Stories from Tuesday, May 15, 2012

March 17, 1949-May 13, 2012 GOTHENBURG, Nebraska -- Michael Patrick Sayer, 63, of Gothenburg, Nebraska, died Sunday (May 13, 2012), at Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney, Nebraska, following a courageous battle with cancer. He was born March 17, 1949, at McCook, Nebraska, to David and Betty Sayer of Cambridge, Nebraska. ...

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...

The family of John and Bernita Owens of Stockville, Nebraska is requesting a card shower in honor of the couple's 50th wedding anniversary. They were married May 18, 1962. Their children are Janelle and Dean Weems, of Centennial, Colorado; Kevin and Stacie Owens, Rocky Owens, and Marci and Jay Pike; all of Curtis, Nebraska, 10 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Cards of congratulations will reach them at P.O. Box 41, Stockville, NE 69042...

Grandmother, mother and daughter, recently donated hair to the Locks of Love organization. Front from left, Brooklynn Rooney, who donated for a second time and her mother, Amber Rooney, who has donated enough hair already to make a full wig, and mother and grandmother, Carol Shadley, a first time donor, donated their hair for Locks of Love, which makes wigs for children who have hair loss. ...

Cambridge, Nebraska, Public Schools elementary students show off their new "Daybreakers" T-shirts. "Daybreakers" are students who, in the gym before class every morning since October, have logged 5,142 miles from Maine to Oregon before turning north into Canada, en route before the end of school to Juneau, Alaska. ...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- The McCook Educational Foundation scholarship winners for 2011-12 are: McCook Educational Foundation Scholarship ($400): Betsy Hardin, daughter of Ben and Susan Hardin Nancy Prosser-Weedin Scholarship ($500): Emily Tolliver, daughter of Rick and Mary Tolliver...

Six McCook Senior High students recently received state journalism recognition. In the Nebraska High School Press Association (NHSPA) contest, preliminary results are conducted statewide in each class division. Class B Preliminary Results Finals for 17 journalism categories, including Advertising and News/Feature Photography, were held at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln campus Monday, May 7, 2012. ...

HAYES CENTER, Nebraska -- Forty-nine youth and adults tested their livestock knowledge and skills at the annual Hayes County 4-H and FFA Livestock Judging Contest on Thursday, May 10 at the Hayes County Fairgrounds in Hayes Center. Participants judged six classes of livestock including prospect lamb, market swine, market steers, breeding heifers and breeding ewes. Brandon Kuenning of Grant, Nebraska served as the official judge...

HASTINGS, Nebraska -- As the 2011-12 academic year at Hastings College draws to a close, the community gathered for its annual Honors Convocation. Students, faculty and friends of the College alike were honored for their achievements throughout the year...

Twenty-five graduates from Mid-Plains Community College's Associate Degree Nursing program recite the nurse's creed after receiving their nursing pins and flowers during the college's ADN pinning ceremony on Friday, May 11.

McCOOK, Nebraska -- A day before voters decide how the project will be financed, Red Willow County, Nebraska, commissioners selected Sampson Construction of Lincoln as the construction manager for the construction of the county's new jail and law enforcement center...

In McCook, Nebraska, St. Patrick's Catholic Schools seventh grader Lea Warnke and second grader Tucker Gillespie accept first place awards in Universal Publishing's 2012 National Handwriting Contest. Each student received a cash prize of $250 and won his/her classroom teacher handwriting books for the next year. Mrs. Lara Stewart teaches second grade and Mrs. Tama Kain teaches seventh grade...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Home-grown cowboy Garrett Nokes of McCook, Nebraska, was honored Saturday by fans, friends and family for his support of the sport of rodeo. Nokes was recognized for his sponsorship and promotion of roping and timed events competitions that bring hundreds of people to the Kiplinger Arena and to McCook, and for his encouragement of young ropers at his roping schools...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- McCook Community College conducted its 2012 Spring Commencement Friday. Area graduates are: Associate of Arts Danbury -- Korinna Michaelis, Regina Witt Imperial -- Hannah Harmon McCook -- Marcie Carter, Eric Chalupa, Zachary Curl, Stuart Dack, Haley Hilker, Khaley Lee, Devan Osmera, Ashley Pick, Susanne Shald...

NORTH PLATTE, Nebraska -- North Platte Community College conducted its 2012 Spring Commencement on Friday, May 11. Area graduates are: Associate of Science Maywood - Cortland Chittick Associate Degree Nursing McCook - Melissa Wilcox Associate of Applied Science - Auto Body Technology...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- The McCook Educational Foundation announces that the following students achieved perfect attendance in the McCook School System for the 2011-2012 school year. Kindergarten: Brett Fraker, Trashawnta Koetter, Keira Nelson, Haylee Thomas and Rowen Wiemers...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- An ultra-runner left Cross County, Oregon, on March 26, with his eyes on Annapolis, Maryland, 100 days later. Between the West Coast and the East Coast, U.S. Marine veteran Jamie Summerlin hopes to raise awareness and funds for veterans organizations that support those who weren't as lucky to return from battle without lifelong challenges...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- After much discussion, the McCook School Board of Education voted to keep the current food service company, Sodexo, by 4 to 2. Negotiations with Sodexo for a one-year contract, renewable for up to five years, will now be worked out...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- It will cost five cents more to buy meals at McCook Schools next year. The McCook School Board of Education unanimously approved the increase at the regular meeting Monday night. The increase is in response to new federal guidelines concerning government reimbursements to schools offering free- and reduced-price lunches...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- A former Gazette employee, fired after she was caught on hidden camera stealing from deposit bags, was sentenced March 22 in Red Willow County Court. The thief, 37-year-old Bonnie Jenkins of Stratton, Nebraska, was ordered to pay $253 in restitution and serve 12 months probation after she pleaded guilty to theft by unlawful taking...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- A plea agreement was reached with the McCook man responsible for firing a weapon at emergency responders, kicking off a 71⁄2-hour standoff that ended with him leaving peacefully with heavily-armed SWAT team members that had been called in from North Platte...

PALISADE, Nebraska -- A Palisade Village-wide cleanup is set for Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 5 p.m. Dumpsters will be located at the dump site. Palisade Village-Wide garage sales will be 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. Flyers can be picked up at the Palisade Post Office, Richard Alan's Grocery, Palisade Co-Op and the Pioneer Cafe...

The next U.S. Senator to be elected from Nebraska may be a Republican or a Democrat, but he or she won't have the connections to McCook we have enjoyed with Sen. Ben Nelson over the past 12 years. Critics will remember Nelson for his deciding vote on Obamacare, but missing in the rhetoric from the Republican side is an answer to the question of what will replace it if it is actually repealed. ...

"Wow I thought Nebraska was all flat!" The words of the young pilot I was teaching to fly my 1946 Aeronca Champ. She had learned to fly in Florida and is part of the Air Ambulance flight crew now operating out of the McCook Airport. (Forget its official name!) Life Team flies a twin engine turboprop "King Air" aircraft that is most comfortable above 10,000 feet where most everything down below does indeed look more flat. ...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- A McCook woman pleaded not guilty to a felony charge of criminal mischief, April 30, in Red Willow County District Court. The woman, 20-year-old Tasha L. Booker of 401 Park Ave., is accused of causing more than $1,800 in damage to a vehicle during a January 2012 incident on West First Street...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Final results for the 2012 Primary Election in Red Willow County showed a majority of voters were against putting the construction of a new $5.1 million jail facility outside of the county's existing budget. 1,410 voted against the additional bond and 741 voted in favor...