 win over Hastings St. Cecilia in week one. Their two losses were a 68-8 loss to Ravenna, Sept. 4, and last week, a 49-16 loss at Centura.

Sutton finished play with a 175, while the Cougars finished wth a 230. Rounding out the action was H&H with a 252, while Fullerton finished with a 253.

Sutton was led by Shepleigh Ohrt and Molly McCroden, who each shot a 43, Isabella Trejo completed the round with a 44, while Aniston Jasnoch wrapped up play with a 45 and Breckyn Peterson carded a 55. Sutton’s lone junior varsity player, Quinn Robinson was the lone Sutton junior varsity player, wrapped up her day with a 58.

On the Cougars side, Lydia Pearce shot a 48 to lead Sandy Creek. Karsyn Luckey carded a 57, with Kinsli Bolte shooting a 62, and Jocelyn MacCann wrapping up her round with a 63.

In 1901, Clay Center businessman M.M. Johnson was searching for a name for his newly designed incubator. According to the history preserved by the Old Trusty Antique Engine and Collectors Show, Johnson was discussing possibilities with family and friends when the family’s Great Dane, Trusty, came around the corner. Johnson’s wife suggested calling the incubator “Old Trusty,” saying it was a product that could stand on its record.

The name became connected to several products made or sold through the Johnson family’s businesses, and by 1924, more than 1 million incubators had been manufactured.

The Clay County Historical Society revived the familiar name in 1983 when it held the first Old Trusty Antique Engine and Collectors Show. The event was created to support the continued growth of the Clay County Museum and increase awareness of Clay County’s past.

That tradition will continue Sept. 12 and 13 when the 44th annual Old Trusty Antique Engine and Collectors Show returns to the Clay County Fairgrounds.

Sponsored by the Clay County Historical Society, the two-day event will feature antique tractors and farm equipment, gas engines, cars and trucks, military displays, tractor pulls, flea market vendors, a quilt show and demonstrations of the work that once shaped daily life across rural Nebraska.

This year’s featured equipment includes Massey-Harris, Ford, Fordson and Ferguson tractors, along with Massey-Harris engines. Equipment from other manufacturers will also be displayed throughout the grounds.

Before the weekend show begins, participants in the annual Old Trusty Tractor Drive will travel from Clay Center to Harvard Friday, Sept. 11, as part of the 20th anniversary commemoration of Harvard’s Veterans Wall. The tractors will leave the Clay County Fairgrounds at 2 p.m. and parade down Harvard’s Main Street from approximately 2:45 to 3:15 p.m. The route will also include the nursing and assisted living facility, the Harvard Museum and the former Harvard Army Air Field.

The show will open Saturday at 8 a.m. following the raising of the flag. The food stand will open to the public at 6:30 a.m.

Saturday’s scheduled events include draft horse and mule teams in front of the grandstand at 9:30 a.m., ensilage chopping and corn shelling at 10 a.m. and a parade honoring the show’s grand marshals at 1 p.m.

Several activities are scheduled for 2:30 p.m., including threshing and straw baling, farming with horses, a stock antique tractor pull for tractors built in 1959 or earlier and a pedal tractor pull for children age 12 and younger.

The show will resume Sunday with breakfast at the food stand from 6:30 to 9 a.m. Displays and flea market booths will open following the 8 a.m. flag raising. A church service will be held under the shade tree at 9 a.m., followed by ensilage chopping and corn shelling at 10 a.m.

The Harvard Community Club will serve a country pork barbecue at 11:30 a.m. near the west end of the grandstand arena. Sunday’s parade will begin at 1 p.m.

Threshing, straw baling, the children’s pedal tractor pull and an open antique tractor pull for tractors built in 1959 or earlier will begin at 2:30 p.m. The show will close at 5 p.m.

From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days, visitors may tour the quilt show, ride the free Old Trusty shuttle and see “Big Allis” inside the Old Trusty Ag Hall. Living history demonstrations are also scheduled Saturday.

Big Allis is an Allis-Chalmers Corliss-type stationary steam engine with a 14-foot flywheel. The engine once powered the electrical system at the former Ingleside State Hospital near Hastings. It is now displayed among the antique tractors, engines, vehicles, fire equipment and blacksmithing tools preserved inside the Ag Hall.

Admission is $10 per day for adults and $1 per day for children ages 6 through 12. Children age 5 and younger are admitted free.

Camping is available on the grounds for $20 per day. A limited number of electrical hookups are available for an additional $5 per day. Showers and restrooms are available at the fairgrounds, and RV dump facilities are available in Clay Center.

More information and the complete schedule are available at oldtrustyshow.org.

