Something Good Magazine, Issue 4

SOMETHING GOOD MAGAZINE

Leading by example Patrick Clark pg.

MAGAZINE TEAM

Matt Lindberg Advertising/Stories

Designs by Gina Photography

Stephen Johnson Designer

Publisher’s Note

Time for Thanks

OK, so how did this happen? The holiday season is upon us?

It didn’t feel like that long ago we were celebrating on New Year’s Eve, and then summer baseball came around, the Fourth of July and the start of a new school year. It’s just wild to think about how time flies anymore.

That being said, I love the holiday season. Partaking in family traditions like putting up the Christmas tree, sitting by the fire with hot chocolate and watching holiday movies, enjoying sweet treats and spending time with loved ones.

But what I enjoy most is the giving spirit among just about everyone. It’s important to give back to your community all year long, but there’s something inspiring about seeing so many people joyous and willing to help others during this time of year.

With this issue coming out in the midst of the holiday season (that sweet spot between Thanksgiving and Christmas), our goal was to share some stories with you about the generous nature of our community.

Our cover story is on Patrick Clark, a longtime educator, coach and resident in Columbus. Clark taught at Columbus High School for 17 years before transitioning to Lakeviewing Jr.-Sr. High earlier this fall. His commitment to helping youth and families in Columbus is extremely admirable. But what sticks out is that he doesn’t teach, coach and volunteer his time to various efforts for his own benefit or attention.

“My faith in Jesus and His love for me is my reason to give back, and God has put me in multiple roles to serve and love others. If we all put others before ourselves, then this world would be a better place,” Clark told me.

You’ll be able to read about his journey in this issue, as well as about a couple of motivated and talented youth, among other things.

We are committed to providing local stories about local people and places that make Columbus special.

This is why we leave copies of this magazine all around town at numerous businesses for people to pick up and enjoy. We appreciate your feedback, and encourage you to follow us on Facebook by searching VRLY.

We also hope that business owners and leaders who are reading this will consider supporting our mission to provide free, good and local content to our community. If your business is looking to find a unique way to promote itself and help provide this free magazine to the community, contact me at 785-760-5236 or matt@ vrlydigital.com.

We want to stress this magazine is for OUR community. If you have a possible story idea, always feel free to send it in. We can’t always guarantee a story will publish, but we’re committed to highlighting as much as we possibly can.

Something Good Columbus!

Matt Lindberg VRLY publishing

Elijah Moser

Liam Blaser

Story by: Matt Lindberg

Photos by: Designs by Gina

Columbus native Gina Borer’s love for photography dates back to childhood when she would snap pictures of just about anything.

“As a very young girl, my Mom bought me a 110 camera,” recalled Borer, referencing a cartridge-based film format introduced by Kodak in 1972 that continues to be used today for still photography.

“I used my sisters, pets and my Mom’s day care kids to practice with. I loved entering the photo contests at the Platte County Fair.”

Fast forward decades later, Borer is still doing what she loves but also making a living while doing it. She has a budding local photography business, Designs by Gina, and has garnered steady business and praise for her work when it comes to newborns, child, family, senior, maternity and engagement sessions.

“Gina helped the family choose the best location for our pictures - and they were beautiful!! We loved her positive, easygoing personality. She made it so easy to get the best pictures possible!!!! Love her,” said client Donna Akard Jenks Lambrecht, in a review.

Columbus resident Brittni Prosoki shared similar feedback in an online review.

“She does an amazing job, is caring and has so (much) patience,” she said.

Borer loving every moment of capturing family memories with Designs by Gina

Borer kept up with her photography skills as a hobby all through childhood and as an adult, going as far as to take her own family photos. But her experience with her own family reminded her why she loves taking photos and inspired her to take a leap of faith with her own business more recently.

“After several years of people seeing the pictures I had taken for my own family and asking if I could take some for them, I decided to start offering my services to people,” Borer said. “I was expecting a slow beginning, but to my surprise, I had a big response right away.

“I decided to try starting my business because I wanted to be able to bless people with quality photos without the high prices. I want them to have the memories.”

Borer has worked with people of all ages and backgrounds at her home indoor and outdoor studio and various locations around town, but the joy she gets when taking and editing photos remains the same.

“I love building new relationships and capturing personalities and memories in photos,” she said. “Time moves forward so fast, and I want people to be able to look back and remember those sweet moments.”

Of course, Borer couldn’t do it alone. She credits her family for supporting and helping her with her passion.

“I have a wonderful husband, Scott, who supports me 100%. He has built me an amazing outdoor studio and indoor studio space so I can work from home. I also have three grown children, Brielyn, almost 25; Bergen, 22; and Lawson 18,” she said.

