Stories from Friday, June 14, 2013

FAMILY FEATURES -- When it comes right down to it, all guests expect from a great party are good company, cold drinks and delicious food. So, make entertaining easy with a simple yet delicious spread of savory appetizers, grilled favorites and sweet treats...

I read this week that the McCook School Board was presented with the task of determining how to discipline a teacher who had allowed high school students to drink alcohol in her home. I was a bit surprised to read further that the school board was split on whether or not to terminate the teacher and ultimately took no action. I am sure details about the scenario are still coming out and I am well aware of how difficult personnel matters can be in unionized operations...

KEARNEY, Nebraska -- Several local teachers were among 48 Nebraska business teachers who were recognized by the Nebraska Department of Education at the Nebraska Career Education Conference held June 5 in Kearney. Teachers whose professional activities influenced business and marketing education in Nebraska during the past year received BEST - Belong, Excel, Study and Travel - Awards for their involvement in professional associations, community and school activities, professional leadership development and service to the business education profession.. ...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Fr. Scott Courtney will present "Fueled by the Word" followed by time for questions and discussion, Thursday, June 20 from 7 -- 8:30 p.m. at Sehnert's Bieroc Café, 312 Norris Ave, McCook. "Theology on Tap" is an informal opportunity to explore religious issues, to develop friendships and to learn more about your faith. All are invited who are out of high school or older, but of course only those 21 or older will be served alcohol...

By Susan Doak SW Nebraska Genealogy Society Let's be honest, not everyone is interested in Genealogy. Yes, they might be curious as to where their family name came from or who first settled in the United States but the listing of long gone relatives three times removed puts them to sleep!...

Scharf, Eckles, John and Barbara Scharf, of Curtis, Nebraska, and Dick and Carol Eckles, of Nelson, Nebraska, are pleased to announce the engagement and upcoming wedding of their children, Stephanie Scharf and Daniel Eckles, both of Lincoln, Nebraska...

60th anniversary The family of Ron and Barbara Schneider of Bartley, Nebraska, is requesting a card shower in honor of the couple's 60th wedding anniversary. They were married June 20, 1953, at St. Ann's Church in rural Frontier county, Nebraska. Their family includes children, Greg and wife, Laura Schneider of Hastings, Nebraska, Kathi Schneider and husband, Jim Lee of Las Vegas, Nevada, Diane and husband, Steve Lytle of McCook, Nebraska; grandchildren, Mindy Dann, Loray Widick, Jeremy Lytle, Chris Lytle, Jacque Schneider, Nile Schneider, Graham Schneider and one great-grandchild, Waddell. ...

60th anniversary...

90th birthday The family of Bette Jo Tompkins of McCook, Nebraska, is requesting a card shower in honor of her 90th birthday. She was born June 25, 1923, in Bartley, Nebraska. Her family includes children, Ron Tompkins of Berkeley, California, Mary Jo and her husband, Dan Radil, of Alma, Nebraska, Jeri Brisbin of Kearney, Nebraska and four grandchildren, Lacey Pearson, Quintin VerHagen, Austin Radil and Katy Radil. ...

50th anniversary The family of Dick and Susan (Smith) Bauer of Sioux City, Iowa, is requesting a card shower in honor of the couple's 50th wedding anniversary. They were married June 9, 1963, in Culbertson, Nebraska. Both Dick and Susan graduated high school from Culbertson High and both attended the University of Nebraska. ...

Mowitz, Lytle Ashley Mowitz and Jeremy Lytle, both of Kearney, Nebraska, announce their engagement and upcoming wedding. Parents of the bride-to-be are Brian and Joleen Mowitz of St. Paul, Nebraska. Grandparents are Sinobia Griess of Sutton, Nebraska and the late Paul Griess, Carol Lyon of Seward, Nebraska, and the late Eldred Mowitz and Clyde Lyon...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- A Grant, Nebraska, man is the new official in charge of McCook Community College. Andrew "Andy" Long has accepted the position of Vice President of McCook Community College. He currently serves as the Area Dean of Enrollment Management for Northeastern Junior College in Sterling, Colo...

"Beans" -- "giant beans" ... "wondrous beans" -- boogie across the stage in rehearsal for the Missoula Children's Theatre's presentations of "Jack and the Beanstalk" Saturday, at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m., at the Historic Fox Theatre in downtown McCook, Nebraska. ...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- A Scottsbluff, Nebraska, company has requested the use of city right-of-way to install multiple groundwater monitoring wells on property surrounding the McCook Taco Johns. The project intends to determine how far a petroleum products contamination in the area has spread...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- A recently-deceased survivor of Nazi death camps began a new life in America more than 60 years ago, thanks to an American GI from Lebanon, Nebraska. Benny Hochman was 89 when he passed away May 29 in Sidney, Nebraska, a life marked with atrocities he suffered in Auschwitz and Buchenwald but ending with an untiring love of his adopted country...

The debate over immigration reform, combined with the controversial implementation of Obamacare, is raising the prospect of thousands of illegal immigrants obtaining healthcare on the taxpayer's dime. The Unicameral has even dealt with the issue several times, debating a program that offers prenatal care to undocumented immigrants...

The original purpose for affirmative action was sound and logical. We lived in a segregated society run by white people who were only going to hire people of color for the lowest paid menial jobs that a vast majority of whites didn't want. If laws were not put in place to correct this, nothing would change and blacks would remain on the bottom forever...

It was summertime. I was 11 years old when Dad decided to teach me how to make meatloaf. We lived in a one hundred year old wood frame house on Maple Street, in Omaha, Nebraska. With a view of our peach trees through the side porch door, as birds and bees buzzed about, he dipped his hands into the bowl of meat to demonstrate. "Now you do it," he said...

80th birthday Dean Shackelford of Trenton, Nebraska, will celebrate his 80th birthday on June 21, 2013. An open house is being planned by his family for July 13, 2013, from 2-4 p.m. at the TCDC in Trenton. This will be in conjunction with his and Wyona's 60th wedding anniversary open house celebration. Cards of congratulations will reach the Shackelford's at P.O. Box 176, Trenton, NE 69044...

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...