In each of those situations, one phone call to the Clay County Health Department may be a good place to start.

Health Director Sara Mertens, RN, said one of the department’s important roles is helping Clay County residents find the assistance they need, even when the Health Department isn’t the agency that ultimately provides it.

“Sometimes people know they need help but don’t know where to start,” Mertens said. “We can help connect them with services such as meals, transportation, respite care, in-home assistance, medical equipment, and resources for those who may be struggling financially.”

That can be particularly important for residents trying to remain independent in their homes and for family members suddenly finding themselves responsible for helping an aging or ill loved one.

The Health Department provides in-home care that can include bathing assistance and nursing services under the direction of a physician. Its current brochure lists personal care assistance, including bathing, hair and nail care, along with injections and medication administration, catheter care and wound care.

For some families, the need may be much simpler. A walker, wheelchair or other piece of medical equipment may be needed temporarily. The department operates a medical equipment donation and checkout program, one of several services Mertens said she wishes more residents knew about.

Others may be looking for ways to stay active and independent before they need additional help.

Through its Healthy Steps Program, the department holds monthly foot care clinics in Sutton, Harvard, Clay Center and Edgar. It also offers Tai Chi for Arthritis and Fall Prevention and the Stepping On Fall Prevention Program.

The department also provides routine and seasonal vaccinations for residents of all ages and participates in the Vaccines for Children program, which helps eligible children under age 19 receive needed vaccinations at little or no cost. Staff members also work with local schools on school health and nursing needs.

But residents don’t have to fit neatly into one of those programs before calling.

“We can help individuals and families navigate resources for meals, respite care, transportation, in-home assistance, and other everyday needs,” Mertens said. “We can also help connect those who may be struggling financially with programs and resources that may be available to them.”

That means a person doesn’t necessarily have to know which agency provides transportation or which program might help pay for a particular need. The Health Department works with local and regional organizations and can help make those connections.

“A big part of what we do is help people figure out where to start,” Mertens said. “We work alongside many local and regional organizations, so even when we don’t provide a service directly, we can help residents find the right resources and make those connections.”

Help is not limited to older adults or those receiving inhome care.

The department provides services throughout different stages of life, from childhood vaccinations and school health services to blood pressure checks, colorectal cancer screening resources, water nitrate screening, radon testing and medication disposal kits. Its brochure also lists health checkups, medication information, vaccine outreach and feminine wellness products among the services And getting started does not require a physician’s referral.

The department accepts referrals from individuals, family members, healthcare providers and community partners. Residents may also refer themselves.

“If you or someone you know could benefit from our services, simply give us a call, and we’ll be happy to help connect you with the right resources,” Mertens said.

That invitation extends to people who aren’t even sure whether the Health Department is the right place to call.

“You don’t have to know exactly what program or service you need,” Mertens said. “Give us a call, tell us what is going on, and we will do our best to help.”

The Clay County Health Department has served county residents since 1974. Its stated mission emphasizes health promotion, disease prevention and supporting individuals managing chronic health conditions.

Residents can contact the Clay County Health Department at 402-762-3571 or stop by the office at 202 W. Fairfield in Clay Center during regular business hours. Questions may also be emailed to hd.officemanager@ claycountyne.

gov, and the department shares information and updates on its Clay County NE Health Department Facebook page.

They remember where they were when they first heard that an airplane had struck the World Trade Center. They remember watching the second plane hit and realizing the country was not witnessing a terrible accident. They remember the smoke, the collapsing towers, the confusion and the desperate search for information about loved ones.

They also remember the silence that followed.

The official death toll from the Sept. 11 attacks is 2,977. That number does not include the hijackers, nor does it fully reflect the lives that continued to be lost in the years that followed For those old enough to remember the attacks, Sept. 11 is more than a chapter in a history book. It is a collection of images and emotions that have remained for a quarter of a century.

That passage of time makes the anniversary especially significant. The responsibility for remembering is gradually shifting from those who witnessed the attacks to those who know about them through photographs, videos, classrooms and the stories of parents and grandparents.

Remembering Sept. 11 means remembering the horror of what happened, but it also means remembering what followed.

Across the country, people lined up to donate blood. Strangers helped strangers escape smoke-filled buildings and crowded streets. First responders worked without knowing whether they would return home. Volunteers traveled to New York, Washington and Pennsylvania to provide food, supplies, medical care and support.

In communities far from the sites of the attacks, Americans gathered in churches, schools, fire stations and town squares. Flags appeared on homes, businesses and vehicles. People checked on neighbors, called relatives and looked for ways to help.

