Stories from Thursday, April 11, 2013

Carmen Lea (Blankenship) Smith Dec. 18, 1972 - April 7, 2013 CULBERTSON, Nebraska -- Carmen Lea (Blankenship) Smith, 40, died April 7, 2013, at North Platte after a four-year battle with leukemia. She was born Dec. 18, 1972, in Newton, Kansas, to Charles and Marie (Ramsey) Blankenship. She attended school in Burlington and graduated from Idalia in 1992...

LINCOLN, Nebraska -- On Friday, April 5, in Pershing Auditorium in Lincoln, five Southwest FFA students were honored with their State FFA degree. Cassa McConville, Kate Kelley, Blake Storrs, Dylan McConville, and Justin Daffer were awarded the Gold FFA pin signifying the honor presented to only the top 3 percent of Nebraska FFA members...

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...

Children's outdoor play on delay after one nice spring day brought out the giant legos to build a castle, and snow returned March 24. Another chance for outdoor play is coming Sunday, with a forecast high of 70 degrees. Mary Pate of McCook took this shot using these settings: 1/640, 28mm, F/9.0, ISO100. ...

Anne Dowd and Andrea O'Dea sort books donated for the 2013 McCook. Nebraska, Humane Society rummage sales scheduled Tuesday, April 16, and Thursday, April 18, from 5:30 p.m. until 8 p.m., and Saturday, April 20, from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m., and Sunday, April 21, from 11 a.m. ...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Community Hospital's chemotherapy room was ready to go into service, hospital directors were told during a recent report on the Phase 2B construction and remodeling project. Jim Ulrich, Community Hospital president and CEO, said the large area expands the new injection/infusion department to double its size. ...

Hear that the world population will grow from 7 billion to 9 billion by 2050, and visions of Indian slums and African children with swollen bellies come to mind, along with the need to control population growth. The reality is, however, there is already enough extra food to feed the additional 2 billion people -- but it's going to waste...

Even though I very seldom agree with Sen. Christensen, I do concede that there is no clear path on the water problems the Legislature wants to meet. Roger Patterson, the DNR director, and Ann Bleed negotiated the settlement announced on Dec. 16, 2012, based on using the 1998 period thru 2002 for the certified acres and there would be no expansion of irrigated acres and an allotment around 9 inches per acre except in water-short years not to be expanded...

Here I get after my oldest daughter all the time about texting things to someone that she wouldn't say face to face, but I caught myself doing kind of the same thing yesterday behind the wheel of my truck and realized I've been doing this for years. ...

As the seasons change, so do the constellations in the sky. The "Old Guard" of winter -- Orion, Taurus, Canis Major, and Auriga, are giving way to the constellations of spring. Above the eastern horizon in the early evening Leo, Virgo, Bootes, and Cancer are making their annual appearance...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Local police officers and area residents came together in a less than typical fashion earlier this week, meeting casually over a cup of coffee at the local McDonald's restaurant. The encounter was the first of a monthly program, coordinated by the McCook Daily Gazette, 105.3 Coyote Country radio and the McCook McDonald's, intended to provide a casual, positive environment that both citizens and local law enforcement agencies can benefit from...

BARTLEY, Nebraska -- This week's crime of the week is a burglary report on file with the Red Willow County Sheriff's Office. During the evening hours of Friday March 15 and morning hours of March 17th, 2013, someone broke and entered the Ag Valley Coop in Bartley Nebraska. Taken from the business was an undisclosed amount of money...

From the Senate's earliest days, new senators have respected a ritual of remaining silent during floor debates for a period of time ranging from several months to several years, depending on the era. This is, of course, largely a symbolic gesture. But newly elected senators respect the tradition to show they are committed to using their first days in office to learn the traditions, practices, and procedures of the Senate before speaking on the floor...

The McCook High School girls tennis team had plenty to celebrate Thursday, April 4. The Bison girls remained unbeaten in dual meets this spring with a 7-2 victory over Ogallala in varsity competition at the Bison Courts. Head coach Matt Wiemers also claimed the 100th dual meet win as the Bison girls' coach. Wiemers is in his 13th season coaching the McCook tennis teams...

A former McCook High School golfer led the McCook Community College men to a fourth-place finish in competition in Colorado last week. Ben Vetrovsky finished fourth in the final individual standings at the Otero/Lamar Invitational last Thursday and Friday, April 4-5...

KEARNEY, Neb. -- The McCook High School boys golf team turned in a good effort in a competitive Kearney Invitational Friday, April 5. The Bison boys tied for seventh in the final team standings in the 18-hole event at the Meadowlark Hills Golf Course...

BROKEN BOW, Neb. -- McCook High School senior Austin Cherry will probably tell you track and field isn't his favorite sport. But that might not be evident when looking at the Bison standout's performances on the track. Cherry blazed two 400-meter circuits to pace the McCook boys at the Broken Bow Invitational Friday, April 5. ...

Twins naturally have a special bond above and beyond the usual ties between siblings. Akia and Amir Davis came to McCook Community College to play basketball and further their educations a few years ago. The Davis package deal will continue for at least the next two years...

The Husker football team is coming to McCook. But basketball will be the focus during a special night Saturday, April 20. Nebraska football seniors from the 2012 season will face the Southwest Nebraska Area Celebrity All-Stars in a basketball exhibition for charity April 20. The roundball special event will tip-off at 7 p.m. at the MCC Events Center on the McCook Community College campus on East M St. just north of Weiland Field...

STEVE KODAD Gazette Sports Editor It was probably more about survival than scoring during the opening round of the MCC Invitational golf tournament Thursday, April 11. The men's college golf competition got underway at the Heritage Hills Golf Course with the opening 18 holes Thursday afternoon. Golfers representing two-year college teams from Nebraska, Colorado and Wyoming battled tough conditions, complete with gusty winds and chilly temperatures...

ichard Dale 'Butch' Johnson Jan. 26, 1944 - April 11, 2013 CAMBRIDGE, Nebraska -- Richard Dale "Butch" Johnson, age 68, of Cambridge, died at the Cambridge Memorial Hospital on Thursday, April 11, 2013. He was born on Jan. 26, 1944, in Cambridge to Roy and Opal (Bathrick) Johnson. Butch attended and graduated from Cambridge High school in 1962. He went to McCook Community College for two years and later a semester at Kearney State Teachers College...