Stories from Monday, February 11, 2013

This past week at the Legislature was busy one. On Tuesday, February 5th, Legislative Bill 16 was heard and advanced to final reading with a 49-0 vote. LB 16 is a bill I introduced to add contingency language between Chase County and the Game and Parks for Champion Mill State Historical Park and Champion Lake State Recreation Area...

Tammy Sue Hobbs-Pracht May 24, 1964-Feb. 7, 2013 NORTH PLATTE, Nebraska -- Tammy Sue Hobbs-Pracht, 48, died Thursday (Feb. 7, 2013), at North Platte, Nebraska. She was born May 24, 1964, at Sterling, Colorado, to James S. Hobbs I and Betty "Tootie" B. (Kruger) Hobbs...

Fred Goings WAUNETA, Nebraska -- Fred Goings, 73, longtime resident of Wauneta, Nebraska, died Friday (Feb. 8, 2013), at Sky Ride Medical Center in Lone Tree, Colorado. Survivors include his wife, Kay of Wauneta; a son, Bob Goings, also of Wauneta; a brother, Dennis and wife, Colleen Goings of Elsie, Nebraska; and two grandchildren...

Elvera V. Neitzel Aug. 17, 1928-Feb. 8, 2013 GOODLAND, Kansas -- Elvera V. (Richers) Neitzel, 84, died Friday (Feb. 8, 2013), at the Good Samaritan Society in Goodland, Kansas. She was born Aug. 17, 1928, in Cheyenne County, Kansas. She was a homemaker...

Dr. Chris Royce 'Royce' Rasmussen LANSDALE, Pennsylvania -- Dr. Chris Royce "Royce" Rasmussen, 81, passed away Friday, Feb. 8, 2013, at home in Lansdale, Pennsylvania. He was the husband of Carole (Faison) Rasmussen. Royce was born in Trenton, Nebraska, and grew up in Oberlin, Kansas...

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...

MAYWOOD, Nebraska -- The Maywood Christian Church will present "Meet the man called Jesus" Wednesday evenings, 6:45-7:45 p.m., Feb. 13-March 6. Participants will learn about the death of John the Baptist; the feeding of the 5,000 and the 4,000; the care of aging parents; healings Jesus performed; the Transfiguration of Jesus; and the qualification necessary to be a follower of Jesus...

CASPER, Wyoming -- Casper College officials have released the names of students who made the President's Honor Roll at Casper College for the 2012 fall semester. To qualify, a student must take at least 12 hours and receive a grade point average of 3.5 or better. Honorees include: Katelyn L. Fritsche, McCook, Nebraska...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- The Christian Women's Club, a monthly staple for many years, has chosen the theme "You're in Good Hands" for its final meeting Friday, 10-11:30 a.m., at First Congregational Church, 212 East E St. Stephanie Wolfe, mother of three and grandmother to nine, will bring the message about the One who you can always count on. She shares how she came to know the Lord using the analogy of a shepherd and his sheep...

LINCOLN, Nebraska -- In its commitment to strengthen and promote the leadership skills of Nebraska hospital employees, the Nebraska Hospital Association (NHA) is pleased to announce Class X of the NHA Leadership Institute. This exclusive 10-month program will enhance a participant's ability to lead in the rapidly changing and diverse health care industry by providing professional education that enhances the skills needed to facilitate positive change and innovation in Nebraska hospitals. ...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Dena Beck, central and southwest Nebraska Business Specialist with the Center for Rural Affairs' Rural Enterprise Assistance Project will hold office hours in McCook on February 22, 2013. Hours will be 10:00 a.m. until 2:45 p.m. McCook Economic Development Corp. (MEDC) will handle the appointments; (308) 345-1200. MEDC office is located at 402 Norris Avenue, Suite 301 (Keystone Business Center - 3rd Floor)...

DESHLER, Nebraska -- Reinke Manufacturing Company, Inc., a leading manufacturer of mechanized irrigation systems, is pleased to announce that Levi Lake of Plains Equipment Group in McCook, Neb., has earned the PLUS (Proven Leaders in Unmatched Service) Certified Technician Award, and James Earl and Greg Faimon have each earned the Platinum PLUS (Proven Leaders in Unmatched Service) Certified Technician Award...

Kole Warren, the 7-year-old son of Amanda and Brian Warren of Culbertson, Nebraska, makes the sales pitch for the Weimaraner puppy that his parents, owners of "Crittersville," donated for a fund-raiser for the Culbertson Public Library Saturday evening. ...

Seven-year-old Kollin Werkmeister is thrilled to find his grandma's chili at the annual Dick Driml Memorial Chili Cook-Off during McCook Community College women's and men's basketball games Saturday evening. Kollin's grandmother -- Janet Werkmeister, representing the MCC Foundation -- won first place in the contest, followed by John Zlomke of the McCook Lions Club in second place and Adam Siegfried of Loop Brewery/The Coppermill in third place. ...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- The annual Community Lenten services begin at 12:05 p.m., Friday with the Rev. Gary Brethour, pastor of St. Patrick's Catholic Church, tackling the first "Finding Hope in Dark Times" lesson from the Gospel of Luke 4:1-13, identifying choices...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- A recently released revitalization plan for downtown McCook calls for the creation of the "Bison Loop," a combination of new sidewalk construction and improvements to existing sidewalks, enhanced with lighting, signage and landscaping improvements...

Ethanol has been a bright spot for Nebraskans, both in providing an alternative fuel for our cars, and as a source of income for those involved with corn -- growing it, providing fuel, fertilizer and chemicals to make it grow, transporting it to market, turning it into fuel and hauling that fuel to market...

In mid-January 2013, we were saddened by the news that Stan Musial, the perennial all-star slugger for the St. Louis Cardinals had passed away quietly at his home in Ladue, Missouri, a suburb of St. Louis. The accolades for this Hall of Fame baseball player have been lavish in their praise, and richly deserved, but his death brought back the one personal encounter I had with Stan the Man, a long long time ago, in 1953...

America has endured times of great challenge and great triumph. At a time when doubt is growing about the prospects of a bright future for America, we must remember that the road to prosperity has never been an easy one. And our success has always been because we, as a people, are greater than the challenges we face...

Winter-bare trees and bushes reveal this hidden retreat in a McCook backyard. In a few short weeks, hoped-for spring rains and warmer overnight temperatures will bring forth the pale green buds that will become summer's deep green cover once again...