Each year, the names of those killed are read aloud at the National September 11 Memorial in New York. Similar ceremonies are held at the Pentagon and near the Flight 93 crash site in Pennsylvania. Moments of silence mark the times when the planes struck and the towers fell.

Those observances are built around something simple but important: remembering each person as an individual, not merely as part of a number.

Twenty-five years later, the buildings have been rebuilt and a generation has grown up. Time has moved forward, as it always does.

But on Sept. 11, the nation pauses. It remembers those who left home that morning and never returned. It remembers those who ran toward danger to help people they had never met. It remembers the families who have carried their losses for 25 years.

And it remembers a day that will never become simply another date in a

Senior Shepleigh Ohrt earned the top individual medal of the tournament, shooting an 87 and finishing the day with a 45 on the front nine and a 42 on the back nine.

Sutton claimed the top four spots individually and also had a seventh-place finish to help the Fillies win the tournament over Sandy Creek, out-shooting the Cougars 383-485. Isabella Trejo finished second, opening with a 45 on the front nine and wrapping up play with a 48 to card a 93. Breckyn Peterson wrapped up the day with a third place finish with a score of 101, with scores of 52 on the front and 49 on the back, while teammate Aniston Jasnoch placed fourth with a 102, opening play with a 52, while wrapping up her day with a 50.

Freshman teammate Molly McCroden placed seventh for the Fillies with a 110, shooting scores of 54 and 56.

Sutton’s junior varsity also got in the action, led by Quinn Robinson’s opening round 62. Ava Francis finished a nine-hole round with a 64, while Ainsley Ferrell finished with a 72, and Claire Ulmer with a 73.

Team Scores: Sutton 383, Sandy Creek 485, Tri County 488, Fullerton 552.

No Team Scores for BDS, Doniphan-Trumbull, H&H, or Shelby-Rising City.

Following a tough 42-20 loss to Sandy Creek to open the 2026 football season, the Sutton Mustangs looked to bounce back in a big way during week two, as the Mustangs hit the road to challenge the Cross County Cougars.

Sutton took full advantage of the night, picking up the much-needed victory, cruising to a 36-12 win behind a typically strong rushing attack.

The Mustangs totaled 309 yards on the ground on 43 total carries, an average of 7.2 yards per carry.

Carrying the major load of the ground yardage were seniors Connor Hinrichs and Griffin Bergen. Both surpassed the 100-yard mark, with Hinrichs gaining 170 yards on 23 carries and three touchdowns, while Bergen toted the ball 15 times for 113 yards and two touchdowns.

Adding to the rushing total was senior quarterback Ian Spearman. He gained 23 yards on four keepers, while senior DJ Hajny gained three yards on one carry.

Defensive leaders on the night were juniors Juan Reyes and Max Huxoll, as Reyes finished with 15 tackles, including seven solo tackles and one tackle for loss, while Huxoll gained 14 tackles, with six of those being solo tackles.

Also reaching double figures in tackles were Hinrichs, Spearman and Aydin Banta, as Hinrichs made 13 stops, including six solo tackles, Spearman gained 12 tackles, while Banta had six solo stops and four assists to chart 10 total tackles.

Banta also had a pair of quarterback sacks, while Bergen made one sack.

Senior Creighton Jones claimed the lone fumble recovery on the night for the Mustangs.

Sutton held Cross County’s offense to 162 total yards, an average of just over three yards per play. The Cougars gained just 138 yards on the ground on 50 carries, and completed just two passes for 25 yards.

Sutton returns to their home field this week, hosting the Elm Creek Buffa loes for a 7 p.m. kick. Elm Creek and Sutton each bring a 1-1 record, as the Buffaloes opened the year with a 56-22 loss at Lawrence-Nelson before cracking the win column this past Friday with a 65-41 win over Nebraska Christian.

Score by Quarters

Sutton...............................- - - - -36 Cross County......................- - - - -12 Sutton CC

Rush Att-Yds............... 43-309 50-138 Pass Comp-Att-Yds....... 0-0-0 2-25

For Sutton, the night went spot on, as the Fillies beat the Cougars, 25-23, 25-13, and then took down BDS 25-19, 22-25, 26-24.

For Sandy Creek, however, BDS tripped up the Cougars 25-19, 25-13, before the Fillies claimed the two-set win over the host team.

SUTTONVS. SANDY CREEK During the Clay County clash with the Fillies and Cougars, Sutton held a strong hitting edge over the Cougars, as the Fillies gained 24 kills, with Sandy Creek gaining 14.

Sutton was led by seniors Kamryn Steinhauer and Katie Baldwin, as they combined for 19 of the Filles’ 24 kills. Steinhauer powered down 12, while Baldwin added seven.

