Stories from Friday, January 15, 2010

WASHINGTON -- In light of the humanitarian crisis in Haiti, Nebraska's Senator Ben Nelson released the following information to assist any Nebraskans who are trying to contact family in Haiti or who are able to help. Today, President Obama announced an initial investment of $100 million for relief efforts to help those affected by the earthquake...

Jan 8, 1923 -- Jan 13, 2010 LAKEWOOD, Colo. -- Born on the family farm west of Culbertson, Neb., on Jan. 8, 1923, to Louis J. Morthole and Agnes C. Eggeling Morthole, Garrett E. Morthole passed away peacefully on Jan. 13, 2010. Garrett was preceded in death by both parents and both brothers Werner Morthole and Allen Morthole...

Is there a full moon hitting major college football coaches? It's always a crazy, coaching-carousel time after the regular season and around bowl games, as coaches jump to greener pastures or jockey to fill the void left by coaches jumping to greener pastures. Or coaches do crazy things -- perhaps under the pressure of winning to placate the big-bucks boosters at their respective universities -- like order players locked in closets, or motivate players with a halftime grab and slap...

The McCook Community College men's basketball team is putting together a solid 2009-10 campaign. The Indians take a 13-5 season record into the the start of Nebraska Community College Athletic Conference action this weekend. The MCC men host Southeast C.C. of Beatrice Saturday, Jan. 16. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. at True Hall gym on the McCook campus...

It's a good bet that sometime early Saturday morning, McCook wrestling history will be made in Oberlin, Kan. Bison senior Nate Morgan is unbeaten so far this season and a favorite to win the 119-pound state championship at the Class B state meet in Omaha next month. Barring a shocking upset Saturday, Morgan will record the 100th win of his McCook wrestling career in first-round action at the Decatur Community Invitational...

The McCook City Council will continue discussion on developing the West Ward site, at the regular council meeting 7:30 p.m. Monday at the City Council Chambers in Memorial Auditorium. The council first heard the costs of building a new fire station and police department/city office building, as presented by the Omaha architectural firm Prochaska and Associates, at its Jan. 4 regular meeting. Combined, both projects would cost about $6.06 million...

Arguments concerning how an unconstitutional Natural Resources District tax will be refunded will be heard Thursday, Jan. 21 at Red Willow County District Court. No ruling will be issued at that time. Instead, District Court Judge David Urbom will hear from the Upper, Middle and Lower NRDs on Jan. 21 and then take the case under advisement. A ruling on the case will be issued in the following months...

Job creation, education and using technology to deliver services are the three areas of focus to keep the state moving forward, said Lt. Gov. Rick Sheehy at McCook Regional Airport Thursday. Because Nebraska controlled spending and acted quickly and decisively in addressing state revenue short falls, the state is in better shape than others across the nation, Sheehy said in the State of the State address...

"Some Beach, Some Where ... McCook" will be the theme as McCook Area Chamber of Commerce members don flip-flops and Bermuda shorts for the 85th annual awards banquet, Feb. 6. Sand castles and beach balls will decorate the Red Willow County Community Building for the event, but those in business casual attire will also be welcome...

Gov. Dave Heineman's designation of education as a priority for the coming years is appropriate, especially because he coupled it with economic growth and governmental efficiency. It's especially fitting in light of the state's precarious fiscal condition that Heineman didn't propose simply throwing money at the educational system in hopes that it improves...

Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nevada and Senate Majority Leader, has been raked over the coals recently about a statement he made during the 2008 Presidential campaign. He's quoted in a recently released book as saying that "America is ready to elect a light-skinned Black man with no Negro dialect unless he wanted to have one."...

In response to Ben Nelson's letter "Explaining more of the health care bill," BEN'S STATEMENT: "It's unfortunate that some people have criticized the health care reform bill but when questioned quickly show they don't know what's in it." ANSWER: It is kind of hard to know what is in the bill when it is all done behind closed doors instead of being televised on CSPAN like the president promised. ...

Dear Editor, Health insurance can only be paid by money. Just ask your insurance agent. If they don't answer your phone, try to call Saddam Hussein. If there is no answer, just hang him up. Steve Stramel, McCook

WASHINGTON -- Today, as conferees continue to deliberate on a final health care bill, Nebraska's Senator Ben Nelson reiterated his position regarding the unfunded mandate contained in the Senate bill in a letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid...

WASHINGTON -- Senator Mike Johanns today criticized the latest back-room deal to emerge from the health care negotiations between Democrats in the Senate and House of Representatives. A deal has reportedly been reached to exempt union employees from a proposed 'Cadillac tax'--a 40 percent tax on high-cost insurance plans put in place to help pay for the $2.5 trillion bill--that would weigh non-union workers with a disproportionate burden of health care costs...