Stories from Thursday, July 25, 2013

Cheryl Downer WICHITA, Kansas -- Downer, Cheryl, 58, active member of West Heights United Methodist church, who enjoyed her family, friends, pets, and doing beadwork, passed away July 21, 2013. She is survived by husband of 15 years, Thomas Downer; son, Jason M. Shield; parents, Janice and Delbert Anderson; brothers, Richard (Crystal) Anderson and Roger (Lori) Anderson...

Cathy Mae Stoddard Kubik April 2, 1951 - July 21, 2013 CAMBRIDGE, Nebraska -- Cathy Mae Stoddard Kubik, age 62, died at the Cambridge Memorial Hospital on July 21, 2013. She was born in McCook, Nebraska, on April 2, 1951, to Robert and Adeline (Niemoth) Stoddard of Cambridge. ...

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...

KEARNEY, Nebraska -- One hundred eighty-seven students will graduate July 26 at University of Nebraska at Kearney's summer commencement exercises. Candidates for graduation include 82 baccalaureate and 105 graduate degree candidates. The ceremony begins at 10 a.m. at the Nebraskan Student Union Ponderosa Room...

A little bit country Phalen Sanford of Benkelman sings and plays his guitar while Janelle Williams of McCook sings Patsy Cline's "Blue," at the Coyote Country Music Showdown talent contest at the Kiplinger Arena, part of the activities Wednesday night at the Red Willow County Fair. ...

Hitchcock County, Nebraska Clover Kid pre-4-Her's 6-year-old Kade Thiessen, with his Schnauzer "Ari," and 5-year-old Haley Ladenburger, with her border collie "Abbie," visit with and perform for dog show judge Pam Gaston of McCook, during the dog show Thursday morning on the fairgrounds in Culbertson. Gaston said she was impressed that the young showmen knew their patterns "and they never stood between their dog and the judge." Both showmen earned rainbow-colored Clover Kid ribbons...

Members of McCook, Nebraska High School Bison football team this morning build shelves in a new location for Richard and Debra Schamel's NAPA Auto Supply. The NAPA building at the corner of West B and Second Street was damaged in the fire at Fuller's Family Restaurant Saturday and Sunday, and NAPA is relocating to a former hardware and pet store a block north, in the 200 block of West First...

Kelsey Schwantz' big horse, "Rainbow," and judge Randy Butterfield size up miniature horses exhibited in the Furnas County Fair 4-H horse show in Beaver City, Nebraska, last week. Saige Tegtman showed palomino-colored "Sunny," and Raeanna Thane showed "Mini Winnie."...

BRUCE BAKER City Editor McCOOK, Nebraska -- The proposed budget for the City of McCook's upcoming fiscal year reflects a decrease of $1.2 million from the previous years budget, however, it is also an increase of more than $8.3 million from where city expenditures are estimated to actually end at the close of the current fiscal year. ...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- The Mid Plains Community College board of governors approved the creation of a new position to measure how well the college is doing its job. The Area Assessment Coordinator will collect and analyze data such as transfer success, job placement and other outcomes for use in accreditation and administration...

If you weren't convinced that diet soda isn't completely harmless by our reference to a Purdue study earlier this month, (http://bit.ly/149hubw), perhaps you caught the story on our "To Your Health" page Wednesday. It included a news release from the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Dentistry, warning that phosphoric and citric acid, common ingredients in many popular sodas and diet sodas, alters the pH balance in the mouth and can cause tooth erosion over time...

Platte Institute As states, municipalities, and families continue to struggle to balance their budgets, the political influence of public-sector unions has received more scrutiny. In Nebraska, fire and police unions have been under an especially close microscope, while the state teacher's union has, so far, escaped detailed examination...

Workers install a new electronic sign for MNB at U.S. 6-34 and Highway 83, McCook's main intersection on the west side of town.

"This ugly guy hopped out of one of my plants and was hanging on the underside of the deck railing," writes Roxy Lang of Wilsonville, Nebraska. "I have not seen a lot of grasshoppers around the house, and I hope I don't!" Roxy used these settings to get the shot: f/9, 1/100,iso640, 60mm. The McCook Gazette would love to showcase your weather photos. Email photos to editor2@ocsmccook.com or bringing them into the Gazette offices at West First and E Streets...

Dakota Hutchins of Culbertson, Nebraska, competes in the Coyote Country Music Showdown talent contest Wednesday night at the Kiplinger Arena, as the Red Willow County Fair officially gets under way. First place winner was Stacey Armijo, second place was the band, "Pet Peeve" and third, Melody Jones and Alex Roe. ...