Sandy Creek’s hitting leaders proved to be Kesley Sealey and Zarriana Witherspoon, as both gained four kills, while Carrigan Rempe added three, and Morgan Petr, two.

Sutton hit at a strong .221 clip, with the Cougars hitting in the negative at -.070.

Camden Mau and Elsa Andersen both had 11 assists while setting the ball. For the Cougars, Sealey led the team with seven assists, while Collins Hubl put up five assists.

The serving leaders for the Fillies was Dyvet Fonseca, as she was a perfect 12 for 12. Steinhauer gained two of Sutton’s three aces, with Andersen gaining one. Sandy Creek also had three ace serves, with Ava Hubl, Sealey, and Petr gaining one each.

The dig charts for Sutton were led by Steinhauer with eight, Fonseca and Andersen both gained six, while Jadlynn Kinney added five, and Mau, four.

Sandy Creek’s dig leaders were Ava Hubl with 10, Rempe with nine, with Sealey and Collins Hubl both gained four.

Sutton vs. Sandy Creek

Sutton............................................................ 25 25 Sandy Creek................................................... 23 13

SANDY CREEKVS. BDS

The night of action began with Sandy Creek taking on BDS, with the Eagles sweeping Sandy Creek in straight sets.

On the attack, the Cougars had 13 total kills, but hit a sluggish -.014 in the loss. Rempe paced Sandy Creek with six kills, Sealey gained four, and Petr, one. Sandy Creek was 55-69 on the attack.

Collins Hubl put up five of Sandy Creek’s 10 assists, with Sealey adding three, and Ava Hubl two.

In the service lane, Sandy Creek was 30-33 serving (90.9%), with Petr and Ava Hubl gaining one ace each.

The Cougars also had five blocks against BDS, with Petr leading the defensive charge with two blocks, while Collins Hubl, Rempe, and Caitlyn Biltoft had one each.

With the losses, Sandy Creek fell to 0-4 Sandy Creek vs. BDS

BDS................................................................ 25 25 Sandy Creek................................................... 19 13

SUTTONVS. BDS Sutton capped off a perfect night of action for the Fillies with the three set victory over BDS improving it’s record to 4-3 on the young season.

Steinhauer powered the Sutton hitting attack with 13 kills, while hitting .132 in the match. Baldwin followed with eight kills, with Julie Smith adding five, as the Fillies hit just .061 in the win.

Mau and Andersen combined for 26 of Sutton’s 29 assists, as Mau put up 14, and Andersen 12, while Claire Trejo, Fonseca, and Steinhauer had one assist each.

Serving leaders for the Fillies proved to be Andersen with three aces, Fonseca, two, and Mau, one. As a team, Sutton was 65-73 serving (89%).

Defensively, the Fillies had four total blocks, with Kinney, Steinhauer, Smith and Baldwin gaining one block each.

The dig chart was led by Steinhauer with 19, Mau gained 12, while Fonseca and Andersen both had 11, with Kinney finishing with six, Baldwin four, Kierra Ebert three, and Smith two.

Sutton vs. BDS

Sutton.....................................................25 22 26 BDS.........................................................19 25 24

On Friday, Sept. 11, 2026, participants in the Old Trusty Annual Tractor Drive will leave the Clay Center Fairgrounds around 2:45 p.m. The tractors will arrive in downtown Harvard at approximately 2:45 p.m. to form a parade, drive by the nursing and assisted living facility, visit the Harvard Museum and then head to the Harvard Air Field for a tour.

Several organizations are coordinating this tractor drive and parade to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Harvard’s Veterans Wall. After the air base tour concludes, the tour group will return downtown for the rededication program at 6 p.m., followed by a free-will meal. It was also announced that the price of memorial bricks honoring veterans has been reduced from $150 to $100.

Harvard Public School has graciously provided a bus for this one-time tour. The tour bus will leave from downtown Harvard at 5 p.m. for those who wish to learn more about this important part of local history.

The tour will include an inside view of the massive remaining hangar, a reminder of World War II and the role the air base played in the area. Scott Stemper, a former Harvard resident, graduate, and historical enthusiast, will share information about the base and its impact on the community. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to take part in this special event honoring Harvard’s history, veterans, and community spirit.

Schedule of Event 2:00: Tractor Drive leaves the Clay Center Fairgrounds to drive to Harvard.

2:45 to 3:15: Old Trusty Days tractors will parade down Main Street starting at the south end, going north.

5:00: Tour bus leaves downtown Harvard for the Harvard Air Field.

6:00: Veterans Wall rededication program downtown, followed by a free-will meal.

