Stories from Tuesday, March 2, 2010

It seems most people want to cut down on greenhouse gases so we can protect the Earth's atmosphere and boost our energy independence. Many members of Congress are working on ideas and seeking support to do that in various energy bills being written and debated right now...

With the health care debate back in the spotlight, Americans continue to call for a new approach to health care reform. The original Senate bill was very partisan and costly, and required multiple special deals just to garner support from all Democrats. ...

April 1, 1942 - Feb. 28, 2010 ARAPAHOE -- Mary L. Slocum, 67, died Sunday (Feb. 28, 2010) at the Cambridge Hospital, in Cambridge. She was born April 1, 1942, in Shreveport, La., to Samuel and Mary S. (Austin) Harrison. She attended school in Shreveport...

NORTH PLATTE -- The Mid-Plains Community College "Today's Vision -- Tomorrow's Reality" fundraising campaign recently announced they have received a $10,000 donation from retired North Platte attorney Harold Kay to be used toward building an Events Center at McCook Community College...

A friendly competition among businesses in McCook has paid huge dividends for the McCook United Way. In fact, the support of the competing businesses and their employees provided more than 70 percent of the funds raised in 2009-10 campaign for the non-profit organization that helps fund 15 local agencies...

Connecting academia to the real world is always an important task, but never more important than in the case of an advisory panel that has been looking at Nebraska's water problems since 2006. The 15-member Water Resources Advisory Panel's current priorities include quantifying water supply and demand for Nebraska river basins, beginning in the west; identifying opportunities for conjunctive management of water, especially where surface water could be stored as groundwater until needed for compliance with surface water compacts; determining the relationship between surface water and groundwater supplies; assessing better management options to reduce the impact on water supplies during drought and exceptionally wet periods; developing realistic state standards for nutrients in flowing waters; mitigating water contamination from livestock operations and agricultural production; and evaluating and measuring effectiveness of riparian buffer strips.. ...

It was that old familiar terrible sinking feeling! Just after takeoff from a wet runway, we had already climbed into the thick clouds. The nose yawed sideways. The alternator and hydraulic failure lights illuminated but I was too busy trying to keep the airplane going straight ahead to notice. ...

More candidates have stepped up to challenge current office holders in the Red Willow County May 11 primary Non-incumbents had until Monday, 5 p.m. to file. Michael Owens of McCook has filed for the open seat on Mid-Plains Community College, District 1 Board of Governors. Incumbent Roger Wilson did not file for re-election...

The Partners With Youth sustaining fund drive began in 1989 under, then YMCA Board of Directors President, Mrs. Frances Kasl. With the increasing number of requests each year for financial assistance, Frances felt that the time was right to ask "Friends of the YMCA" to help in fulfilling the YMCA's mission of service to all...

The McCook City Council unanimously approved a special designated liquor license to allow a beer garden this summer at the McCook Speedway race track at the Red Willow County Fairgrounds. The license was sought by Taste of Texas BBQ LLC. James Arp, president of Taste of Texas, told the council that a section of seating on the west side of the grandstands will be roped off as a designated area where alcohol may be consumed. ...

City staff will look at tweaking local ordinances to allow alcohol at Memorial Auditorium. The McCook City Council directed staff Monday night to review policies currently in place that prohibit alcohol at the city auditorium, after hearing a request from a McCook citizen...

A proposal to turn the road in front of the Kelley Park lower shelter house into a cul-de-sac hit a road block Monday night. After much discussion and comments from citizens, the McCook City Council unanimously voted to keep both entrances open to the road and directed city staff to come back with other options to reduce speed in the area...