Stories from Thursday, May 5, 2011

April 24, 1939-April 17, 2011 GAITHERSBURG, Maryland -- Ronald E. Grimm, 71, died April 17, 2011, at Shady Grove Hospital in Rockyville, Maryland. He was born April 24, 1939, in Imperial, Nebraska, to Morris and Nona (Loveland) Grimm. He graduated from McCook High School in 1957 and attended McCook College. He was a U.S. Navy veteran. He retired from working in U.S. government services...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- The Nebraska Legislature plans a late night this evening, according to Sen. Mark Christensen, who anticipated 10 to 12 readings on the budget. Christensen told members of the McCook Area Chamber of Commerce, during his morning conference call today at the Keystone Business Center, that the budget wasn't really changed much from the initial proposal that is available online. ...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- The Rev. Clark Bates, senior pastor at McCook Christian Church, opened the 60th annual National Day of Prayer Thursday morning at the Chief Restaurant, lamenting the passing of the Rev. Dr. Chris Atkins, who died April 10. "Chris had a great passion for this day," Bates said. "It took three of us to replace him in planning and preparation."...

We won't take a position on whether cats or dogs make better pets -- we know a lot of people who have both -- but dog lovers are enjoying news that their favorite species played a part in one of the biggest stories in years. Seal Team 6, the elite-est of the elite Navy Seals force, took a dog along with them when they raided that compound in Pakistan and killed Osama bin Laden...

We were glad to see your April 25 editorial ("Poppers back, with a new slant") showing concern about the continued long-term depopulation decline in western Nebraska and much of the rural Great Plains. We believe that a large part of the region's prospects lies in an environmentally sustainable future we call the Buffalo Commons...

Ah, the "joys" of motherhood. Doesn't that phrase immediately conjure up an image in your mind of a beautiful, new mom, gazing at the newborn baby in her arms, or perhaps a parent magazine cover of a beautiful, wrinkle-free, skinny woman smiling and hugging her two, equally beautiful, perfectly dressed children?...

The Scottish poet Robbie Burns said it best I think, "The best laid plans of mice and men gang oft aglee." Well, I have had a lot of "aglee" in the past three weeks. I have been a "space case" since I was 11 years old. That is when my parents gave me a telescope for Christmas...