Stories from Friday, May 21, 2010

As our economy struggles to right its course, we should be exploring every avenue to boost businesses and create jobs. The global trade market is one area which represents a tremendous opportunity for Nebraska's small and medium-sized businesses. It is fitting we are in the midst of celebrating World Trade Month, which honors and celebrates the nearly 300,000 American businesses which support millions of American jobs. ...

May is graduation season. Many recent high school grads excitedly await the start of their college career, while college grads look to their next venture in life. This is an excellent time to reflect on the value of a higher education. It has been estimated that with a college degree, an individual can make nearly $1 million more in a life time than someone without a one. Planning and saving for college is one of the most meaningful and important investments you can make for your child...

We had high hopes for LB 1057, a bill created to deal with the ongoing struggle to deal with the conflict between Nebraska and Kansas over the Republican River. Thankfully, Mother Nature has been providing adequate rainfall over the past couple of years, but it's only a matter of time before the solutions the Republican River Basin Water Sustainability Task Force, created by the bill, will need to be put into play...

To A Great Teacher, Mentor, and Friend: We would like to congratulate Ms. Crandall on her retirement as teacher and adviser of The Stampede school newspaper at McCook Senior High School. Many of our fondest memories of high school come from the long hours and late nights spent in the newspaper room crafting together every page of the newspaper while Ms. ...

Not being on the Internet, it was only when a friend who is on the Internet pointed out some of the Internet responders who took umbrage with my "Kill, Baby, Kill" recent letter. Of course, with only a rapid, cursory look at the "same old, same old arguments" for the destruction of human stem cells with their key words "pluri-potent" with its high-powered scientific connotation of the answer to many and all human suffering; and of course the other "same old, same old" argument -- well, why not use up these human stem cells because we'll only have to dispose of them anyway.. ...

We all have regrets. We've all done things we shouldn't have done or didn't do things we should have done. Even Frank Sinatra sang "regrets, I've had a few," in his classic song "My Way." So this is a common bond we share with each other. There are two kinds of regrets: internal and external. ...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- "Financial reform needs to be about Wall Street" Sen. Ben Nelson said in a conference call Thursday to 16 members of the McCook Chamber of Commerce. Congress "didn't need to reform Main Street to resolve problems on Wall Street" and added that he was concerned about legislation that was targeted at assisting auto dealers...

GOODLAND, Kansas -- May 31, 2010, marks the 75th anniversary of the Great Flood on the Republican River. On that date in 1935 rain fell in amounts totaling as much as 24 inches over some places in Eastern Colorado, Western Kansas and Southern Nebraska. ...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- The big white apartment house on the corner of Norris Avenue and F in McCook, Nebraska, is for sale. The catch is, it has to be moved off its lot -- in one piece, or in a million. Last year, Red Willow County commissioners were approached about buying the house by the house's owner, who decided it was time to retire from the rental business. ...

The Hillcrest Nursing Home Board of Directors approved a contract, effective July 1, between the nursing home and Heartland Pharmacy Care of Omaha. The unanimous vote came at Friday's board of directors meeting in regard to the proposal that has drawn criticism from residents and their family members due to its exclusive nature and the suspected lack of ability of local pharmacies to continue to distribute...

CURTIS, Nebraska -- Gov. Dave Heineman has appointed the members of the Republican River Sustainability Task Force. This task force, as proposed by Sen. Tom Carlson of Holdrege, is made up of a broad spectrum of interests across the Republican River basin. ...

As we observe Memorial Day this year, I would like to ask all Nebraskans to take a moment reflect upon the sacrifices made by the men and women of our Nebraska National Guard, and the excellent work they are doing on our behalf. This is historically a time to remember and honor the sacrifices of our state's fallen service members...