“My father has always teased that they grew up with flash burn from me taking so many photos of them. I just wanted to capture it all.”

Although Designs by Gina is a business, Borer’s passion for the community is ultimately what drives her. She relishes donating photography sessions to benefits for local nonprofits and school fundraisers.

She also has a unique program for high school seniors who are unable to afford senior pictures where they can get two free photos from her as a gift, a headshot for the school yearbook and a full body shot. She then works with sponsors to help order full sets for the senior’s family and friends.

“It is confidential,” she assured. “I believe all students who have worked hard to finish school deserve to be celebrated.”

Although photography is now her full-time gig, Borer was a teacher in Columbus for the previous 27 years. She has degrees in elementary and special education, though opted to be a substitute teacher to allow her schedule the flexibility she needed while raising her family and give her the chance to meet as many young people as possible. She made the tough choice to step away from teaching just last year.

Her other passion is singing, particularly in church.

“I try using this gift God has given me by singing on the worship team at our church, 1C The Sanctuary,” she said, noting she also enjoys taking on new art projects when she finds the time.

A sixth-generation family member living in Platte County, Borer is determined to grow her business and help as many people as possible.

Borer has lived all but one year in Columbus, so the area’s growth and success are personal to her.

“Columbus is home. No matter where I am in town, it always feels like home,” she said.

“When you spend your whole life in the same town, home starts to be more than just the walls you live inside of. Most of all, the people in this town are what make my home my favorite place to be.”

To learn more about Borer and Designs by Gina, call her at 402-910-6068.

“I love building new relationships and capturing personalities and memories in photos.”

BREAKFAST SANDWICHES

GOURMET SANDWICHES

MORNING CLASSIC

SOUTHERN TRADITION

VEG-OUT

GRILLED CHICKEN

SPECIALTY SANDWICHES

TURKEY CLUB

Roast turkey, bacon, American cheese, mayo, lettuce & tomato

TURKEY & HAVARTI

Smoked turkey, Havarti cheese, lettuce, tomato, with a shmear of onion & chive cream cheese

HOLEY GUACAMOLE

Roast turkey, guacamole, green pepper, lettuce & tomato

CHICKEN CAESAR

Grilled chicken breast, Parmesan cheese, tomato, lettuce & our special Caesar dressing

KICK-N-ROAST BEEF

Roast beef, horseradish sauce, lettuce & tomato

BIG APPLE CLUB

Ham, roast turkey, bacon, American cheese, mayo, lettuce & tomato

ROMA ITALIAN

Ham, hard salami, Provolone cheese, lettuce, tomato, red onion & Vinaigrette dressing

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A PLACE FOR EVERYONE

STORY by: MATT LINDBERG PHOTOS by: STAFF

The community was always the driving force that inspired kwELITE Real Estate Broker/CoFounder Renee Mueller to build Parkway Plaza a few years back.

Parkway Plaza, 4471 41st Ave. in Columbus, is a two-level high-tech shared workspace for businesses that already features kwELITE, Aksarben Mortgage, Aksarben Insurance, Aksarben Property Management, Charter Title and Escrow, as well as VRLY, Red Door Designs, All Makes, Applied Connective Technologies and Big Apple Bagels.

Mueller and her partners built Parkway Plaza with the intent to address several needs in the community, such as offering more space for meetings and a state-of-the-art podcast studio; as well as a convenient breakfast and lunch option for those on the go on the northside of town.

It’s in the heart of one of Columbus’ fastest-growing areas, in close proximity to Lake Esther and surrounding trails used for the City’s new checkout scooter system, as well as their own bikes, walking and running; Columbus Community Hospital, Columbus High School, East-Central District Health Department, the Columbus Family YMCA, Columbus Wellness Center and in-progress Field House.

Parkway Plaza has five conference rooms available for rent by the hour or day that all come with a large plasma TV that

connects to an Apple computer, a sound bar and an adjustable camera with video conferencing capability that is perfect for presentations (nonprofits can utilize the rooms for free). Each room can accommodate dozens of people and also boast Wi-Fi, white boards and ample seating.

First, there is the upstairs Darlene Cepel Memorial Conference Room, which also has a kitchenette and provides access to a nice outdoor patio. The room was named in honor of late Columbus resident Darlene Cepel, who was also a beloved kwELITE Realtor.

“What keeps me going even though she’s gone is knowing she loved all of us so much and we definitely loved her back,” Mueller said. “She bled kwELITE and I can still hear her telling anyone who would listen, ‘you should come and work with us, it’s not even really work. We just have fun!’”

Parkway Plaza offers unique shared workspace for Columbus

Looking for something a little smaller for your next meeting or event? There are three cozy conference rooms with the topnotch technology so that you can have private meetings in a comfortable setting. They all have their own entrance and exit.

