Stories from Monday, May 17, 2010

Small businesses are -- quite literally -- the lifeblood of our economy. They represent 99 percent of American businesses and employ millions of workers. Our economy's recovery depends a great deal on healthy small businesses and a friendly fiscal climate. Unfortunately, a storm is brewing for our nation's small businesses...

July 4, 1954-May 14, 2010 SELDEN, Kansas -- Rick Hickert, 55, died Friday (May 14, 2010), at his residence in rural Selden. He was born July 4, 1954, to Quinten Joseph and Patricia Ann (Campbell) Hickert at Norton, Kansas. He was raised in Clayton, Kansas, attending school in Clayton and Jennings, Kansas. He graduated from Jenning High School in 1973...

I get a fair number of letters, calls and e-mails from many Nebraskans who fear that any cap and trade plan coming out of Washington will damage the economy, especially Nebraska's economy where we rely on large amounts of coal, and our manufacturing and agricultural industries depend largely on affordable electricity and fuel...

IMPERIAL, Nebraska -- Virgel Lorance, 69, died Friday (May 14, 2010), at the Imperial Manor Nursing Home in Imperial. Survivors include two daughters, Kailee Kerber of Arvada, Colorado, and Brenda Shill of Wauneta, Nebraska; five grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren...

Sept. 9, 1921-May 14, 2010 OMAHA, Nebraska -- Lois P. Williams, 88, died Friday (May 14, 2010). She was preceded in death by her parents, Daisy and Jack Williams; and a step-brother and step-sister. Survivors include a sister, Joyce Stupka of McCook; a brother, Curtis Williams of Sun City, Arizona; and many nieces and nephews...

Sept. 5, 1961-May 12, 2o1o CAMBRIDGE, Nebraska -- Michael Craig Perdue, age 48, died at his home in Cambridge on May 12, 2010. He was born in Cambridge, Nebraska on Sept. 5, 1961, to Donald and V. Suzanne (Andre) Perdue. Mike's mom, Suzie, died in 1968. He then went to live with his grandparents Dave and Virginia Andre in Wilsonville. Mike attended and graduated from Wilsonville High School in 1979. Mike married Julie Wier on July 4, 1989. To this union two children were born, Grace and Jack...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- One of the Heartland's proudest accomplishments -- the 1942 scrap metal drive -- is the subject of a documentary film which will premiere Saturday night at the Fox Theatre in McCook. The showing begins at 7:30 p.m. No admission will be charged, however, free will donations will be accepted for the Fox Theatre renovation project. In addition, food item donations will be accepted for the McCook Pantry...

Juanita Bonacci shovels dirt from what will be an egress window from the basement of the McCook, Nebraska, home that Southwest Nebraska Habitat for Humanity is rebuilding for the Bonacci family. Bob Golding of rural Stratton used a tractor to raise supplies for roofers, from left, James "Jim" Bonacci III, Whitney Brown and Kent Been. ...

One of the most interesting of the old-time McCook documents, to my way of thinking, is the McCook Columbian Souvenir 1893. This was a publication put out by the McCook Times Democrat, a 30-page promotional booklet, which was distributed to fair-goers at the Chicago Columbian Exposition, commemorating Columbus' voyage to the New World. The style is typical of that time, and is a highly entertaining bit of propaganda, extolling the virtues of McCook, Red Willow County and Southwest Nebraska...

What would you do if a friend or loved one started displaying the following symptoms: sudden slurred speech, sudden numbness on one side of the body or sudden blurry vision? Would you give medicine or first aid, call the doctor, take them to an emergency room, call 9-1-1, stay with them until they felt better or do something else?...

A longstanding debate in our country is the role government should play in the lives of our families, communities, and businesses. While some favor an activist government, others favor a smaller, less intrusive role for our government -- sensible, responsible policies that lead to job creation, allow businesses to flourish, and enable families to raise their children in a thriving economic environment. ...

LEXINGTON -- The McCook High School girls tennis team expected tough competition from Ogallala and Holdrege at the Class B-4 District meet May 14 in Lexington. The Bison girls got just that, with a third-place tie in the final district team standings...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Red Willow County commissioners recommended Monday morning that a McCook man work with the county's zoning administrator to reach compliance with county zoning laws regarding salvage yards. Commissioners took no action against Bill Mathies, who told them and county zoning administrator Darcey Eckhardt that he will try to move his salvage yard outside the one-half mile distance required from neighboring occupied houses...