Stories from Thursday, January 24, 2013

It's no secret that I'm a fan of cooking shows. From watching Julia Child's lively efforts on PBS as a kid to enjoying Alton Brown's deconstruction and demystification efforts on Food Network's "Good Eats" in more recent years, I've found genuine pleasure and even inspiration in watching talented people prepare meals...

Margaret L. Skraback NORTH PLATTE, Nebraska -- Margaret L. Skraback, 73, died Wednesday (Jan. 23, 2013), at her home in North Platte. Funeral services are 10:30 a.m. Monday, Jan. 28, 2013, at Carpenter Memorial Chapel in North Platte. Graveside services are 2:30 p.m. at Memorial Park Cemetery in McCook, 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...

LINCOLN, Nebraska -- Two McCook students have earned degrees at Southeast Community College, following graduation exercises after the 2012 Fall Quarter. Ceremonies were at the Beatrice, Lincoln and Milford campuses Dec. 14. Students who graduated include Nathan Lee Parks, Associate of Applied Science in electrical technology and Jessie L. Yant, Associate of Applied Science in respiratory care...

The Republican Plains Activities Conference basketball tournament reached the halfway point with boys division quarterfinal games Tuesday, Jan. 22. The top two teams in each half of the bracket advanced to the semifinals Friday, Jan. 25, in rematches of regular-season battles a week prior to the conference meet...

McCook Daily Gazette Practicing lines to old show tunes are Janet Hepp, from left, Charles Coleman, Gabe Sehnert, Marie Coffey and Becca Sehnert. They will be joined by more than 20 other musicians for the "Memorable Music Moments" show at the Fox Theatre on Sunday at 2 p.m. ...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- The good news is that Hillcrest Nursing Home garnered $60,000 more revenue for December 2012 than the same time last year. The bad news is that some invoices and operating expenses in the financial program used at the county-owned nursing home do not add up, according to Hillcrest administrator Colinda Nappa...

Candidates for McCook, Nebraska, Senior High's 2013 Color Day royalty are: front, from left, Kassidy Gillen, daughter of Lance and Denise Gillen; Brettani Schmidt, daughter of Brett and Lori Schmidt; and Nicole Helm, daughter of Lana Sitzman and Todd Helm. ...

NORTH PLATTE, Nebraska -- Elizabeth Benjamin was elected to her fourth term as chairwoman of the Mid Plains Community College board of governors at Wednesday's regular meeting. Louie Stithem was re-elected as vice-chair; Glenda Hasenauer, re-elected as secretary/treasurer; and Ted Klug Jr. continues as assistant secretary/treasurer. Ernie Mehl, and Kent Miller will again represent Mid-Plains Community College on the Nebraska Community College Association Board of Trustees...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- The heart-touching and love-inspiring music of the '20s, '30s and '40s will flow from the Fox Theatre stage Sunday afternoon, Jan. 27, when some of McCook's most talented singers, pianists and instrumentalists gather for a musical tribute to Harold Larmon and Floyd Hershberger...

Joel Hauxwell has joined Harchelroad Motors and will be selling new or used Agricultural Equipment in the McCook area. Joel can be reached at joel@harchelroadmotors.com or by calling his cell phone at 340-4728.

Mid-Plains Community College, along with all six Nebraska community colleges, recently received a $2,701,202 "trans*IT" (Transforming Industry and Training) grant from the U.S. Department of Labor's Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) Program. The TAA Program is a federal program that assists U.S. ...

This insulator gives the falling snow a big "thumbs up!" welcoming the frigid moisture, so desperately needed across the High Plains. Bill Coe of Max, Nebraska, frequently shares his photographs in a variety of venues, and the McCook Daily Gazette would love to showcase your weather photos as well. ...

Joseph Moore, Nebraska News Service LINCOLN -- A lively discussion over gun and ammunition control legislation took place during a Judiciary Committee hearing of the Nebraska Legislature on Jan 23. Among the bills discussed was LB50, introduced by Sen. Brad Ashford of Omaha. The bill would hold gun owners civilly liable for damages resulting from the unreasonable placement of a firearm where a minor or mentally handicapped individual could get it...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- The deadline to apply for 2013 Col. Delbert L. Townsend memorial scholarships is 4 p.m., Friday, March 1. Townsend scholarships are awarded to two candidates who will be spring graduates of McCook or Southwest high schools in Red Willow County, Nebraska, and will attend University of Nebraska colleges in Lincoln, Omaha, Kearney or Curtis...

Healthcare is back on the front burner in Lincoln this session of the Legislature, with lawmakers set to consider expanding Medicaid coverage to as many as 159,000 Nebraskans by fiscal 2016. The move would bring the state into line with the federal health care law, even though the U.S. Supreme Court has struck down the provision that would allow Washington to withhold funding from states that chose not to expand Medicaid programs...

Healthcare is back on the front burner in Lincoln this session of the Legislature, with lawmakers set to consider expanding Medicaid coverage to as many as 159,000 Nebraskans by fiscal 2016. The move would bring the state into line with the federal health care law, even though the U.S. Supreme Court has struck down the provision that would allow Washington to withhold funding from states that chose not to expand Medicaid programs...

This happens to me every year and every year I think, next year I'm going to do better but here I sit again. It's my baby's 6th birthday this week and have I done much of anything to plan for it? Nope. I try to tell myself that it's because it's so close to Christmas that my mind can't plan or prepare for it. ...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Area business and community leaders expressed their concerns for Gov. Dave Heineman's proposed tax code changes during a Chamber of Commerce legislative conference call with Sen. Mark Christensen this morning. Sen. Christensen said he believed the agriculture industry was finally waking up to the negative impact the proposed tax reform would have on the industry. ...