“These smaller conference rooms are available with all the same technology if the larger space is not needed,” Mueller said.

The VRLY office also boasts a world class, state-of-the-art podcast studio. Already being utilized by several business professionals and a local nonprofit, people can create their own podcasts without any of the hassle or having to invest in the equipment, including full-time editing and syndication management.

“Podcasts are a growing medium and have taken off worldwide. This is a way to share hyperlocal stories, as well as feature statewide and national experts without travel, as we are also able to record podcasts via Zoom!” Mueller said.

“This is used by every tenant in the plaza and was part of the ‘we-work’ offering for any tenant employed at Parkway Plaza.”

Also conveniently located in Parkway Plaza is Big Apple Bagels, which can handle all of your fresh food and beverage needs for meetings and gatherings. Locally managed, Big Apple Bagels can take care of all your breakfast and lunch catering with a bountiful menu that features muffins, bagels, deli sandwiches, hot and iced coffees, smoothies and more.

The shop has various options for breakfast platters, boxed lunches and dessert trays.

“We can cover it all,” said Steve Hughes, managing partner of Big Apple Bagels in Columbus.

To place an order, visit https:// bigapplebagels.com/catering/.

Mueller is proud of Parkway Plaza’s coworking space concept, noting it’s a great place for businesses to have meetings or open an office as there is still space available.

If you are needing a space for long-term or short term, contact Megan Cimpl at info@ aksarbenpropertymanagement. com.

“Parkway Plaza truly is a community hub,” Mueller said. “Our shared services include top notch security and IT, marketing which includes but is not limited to digital marketing, social media management, photography, graphic design, podcast station, Zoom rooms, kitchenette areas, abundant outdoor space, common guest services/ concierge, a huge monument sign with digital screen and so much more.”

Come see for yourself. Parkway Plaza gives you a chance to be part of a unique and dynamic culture.

“We encourage our agents and staff to be part of a nonprofit or organization within the community, to be active community members,” Mueller said.

“It’s important to be part of the growth and development where you live and work.”

Back to the future

CPS’

Kramer

Education Center honors past while addressing community needs

STORY BY: MATT LINDBERG PHOTOS COURTESY OF: COLUMBUS PUBLIC SCHOOLS

With several child care centers closing recently and limited preschool options available in the community, Columbus Public Schools is eagerly awaiting the chance to offer solutions.

The district is in the midst of working hard on the Kramer Education Center, 2410 16th St., a new hub that will house a child care, preschool, training rooms and eventually CPS administrative offices. The CPS Foundation would operate the child care facility as a business open to the community.

CPS Superintendent Troy Loeffelholz and CPS Director of Technology and Operations Leonard Kwapnioski have played key roles in overseeing the construction of the project, dealing with supply chain issues that have caused delays for glass

and drywall, and frustration at times.

Still, CPS Board of Education members, the CPS Foundation Board of Directors, members of the Kramer Early Childhood Development Center Advisory Committee and current CPS preschool staff had the chance to tour the facility in the early fall and see some of the advancements that had been made so far.

“I think Leonard and Troy have done a great job of keeping this facility moving,” CPS Foundation and Marketing

Director Nicole Anderson said. “For the City of Columbus, this is going to be phenomenal.

“For new families to move here, we have to have the jobs, we have to have houses and we have to have child care and great schools. We have great schools in all three districts we have here in Columbus, and now child care is a piece we can address and help with. Our Foundation board is excited to be part of that.”

The site of the Kramer Education Center was once the home of the old Kramer High School and later Columbus Middle School. It was important to district officials to honor the past by naming the new facility after its origins and incorporating elements of the old structure into the new one while also expanding.

“All said and done, over there in the grand hall, I’d love for there to be a timeline that offers a historical perspective on not just this building, but of Columbus and education through the decades,” Loeffelholz said, noting his hope to utilize the Platte County Historical Society & Museum to make it happen.

As construction continues to progress, CPS’ plan is to open parts of the building in phases. That will start with child care tentatively in the spring.

“We will open as soon as we possibly can,” Anderson said, noting the hope is for other child care facilities to be able to come in and check out toys for their own facilities so that CPS can help improve child care throughout the community by doing more than just growing spots available.

“And we want this to be a partnership and help current child care providers continue.”

Training rooms and CPS administrative offices would come after that in late 2023.

Members of the CPS Foundation Board of Directors were all smiles as they toured the facility.

“I really think this is going to be very, very nice and serve our community really, really well. I’m really pumped,” Steve Anderson said.

“It was interesting to me that we would pursue something like this, but because of Columbus’ needs, somebody had to do something. And I’m pleasantly pleased that CPS has been more positive from that aspect to try and get ahead of the game if we can ever get ahead of the game. … What a good marriage this whole process is going to be.”

