Stories from Thursday, January 19, 2012

When a television network wants to produce a show about shadowy conspiracies filled with mysterious figures whose motives range from opaque to obtuse, there's only one producer to call: J.J. Abrams. You've read his name in this column before; in the last decade he has had at least a hand in the creation of shows like "Lost," "Alias," "Fringe" and this season's "Person of Interest."...

So last Sunday, while visiting during church potluck, one of my friends asked if my youngest would be starting Kindergarten in the fall in which I replied with a devilish grin, "Yeesss," then, "I'm freeeee!" I clarified that I still will be a bawling idiot when I'm kidless all day but I mentioned that my freedom to go grocery shopping and run errands. alone will be SO cool after 12 years of hauling at least one, sometimes three small offspring with me at all times...

We've used the story before about the old man, sitting on a porch, who was approached by a newcomer to his town. "What are the people like around here?" the stranger asked. "Well, what were the people like where you came from?" the old timer responded...

Had a nice letter from a reader in McCook this past week. The writer expressed thanks for listing the time and date that Venus and Neptune would be visible together. The writer advised that not only were they able to find Neptune and Venus with binoculars, but that they dusted off their old telescope -- which they had not used for some time -- and gave it a go...

NORTH PLATTE, Nebraska -- The Mid-Plains Community College Board of Governors accepted the resignation of MPCC President, Dr. Michael Chipps, which immediately released him from duties Wednesday evening, during their regularly scheduled meeting at North Platte Community College. The board subsequently named Ryan Purdy as the college's interim president...