Stories from Tuesday, April 19, 2011

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Red Willow County, Nebraska, commissioners Monday morning approved a list of nine county residents to help the Omaha firm selected as a jail study consultant investigate the county's options for transporting and housing its prisoners...

BRUCE BAKER City Editor McCOOK, Nebraska -- Following approval of a proclamation designating April 29 as "Arbor Day," the McCook City Council authorized an increase to the Tree Rebate Program in hopes of further motivating citizens to plant trees. The increase, from $50 to $75 for shade and ornamental trees, and from $75 to $100 for Oak trees, came Monday evening during the council's semi-monthly meeting at Memorial Auditorium...

BENKELMAN, Nebraska -- The Southwest Nebraska towns of Benkelman, Haigler, Max, Parks and Stratton have captured 10th place in a Readers Digest sweepstakes called "We Hear You, America," and they need more votes -- "cheers" -- to move up and win municipal prizes ranging from $10,000 to $40,000...

One measure being advanced in the Legislature this year makes a lot of sense to those of us living in small towns and -- how can we put this delicately -- with more life experience. It should be especially interesting to Imperial residents, who recently outlawed golf carts on city streets after it became a problem...

The bank robbery game ain't what it used to be. We haven't heard many more details on Monday's robbery of a credit union in Palisade, but we're thankful no one was harmed in the armed confrontation and the suspect was quickly apprehended. With instantaneous communications through cellular phones and the Internet, combined traditional commercial radio and television broadcasts and law enforcement radio communication, there's a good chance of getting caught, especially in sparsely populated Southwest Nebraska.. ...

I am voicing my support for the upcoming Hitchcock County School Bond. The school district of Hitchcock County is facing some tough decisions and I think the Board of Education has done an exceptional job of listening to the public and coming up with a reasonable plan. Both towns in the district have contributed greatly to the success of our school and I feel that keeping a school in each town is not only fair but monetarily and educationally the best plan...

We have been strong supporters of the Hitchcock County Schools and encourage you to vote FOR the HCS Bond with the elementary in Culbertson and the junior and senior high in Trenton. This is how it currently is and doing well. We wore blue and gold for three generations and now we are proud to wear purple and silver. We do not have family in school, but we get just as excited supporting these young people. They are fun to be around and they keep us thinking young and positive...

Where have all my old friends and mentors gone? Immortality came home to me recently on hearing the death of Lucille Weber. Lucille has to have been the last survivor of my preceding generation. She was a friend and neighbor in the rural community where I grew up south of McCook. Lucille's youngest daughter Jean was a grade school classmate and we graduated from high school in the Class of 1955 before going our separate ways...

PALISADE, Nebraska -- A rural McCook, Nebraska, man has been arrested in connection with the armed robbery Monday morning of the Pioneer Community Federal Credit Union in downtown Palisade, Nebraska. According to information released mid-morning today by Hitchcock County Sheriff D. ...