Foundation President Bob Markham agreed.

“A lot of progress is being made,” he said. “I’m excited to see what this is going to become. I’m just very excited.”

Despite the obstacles that have presented themselves throughout the process, Loeffeholz said he’s confident everything will be worth it once construction is done. He said he’s looking forward to seeing the facility used for its intended purposes.

“It’s going to be an exciting day,” he said, with a smile. “We want kids. We want to see these rooms filled, hear kids laughing, learning and playing.”

Columbus Community Hospital

The calling

After the COVID-19 pandemic began, Jennifer Dotson-Monroe stayed home to care for her children. However, in January 2021, she felt an urge to go back to work and had a calling to help others. After researching nearby hospitals, she decided to pursue a job as a surgical services secretary with Columbus Community Hospital.

Dotson-Monroe grew up in the heart of the Ozarks in the small town of Marionville, Missouri, watching her mother care for others as a nurse. Her spirit of adventure and willingness to serve others led her to enlist in the United States Navy when she was 19 years old. She served as a hospital corpsman for two years before being medically separated from her enlistment during her service.

“After I left the Navy, I thought I wanted to be a nurse,” she said.

“But after starting that path, I decided it wasn’t my true passion. I knew I enjoyed the medical field and playing an active role in helping others, but ultimately, nursing wasn’t my passion.”

Following this revelation, Dotson-Monroe enrolled in the criminal justice program at Central Community College in Columbus to receive her associate degree. During that time, she accepted a clerical position with the state’s probation system — and that is when it clicked! Dotson-Monroe knew her calling was performing clerical work in the medical field. She is currently working on her Bachelor of Science degree in community health at Clarkson College in Omaha, Nebraska, and will graduate in 2024.

As the secretary for the hospital’s surgical services department, every day is different for Dotson-Monroe.

However, many of her daily tasks include scheduling surgeries and ensuring patients receive accurate billing for their surgery.

While Dotson-Monroe didn’t grow up planning to be in her current position, she knows she is where she is meant to be.

“I always thought I would enjoy being in the medical field,” she said. “I have the medical background knowledge and a passion for caring for others and being able to quickly and efficiently complete clerical work. But it wasn’t until I received my current position at the hospital that I knew I would be here until retirement.”

Dotson-Monroe said she is thankful for the support she has received from the hospital and her co-workers and supervisors who encouraged her to continue her education.

“The hospital is a great place to work,” she said. “It has a friendly atmosphere, and we have staff who feel like family. They are there to support me no matter what, and it is a nice feeling to have someone encouraging your journey.”

To learn more about the hospital’s surgical services department, visit columbushosp. org.

For more information on nursing services at Columbus Community Hospital, visit columbushosp. org. This story is part of Columbus Community Hospital’s “Importance of Caring’’ series and is being republished with permission.

Dotson-Monroe found her passion in surgical services

‘Sky’s the limit’

Story By Matt Lindberg

Smiles were exchanged, champagne glasses were raised, and just like that, a new era of property management officially began across the Midwest.

The leaders of Aksarben Property Management recently met with clients, tenants and leaders from ancillary businesses in Omaha and Columbus to discuss what to expect from the company and what differentiates itself from the competition.

Aksarben Property Management offers commercial, multi-family and residential specialists; inhouse accounting with details sent to owners monthly; inhouse maintenance with access for owners and tenants 24/7; digital marketing that includes virtual tours of all properties, online booking and listing to several local and national websites; as well as various insurance products for rent loss or damages caused by tenants.

“I’m very excited about the response and the new adventures we’re creating,” Vice President of Operations Bev Larsen said.

“My hopes are to get everybody onboarded, and that we’ll be able to customize and personalize everyone’s portfolio.

We want to provide something different to the owners that they haven’t gotten.”

Helping her do it is Regional Manager Jacob Larsen and Area Manager Ty Liveringhouse. The two have been part of Larsen’s property management team for years, and collectively, the trio brings with it more than two decades of experience.

“I’m very hopeful, I’m very confident with all the experience we have had in the past in the property management industry,” Jacob Larsen said.

“I see the potential. We are working on a lot of things we are going to nail down in the next

Aksarben Property Management primed to help Nebraska, Midwest

couple weeks that we’re going to capitalize on and that will set us apart from the competition.”

Added Liveringhouse: “We want to put a smile on our owners’ and tenants’ faces. We’re going to keep everything streamlined and make it an easier process for tenants to pay their money, for renewal, and for owners to streamline their new incoming properties with us to get their income to them faster and more efficiently.”

