Stories from Thursday, June 13, 2013

Brent E. Petty Feb.1, 1985 - June 8, 2013 SUN PRAIRIE, Wisconsin -- Brent E. Petty, age 28, died Saturday afternoon, June 8, 2013, at home. He was born Feb. 1, 1985, in Rockford, Illinois, the son of Everett and Marian (Spring) Petty. Brent is survived by his parents, Everett and Marian Petty of Sun Prairie, Wisconsin; sister, Krystal Petty of Ottumwa, Iowa; brother, Austin Petty of Sun Prairie, Wisconsin; his maternal grandparents, Roger and Ella Jane Spring of Rockford, Illinois; his paternal grandparents, William and Janice Petty of Friendship, Wisconsin; aunts and uncles, Scott and Michelle Spring, Nancy and Steffen Lang, Roger Allen Spring, Kevin and Roxanne Bunch, Daniel and Debbie Petty, David and Bonnie Petty, Elizabeth Petty, Lois Petty, Roger and Rachel Bleskachek; a host of cousins, and niece, Aubree Tafta.. ...

Wes Donohue BENKELMAN, Nebraska -- Wes Donohue, 87, long-time resident of Benkelman, died Wednesday (June 12, 2013), at the Yuma Life Care Center in Yuma, Colorado. Survivors include daughters, Peggy Dinnel Anderson and husband, Dale, of Yuma, Colorado, Barbara Powell of North Platte, Nebraska and Deb Flemming and husband, Dave, of Bird City, Kansas; sons, Daniel Donohue and wife, Lois, of Bird City, Kansas and Donald Donohue and wife, Jana, of Gypsum, Colorado; brothers, Eldon Donohue of Upland, Nebraska and Jim Donohue and wife, Linda, of Inland, Nebraska; 15 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren.. ...

Courtesy photo Trish Collister, right, of Dwight, Nebraska, president of the Nebraska State Genealogical Society, presents Susan Doak of McCook the Genealogist of the Year award at the 2013 Annual Conference and Membership Meeting in Grand Island Nebraska. ...

Dustin Mills of Arvada, Colo., topped the 27-player field in the annual Ron Coleman Memorial Horserace Friday, June 7, at the Heritage Hills Golf Course in McCook. The Horserace event, featuring 27 professional golfers shooting for big cash prizes, marked the start of the 25th anniversary John Mullen Pro-Am Tournament at the McCook course...

One of the top golfers in McCook history will see his U.S. Open dream postponed for a few hours Thursday, June 13. Brandon Crick was scheduled to debut at the U.S. national champion meet early Thursday afternoon in the 113th U.S. Open at Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Penn. But heavy rains early Thursday morning forced tournament officials to suspend play...

CURTIS, Nebraska -- Middle Republican Natural Resources District directors Tuesday evening reviewed a preliminary 2013-14 budget that almost doubles last year's property tax levy and increases the occupation tax by 53 cents. Early estimates show that the district's valuation could increase from $2,606,471,003 to $2,750,000,000, although some board members feel that the valuation could be closer to $3 billion when it's officially certified Aug. 20...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- The City of McCook hopes to save money in the long run by investing another $190,000 in trash hauling equipment and expenses, intending to proceed with taking over what has traditionally been a locally contracted service to haul trash to a landfill...

CAMBRIDGE, Nebraska -- Brad Farr doesn't have regular "hours" at his new agriculture seed and chemical warehouse west of Cambridge, Nebraska. "We're here for the farmers," he said, sitting inside the office of "Extreme Ag Inc." figuring chemical application rates for a customer Wednesday morning. "Whatever they need, we're here."...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- A McCook man pleaded no contest to felony burglary last week in Red Willow County District Court and was subsequently sentenced to 30 months probation. The burglar, 22-year-old Joshua K. Sain of 412 E. Fifth Street, was charged in connection with a Jan. 20, 2013, break-in at Nelseena's Leather Shop in Danbury, Nebraska...

We're all urged to report suspected abuse of children -- in fact, it's illegal NOT to tell authorities when we believe a baby, toddler or older is suffering at the hands of an adult or older child. But children are not the only vulnerable people we may have contact with. A high percentage of Southwest Nebraska and Northwest Kansas residents are of retirement age or older, and the proportion is growing as more and more baby boomers age...

Last weekend was our, what seems like, 18th weekend hotel stay since school got out. It's probably actually only the fourth weekend but travel softball keeps the wheels spinning on our family truckster and our bags constantly packed. However, this last visit to Eastern Nebraska, we got to share our hotel visit with my youngest brother and his family, the one with three babies under the age of 5...