Stories from Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Larry M. Surmin Jan. 24, 1946 - May 7, 2013 McCOOK, Nebraska -- Larry M. Surmin, age 67, of McCook, died on May 7, 2013. He was born in Chicago, Illinois, on Jan. 24, 1946, to Eugene E. and Gloria (Lepcin) Surmin. He attended and graduated from Lutheran North High School in 1963. He attended college for two years...

Rev. Thomas Francis Bagan, OMI May 12, 1925 - May 4, 2013 TEWKSBURY, Massachusetts -- Rev. Thomas Francis Bagan, OMI, 87, died peacefully after a lengthy illness on May 4, 2013, at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Residence in Tewksbury. He was born on May 12, 1925, in Benkelman, Nebraska, and was a son of the late Wilfred J. and Marguerite (McAdams) Bagan. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his two sisters, Helen Noonan and Genevieve Bagan, and his brother, Gerald Bagan...

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 -- Five members of Red Willow County 4-H presented speeches at the Red Willow County 4-H Public Speaking contest April 15. The contest was at the Red Willow County Fairboard Community Building. Participants presented their original speeches relating to 4-H to judge Amanda Davidson...

LORRI SUGHROUE McCook Daily Gazette McCOOK, Nebraska --Tyler Messersmith may not have a lot, but what he does have, he's willing to share. A student who finished up his education at the Step program at Educational Service Unit 15 in McCook, Messersmith gave a total of four pints of blood while attending high school. Because of that, he earned a red cord from the American Red Cross that Messersmith will wear when he graduates from Southwest High School this month...

McCook YMCA McCOOK, Nebraska -- On March 11, the YMCA purchased a NuStep T4r Recumbent Cross Trainer. The NuStep Cross Trainer provides a total body workout through a smooth and natural stepping motion. The seat rotates 360 degrees with arm rest to make it easy and safer to enter and exit the cross trainer. The arms adjust to 10 various lengths which enables the Cross Trainer to fit users from 4'6" to 6'4"...

BRUCE BAKER City Editor McCOOK, Nebraska -- Nearly 300 housing units should be built in McCook over the next 10 years to meet demand, according to a study reviewed by the City Council Monday night. The housing shortage discussion included a recap from McCook Economic Development Director Rex Nelson of a detailed list of recommended action steps provided by the study...

DAWN CRIBBS Associate Editor LAS VEGAS, Nevada -- When Linda Egle of Palisade first traveled to India in 1988 on a missions trip with her home church in Lakewood, Colorado, she went with the purpose of helping to establish a children's education program...

First graders, from left, Canyon Hosick and Colton Sedlacek leave their mark on a collaborated art piece during the McCook Elementary Art Portfolio Night, Tuesday evening. See a few other images of elementary student artwork from the event, as well as other art and entertainment news, in this week's Preview...

McCook High School auditorium was packed Tuesday night, as the MHS band, jazz band and junior high band presented their last concert of the year. High school band members included Breanna Redl and Sam Backer on the sax. During the concert, senior band members, represented by Hollie Eiler, from left and Rhiann Swancutt, gave band instructor Donita Priebe flowers and a tote bag filled with mementos...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- This Saturday, the United States Postal Service and the National Association of Letter Carriers will conduct the nation's largest single-day food drive. The nation's 175,000 letter carriers will collect food donations left at mailboxes in more than 10,000 communities and deliver them to food banks and other hunger relief organizations, such as pantries, soup kitchens and shelters...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- The McCook, Nebraska, Public Library will celebrate the national "Children's Book Week," May 13 through May 18. Librarian Jody Crocker said, "We are going on the theme 'If You Give A ... ,' based on the books by Laura Numeroff." Special activities at the McCook library will be:...

A cancer diagnosis is a shock, whether it's ourselves, a loved one or friend who receives the news. Add to that the uncertainties of the availability of treatment, and the prognosis almost becomes secondary. Thanks to advances in diagnosis and treatment, the prognosis is good for the majority of cancer patients, and now, thanks to a new project at Community Hospital, so is the availability of treatment...

