In 2014, Steffany Bettin's carpenter husband, Austin transformed a vacant building which had previously housed a barbershop and clock repair service into a business to sell upcycled furniture, home decor, and some clothing, both new and previously loved. The building's name changed from Schimmer's Barbershop and Clock Service to The BlueJay Boutique, an homage to the Danbury Catholic High School Bluejays from days gone by. Steffany's talent to upcycle furniture became a bit overwhelming as she was receiving more requests than she could handle, and that portion of the store discontinued. Shoppers compensated by purchasing more clothes. Well, maybe and maybe not. The extra space from removing the furniture brought in more clothing which was fully embraced. Modications were then made to connect the store with a mini-storage unit which gave BlueJay more merchandise and storage space, and Bettin began selling even more new clothing and ended the used clothing sales. A couple years ago, the retail floor more than doubled with another addition, this time to the south side of the building, a change that gave BlueJay shoppers even more goods to browse and buy. The original store created 10 years ago can still be identified from the outside if you look at the large windows and door which angle in just as store fronts did back in the good ole days. The new addition also took on the nostalgia of the older building with the tall facade typical of buildings in the late 1800s and early 1900s. However, inside is all modern, just like the clothing and accessories offered.
    "The past 10 years would not be possible without our amazing loyal customers," exclaimed Steffany. "The local ones, travelers and online customers, I truly appreciate each and every one of them. I am excited for the next chapter of The BlueJay and to see what the next 10 years brings."
    The BlueJay Boutique will celebrating this milestone anniversary this Friday and Saturday with storewide savings. Customers may also sign up for a $100 gift card giveaway. On Friday from 11:00 - 1:00, KSUX radio will be broadcasting from BlueJay with our own Josie Cooper (daughter of Chris and Roger Jochims) at the store. From 4:30 until 6:30, Anthon's own Beau Wolfe (son of Brenda and Randy Wolfe) will provide live music.
    Please join our own Steffany Bettin (daughter of Joann and Tim Treiber) and her staff in this celebration.

    The Danbury Catholic Students will hold their annual May Cerowning and Living Rosary on Friday folllowing the 8:30 a.m. Mass. All are welcome to join them at the school.

    Nope, I didn't forget to remove this article from last week. Due to rain on Sunday, the clean up has been moved to this Sunday, May 5th.
    Little league practices are underway for this year's season. Soon the teams will be taking to the ballfields to year the umps holler, "Play ball!"
    The Danbury Little League committee is asking for help in cleaning up the ballpark this Sunday, May 5th beginning at 1:00 p.m. Please bring whatever you have to help rake leaves, pull weeds, pick up sticks, etc.
    Please consider helping with the clean up.

    Friday last week had people watching the skies, the weather on their televisions, and their social media as tornadoes tore through Nebraska and Iowa. The National Weather Service out of Omaha issued 42 tornado warnings on Friday, according to a report. According to the NWS, tornadoes touched down, three EF-3 (136-165 mph), two EF-2 (111-135 mph), and three EF-1 (86-110 mph). Tornadoes devastated Waverly, Elkhorn, Blair, and Bennington in Nebraska, and Minden in Iowa. The Minden tornado had originated around Lincoln and Waverly in Nebraska. According to the NWS, the EF-3 165 mph tornado that tore through Elkhorn, Blair and Bennington traveled 31.2 miles in that stretch. The tornado at Minden, an EF-2 at 112 mph traveled 9.2 miles, and continued the path through Pisgah and where it redeveloped and dissipated near Soldier.
    Living in Elkhorn which received major damage to many homes are Jan and Gabe Fries and their children and Brenda and Jed Dalton and their children. The girls are children of Jean and Mike Barry of Danbury. Jan stated that she and her sister live 2 - 2.5 miles from the area which was hit at Elkhorn and received no damage. However, she said that many from their community and their church were not so lucky.
    "It's very sad," said Jan. "I'm just thankful that no lives were lost. The community has been helping a lot. God is great!"
    While there were injuries, the only death in the Nebraska and Iowa tornadoes was a man from Minden who had been found in his basement.
    These tornadoes have had area people talking, but not so much about the devastation. A growing number of people are finding belongings from tornado victims in their yards. Items as far as Elkhorn were found as far away as Moville, 111 miles away. Also finding tornado debris were people in Oto and Castana.
    Austin and Kayla Hazard and their children, Raelyn and Jaxon of rural Oto found a valued photo originating from Blair, 65 miles away. The picture traveled almost faster than a car legally would; according to a NWS weather report, a tornado was spotted 4 miles southeast of Blair at 4:10. A trained spotter noted a tornado at 4:18. Meanwhile, at around 5:15, Austin was doing chores when something fell out of the sky, a photograph. It took just an hour for a photo and roofing material to fly from Blair to Oto.
    "It was Friday about 5:15. That night I posted on Facebook and got a huge response in people sharing it," said Austin. "Nancy Faulhaber is who I talked to. It was her husband and mother-in-law in the picture, but it came from her brother-in-law's place by Blair."
    Deb and Ken Venteicher of Castana also were gifted with tornado trash, but theirs was really trash, a magazine subscription, a page from a book, and lots of tar paper and insulation board.
    "I was amazed that one slip of paper could travel 100 miles," commented Deb.
    Deb also mentioned that her neighbor, Ashley Bartel found pictures near they house and in the pasture. Cari and Gary Sisco also received treasures, including a letter from 1946, a Christmas card, and a sheriff's business card from Blair.
    A Facebook page has been started for people to post items of sentimental value which they have found. If you find items that someone may want returned, they may be posted at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61558681034273&sk=mentions.