Stories from Wednesday, April 10, 2013

85th birthday The family of Ken Frick of McCook,, Nebraska, is hosting an open house in honor of his 85th birthday. He was born April 19, 1928. His family includes daughter, Robin and husband, Jerry Calvin of McCook, and three grandchildren. The open house is Sunday, April 14, 2013, 1-3 p.m. in the basement reception hall at Peace Lutheran Church in McCook, 411 E. Sixth. Cards of congratulations will reach him at 910 W. Third, McCook, NE 69001...

Darlene Sullivan Aug. 18, 1928 - March 31, 2013 COTTONWOOD, Arizona -- Darlene Sullivan, 84 of Cottonwood, died Sunday (March 31, 2013.) She was born Aug. 18, 1928, in Hayes Center, Nebraska, to Wilbert and Gladys Bright. She was formerly of McCook, Nebraska...

Jack Cooper IMPERIAL, Nebraska -- Jack Cooper, 76, longtime resident of Imperial, died Tuesday (April 9, 2013), at the Sunrise Heights Nursing Home of Wauneta. Survivors include his wife, DeMarys of Imperial; daughters, Pam Murphy and husband, David, of Burlington, Colorado, Penny Portz and husband, Bob, of McCook, Nebraska, Linda Kerchal and husband, Steve, of Culbertson, Nebraska; and three grandchildren...

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 -- Southwest Nebraska Public Health Department (SWNPHD) announces the hiring of Melissa Propp, RN as a Public Health Nurse. "Melissa brings excellent skills and a variety of nursing experiences that will make her a valuable team member," explains Myra Stoney, Director SWNPHD. "Melissa feels strongly about prevention opportunities through the health department and we are looking forward to helping her create more awareness of these preventive measures for the public."...

Washington D.C., has yet to corner the market on spring blossoms. While our nation's capital enjoys cherry blossoms, Roxy Lang of Wilsonville, Nebraska, is sharing the beauty of the apricot blossoms that grace her corner of the world this time of year. ...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- The third offender accused of burglarizing a West First Street McCook home in May 2012 was sentenced to probation Monday, April 1, in Red Willow County District Court. The burglar, 18-year-old Rayna Snyder of 115 West O Street, accepted a plea agreement in February that admitted guilt to a Class IV felony offense of attempted burglary. Snyder was sentenced to 36 months probation and ordered to pay restitution as a result of the attempt conviction...

An Acrylic painting by McCook High School art student Audrey Graves on display as part of the McCook Community College High School Art Exhibition and Paint-In. More than 20 area schools submitted entries into the art competition and will participate in an open to the public Paint-In, Friday, 9 a.m., at the MCC Event Center. The college awards more than $4,000 in student scholarships as part of the event...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Almost $1 million will be saved over the next 14 years in the McCook School district, as the result of re-financing bonds that were sold for construction upgrades at McCook Elementary School. McCook Public School Business Manager Rick Haney told the McCook School Board Monday night at the regular meeting that the most recent re-financing will save $700,000 for taxpayers and the school district...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- The Red Willow County Health Department wants to remind parents that children entering kindergarten, going into seventh grade, and transfer students from out of state are required to receive booster doses of age appropriate vaccines...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- McCook Elementary students are reading up a storm, in hopes they can paint the hair of their principal. At the regular McCook School Board meeting Monday night, board member Diane Lyons expressed interest in an "Accelerated Reader" book challenge McCook Elementary students are undertaking. ...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Blanche DuBois, a character in the Tennessee Williams' play "A Street Car Named Desire" is perhaps best remembered for her breathy admission, "I have always relied on the kindness of strangers." She is not alone. A flat tire in rush hour traffic is a nightmare, made more so by someone who only thinks she knows how to change a tire. ...

Gun violence is in all the news these days. The tragedy at Sandy Hook is the latest atrocity that claimed too many lives, both young and old, but Dylan Quick's attack at Lone Star Community College in Cypress, Texas, with a box cutter knife of all things, makes it plain that guns aren't the problem, and never have been...

Many legislative bodies have been derided as "do-nothing" groups, but sometimes doing nothing is the best course of action. Such is the case, for now, with gun legislation in the Nebraska Unicameral. Nebraska has had more than its share of tragic gun violence, the mall shooting in Omaha and the Norfolk bank robbery the most recent, and we're far from immune from news of the killings in Aurora and Connecticut...

In 1991 lawmakers approved the Local Option Municipal Economic Development Act (LB840) to allow municipalities to vote and approve additional sales tax to be used for local projects under guidelines approved by the state. Twenty-two years later, 60 Nebraska communities are using local option taxes to fund various economic development projects...