Stories from Thursday, April 12, 2012

Betty Brown July 18, 1929 - March 26, 2012 IMPERIAL, Nebraska -- Betty Joan Brown was born July 18, 1929, to Paul and Opal (Ireland) Eaton in Haxtun, Colorado. Betty attended school in Chase County, graduating from Chase County High School in 1947...

Marcia A (Treinen) Steele Dec. 25, 1962 - April 2, 2012 ORLANDO, Florida -- Marcia A. (Treinen) Steel, 49, died April 2, 2012, after a battle with cancer. She enrolled in the US Navy on Oc. 24, 1984. She retired as Chief Navy Counselor aboard the USS Midway in San Diego California, on Oct.13, 2006, after 21 years of service...

This information is gathered at the McCook Public Safety Center, the McCook office of the Nebraska State Patrol, the Red Willow County Courthouse, the Red Willow County Sheriff's Office and the McCook Humane Society. Police activity Activity log...

LINCOLN, Nebraska -- The Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln would like to recognize some of its most outstanding members, including one from McCook. During the past year, the Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity has achieved some remarkable accomplishments. The University of NebraskaLincoln, AGR Chapter, was awarded: the Golden House Award, the Academic Excellence Award, the Promise and Values Award, and ranked in the top fourth of fraternities at UNL in academics...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Housing emerged as a top priority as McCook City Council members and city department heads participated in their first pre-budget Strategic Planning Session, Tuesday evening, at Heritage Senior Center. The meeting was coordinated by City Manager Jeff Hancock to provide useful budgeting information to department heads, in addition to providing an opportunity for councilors and city staff to share ideas and concerns pertaining to the future of the area...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- A motions hearing is scheduled in the murder case against 20-year-old Stathis Kirkpatrick for Tuesday, 9 a.m., in Red Willow County District Court. Kirkpatrick is the Bartley, Nebraska, man charged with first degree murder and other offenses stemming from the 2011 death of 14-year-old Kailee Clapp of McCook...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- School lunch prices will be increased, but just how much and when it will be implemented is still not clear. The McCook School Board tabled any action at the regular meeting Monday night. McCook School District Business Manager Rick Haney told the board that the federal government will provide a formula for schools, that will calculate the rate and what amount the increase would be...

The 16th class of the Southwest Nebraska Leadership Institute graduated 18 class members during a special banquet April 11, at the Keystone Business Center in downtown McCook. The keynote speaker was Ryan Purdy, Interim President Mid Plains Community College. ...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- The McCook, Nebraska, Humane Society began accepting donations for its annual rummage sale Monday, and tables that stretch from the north end of the fairgrounds 4-H Building all the way to the south are practically full already. But volunteers will gladly make room for more...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- City staff anticipates the wildlife fence at McCook Ben Nelson Regional Airport to have full enclosure of the area it will cover by the end of the month. Public Works Director Kyle Potthoff told members of the McCook Airport Advisory Board, Tuesday afternoon during their regularly scheduled meeting at Heritage Senior Center, that once enclosure was reached contractors would focus on trenching and removal of the old fencing...

A new McDonald's restaurant is taking shape on U.S. Highway 83 in McCook. According to owner Richard Stull construction is anticipated to be completed in less than two weeks, just in time for a midnight opening the morning of April 26.

McCOOK, Nebraska -- McCook Apartments, located at 906 East E Street, have achieved Smoke Free designation for their buildings. Owner, Gloria Homeier of Pentad Properties II and Manager, Jan Wiemers have worked diligently with their staff to provide this opportunity for tenants...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- The Red Willow County Democratic Caucus will be Saturday, with registration beginning at 10:30 a.m., at the Heritage Senior Center, West Fifth and M in McCook. The caucus will be at 11 a.m. and a lunch and discussion time at noon...

IMPERIAL, Nebraska -- Bids to construct a pipeline for the Upper Republican NRD's augmentation project near Rock Creek came in well below estimates and the NRD board has awarded a contract to a Kansas City company to do the work. It is expected that Kansas City-based Garney Companies will begin laying the pipeline in June and be completed this fall. ...

IMPERIAL, Nebraska -- For the first time since the Upper Republican Natural Resources District began regulating groundwater use in the late 1970s, the average groundwater level in the district has risen for three years in a row. The average groundwater level in the district rose about a third of a foot from spring 2011 to spring 2012, marking the third straight year water levels have increased. ...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- A McCook man on probation stemming from a May 2011 burglary conviction was sentenced to 120 days in jail after he tested positive for methamphetamine and marijuana use. The offender, 27-year-old Kyle Wayne Weiser of 807 W. Second Street, was given credit at sentencing for seven days in jail already served...

NORTH PLATTE, Nebraska -- North Platte Community College hosted its annual Inter-High Scholastic Competition and TECH-Knowledge & Skills Discovery Day on Wednesday at the North and South Campuses of the college. Students from 25 area schools took nearly 800 tests during the competitions...

Blankets show history of state's first two-year college.

City of McCook, Nebraska, firefighter/paramedic Mike Schoenemann reaches through the back window to help the driver of a car involved in a two-vehicle accident about 9:30 a.m., today, at the intersection of East Fifth and C streets. Ambulance personnel transported one person from the car to Community Hospital of McCook. More information will be released when McCook police officers complete their investigation of the accident. (Connie Jo Discoe/McCook Daily Gazette)...

What's the difference between mob rule and the rule of law? The Trayvon Martin killing is blurring the lines. For those in the trenches, the Florida case probably feels like the former. For those with a vested interest in allegations of racism, the latter may be a hinderance...

I have been watching and listening to the issue of the county jail. I am appalled at what I thought were two upstanding people of this community telling people of this county that if we build a bigger jail, the state will pay for it, and putting out misinformation and false statements to the public, and even hiring lawyers to get involved in this issue...

To paraphrase an old folk song, the skies they be a-changin'. Ancient astronomers espoused the idea that the heavens were fixed and unchanging, except for a few "stars" that seemed to move against the background of the stars in predictable cycles. In this day and age by using large and powerful telescopes, astronomers have discovered that stars indeed do, and are, moving, some at incredible speeds toward us and some away...

Famous quotes are posted everywhere and on everything. They're on posters, greeting cards, backs of T-shirts, and calendars to name a few. There're funny ones, inspirational ones, motivational ones and poetic ones. You can have them texted every day to your phone or sent to your Facebook page, wherever you need to make you laugh or just get you through a tough day...

Many country veterinary practitioners have invested money in their clinics for facilities to handle cattle and horses. It is for the convenience of the vet but also for the restraint and treatment of the patient. However, there were those clients that assumed it was so the vet could charge them for an office call. Dr. Blaine took an after-hours call from a 3rd generation cattlewoman in the rolling foothills of western Alberta...

Warren Davis April 10, 1924 - April 11, 2012 McCOOK, Nebraska -- Warren Davis, 88, of Culbertson, died Wednesday (April 11, 2012), at Community Hospital in McCook,. Memorial services will be Saturday, April 14, 10:30 a.m., at the Culbertson United Methodist Church with the Rev. Corey Jenkins officiating...

Two weeks ago, I included a brief and fairly positive review of ABC's new grown-ups only sitcom "Don't Trust the B-- in Apartment 23" inside one of those "random thoughts" columns, which I occasionally put together when my brain is addled (or more addled than usual, anyway), which it certainly was that week. ...