Stories from Wednesday, September 22, 2010

On March 23, 2010 President Obama signed the Affordable Care Act into law. The landmark new law will put into place comprehensive health insurance reforms that will hold insurance companies accountable, lower health care costs, guarantee more health care choices, and enhance the quality of health care for all Americans...

Oct. 27, 1935-Sept. 18, 2010 FLORENCE, Oregon -- Royce A. Horsky passed away Saturday (Sept. 18, 2010), in Florence, Oregon. Royce was born Oct. 27, 1935, at his grandparents' home near Liberty, Nebraska to parents Frank and Evelyn Horsky. They lived near Liberty until his parents, Royce and younger brother Larry moved to Diller, Nebraska in 1946, where he later graduated high school in 1953...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Staffing reductions at the Red Willow County Court in McCook and County Court Clerk's office closures in Benkelman, Hayes Center and Stockville a very real possibility according to the Nebraska Bar Association. Representatives of the association told the Gazette Tuesday morning that the closures and loss of staff would be considered in the 2011-12 appropriations process if a 10 percent state budget cut, with no offsetting revenue, was mandated...

LINCOLN, Nebraska -- Vice President Joe Biden has recognized Community Hospital in McCook as one of his "100 Recovery Act Projects That Are Changing America." The only other ARRA project in the state recognized is Preferred Sands of Genoa, Nebraska...

Many of us walk or drive past it every day, but how many times have we stopped to stand back and take a really good look? The beehive of activity around the old Keystone Hotel has counteracted that neglect in recent months, and will finally be corrected this weekend with an open house for the new Keystone Business Center, 402 Norris. Ave...

It was, in a word, refreshing. The speaker Sunday night at Memorial Auditorium, Pam Stenzel, did not mince words. She didn't soft-pedal her message but allowed her passion full expression as she presented fact after fact after fact about the dangers of premarital sex and promiscuity...

EDITOR'S NOTE -- The following opinion piece originally appeared in the Omaha World Herald: **By ANN BLEED Conflict over water use in the Republican River Basin is growing. Continuing down our current path will cost millions of dollars spent on lawsuits, possibly reduce local control in the basin, and squander the financial, human, and hydrological capital we will need to meet the basin's long term water challenges. ...

LINCOLN, Nebraska -- Gov. Dave Heineman said he is signing Nebraska Game and Parks rules and regulations that will lift the current ban of alcohol at state parks, with the ban remaining in effect at Lake McConaughy in Ogallala and wildlife management areas across the state...

September 22, 2010 -- Nebraska's Senator Ben Nelson said today that the cost savings that the Nebraska state general treasury will see as a result of the new health reform law health could be used to reduce insurance premiums for Nebraskans. Currently, more than $20 million per year is collected from insurance companies and used to pay for the Comprehensive Health Insurance Pool for Nebraskans who would otherwise be uninsured because of preexisting conditions...

NORTH PLATTE, Nebraska -- McCook had just beaten North Platte by two runs a few days earlier in the North Platte Invitational girls softball tournament semifinals. So the Tuesday, Sept. 21, 12-4 win by the host Bulldogs probably caught some Bison fans, and the McCook team, by surprise...

The McCook High School boys tennis team's strength this season has been singles competition. The Bison dropped four of six singles matches Tuesday, Sept. 21, against North Platte, as the Bulldogs claimed a 5-4 meet victory over McCook. The meet was held at the Bison Courts just west of the Senior High School...

June 3, 1916--Sept. 19, 2010 TRENTON, Nebraska -- Marjorie Leola Randall, 94, died Sunday (Sept. 19, 2010), at McCook Community Hospital in McCook, Nebraska. She was born June 3, 1916, to John and Edith (Ward) Randall in Stratton, Nebraska. She attended the same school in Stratton from 1922 through graduation in 1934. During her high school years she served as news reporter and participated in school plays. She played piano prelude for her baccalaureate service...

Aug. 12,1927--Sept. 20, 2010 McCOOK, Nebraska -- Leland Variel Petsch Sr., 83, died Monday (Sept. 20, 2010), at McCook Community Hospital. Leland was born on Aug. 12, 1927, in Stratton, Nebraska to Frederick William and Mabel Adeline (Parsons) Petsch. He graduated from Stratton High School...

By CONNIE JO DISCOE Regional Editor GRAND ISLAND, Nebraska -- Two McCook, Nebraska, artists earned "Best of Show" awards at the 2010 Nebraska State Fair in Grand Island. Vera Hanson's thistle and bumblebee "scherenschnitte" and Audrey Suiter's "Primitive Garden" quilt are quite possibly Red Willow County's first-ever state fair open class "Best of Show" ribbon winners, according to county fair board manager Deb Lafferty of McCook, who said she remembers no other state fair "Best of Show" winners in her 18 years with the fair board.. ...

BRENTWOOD, California -- Opal Dunn, 98, passed away Sunday (Sept. 19, 2010), at her home in Brentwood. She was born at Rollwitz in Dundy County, Nebraska, the daughter of Grant and Leota (Priest) Allen. She grew up in rural Dundy County and graduated from Benkelman High School in 1932...

INDIANOLA, Nebraska -- Clifton "Cliff" C. Lord, 89, a lifelong resident of Indianola, passed away Tuesday (Sept. 21, 2010), at the McCook Community Hospital in McCook, Nebraska.