Aksarben Property Management takes pride in simplifying tenants’ lives and keeping things stress-free.

“Our job is to make sure all our owners and all our residents are happy as they can be,” Jacob Larsen said.

“Our No. 1 goal on the resident side of things is to make sure our tenants are as happy with a home as they can be.

We never like to see a resident unhappy with their home for any reason. That’s why we keep an open line of communication.”

The company’s in-house maintenance team ensures it can maintain rapid response time to maintenance requests.

Maintenance requests can vary from appliance repairs and unclogging toilets to changing hard-to-reach light bulbs.

“We try to strive for 24-hour response time,” Larsen said, noting Aksarben will always utilize its own team first and opt for a third-party vendor when and if it’s necessary.”

The best part is submitting requests is pain-free for the tenants and doesn’t require phone calls.

Aksarben Property Management utilizes the RentCafe Resident app, which allows people to pay rent, request maintenance or reserve amenities with ease.

The app features include:

– Submit one-time payments in three easy steps with various payment methods.

– Set up monthly automatic payments to help you avoid late fees.

– Share rent, utility, and other costs with roommates using monthly automatic payments

– Submit maintenance requests with photos and voice memos and track progress along the way.

Aksarben Property Management has already helped numerous property owners across the state, including in Columbus.

Bev Larsen and the Aksarben Property Management team are eager to continue growing across the state and Midwest.

“The sky’s the limit,” she assured. “We have this open canvas to offer people — I’m excited that we’re giving people the opportunity to tell us what they want to do with their portfolio.”

Man of faith

Story by: Matt Lindberg

Photos by: Designs by Gina Family Photos provided by: Jenna Clark

Whether it be in his classroom at Lakeview Jr.-Sr. High, walking around campus or anywhere around town for that matter, Patrick Clark means something to just about everyone in Columbus.

He’s a longtime educator, coach and youth mentor; he’s a husband, father, brother, son and friend. But, above all, what centers and drives him is his faith.

“Spiritually, I’m inspired by the Holy Spirit because it convicts me each day to love,” Clark said. “Giving back is a ministry, and I always knew because of my faith that I would devote myself to ministry. We are all called to discover something greater than ourselves, and for me, it’s loving others because I’ve been loved.

“My faith in Jesus and His love for me is my reason to give back, and God has put me in multiple roles to serve and love others. If we all put others before ourselves, then this world would be a better place.”

Born and raised in Gothenburg, Clark grew up with two older siblings (sister Jessie and brother Jordan).

“If you know me, there’s no doubt that I’m the baby of the family,” Clark said.

His parents, Bruce and Joyce, had a profound impact on him. His dad was a trucker and his mom was a nurse; however, their commitment to their faith and

determination to help others shaped who he is today in a lot of ways.

“I had a blessed childhood with great Christian parents who taught me to love others and serve,” he said.

Throughout his childhood, Clark stayed on top of his studies and participated in athletics, including football. So when he graduated from high school in Gothenburg in 2000, he opted for Concordia so that he could walk on to play football and pursue a secondary education major concentrating in history and geography.

“I loved school. I knew I wanted to serve youth and I loved sports, so education was a natural fit,” he said. “Concordia was expensive but perfect because it was a small Christian college

where I could play football.”

Around that same time was when fate connected him with his now wife, Jenna. Both growing up in Gothenburg, they crossed paths often but didn’t have a lot of personal interactions because he was two years older than her.

“I’m sure I ignored any little girl in my neighborhood” Clark recalled of his younger years. “It wasn’t until we were in high school that I got to know the cute girl a couple of classes behind me. We didn’t date in high school, but she asked me to Homecoming my first year in college and the rest is history.

“I spent the next two years driving back and forth from Seward to Gothenburg making sure I didn’t let this one get away.”

Clark relishes giving back to Columbus, mentoring youth

Indeed. Clark proposed to Clark on Dec. 24, 2002, calling it “the best Christmas gift I ever received.”

They were young and in college, but neither of them wanted a long engagement. So, they married on Aug. 2, 2003. Clark was in his fourth year at Concordia and Jenna was in her second year at Doane at the time.

Upon graduating college, Clark did some student teaching and looked for full-time teaching opportunities throughout the state. It just so happened he got his first opportunity to teach professionally in the fall of 2005 at Columbus High School. He became a beloved teacher and coach for countless students, peers and administrators

throughout the years, which made moving forward with a new opportunity this year bittersweet.

“I had a blessed career at CHS. I was blessed with good administrators that took a chance on a young teacher/coach and helped me mature into a better teacher/coach,” Clark said.

“My colleagues were the best mentoring me, co-laboring with me, and loving me as a friend. I’m grateful for all the families and students that I worked with at CHS. CPS is a great district and it wasn’t easy leaving them after so many great years. There are a lot of great people that I miss, and I will always wear my maroon proudly.”

