Stories from Friday, April 10, 2009

Surely warmer weather is just around the corner. What Spring activities are you looking forward to participating in when the weather gets nice? Post a comment and let us know.

Dec. 6, 1930-April 7, 2009 Harold Leland Hall of McCook died Tuesday, April 7, 2009, at Cambridge Memorial Hospital from congestive heart failure. He was 78 years old. Harold was born on Dec. 6, 1930, in Fairbury, Neb., to Albert and Eva (Harmon) Hall. The family moved to Fairmont when Harold was a young boy. He graduated from Fairmont High School in 1948...

Nov. 3, 1923- April 8, 2009 NORTH PLATTE -- Leona May Houghtelling, daughter of Ira Andrew and Matilda May (Fisher) Williams was born Nov. 3, 1923, in Bird City Kan. She departed this life Wednesday, April 8, 2009, at Linden Court in North Platte Nebraska. She was 85 years old...

Crime rates in Red Willow County and Southwest Nebraska continue to climb. Drug activity is on the increase, and there always seems to be a need to track down or find someone. For these reasons, a committee of individuals and law enforcement officers is starting a fund drive to purchase, train and maintain a new canine officer. Red Willow County has been without a K-9 officer for two years...

How would you like to turn a thousand dollars into $1,600 in 10 weeks? No, it's not a get-rich-quick or Ponzi scheme. Better yet, how about turning $100,000 into $165,361.29 over the same time period? That's exactly what Lynn Channer's Arthur County students did with virtual money in a recent educational exercise...

There are certain topics that -- no matter how hard you try -- are impossible to write a serious news article about. Often those are the topics that end up as columns on the Opinion Page. Such is the case with the Buffalo Commons Storytelling First Tuesday Gathering this week. The topic was "outhouses."...

I had business in North Platte last Saturday and drove up mid-morning. There were predictions of snow but the weather forecasters have been so dismal at getting snow predictions right this year, at least in this area, I didn't pay much attention to them...

I hope you all enjoyed the Easter Weekend celebrating our Lord's resurrection, and the hope we have for a new life in Him. This is one of my favorite times of the year as we spend time with family and friends remembering what Christ did for us. Many of you have contacted my office regarding Legislative Bill 98 that reauthorizes the Riparian Vegetation Management Task Force and the program, which awarded grants to clear rivers in fully and over appropriated basins of invasive species. ...

I admit freely that I'm a fan of cop shows. From the various permutations of "Dragnet," to the revolution that was "Hill Street Blues," to the upheaval in the form by "NYPD Blue," to the myth-shatterer that was "The Shield," the behind-the-badge stories hold a level of fascination for me that few other genres possess...

Two offenders at the Nebraska Department of Corrections Work Ethic Camp in McCook who allegedly stole a pickup after absconding from the camp were sentenced to prison Monday in Red Willow County District Court. Peter P. Payton, 30 and Charles Meister, 20, were both sentenced to the WEC from Sidney in Cheyenne County. ...

WASHINGTON -- Today, Nebraska's Senator Ben Nelson announced that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will provide nearly $7 million that can be used to help Nebraska Community Action Agencies provide housing services, health programs and employment services as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)...

A mild spring morning welcomed more than 40 people to the streets of McCook for the annual Cross Walk through downtown, immediately prior to the Community Good Friday service at St. Alban's Episcopal Church, which includes the customary reading of "The passion of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John."...

STRATTON - Annette Nicolle Case and Wooddy Shawn Miller were joined in marriage Dec. 27. 2008, at Christian Union Church in Stratton with the Rev. Kevin Fink officiating. The bride is the daughter of Elmer and Tally Case of Max. She is the granddaughter of Velma Case of Benkelman, the late Wilbur Case and the late Lowell and Prudence Oberg...

LINCOLN -- Luciana Santos of Rondonopolis, Brazil and Matt Gordon of Benkelman were united in marriage Aug. 9, 2008, at Hazel Abel Park in Lincoln with the Rev. George Matthews of Benkelman officiating. Parents of the couple are Neuza Salles and Oscar Santos of Rondonopolis, Brazil, Barb and Jim Kent of Benkelman and Dave and Tammy Gordon of Lexington...

MAUI -- Ashley Houlden of Cambridge and Nick Brost of Mullen would like to announce their marriage. Nick and Ashley were married January 19, 2009 at Ka'anapali Beach on the island of Maui, Hawaii. Parents of the couple are Brad and Shirley Houlden of Cambridge and Dan and Diana Brost of Mullen...

The family of June Eskew is requesting a card shower in honor of her 96th birthday. She was born April 13, 1913. Cards will reach her at Willow Ridge Retirement Community, 1500 East 11th St, Apt. 33, McCook, NE 69001

Jenna Danielle Wiegert of Smolan, Kan., and Nathanial Chance Martin of Herndon announce their engagement and upcoming marriage. Parents of the couple are Michael and Tammy Wiegert of Smolan and Henry and Lorri Martin of Herndon. Grandparents of the prospective bridegroom are Leonard and Dixie Swanson...

Matt and Anna Junker, formerly of McCook, of North Platte announce the birth of their daughter, Madeline Elaine Junker on March 17, 2009, at Great Plains Regional Medical Center in North Platte. She weighed 7 pounds, 13 ounces and measured 21 inches. She has a 3-year-old sister Ellie. Her grandparents are Galen and Dorothea Warburton of McCook, Rich Junker of North Platte and Linda Junker of McCook. Great-grandparents are Jan Willet of McCook and Merle Rowland of McCook...

Afton Myers and Nicholas Ralston of McCook announce their engagement and upcoming marriage. Parents of the couple are Cathy and Arden Myers of McCook and Marlene and Ken Ralston of Curtis. The bride-to-be is employed at Community Hospital in McCook. The prospective bridegroom is employed with Pepsi...

Are you a fan of the popular CBS television show "The Amazing Race"? If so you will be please to learn that the celebrity host of the show will be in McCook on Tuesday morning and would love to meet with you! Phil Keoghan notified the McCook Area Chamber of Commerce of his stop in McCook on his bicycle trek across America. ...