Stories from Tuesday, April 1, 2008

Oct. 31, 1922 - March 30, 2008 Raymond A. Smith, died Sunday (March 30, 2008) upon arrival at Community Hospital in McCook, at the age of 85. He was born Oct. 31, 1922, at Lexington, the son of the late Arthur Wilbur and Blanche Edith (West) Smith. Raymond grew up at Stockton, Kan., where he graduated from Stockton High School in 1940...

Aug. 24, 1911 - March 31, 2008 STRATTON -- Charlie O. Carlson, 96, of Stratton died Monday (March 31, 2008), at Dundy County Hospital in Benkelman. He was born Aug. 24, 1911, at Stratton, to French and Lena (Kisling) Carlson and graduated from Stratton High School in 1930...

Thanks to the Legislature and taxpayers of Nebraska, irrigators who gave up their rights to Republican River water last year will be paid as promised. If the Friends of the River lawsuit is successful, and new taxes are ruled unconstitutional, the $9 million from the state's cash reserve will be paid back to the state through the tax in question or some other mechanism approved by the Legislature...

Last Friday, the budget adjustments for the second year of the biennium passed the Legislature and are awaiting the signature of the Governor. I would like to summarize several of the changes in Legislative Bills 959, 960, and 961 to the State's budget, and touch on couple other bills...

Talk about an excuse for a party! Recently our small group of skywatchers witnessed the triple pass of the ISS space station, the space shuttle Endeavour (mission STS-123) and the Jules Verne space station resupply vessel or ATV (automated transfer vehicle) as it is also known...

Red Willow County sheriff's officials captured a probationer about 15 minutes after he scaled the fence and walked away from the Nebraska Department of Corrections Work Ethic Camp (WEC) in McCook Monday afternoon. WEC Case Manager Kyle Clapp reported that WEC staff chased offender Rusty Richard after they saw him climb the perimeter fence at about 2:45 p.m. ...

McCook is home to several great events that pull in visitors from around the tri-state area and beyond. The Buffalo Commons Storytelling Festival, John Mullen Pro-Am Golf Tournament, McCook Balloonfest, and events at the Kiplinger Arena are just a few. A new event is about to be added to that list -- the McCook Businessmen's Classic Bowling Tournament...