The answer usually is not that the store does not want to support local farmers. The biggest obstacle is how the animal was processed and what type of inspection it received.

A grocery store can sell locally raised beef, but the animal generally must be slaughtered and processed at a federally inspected facility.

At those facilities, an inspector examines the animal before slaughter for signs of illness. Afterward, the carcass and organs are inspected for disease, contamination or other problems. Inspectors also monitor sanitation, humane handling, food-safety procedures and required records.

Once the meat passes inspection, it can carry the USDA inspection mark and be sold commercially.

Many small-town lockers operate under a custom exemption instead. They process animals for the people who own them. These lockers must follow sanitation, recordkeeping and humane-handling rules, but a federal inspector does not examine each animal and carcass.

Because of that, custom-processed meat must be marked “Not for Sale.”

That label does not necessarily mean the meat is unsafe or the processor did anything wrong. It means the meat did not receive the inspection required for commercial sale.

A local family can purchase a whole, half or quarter of an animal and have it custom processed. The meat may be used by the owners, their households and nonpaying guests. It cannot be sold to a grocery store or restaurant.

A federal proposal called the PRIME Act would change that.

The bipartisan bill would allow individual states to decide whether certain custom- processed beef, pork and lamb could be sold within their borders. If it became law and Nebraska chose to participate, the state could allow qualifying local processors to provide meat to Nebraska consumers, restaurants and grocery stores.

Supporters say this could help farmers who currently must transport animals to a federally inspected facility, sometimes far from home. It could also give small processors more business and make locally raised meat easier to find.

Opponents may question whether periodic oversight offers the same protection as having an inspector present during slaughter.

The full PRIME Act has not passed. However, a narrower pilot program was included in the Farm Bill passed by the U.S. House in April.

That version would allow participating custom processors to sell meat directly to consumers within the same state. Packages would have to clearly state that the meat was not federally inspected and provide information about where the animal was raised and processed.

The pilot would not allow the meat to be resold. That means families might eventually be able to purchase individual packages directly from a participating processor, but grocery stores and restaurants still could not buy and resell them.

Supporters believe allowing more small processors to compete could reduce costs. However, it would not guarantee lower beef prices. Prices are also affected by cattle numbers, feed costs, weather, labor, transportation and consumer demand.

For now, local grocery stores can sell local beef only when it has gone through the required commercial inspection process.

So, when shoppers wonder why cattle raised nearby are not represented in the local meat case, the answer is not as simple as a store choosing not to buy local. The biggest obstacle may be where the animal was processed and what type of inspection it received.

Mayor Tim Anderson’s current term ends at the December City Council meeting. No candidate filed to have a name printed on the November ballot, and as of Aug. 25, no one had filed the required paperwork to run as a write-in candidate.

The deadline to file as a recognized write-in candidate is Oct. 23.

A person cannot become mayor simply because friends or other voters write that person’s name on their ballots. To be recognized as a write-in candidate and have those votes counted, the person must file the required paperwork before the deadline.

Sutton City Administrator Warren Myers contacted state officials to determine what would happen if the election does not produce a mayor.

According to the guidance Myers received, Anderson would continue serving through the December council meeting. When his term ends, Newman, as the sitting council president, would assume the mayor’s office for the new four-year term.

Newman would not simply serve temporarily until the city found someone else.

“Based on the guidance I received from the State, the sitting president of the City Council would then assume the office of mayor for the upcoming four-year term rather than serve only temporarily as acting mayor,” Myers said.

Newman’s current City Council term also ends in December, but according to the state guidance provided to the city, that would not prevent him from assuming the mayor’s office.

Once Newman becomes mayor, his council position would become vacant. The remaining council members would then choose a new council president from among themselves. The city would also follow the required public-notice and appointment process to fill the open council seat.

Anderson is also running for the Nebraska Legislature. If elected, his legislative term would begin in January, after his current mayoral term has ended.

That means Anderson could continue serving as Sutton mayor through the December meeting before beginning his legislative term.

The Nebraska Constitution prohibits a state legislator from holding another “lucrative office” under the authority of the state. However, because Anderson’s mayoral term would end in December and the legislative term would begin in January, the two terms would not overlap.

The process would be different if Anderson left the mayor’s office before his term expired. Under Nebraska law, when the mayor’s office becomes vacant in a city of the second class, the council president assumes the office for the remainder of the unfinished term.

In Sutton’s current situation, Anderson’s term is expected to end normally in December. If no successor is elected, state guidance indicates Newman would assume the new four-year term as mayor.

The situation could still change if someone files as a write-in candidate by Oct. 23 and is elected in November. Otherwise, Newman is expected to become Sutton’s next mayor in December.