Stories from Tuesday, January 29, 2013

This farm cat yearns for the sun to break through the overcast sky, bringing light and warmth worthy of his patience. The McCook Daily Gazette would love to showcase your weather photos. Readers can contribute to our daily weather page, subject to space and color availability, by emailing photos to editor2@ocsmccook.com or bringing them into the Gazette offices at West First and E Streets. ...

Helen Lucille McDowell Johnson Feb. 23, 1924 - Jan. 23, 2013 ARVADA, Colorado -- Helen Lucille McDowell Johnson passed away peacefully under the loving care of her son, Milton, in her home on Jan. 23, 2013, around 6 p.m. in the evening after a vicious month-long battle with cancer.

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Lucille 'Lucy' Marie (Prochazka) Sramek Dec. 9, 1917 - Jan. 26, 2013 HUTCHINSON, Kansas -- Lucille "Lucy" Marie (Prochazka) Sramek died Jan. 26, 2013, at the Hutchinson Regional Medical Center. She was born Dec. 9, 1917, to Joseph and Francis (Dozababa) Prochazk, north of Atwood. ...

The Lexington boys may have been in the wrong place at the wrong time Saturday, Jan. 26, at the McCook Senior High School gym. The Bison thumped the Minutemen, 68-32, one night after McCook suffered a 53-48 loss on the road to Class C-1 unbeaten Kearney Catholic...

There was little doubt as to who was going to win the Jan. 26 varsity girls basketball game between McCook and Lexington. Well, at least after the start of the fourth quarter. McCook got a tougher-than-expected test from the Minutemaids, as McCook overcame a slow start and cold shooting to top Lex, 46-38, at the Senior High gym...

Dean's List NORTH PLATTE, Nebraska -- Enclosed is a list of Mid-- Plains Community College students (all campus locations) who maintain 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 Fall 2012 Term...

KEARNEY, Nebraska --The University of Nebraska at Kearney today announced the names of students who have earned a place on the Deans' List for the fall semester. To earn a place on the Deans' List, UNK students must complete 12 credit hours, or more, with a 3.5 or better overall average. ...

OMAHA, Nebraska -- Nearly 950 students received degrees Saturday, Dec. 15 during the University of Nebraska at Omaha's (UNO) 2012 December Commencement ceremonies, including Tracy Marie Mullen of Maywood who earned a Master of Science degree; Bronson Kurt Gerken of Eustis who earned a Bachelor of Science degree; and Tori Ann Peters of McCook, who earned a Bachelor of Science degree in education...

High school and junior high school students can answer those questions and more by participating in Nebraska Public Power District's annual "It's Easy Bein' Green" video competition. This annual competition challenges student teams to create an ingenious, 27-second message about energy efficiency. NPPD, together with its wholesale partner utilities, is once again sponsoring this energy efficiency video contest...

The MCC Events Center will be the hub of the local basketball universe Tuesday, Jan. 29, as the McCook Community College teams tangle with their biggest and closest rivals. A list of special events are planned in addition to the basketball action on the MCC Events Center floor when the Indians and Lady Indians host North Platte Community College in a double-header. The MCC women and North Platte will open at 5:30 p.m., followed by the McCook men and North Platte at approximately 7:30 p.m...

McCook, Nebraska--During the Community Hospital Board of Directors meeting on January 16, a new board member was appointed and directors received a variety of reports. Director Appointment Max Abercombie, who was reelected in November to his second term on the board has moved to Salina, Kansas, and will not be able to fulfill his second term on the board...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Nebraska Physicians are participating in a Medicare Shared Savings Accountable Care Organization (ACO). The SERPA-ACO is the group of Family Practice physicians who voluntarily work together with Medicare to give you high quality service and care at the right time in the right setting. ...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Sen. Mark Christensen has again introduced legislation this session that attempts to regulate the escort industry in Nebraska. Sen. Christensen has previously called Interstate 80 one of the main sex trafficking corridors in the nation and believes that regulating the escort industry is a key part of tackling the problem...

CONNIE JO DISCOE Regional Editor McCOOK, Nebraska -- Red Willow County, Nebraska, commissioners named Patricia Powers of McCook as "interim director" of the county's health department during their weekly meeting Monday morning. With the resignation of director Darcey Hansen Dec. ...

BRUCE BAKER City Editor McCOOK, Nebraska -- More than 600 bills were introduced this session by Nebraska legislators, many of which will, of course, have an effect on law enforcement and public safety. McCook Chief of Police Isaac Brown recapped a select few for the Gazette, which he believed were of particular interest...

An almost-full moon illuminates the sky over a windmill east of Benkelman, Nebraska.

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Investigators are seeking information pertaining to a pair of burglaries, one occurring in Red Willow County and the other in Hitchcock County. According to the Hitchcock County Sheriff's Department, during the early morning hours of Oct. 8, 2012, one or more individuals forcibly entered a storage unit at the M & M Storage Center located on U.S. Highway 6 and 34 in Culbertson, Nebraska...

Now that the election is over, some of the first signs of bipartisanship are making themselves apparent in Washington with immigration reform ideas presented by both a group of senators and President Obama. Like most bipartisan plans, there's something for everyone to dislike in any legislation that's likely to result...

Local government is running rampant. What we need is a dictator to coordinate and hold costs to a more reasonable level. Case in point. This week, the Red Willow County Board may decide to hire a replacement director for the County Health Department. Possibly they will hire an interim director and kick the can down the road until the end of the year. Probably the end result will be to eliminate the department completely...

Nancy L. Norman March 3, 1934 - Jan. 28, 2013 McCOOK, Nebraska -- Nancy Lee (White) Norman, 78, of McCook, Nebraska, passed away Jan. 28, 2013, at Hillcrest Nursing Home after a 19-year battle with Parkinson's disease. Nancy was born March 3, 1934, to E. ...

Lona Joyce Uerling Oct. 10, 1941 - Jan. 28, 2013 LINCOLN, Nebraska -- Lona Joyce Uerling, age 71, died Jan. 28, 2013, in Lincoln, Nebraska. She was born Oct. 10, 1941, to Henry and Julia Bauer in Fort Morgan, Colorado. She graduated from Prospect Valley High School in 1959 (Valedictorian), McCook Junior College in 1962 (Scholarship Award), and Kearney State College in 1970 (Magna Cum Laude)...

Donald D. Bradley McCOOK, Nebraska -- Donald D. Bradley, 77, died Monday ( Jan. 28, 2013), at Community Hospital. Services are pending with Herrmann Jones Funeral Chapel in McCook

Michael Chris Sitzman June 20, 1960 - Jan. 29, 2013 CULBERTSON, Nebraska -- Michael Chris Sitzman, age 52, of Culbertson, passed away Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2013, in McCook, with his family by his side. Mike was born June 20, 1960, to parents William "Bill" and Sharon (Longsine) Sitzman in McCook. ...