This year, Clark joined the team up the road nearby at Lakeview Jr.-Sr. High., where he teaches World Civilization, U.S. History, and Government. He’s also helping coach Viking football. He said it’s been nice giving his career a bit of a reboot, which also puts him in the category of being a Viking and Discoverer.

“I’m thankful for the opportunity Lakeview has given me,” he said. “Transitioning to a new school and new teaching/coaching has me working harder than I’ve ever worked, but I’m loving it.”

Clark is already having a tremendous impact on the Lakeview Jr.-Sr. High community, according to Principal Steve Borer.

“Patrick has been a great addition to our staff. In the short time that he has been here, he has really fit in well with our team,” he said. “It’s evident that he does a tremendous job of building relationships with his students. I often hear students say how much they enjoy Mr. Clark.”

Of course, family is another important aspect of Clark’s life. He and Jenna have two growing sons, Gavin and Grady. When he’s not teaching or coaching at school he often is finding ways to help improve youth sports for his kids and others.

“I’ve always helped my boys’ baseball teams from T-ball to Duncan baseball today (12 years). Some friends and I were the founders of Duncan baseball and we’ve had a great time with it the past four years.

We wanted small-town baseball with emphasis on development and fun, and that’s what we’ve held to,” said Clark, who also co-founded a track and field program at CHS, helped establish “Thursday Night Lights” football at CHS and has helped coach his sons’ Anchor Hoops teams since 2014, among other things.

Wins are great; however, Clark stressed the importance of allowing everyone to play, learn and have fun with sports.

“There’s a lot of negativity in youth sports, so coaching with an emphasis on development, playing hard, playing smart, and winning and losing the right way are things I believe in,” he said.

His schedule remains busy, so he doesn’t have a lot of spare time, per se. When he does, he enjoys

sports, traveling, or watching movies. Marvel, “Star Wars,” and Tolkien-inspired works are some of his favorites because they allow him to escape and hang out with friends.

“And I’m an extrovert that likes food, so hanging out with friends is the best,” he said. “But Jenna inspires me to be the best version of myself that I can be. She has made me a better person and inspires me to serve others because that’s what she does. Her love for me inspires my love for others.”

Ironically, his wife said the same thing about him. She called him an inspiring person.

“Patrick just makes life fun, and I’m super grateful for that. There’s just something so special about Patrick and how he views

life,” Jenna said.

“He really wants to serve others well and make Columbus a better place for not just our family, but for others, especially those who maybe are underprivileged. That’s just one of the things we appreciate most about him.”

Clark doesn’t look back and think there’s one moment in his life that stands out among the rest. Instead, he views everything as milestones. The day he accepted Jesus, high school graduation, marrying Jenna, the births of their boys, his first day at Lakeview and his first job at CHS are among them.

“Getting my first job at CHS is what brought Jenna and me to Columbus, so it is pretty defining,” Clark said.

“Columbus is a great community to raise a family. There are thousands of good people and employment opportunities that provide for my family. We are blessed with a great church (Columbus Berean Church) and great friends.

“All things considered, I enjoy the people of Columbus more than anything else. I tell my students every year, life is not about where, it’s about who, and the people in Columbus have made it home.”

He’s now in the midst of his 18th year in education, but his love for it has only grown in that time. He cherishes the relationships he has gained through teaching and coaching in the last two decades, helping students find their way and achieve their goals in the classroom and athletics.

“In both teaching and coaching, life lessons are abundant and I get to be a part of preparing kids to be successful - work ethic, problem-solving, conflict resolution, teamwork, winning the right way, losing the right way, handling adversity, selflessness, etc.,” he said.

Clark never anticipated his first job in education would lead to him building a career and life in that same community after all these years. But, he is certain he’s exactly where he’s supposed to be.

“I serve my God, my family and my friends in the roles God has placed me in,” Clark said. “Serving does three things: Helps others, improves yourself and improves your community. I’m a better person because I serve. Without it, I would be in moral decay.

“We’re all a work in progress. I still mess up, don’t always listen well before speaking and make mistakes, but hopefully, people know my heart.”

Uniquely You

Don’t let fashion trends dictate your style

Last month, I talked about being uniquely you. So, this month I thought it would be fun to share about how you buy ontrend when you have a clothing personality that doesn’t quite fit.

We recently shopped to try and find my family matching clothes to get family pictures. Anyone who has ever had to do that I’m sure can feel my pain! With my family, we usually start with a pattern on my daughter and everybody picks a color from the pattern. But I couldn’t believe as we were shopping the number of flannels that were in the stores! Too much pattern for me! I mean, it’s fall. Flannels are fitting and it is a style that seems to trend every fall. But if you’ve been shopping, they’re everywhere! And no other options!