Nebraskans are keenly aware of a term called "wind chill" or the wind chill factor. It is the perceived decrease in air temperature felt by the body on exposed skin due to the flow of cold air. Said temperatures are always lower than the air temperature where the formula is valid. That would be just about everywhere. Likewise, the "heat index" is used to describe an apparent temperature higher than the air temperature...

Well, it's a slow news week astronomically speaking, so let's go the mailbag--or rather the in-box that is. Interesting question from a reader, "What are double stars?" Ok, the simple answer is a double star is a pair of stars that appear close to each other in the sky as seen from Earth. A double star can also be called a binary...

Kay Miller of Bird City, Kansas, captured this late April 2013, image from her kitchen window, using her Kodak Easy Share C 330. Mary Dorsch, who sent the photo, writes, "It looked like someone stood back and threw huge, wet snow balls on the tree, and they stuck." The McCook Daily Gazette would love to showcase your weather photos. ...

Palisade, Nebraska, native Matthew Blomstedt, now of Central City, poses with his wife, Angela, and children -- Emily, Megan, Katelynn, Claire and Erik -- minutes after receiving his Doctorate in Educational Administration during a University of Nebraska-Lincoln hooding and commencement ceremony on Friday, May 3. ...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- The McCook Educational Foundation is proud to announce the following students with perfect attendance in the McCook School System for the 2012-2013 school year. Kindergarten-Jadyn Fox, Sydney Hodgson and Dani Johnson First Grade-Connor Ball, Brett Fraker, Keagan Reece and Aaron Vigneur...

Scholarships HASTINGS, Nebraska -- About 150 individuals planning to attend Central Community College-Hastings have received scholarships for the 2013-14 academic year. They are: IMPERIAL: Michaela Space; ORLEANS: Paulina Ortega Madrid, Cody Roberts and Cody Wittfoth;...

Allison Been, a spring graduate of McCook, Nebraska, Senior High, accepts the 2013 PEO Star Scholarship from Chapter FA representatives Sue Ann Mollring, left, and Pam Wolford. Allison was chosen for the scholarship based on the characteristics of dependability, service, leadership and patriotism. She is the daughter of Peggy and Kent Been of rural McCook, and plans to attend the University of Nebraska at Omaha in the fall to pursue a degree in biotechnology...

Elaine Berry of Trenton, Nebraska, from left, Barbie Long and Lindsey Lawson, both of McCook, Nebraska, are inducted into Phi Theta Kappa at Colby Community College. The women will receive their RN pins and their Associate of Applied Science degrees in nursing Saturday during commencement exercises...

HAYES CENTER, Nebraska -- The Hayes Center American Legion Post No. 287 is pleased to announce their representatives for Cornhusker Boys' State. Seth Gohl of Hayes Center and Garrett Smith of McCook will attend the 73rd Annual Session, June 2-June 8, in Lincoln...

NORTH PLATTE, Nebraska -- North Platte Community College recognized outstanding student achievements at its fifth annual Honors Convocation April 17, at the college. Ryan Purdy, President of Mid-Plains Community College, and Marcus Garstecki, North Platte Community College Vice President, were on hand to give opening and closing remarks, as well as present several of the awards...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- The Internal Customer Service team at Mid-Plains Community College has honored Instructor Tyler Esch with the "You Rock" award for her "willingness to help out when needed, and going above and beyond with a smile. She received two nominations for the award, both citing her role in helping new students and those who are undeclared answer questions about their majors...

Carol Stensvad of McCook writes: "Roger Kolbet, an EMT from Culbertson, came to our home in McCook to visit my husband who was bedfast for several weeks, and Roger helped me get him into his wheelchair and out to the sunroom to enjoy his visit and to get some sunshine -- what a wonderful, caring person!"...