Stories from Thursday, June 24, 2010

McCOOK, Nebraska -- A group of Southwest and Central Nebraska residents as diverse as the challenges facing the Republican River Basin met in McCook Wednesday afternoon to determine the future of the river that has pitted state against state, east against west and one NRD against the other...

By GENE O. MORRIS Executive Director Fox Theatre-McCook Expressing gratitude for her McCook upbringing, MarySue Hormel Harris has honored her hometown with a major, long-lasting gift to the historic Fox Theatre. The contribution, given as a Charitable Lead Unitrust, will provide an estimated $250,000 to $300,000 in funding for the Fox over the next 171⁄2 years...

NORTH PLATTE, Nebraska -- The Mid-Plains Community College Board of Governors approved the formation of a Rodeo Club during their monthly meeting Wednesday, June 23, at the W.W. Wood Building on the North Campus of North Platte Community College. The Rodeo Club, to form July 1, was granted partial funding in the amount of $10,000 from the board and will be required to raise the remaining $17,000 of its operating budget on its own...

How is your comet hunt going? Comet McNaught, C/2009, R1 is still visible in the early morning sky. I have read some reports that it is visible with just the eyes alone. From your favorite dark-sky place look northeast starting at around 4 a.m. MDT. About five degrees (the approximate width of your clenched fist held at arm's length) above the horizon use your binoculars to hunt for a small, greenish, fuzzy spot. That will be the comet. It may, or may not have a visible tail...

June 16, 1910-June 15, 2010 WILLISTON, Florida -- Louise Jennette Berry Pycha, 99, died Tuesday (June 15, 2010) at the WIlliston Health Care Center. She was born on June 16, 1910, in Tescott, Kansas, to the late Edward and Birdie Berry. At the age of two, her family moved to New Mexico. When she was eight, her family took a covered wagon to Burkburnett, Texas, and later moved to Palacious, Texas...

Dec. 28, 1912-June 22, 2010 ARAPHOE, Nebraska -- Raymond H. Bockerman, 97, died on Tuesday (June 22, 2010) at the Phelps Memorial Hospital in Holdrege. He was born on Dec. 28, 1912, south of Arapahoe to Gottlieb and Louise (Flake) Bockerman. He attended school at Arapahoe High School and graduated with the class of '31...

March 4, 1934-June 22, 2010 CURTIS, Nebraska -- Maxine Fae Jorgensen, 76, died Tuesday (June 22, 2010) at Hillcrest Nursing Home in McCook. She was born on March 4, 1934, north of Curtis. She was the first of four children born to Lloyd and Elsie (Hecht) Jorgensen. ...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- With temperatures in the eighties and a humidity level between 59 and 67 percent, riders and support personnel for the State Farm Sea to Shining Sea, might have wondered what kind of a reception they were getting from Nebraska. They didn't need to worry...

McCook Midget Baseball Association summer youth leagues are winding down to the finish line. The season-ending Sluggers Tournament is on tap this weekend, with games played Friday through Sunday, June 25-27, at Felling Field, East 7th and F Streets...

Area softball fans won't have any trouble finding games to watch in McCook this weekend. The McCook Rebels will host what tournament officials are calling possibly the biggest softball tournament in the history of the city. The McCook Rebels State Prep Tournament will be played Friday through Sunday at the Jaycees Sports Complex, located at West 10th and M Streets next to the Red Willow County Fairgrounds on the northwest edge of the city...

Kansas and Southwest Nebraska baby boomers lost a friend and father figure last week with the death of Tom Leahy Jr., better known to viewers in those black-and-white television days as Major Astro. Leahy was 87. An Army veteran who served in the Philippines in World War II, Leahy returned to Wichita to begin a 60-year career at local radio and television stations...

The 11th Judicial District is served by a drug court, according to Scott Carlson, coordinator of problem solving courts in Nebraska. The Midwest Nebraska Adult Drug Court is overseen by Judge James Doyle IV in Dawson County, Carlson said. While the court takes clients only from Dawson and Furnas counties, now, Doyle is working with other judges to expand the service, Carlson said...