To be quite honest, it’s not my favorite thing to wear!

They always feel too bulky or too long or the patterns are too crazy. Makes me feel super messy! And then something magical happened! I ordered in a style down at the store that is a little more fitted and cropped! I don’t feel like I’m wearing a blanket all day long! And with my romantic classic personality, I add a tank top with sheen underneath with my diamond necklace and earrings and I can either dress it up or dress it down. But you will always see that I have diamonds on my shoes too if I’m wearing something casual like a flannel! I’m super excited to note that I can now fit into the current trend!

Some people are happy with taking a longer flannel and just tying the ends up in a knot Or buttoning it all the way up and tucking it in or for those of you with more natural clothing

personalities who can leave it wide-open hanging long and look absolutely put together, you’re the style I envy!

Some people are happy with taking a longer flannel and just tying the ends up in a knot Or buttoning it all the way up and tucking it in or for those of you with more natural clothing personalities who can leave it wide-open hanging long and look absolutely put together, you’re the style I envy!

So no matter your age, no matter your size and no matter your clothing personality: You can be uniquely you and still stay up with the current trends. Knowing what your clothing personality is and how to honor your personality is where the magic happens!

Nicole Lindhorst is the owner of BeYOUtiful Boutique and House of Colour in Columbus.

Elijah Moser

Youth Profile

Work hard play hard

off this headset again,” Moser recalled.

Story by: Matt Lindberg Photos by: Matt Lindberg

Columbus High senior Elijah Moser found his calling on April 24, 2021.

The Discoverer made his way to the booth at the baseball field and grabbed the headset, ready to call his first game as he watched Columbus take on Lincoln Northeast.

“It was kind of like magic. Throughout the game, I kept thinking, ‘I never want to take

“To that fact, I never really sat it down since. I have continued to keep up with it all the way up to the point of doing state high school broadcasts … So really that moment has simply produced so many different opportunities that have allowed me to improve on what I love to do.”

Sports are an important part of his life. A native of Redwood Falls, Minnesota, Moser enjoys watching his Minnesota-based teams (the Vikings, Wild and Gophers) whenever he has a spare moment.

Of course, spare moments don’t always come easy.

Moser spends a lot of his time participating in various activities, from Striv Live Streaming, Discoverer AnchorLines, marching band (he plays saxophone), National Honor Society and CHS 101 (a mentor program to help ninthgrade students transition into high school successfully) to being the manager for Discoverer cross country and basketball teams. He’s also involved with the school yearbook program and ConneXion Youth Group, a youth ministry focused on reaching Columbus area youth from fifth12th grade.

“I would describe myself as hardworking. I am always trying to make improvements too so that whatever I am attempting to make is better.

Moser hopes to turn passion for sports and multimedia into promising future

I would also say that I am very passionate about what I love to do, so usually if I am spending a lot of time doing a certain activity, then I am trying to make it the best possible because I want it to be greater than when I started with it,” Moser said.

“I am very much a believer in the ‘we before me’ aspect, so the more people I can help is a great plus and I want to help in that department.”

Moser and his family moved to Columbus nine years ago this upcoming January when his father, Mike, started Connection Christian Church with the church-planting organization Nexus.

“And we have lived in Columbus ever since,” he said.

His family also includes his mother, Kara, a paraprofessional for preschool at Emerson; his older brother, Isaiah, who is in his second year at Wayne State College; and his younger sister, Hannah, a sophomore at CHS.

Despite his Minnesota roots and sports fandom, Moser is making the most out of living in Nebraska. Columbus has become home.

“The community-based atmosphere,” he said, of what he loves most about it.

“The town is very supportive of everything and is all about a sense of community.”

He’s not entirely sure what the future holds, but he’s determined his love for broadcasting and sports will always be part of his life. That day back in April is something he’ll likely never forget. He plans to study sports communications at the University of Nebraska Kearney after graduating high school.

“I want to work somewhere in multimedia,” Moser assured. “Whether it is being a sports broadcaster or teaching multimedia, I just want to be working in multimedia.”

Youth Profile

Liam Blaser

Blaser’s childhood on family farm fuels his work ethic

STORY by: Matt Lindberg

Photos provided by: The Blaser family

There isn’t a day that goes by that Columbus High School senior Liam Blaser isn’t putting in work.

He suits up for the Discoverers in football (fullback and linebacker), track (shot/discus) and wrestling; he’s president of the National Honor Society; a class officer and a member of the CHS Student Council; he helps out with CHS 101 (a freshman orientation group) and Fellowship of Christian Athletes, among many other things.

