Stories from Tuesday, December 22, 2009

I'm not sure I could have picked a more intense year to become a member of the U.S. Senate. In 2009, we saw our country enter an economic recession; our government bailout Wall Street; our military recommit to our efforts in Afghanistan; and our citizens, businesses, hospitals, and public officials make their voices heard regarding proposed health care reform...

The family and friends of Jim Wolcott are hosting a card shower themed "Look at that Jim Wolcott, at 80 yrs old... he's still got it!", in honor of his 80th birthday on Dec. 29, 2009. Personal birthday wishes will reach him at P.O. Box 244, Imperial, NE 69033...

The McCook City Council approved a supplemental agreement Monday night concerning the bronze sculpture of U.S. Sen. Ben Nelson, but not before one councilman felt compelled to stress that no city funds are being used. Council Jerry Calvin said he's received a number of calls from concerned citizens who do not want city funds used for artwork...

Red Willow County commissioners gave elected officials a raise and determined a yearly increase beginning in 2011, adopting a resolution setting salaries for the next four-year term at their weekly meeting Monday morning. Commission Chairman Earl McNutt said salaries for elected officials had to be set by Jan. 15...

A recent donation of $5,000, made anonymously, to the McCook United Way has helped the organization achieve 50 percent of its goal for the 2009 fund drive. The McCook United Way Board is hopeful that the anonymous donation will inspire others to help them achieve 100 percent of their goal...

HOXIE, Kan. -- A 22-year-old Oberlin woman, champion power lifter and senior at Kansas State University was killed Monday evening in a head-on car accident 15 miles south of Hoxie, Kan., on Kansas Highway 23. Services for Lora Elizabeth Marietta are pending with Paul's Funeral Home of Oberlin...

Tim Billington of Frenchman Valley Farmers Co-Op lifts the end gate on a farm truck dumping corn at a location in the 200 block of East A in McCook Monday morning. Doug Brown, manager of Frenchman Valley's grain division, said they're using locations on East A, near the office on East Third and on South Street to pile corn that measures 17 percent moisture or less brought in by growers or dried down at the elevator. ...

It won't take long for the McCook High School basketball teams to try and avenge Friday, Dec. 18 losses to North Platte. The Bison boys and girls have drawn rematches with North Platte in the first round of next week's Greater Nebraska Athletic Conference Tournament...

If you're reading this Tuesday afternoon and you haven't traveled to your Christmas destination, you might want to give your plans a second thought. That's because today was the best travel day you can expect all week. McCook and the rest of the area is in a winter storm warning with near blizzard conditions expected by Christmas Eve, with 6 to 10 inches of snow and winds up to 40 mph...

It's almost Christmas and time to honor Jesus and our own families. Family traditions and especially favorite foods are a part of the holiday celebration where memories get better with practice. One of our family folk tales goes back to the depression era in the Stone Church community. ...

WASHINGTON -- Sen. Mike Johanns asked consent today to strike the special carve-outs from the Senate health care bill. Democrats immediately objected, thwarting the effort. "There should be no special deals, no carve-outs for anyone in this health care bill; not for states, not for insurance companies, not for individual senators...