Stories from Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Earl Thomas Phillips Nov. 9, 1922 - June 1, 2012 LONGMONT, Colorado -- Earl Thomas Phillips, age 89 of Longmont, Colorado, died at his home on June 1, 2012. He was born to William Murray and Isabel Morgan Phillips in rural Frontier County, Nebraska, He was the third of six children. ...

Regina (Jeanie) I. Eisenhauer May 15, 1943 - May 31, 2012 MAYWOOD, Nebraska -- Regina (Jeanie) I. Eisenhauer, age 69, of Maywood, Nebraska, died May 31, 2012 at her home in Maywood. Jeanie was born on May 15, 1943, to Richard B. Cox and Rita L. Bates, of Maywood...

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...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Sara Larington, a junior at McCook High School, has been named as McCook National Bank's Student of the Month for April. The "MNB Student of the Month Award" is designed to recognize one area student, every month from September through April, for their accomplishments and hard work...

LINCOLN, Nebraska -- Six McCook High School students were among 285 high school students from across Nebraska who participated in the 18th Annual Masonic All-Star Marching Band, which performed Saturday (June 2) during Shrine Bowl festivities in Lincoln...

NORTH PLATTE, Nebraska -- Below is a list of Mid-Plains Community College students (all campus locations) who maintained an overall 3.5-3.89 (on a 4.0 scale) grade point average (GPA), which qualifies them for the Dean's List for the Spring 2012 Term...

CRETE, Nebraska -- About 600 undergraduate and graduate degrees were awarded during Doane College's 135th annual Commencement celebration Sunday, May 20; the first to be held in newly renovated Cassel Open Air Theatre. Ken Krings, a '85 graduate of the Lincoln campus, was the keynote speaker for Lincoln and Grand Island campus undergraduate students and the college's graduate programs...

Even a gentle breeze could dislodge a western salsify puffball growing uncontrolled in a yard in Indianola, Nebraska. Although salsify is sometimes linked to dandelions -- "make a wish and blow" -- it's a member of the sunflower family.

McCOOK, Nebraska -- City Attorney Nate Schneider issued a memo to McCook City Council members in response to recent claims that the increasing amount of sales tax received by the city should require a reduction in the city property tax levy. In the memo Schneider explained that a reduction in the levy was not required and said those who voted yes for the tax voted for the "described property tax relief," which he said could be either direct property tax relief or relief through indirect means...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- "Deuce of Spades" -- described as "one of the greatest hot rod films ever" -- will highlight McCook's first Hot Rod Reunion on Saturday, July 7, at the historic Fox Theatre and, earlier and later, on the streets of McCook. "We want everyone who loves and appreciates hot rods to join us for the reunion," said Mike Towery, a classic car enthusiast who is helping arrange and present the first time event...

About 55 participants attended the Mid American Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society's Walk MS event in Norris Park Saturday morning, including 7-year-old Canyon Hosick of McCook, who rode his bike around the park instead. More than $5,000 was raised in donations and pledges, said Joann Nemechek, who was diagnosed with MS in 1996 and was the volunteer organizer of the annual walk. ...

Clear night skies are one of the advantages of living in the Western Plains, and our columnist, Vernon Whetstone, who recently moved to the Denver area, enjoys sharing his astronomical insights with our readers. True, the lights of even a small town can cut down visibility of dimmer stars, planets and satellites, but you don't have to be in the middle of the Sandhills to get a good view of that blazing full moon...

The line to check in for security screening was very slow moving. I struck up a conversation with an older couple waiting behind me. He volunteered that he was a World War II veteran and they were going to watch a grandson graduate. I asked if he was excited to hear the speaker and his wife piped up "We didn't tell him until we got here as he wouldn't have come if he had known!" The old gent had been in the Navy in the Pacific Theatre during World War II and was proud to have served. ...