He has also participated in the Youth Leadership Columbus Program with the Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce, the CHS Rockin’ Readers volunteer group at North Park Elementary and numerous First United Methodist Youth Group missions.

Oh, and he also works on his family’s fifth-generation farm by helping his Dad with livestock, gravity irrigation, or putting up hay or cutting stalks.

Free time comes seldom for Blaser, who is known for hanging out with his friends or dogs, enjoying time outdoors in nature, or watching an occasional Netflix movie, when he does get it.

But, he relishes the grind. Blaser takes pride in putting in an honest day’s work no matter what he’s doing and finding ways to support his community.

“Growing up in a small town has allowed so many opportunities for my personal growth and development.

Heart of a champion

The community support, whether in sports or in other activities, is amazing. It is a huge part of what makes me myself,” Blaser said.

“Columbus and Duncan are places where the memories you make are bigger than all the fancy attractions and big cities. My family, friends, and all the people that have supported me come from these towns, and I will always hold onto that sense of belonging forever, hoping to give back to them someday.”

Blaser attributes his strong work ethic to growing up on his family’s farm in Duncan, where his parents, Christopher and Amy, served as constant sources of inspiration.

He has often witnessed his father working until he completes every task and never once complaining.

“It could be the hottest day of the year or a blizzard outside, and he always gets his work done. I see that and it makes me want to work hard, too,” Blaser said.

“He taught me at a young age that life isn’t easy, and you will be faced with adversity every day. I watched him face those adversities by working hard, never quitting and always putting others ahead of himself. In my life now I see the importance of a strong work ethic, and I give my successes in the classroom and on the field to my father for those reasons.”

His mother is Columbus Community Hospital’s vice president of physician relations/ business development and an active community member.

“My mother, day in and day out, gives everything to the work she does and her family. She has always been a strong, independent person, with her work ethic leading the way … Even though she is a rockstar at

her job, her best work doesn’t come from her office,” he said.

“She is so heavily involved in the community, and always working to make Columbus a place that people want to come back to and start their own family. She works with so much passion and commitment, and then when she comes home, she is the best mother anyone could ask for.”

A Nebraska native, Blaser discovered his love for football when he was just a 3-yearold boy who was taken to his first Husker game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln to watch his team battle it out against Colorado. He was hooked, playing all through his youth in various programs until joining the Discoverers’ varsity program in high school.

“Since then I have loved the sport,” he recalled of his first Huskers’ game. “Growing up watching and competing in an environment where I feel myself shine. I love the competition and the heart that the game shows about a person. It challenges me when I have pushed myself to my limit to find that place where only I thrive.”

“Also, my favorite part of the game is the brotherhood with my teammates and the second family that is built within the team.”

Blaser has also been wrestling and competing in track and field from a young age, noting how both sports and the coaches he has had have influenced him in various ways throughout the years.

Despite his talents and achievements in athletics, they’re hardly what defines this young man. Blaser brings the same work ethic and commitment he applies to sports

to his volunteerism and studies in the classroom.

“Sometimes balancing priorities can be difficult, but time management is huge. Prioritizing what is the most important and getting that done allows for free time either with friends or family,” he said.

Longtime Columbus resident Jody Willison can speak to Blaser’s character. She worked with him last year when he was participating in Youth Leadership Columbus as she is an adult co-chairwoman of the group. Blaser and her son have also been friends and attended school together since they were in kindergarten, so she has watched him grow up.

“Liam is a very driven individual,” she said. “He works hard for what he wants. He’s a good student who devotes lots of time to studying and extracurricular activities. He’s also a polite young man.

“It’s been a joy to watch him grow, develop his own interests and find his own path.”

Upon high school graduation, Blaser plans to attend Chadron State College to play linebacker on the football field and major in biology, as he would like to pursue a career as an orthopedic surgeon specializing in sports medicine.

“School is always first, because my education will take me farther in life than anything else, and it allows me to pursue my dreams,” Blaser said.

“Sacrifices also have to be made around free time in order to achieve my personal goals in sports, too.”

Blaser is a natural-born leader by all accounts from the people who know him. He strives to always be the best version of himself and uses his voice in hopes to inspire his peers, his teammates and anyone else around him to be the best versions of themselves.

But he won’t take the credit for any of it. Instead, he attributes his success to the farm and his family.

“Growing up on a farm taught me so many lessons and qualities that I carry with me today.

From working hard to finding a creative way to accomplish a task, those lessons define me as a person and make my life the way it is today,” Blaser said.

“I’d say my family inspires me to be the best possible person I can be day in and day out. They have given so much to me throughout my childhood. I see what they all do for me, and I see football and school as a way to give back to them and make them proud of the young man they raised.”