Stories from Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Wind power continues to grow in the Heartland, first with the German company Siemens opening a new turbine manufacturing plant in Hutchinson, Kansas, expanding one in Boulder, Colorado, and just landing a deal with MidAmerican Energy Go. to build 258 of the machines in western and central Iowa...

It's time to put 2010 to rest, and some ways, it seems like it's been a very long year. Conversely, I cannot fathom where the time has gone, although according to my work log (better known as my photo file) 2010 has been busier than usual. In addition to the events I try to cover each year, like the National Day of Prayer, the Community Lenten Services, new pastors and new churches, 2010 also brought stories of dog rescues, hero dogs and unintended death. ...

Oct. 7, 1925--Dec. 26, 2010 ELWOOD, Nebraska -- Clyde Ray Lofquist, 85, died Sunday (Dec. 26, 2010), at Elwood Care Center in Elwood. He was born Oct. 7, 1925, in Harlan County, Nebraska to Andrew Melvin and Ada (York) Lofquist. He grew up near Rock Falls, in Loomis, Nebraska. He attended Loomis High School...

EDITOR'S NOTE-- Crista Hudson, now of McCook, Nebraska, has made poor decisions, some of which, like not finishing school, can be reversed. Others -- like attempting suicide -- are life-threatening. In this third installment of her story, Crista tells what happened when she got into her car after a night of drinking, and how she's mending the life that broke two years ago...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Braidon Rex Garcia of McCook, Nebraska, is looking for the successor to his "First Baby of the New Year" title. Braidon was born Jan. 3, 2010, too late to be a Jan. 1 baby but on time to be the McCook Daily Gazette's First Baby of 2010. Braidon is the son of Sarah and Ben Garcia of McCook. He is the couple's fifth child; brothers and sisters are Bailey, Carson, Emmalee and Simon...

OBERLIN, Kansas -- A Long Island, Kansas, man has been charged in connection with a deer poaching incident in early December in Decatur County, Kansas. Jake Swisher, age unknown, of Long Island now faces charges similar to those filed against five Wisconsin men after a hunting excursion ended with 12-16 dead deer -- many of them trophy size -- loaded onto a Kansas game warden's trailer and parked outside the courthouse in Oberlin during the Wisconsin men's arraignment on Dec. 8...