Stories from Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Donald R. Chapman Aug. 31, 1920 - April 23, 2013 ELWOOD, Nebraska -- Donald R. Chapman, 92, died Tuesday (April 23, 2013), at the Lexington Regional Health Center, in Lexington, Nebraska. He was born Aug. 31, 1920. at Powell, Nebraska, to Ralph and Esther (Leisenfeldt) Chapman. ...

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 -- McCook Senior High FFA members were awarded the Top 15 Premier Chapter Award at the state FFA convention. Other results from the convention include: State degrees: Cashous Bortner, McKenzie Crowe, Collin Messersmith, Morgan Schilling, Melinda Shields...

LINCOLN, Nebraska -- Nebraska farmers might be reimbursed for surface water taken by the state with a bill advanced by Nebraska lawmakers Tuesday. The bill (LB522), sponsored by Sen. Mark Christensen of Imperial, advanced on a 27-0 vote with amendments. Senators plan to continue to amend this bill, however, before it moves to select file and final passage...

LINCOLN, Nebraska -- Nebraska lawmakers advanced a bill Tuesday that would require a climate change report that identifies long-term climate projections and recommendations. The bill (LB583), sponsored by Sen. Ken Haar of Malcolm, advanced on a 35-0 vote with amendments...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Southwest Nebraska Public Health Department wants to recognize the numerous volunteers involved with the Community Preparedness Committees in each county of our district during National Volunteer Week. "We use volunteers in implementing our preparedness plans for each county," explains Heidi Wheeler, Emergency Response Coordinator for Southwest Nebraska Public Health Department. ...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- The City of McCook was among more than 100 Nebraska communities honored during the annual Nebraska Community Tree Conference, April 2, at Lincoln, Nebraska. The communities were praised for their efforts in developing and maintaining a community forestry program and McCook also received a "Growth Award" for its work in the community with planting trees, efforts put forth by the Tree Advisory Board and implementing an arborist license for safe tree removal practices...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- The Hillcrest Nursing Home Foundation of McCook, Nebraska, invites lovers of antiques to two antiques and collectibles appraisal events Friday, May 3. Certified appraiser Tom Bassett of Lincoln will evaluate antiques and collectibles brought to him for appraisal. Appraisals, limited to two per paying attendee, will be $5 each...

McCook Area Chamber of Commerce Director Tacie Fawver visits with Sharrah Rupp and her 4-year-old daughter, Breenah, and with Patty and Jeff Tidyman and their 5-month-old daughter, Sage, during lunch at the McCook Pizza Hut Tuesday. Tacie and her administrative assistant, Linda Thieben, hosted a pizza party to recognize the value of the chamber's roughly 125 volunteers and the power of their community service during "National Volunteer Appreciation Week 2013." Tacie said the chamber has about 125 invaluable volunteers. ...

How did we ever survive the '70s? In case you don't remember those days, ask your parents or watch a copy of "Smokey and the Bandit." Yes, the driving was dangerous, but if a study by the Texas Transportation Institute at Texas A&M University can be applied to 40-year-old technology, the talking on the two-ways made it even worse...

I was wondering if somebody could do something about the old St. Catherine's Apartments in the 1200 block of West 4th. The windows are knocked out the doors are open and people are going in an out of there all the time. I contacted the nuisance abatement office in McCook and they said they'd contact the owners, but nothing has happened. The windows are still knocked out, doors are open and people are loitering in there. It's just a nest for crime...

When it comes to choosing sides on taxation and spending issues in Nebraska, it all boils down to whose ox is getting gored. School finance is one of those issues that has historically -- the current formula is 23 years old (even though it gets tweaked every couple years) and school financing agreements were being made before Nebraska was even a state back in 1867 -- been a battle between large and small, the perceived "haves" and the "have nots."...

LORRI SUGHROUE McCook Daily Gazette McCOOK, Nebraska -- For some, it's not about the clothes, the car, the job, or latest smart phone. It's just about eating a homemade meal. They are the elderly, who enjoy the fellowship. The retired bachelors, who are tired of eating from a can. Or the young families, who want a break from making the meals stretch one more time...

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the average American produces about 4.4 pounds of garbage per day, or a total of 21,600 pounds per year. This only takes into consideration the average household member and does not count industrial waste or commercial trash. Too often, some of that weight is due to books that our families have outgrown, read too many times or no longer need...

OK space fans, a couple of things this week. First, our favorite planet, Saturn, will be at opposition on Sunday, April 28. Opposition means "opposite" the sun in the sky. That is just a big word that means the ringed-planet is on the opposite side of Earth from the sun. If you will think of is as Earth being in the middle with the sun on one side and Saturn on the other...

A robin redbreast fluffs his feathers against the snow and cold April 9. Mary Pate of McCook, Nebraska used these settings: 1/125; 120mm; F5.6, ISO 500. In the note accompanying the photo she wrote, "Hopefully, warm weather is around the corner." Some two weeks later, the forecast does call for considerably warmer days and nights. ...

April is Occupational Therapy Month. Community Hospital's Occupational Therapy Department employs therapists Valerie Loop and Sara Mashek, along with Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant, Mariah Longnecker. The following guest editorial by Sara Mashek, Occupational Therapist, was written to educate the public about the profession of occupational therapy as well as answer commonly asked questions about the career...

On Monday, one week after twin blasts rocked the heart of Boston, more than a thousand well-wishers braved the snow and rain in downtown Lincoln for a memorial run to raise money for the victims of the Boston Marathon attack. They weren't the only ones. Communities across the country held runs and other events, picking up the torch for the world class race that was so abruptly stopped by evil...

KEARNEY, Neb. -- All good things must come to an end. The McCook High School girls tennis team had been strong early this season, but the Bison varsity girls ran into two tough foes in Kearney Tuesday, April 23. McCook dropped a 7-2 decision to Kearney Catholic, followed by a 5-4 loss to Kearney High in a double-dual meet at the Kearney High courts...

Mother Nature seems to be a little more appeased for the rest of this week. After a threat of snow and cold temperatures earlier in the week, conditions are forecast to be a little more on the warm side through Sunday, April 28. The Thursday, April 25 National Weather Service forecast is calling for mostly clear skies with high temperatures around 68 degrees, with possible wind gusts to 30 miles per hour. ...

Kenneth A. Giespert June 10, 1922 - April 23, 2013 McCOOK, Nebraska -- Kenneth A. Giespert, age 90, passed away Tuesday, April 23, 2013, at Hillcrest Nursing Home. On June 10, 1922, he was born at St. Ann, Nebraska, to Anton John and Jennie Margaret (Ryan) Giespert. Kenneth attended District 39 North of Indianola through the 8th grade and then graduated from Indianola High School in 1942. He also he attended McCook Community College, graduating in 1948...

Earl L. Winder Feb. 14, 1929 - April 23, 2013 OBERLIN,Kansas -- Earl L. Winder, 84, of Oberlin, died Tuesday (April 23, 2013) at Oberlin. Services are pending with Pauls Funeral Home in Oberlin.