Jan. 7, 1926-May 20, 2010 ARAPAHOE, Nebraska -- Marjorie M. Dutton, 84, formerly of Holbrook, died Thursday (May 20, 2010), at Cambridge Memorial Hospital in Cambridge. She was born Jan. 7, 1926, south of Holbrook, to Cecil and Mia (Scott) Steel. On Feb. 5, 1944, she married Gerald L. "Jerry" Dutton at Norton, Kansas. They made their home sough of Holbrook and later moved into Holbrook. She was a homemaker...

The family of Roger and Linda Dame is requesting a card shower in honor of the couple's 25th wedding anniversary. They married May 25, 1985, at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in McCook. Their family includes Branigan, Brady, Bryce and Brendon, all of McCook. Cards of congratulation will reach them at 806 West L St., McCook, NE 69001...

Friends of Ruth Leopold are requesting a card shower in honor of her 90th birthday, May 26. Cards of congratulation will reach her at Cedar Living Center, 810 E. Columbia, Room 501A, Oberlin, KS 67749.

The family of Irene Solko of McCook is requesting a card shower in honor of her 85th birthday, May 24. Cards of congratulations will reach her at 901 Norris Ave Apt. 2, McCook, Nebraska 69001.

The family of J.Harold and Patty Lou Carswell is requesting a card shower in honor of the couple's 60th wedding anniversary. The couple was married on June 3, 1950, at the Oberlin Methodist Church. An open house is scheduled for May 30, at the Osborne United Methodist Fellowship Hall from 3 to 5 p.m. ...

Sara Elizabeth Kluver of Fairfield, Nebraska and Jeffrey Richard Klug of McCook announce their engagement and upcoming wedding. Parents of the couple are Steve and Sue Kluver of Fairfield and Rick and Pam Klug of McCook. Grandparents of the bride-to-be are JoAnn and Galen Finley of Mesa, Arizona, Doris Kluver of Fairfield, Nebraska and the late Art Kluver. Grandparents of the prospective bridegroom are Ed and Wilma Ward of Omaha and the late Bob and Ella Klug...

TYLER, Texas -- Emily Marie (Anderson) Nix of Tyler, Texas and Aaron Christopher Nix of McCook were united in marriage December 20, 2009, at The Villa di Felicita in Tyler with the Rev. Art Hill officiating. Parents of the couple are Barry and Joy Anderson of Tyler and Chris and Karen Nix of McCook. ...

The family of Ralph L. Hinton of Cambridge is requesting a card shower in honor of his 95th birthday, May 19th. His career was in education and he taught in rural schools in frontier county for seven years. An open house celebration is scheduled for May 29th at the Cambridge Community Center, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., no gifts please. Cards of congratulations will reach him at 1205 Nelson Street, Apt. B17, Cambridge, NE 69022...

Dustin and Sibyl Uerling of North Platte announce the birth of a daughter, Ruby Lynn Uerling. She was born Feb. 1, 2010, at Great Plains Regional Medical Center in North Platte weighing 5 pounds, 4 ounces and measuring 19 inches long. She has a 2-year-old sister, Hazel. Grandparents are Scott and Kari Quigley of Indianola and Mark and Sherri Uerling of McCook...

Dec. 12, 1925-May 18, 2010 OBERLIN, Kansas -- Marie Zimmerman, 83, died Tuesday, May 18, 2010 at Mountain Vista Care Center in Wheatridge, Colorado. She was born Dec. 12, 1926, to Henry Heilman and Mary (Richardson) Heilman and was raised on a farm near Jennings, Kansas. She graduated high school at Jennings High School in 1944. Then she attended business school at Central Business School in Denver, Colorado followed by Mercy School of Nursing where she graduated in 1948...

Feb. 15, 1941-May 19, 2010 WAUNETA, Nebraska -- Virgel Lee "Virg" Lorance, 69, died May 14, 2010 at the Imperial Manor Nursing Home. He was born Feb. 15, 1941, in Wray, Colorado to Lewis Price and Cressie Mae (Carr) Lorance. He grew up in Wray and attended Wray High School where he graduated in 1961...