Stories from Friday, February 8, 2013

Donald Dean Pettera Oct. 29, 1930 - Jan. 28, 2013 MESA, Arizona --Donald Dean Pettera, 82, died Monday, Jan. 28, 2013, in Mesa, at the Villa Hospice. He was born to Joseph F. and Edith Kompus Pettera Oct. 29, 1930, in Herndon, Kansas. Don attended country grade school and graduated from Herndon High with the class of 1948...

William 'LeRoy' Walter STRATTON, Nebraska -- William "LeRoy" Walter, 78, died Wednesday (Feb. 6, 2013), at Good Samaritan Hospital, Kearney. Survivors include his wife, Shirley, of Stratton; daughter, JoAnn Walter and Tim Richards of McCook, Nebraska; sons, Jerry Walter of Stratton, Jeff and wife, Cathy Walter of Denver; and one grandson...

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 -- Men's and women's college basketball dominate the February schedule for the McCook Community College Events Center including back-to-back men's/women's doubleheaders the next two weekends. The men and women host Otero Friday starting at 5 p.m. and then Trinidad State Saturday starting at 5 p.m. which is also the night for the MCC Booster Club-Dick Driml Chili Cook-off, Phi Beta Lambda Dessert Auction, and YMCA Youth Basketball Night...

Connie Jo Discoe/McCook Daily Gazette McCook, Nebraska, Junior High band students who qualified for the Kearney Middle School Honor Band at Sunrise Middle School in Kearney Feb. 2 were: Front row, from left, Aaron Kotschwar, trombone, son of Steve and Rachelle Kotschwar; and Alex Cochran, flute, daughter of Hannah Harford. ...

50th anniversary The family of Ed and Marilyn Unger of McCook, Nebraska, is requesting a card shower in honor of the couple's 50th wedding anniversary. They were married Febr. 17, 1963, at Peace Lutheran Church in McCook. Their family includes children, Deb Sayre and husband, Dan of South Sioux City, Nebraska and Mike Unger and wife Lori, of North Platte, Nebraska and three grandchildren. Cards of congratulations will reach them at 1011 West 6th Street, McCook, NE 69001...

Kycen Wayne Wamsley Craig and Kylie Wamsley of Cambridge, Nebraska, announce the birth of their son, Kycen Wayne Wamsley, who was born Jan. 13, 2013, at Cambridge. He weighed 7 pounds, 11 ounces and measured 21 inches long. Grandparents are Larry and Julie Tagtmeyer of Seibert, Colorado, Shery Wamsley of Arapahoe, Colorado and Bryan Wamsley of Sharon Springs, Kansas. ...

Damien Joseph Malleck Justin and Lori Malleck of McCook, Nebraska, announce the birth of their son, Damien Joseph Malleck, who was born Jan. 21, 2013, at Community Hospital in McCook. He weighed 7 pounds, 1.6 ounces and measured 19 inches long. He has three sisters, Hope, 12 years-old, Charity, 10-years-old and Juliet, 2-years old. ...

Valentine's Day is the perfect day to show someone how much you care. Whether you want to say "xoxo" to family or "be mine" to a new Valentine, red velvet is the flavor that says it best. "Amid a sea of pink holiday confections, red velvet stands alone with its vibrant hue and rich taste. ...

McConville, Jordan Nicole Paige McConville of Indianola, Nebraska and Michael Leslie Jordan of McCook, Nebraska, announce their engagement and upcoming wedding. Parents of the bride-to-be are Bob and Cindy McConville of Indianola. Parents of the prospective bridegroom are Randy and Darla Jordan of McCook...

I could swear it was just last week that I was marveling at how the first month of 2012 flashed by in the blink of an eye, and yet I find myself in the same scenario already for 2013. Time truly does move faster as you get older. Casey and I were reminiscing about our excitement filled adventure to meet Declan's mother last spring, when the infamous Angry Bird toy exploded in Declan's face as we were cruising down the highway, setting off a chain of emotional reactions that thankfully ended in laughter. ...

LINCOLN, Nebraska -- Jessica Louise Harris and Craig Casey Fritz, both of McCook, Nebraska, were united in marriage Aug. 4, 2012, at the Wilderness Ridge Lodge in Lincoln, Nebraska, with Chaplain Royal officiating. Parents of the bride are Brian and Nancy Harris of McCook. Grandparents are Mary Osterman of McCook and the late Harry Osterman and Ramona Meazell of Meade, Kansas and the late Norman Meazell...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- A public hearing will be coordinated Monday evening to present the Downtown Revitalization Plan that intends to lay the groundwork for how the city will spend a $350,000 economic development grant it has been awarded. The McCook Planning Commission will be presented with the plan during a public hearing, Monday evening, 5:15 p.m. at City Council Chambers, which will be followed by an opportunity for public comment...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- The McCook School Board of Education will be asked to accept two resignations and approve a company for the bus barn project, at its regular meeting Monday, 6:30 p.m. at the Junior High conference room. The two resignations come from Arthur Rose, a resource teacher at Central Elementary and Ben Hyatt, a resource teacher at McCook Elementary...

