Stories from Thursday, January 12, 2012

Ervin G. 'Jerry' Coyle March 5, 1930 - Jan. 11, 2012 McCOOK, Nebraska -- Ervin Gerald "Jerry" Coyle died Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2012, at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney, Nebraska at the age of 81. He was born March 5, 1930, at Culbertson, Nebraska, the son of the late Ervin and Verna (Schnell) Coyle...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Sen. Mark Christensen expects a bill that intends to allow for a third term for senators and another that seeks to raise their pay to be the most debated of this legislation session. He told members of the McCook Area Chamber of Commerce that a pay increase would make running for office a more realistic option for members of the middle class, during his weekly legislative conference call at the Keystone Business Center Thursday morning...

How much should a lawmaker be paid? The answer, of course, depends on whom you ask, and which lawmaker they're talking about. But is $12,000 a year adequate compensation for a member of the Nebraska Legislature? Sen. Scott Lautenbaugh of Omaha doesn't think so. He's introduced LR373CA to give Nebraska voters a chance to decide whether to give their state representatives a raise to $32,000 a year...

I wish to correct an item from Sen. Nelson's letter, that was referenced as well in Todd Cappel's letter to the editor this week. The federal funding that was received for the construction of the Keystone Business Center was not the result of an earmark. ...

So since Hubby threatened to ship off our dogs last summer, the girls and I have been trying to help out more with the two backyard beasts. They're still here only due to our begging and promise to help more. The dogs' main problem earlier was running off, with an occasional digging here and there. ...

OK space fans, let's go to the mailbag ... or really the e-mail list. I received a request last week inquiring about the two bright stars just above the eastern horizon before sunrise. Seems the questioner was out walking the dog and observed the two objects and wanted to know which stars they were...

Stewart Simmons Minnick Feb. 24, 1927 - Jan. 11, 2012 CAMBRIDGE, Nebraska --Stewart Simmons Minnick died Jan. 11, 2012, at the Manor in Cambridge after several years of battling post polio syndrome. He was born Feb. 24, 1927, at home in Frontier County on the John Minnick homestead to parents Walter Tiffany Minnick and Ethel Simmons Minnick. ...

CURTIS, Nebraska -- The board of directors of the Middle Republican Natural Resources District took no action Tuesday to adopt proposed amendments to its Ground Water Management Area rules and regulations. During their regular monthly meeting Tuesday afternoon and following a public hearing Tuesday morning, several board members suggested waiting to adopt the rules and regs until they can further study testimony offered at the hearing...

Dear Editor, Article II, Sec. 2, Clause 2 of the United States Constitution, regarding powers of the President: He shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, to make Treaties, provided two thirds of the Senators present concur; and he shall nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall appoint Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, Judges of the Supreme Court, and all other Officers of the United States, whose Appointments are not herein otherwise provided for, and which shall be established by Law: but the Congress may by Law vest the Appointment of such inferior Officers, as they think proper, in the President alone, in the Courts of Law, or in the Heads of Departments.. ...