Stories from Thursday, September 13, 2012

The new season is upon us, so it's time to start looking at the pilots that made it to series at the broadcast networks. I'm always excited to see the new line-ups at the start of the fall, even though I know that pilots can be a mixed bag. Good starts can end up feeling like wasted time when the show goes to series, while mediocre introductions sometimes yield tremendous programs in the long run. ...

Kenneth C. Munson Sept. 16,1930 - Sept. 12, 2012 ELWOOD, Nebraska -- Kenneth C. Munson, 81, died Wednesday (Sept.12, 2012), at his home in Elwood. He was born on Sept. 16, 1930, south of Imperial, Nebraska, in Dundy County to Bert L. and Alice M. (Benson) Munson...

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...

KEARNEY, Nebraska -- The University of Nebraska at Kearney "Pride of the Plains" marching band's first performance was Sept. 8, at half-time of the UNK vs. Emporia State University football game. Students from Southwest Nebraska who are members of the 2012 Pride of the Plains marching band include: Cambridge- Triniti Smith; Imperial- Taylor Jeffrey Gellerman, Chevy Smithand and Kacia LaKi Smith...

The clock hits 9:25 p.m., and I finally hit the couch. Got my bedtime snack, sometimes cereal, sometimes milk and cookies, and ready to relax and find a good show to watch. Some quiet time, to chill and veg out before I head to bed and face the annoying 6 a.m. ...

Okay troops, I have three exciting things for you this week. First up is Saturday, Sept. 22. That is the date for the "International Observe the Moon Night." You won't need any special equipment to do this, just go outside and look. Of course, a pair of binoculars or even a small telescope would be nice. The moon will be at first quarter (half of its face lit by sunlight)...

Editor, Recently, I had my first opportunity to fly Great Lakes Airlines out of McCook. I was a little pessimistic as I heard some rumblings but overall my experience was very positive. We were scheduled to leave McCook at 7 a.m., and did not depart until 8 but still made our connecting flight and arrived in San Diego at 9:20 a.m. Our return flight out of Denver was 30 minutes late but this certainly beat a 4 and a half hour drive home from Denver...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- The new administrator of Hillcrest Nursing Home in McCook, Nebraska, shared her philosophies with Red Willow County commissioners when she attended their weekly meeting Monday morning. "Our elderly built our communities," Colinda Nappa told commissioners. "We should be taking care of them."...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- The McCook Public Library will offer a workshop on how to use an E-reader, Tuesday, Sept. 18, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and again from 4-6 p.m. Denise Harders from the Republican Valley Library system will offer one-on-one help and answer questions concerning an E-reader. Sessions will run about 20 minutes. Call the library at (308) 345-1906 to make an appointment, and plan to bring your reader...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Tryouts for the McCook Community College production of "A Christmas Carol" will be on Sunday, Sept. 23 from 4 -- 6 p.m. and on Tuesday, Sept. 25 from 6:30 -- 8:30 p.m., all at the Weeth Theater. There will not be any tryouts on Monday, due to a scheduling conflict...

OXFORD, Nebraska -- When the owner of the Longbranch Bar in Oxford, Nebraska, couldn't sleep in the middle of the night Monday, Sept. 10, she spotted a light at her bar. Karen Kramer called her boyfriend, Tom Hellner, who approached the bar with a 9 mm handgun drawn and surprised one man attempting to break into the business through the beer garden and a second standing by a pickup...

Katelyn Sughroue of rural Bartley, Nebraska, is the new 2012-13 PRCA Miss Kimball County Rodeo Queen. Katelyn was the 2011-12 Miss Southwest Nebraska Rodeo Queen. Katelyn is the 19-year-old daughter of Wil and Sheri Sughroue and studies ag production systems at the University of Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture in Curtis...

CURTIS, Nebraska -- A prescribed burn designed to manage rangeland and wildlife habitat takes "lots of planning, manpower and equipment," fifth graders learned Wednesday in the park in Curtis, Nebraska, during the annual "Conservation Craze" outdoor education day sponsored by the Middle Republican Natural Resources District...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- The tragedy at Blue Hill sent reverberations through all of Nebraska, including McCook School Board members. A school bus and a semi truck and trailer hauling hay collided Sept. 5, killing both drivers and two students. At the regular School Board meeting Monday, board member Teresa Thomas stated her condolences to the Blue Hill community and noted how "how fast it can happen."...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- The Mid Plains Community College Board of Governors approved their 2012-13 property tax levy, Wednesday evening, at an amount that reflected a decrease of .0045 cents per $100 of assessed value. The decrease was approved just two days after the McCook School Board similarly approved a decrease to their upcoming tax levy of approximately 1.8 cents. Both entities cited increased property valuations as a contributing factor...

CURTIS, Nebraska -- The 2012-13 budget for the Middle Republican Natural Resources District includes $1 million from the state that will help pay for the ground water management practices the district implements to help keep Nebraska in compliance with the Republican River Compact...

Claron H. Voss April 20, 1937 - Sept. 13, 2012 ALMENA, Kansas -- Claron H. Voss, 75, died today (Sept. 13, 2012) at Norton County Hospital. Services are pending with Pauls Funeral Home

Charles Bernard Thieben July 30, 1952 - Sept. 12, 2012c McCOOK, Nebraska -- Charles Bernard Thieben, 60, died Wednesday (Sept. 12, 2012), at Centennial, Colorado. Services are pending with Carpenter Breland Funeral Home.