Kyle Groshong of McCook "lost a bet" and received a front row seat for a car wash, Thursday afternoon. While 50-degree temperatures are relatively balmy in February, they'll be back in the 30s by Sunday.

With a forecast of 60 degrees for the afternoon in McCook, Nebraska, the crew of Hard Core Concrete and Construction smoothes new concrete in Stan and Carmen Goodwin's Norris Avenue driveway Wednesday morning. Guiding the concrete chute, Heath McDonald, co-owner of Hard Core Concrete with Mike Pesall, said the February weather's "nice out" and fine for pouring new concrete, as long as it's not freezing outside. ...

LINCOLN -- The Revenue Committee hearing room at the state Capitol on Feb. 6 overflowed with people waiting to testify and hear testimony on Gov. Dave Heineman's controversial tax proposal. LB405 -- Heineman's plan--would eliminate state income tax by ending $2.4 billion in sales tax exemptions for things like agricultural machinery and medical equipment. Nebraska's tax code currently has 84 sales tax exemptions totaling $5 billion, more than the state actually collects in sales tax revenue...

Even though I'm a big sports fan, I don't write often about it because my duty as a columnist lies elsewhere. However, since national signing day was Wednesday, I decided to present the overall recruiting picture since the one thing that binds most Nebraskans together is Husker football...

If first you don't succeed, try, try again. Or, maybe you should try something entirely different. That's probably the point of several pieces of legislation, proposed at the state and national level. One, passed in the U.S. House of Representatives and pending in the Senate, would deny members of Congress their paychecks if they don't pass a budget...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Unofficial statistics compiled by the McCook Daily Gazette, with the assistance of public information provided by Red Willow County Court officials, shows that 126 criminal and traffic cases were processed in county court for the month of December 2012. ...

Dear Friend, INTRO Israel is often referred to as "God's Time Clock" by students of Bible Prophecy. The 7 year Tribulation is also referenced as "The Time Of Jacob's Trouble" and Daniel's 70th Week." The book of Daniel is called the ABC's of Bible Prophecy and the book of Revelation the XYZ's, the culmination of both O.T. and N.T. prophecies. As you see on the news, the Middle East is a powder keg and this correlates with Bible Prophecy for the ENDSTIMES, in which we live...

There's an old joke about a man who arrives at the gates of Heaven. St. Peter asks, "What is your denomination?" The man says, "Methodist." St. Peter says, "Okay, go to Room 24, but be very quiet as you pass Room 8." Another man arrives. Peter asks, "What is your denomination?" The man answers, "Catholic." St. ...

Narcolepsy as defined by www.meriam-webster.com as a "sleep disorder with sudden, uncontrollable spells of daytime sleep and disturbances of nighttime sleep," and goes on to say that "narcoleptics can fall asleep anywhere and anytime―for instance, while talking, eating, or driving." The idea of falling asleep at the wrong time brings many thoughts to mind when I think it in a spiritual context. ...

WELLFLEET, Nebraska -- The Wellfleet United Methodist Church invites everyone to their annual Soup and Pie Supper on Sunday Feb. 24, at the Bethel Camp Fellowship Hall in Wellfleet. The serving of assorted home-made soups and pies, tea and coffee will begin at 5 p.m. and last until 7 p.m., or until the soup is gone...

Taken Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2013, in Furnas county on Hwy 89. The high temperature Tuesday was 57 degrees at the McCook weather station. According to forecasters, motorcyclists won't be free-wheeling this weekend, with cold temperatures returning, wind, possible thunderstorms and light snow. ...

MAYWOOD, Nebraska -- The Maywood Christian Church, 202 S. Plum, will welcome John States from Summit Christian College to the Sunday morning worship service at 10:30 a.m.. followed by a Valentine potluck dinner. Everyone is welcome to attend both the service and the dinner...

The massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut has caused grief and reflection across the nation. I join all Nebraskans and Americans in mourning the victims and in prayer for their families and friends. Such an act of horror naturally invites debate over what can and should be done to protect children and prevent senseless acts of violence in the future...

Filing your tax returns for tax year 2012 has begun and I want to encourage every Nebraskan to consider filing their individual income tax return electronically. E-filing is a convenient and secure way to file state and federal taxes. I want to encourage taxpayers who are making state income tax payments, including estimated income tax, to use the state's electronic payment program...

SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb. -- The McCook High School girls basketball team rolled to a 72-43 victory at Scottsbluff Friday, Feb. 8, in the second of three games in the annual East-West Shootout. The Bison girls picked up their 18th win of the season to extend a school record the team set Thursday, Feb. 7, in a 54-41 win at Alliance...

McCook and Scottsbluff staged a classic boys high school basketball game Friday, Feb. 8, at the McCook Senior High School gym. Two of the top teams in the state's Class B ranks this season battled through two extra periods in the middle game of the East-West Shootout. Scottsbluff finally prevailed 60-57 as a McCook 3-point shot bounced away in the final seconds of the second overtime...