Stories from Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Robert 'Bob' Anderson June 18, 1936 - Aug. 10, 2013 ARAPAHOE, Nebraska -- Robert (Bob) Anderson, 77, died Saturday (Aug.10, 2013), at Holdrege Memorial Home. He was born to John "Mac" and Mildred (Adkins) Anderson in Holdrege on June 18, 1936. He graduated from Arapahoe High School in 1954...

Esther (Schnell) Haas Nov. 17, 1925 - Aug.12, 2013 BEAVER CITY, Nebraska -- Esther (Schnell) Haas, 87, died Monday (Aug.12, 2013), at the Holdrege Memorial Homes in Holdrege, Nebraska. She was born on Nov. 17, 1925, to John J. and Christina (Mohr) Schnell in the family home in the North German Russian Bottoms, Lincoln, Nebraska...

Clark McMinn HAMLET, Nebraska -- Clark McMinn, 82, a longtime resident of Hamlet, died Friday (Aug. 9, 2013), at Community Hospital in McCook. Survivors include his wife, Donna McMinn of Hamlet; children, Dan and wife, Janice McMinn of Kearney, Nebraska, Ben McMinn of Hamlet; daughter, Rebecca Weldon of Arvada, Colorado, Kent and wife, Onista McMinn of Hamlet; brothers, Larence McMinn and John McMinn, of Hillsboro, Kansas; sister, Virginia Densler of McPherson, Kansas; sister-in-law, Carol and husband, Loren Ford of Greeley, Colorado; seven grandchildren and three step-grandchildren.. ...

Sue Nelms of Holbrook, Nebraska, took this shot of the sun setting and dusk descending on July 30, in a pasture northeast of Byers, Colorado, using a digital Canon PowerShot SX110 IS. The McCook Gazette would love to showcase your weather photos. Readers can contribute to our daily weather page, subject to space and color availability, by emailing photos to editor2@ocsmccook.com or bringing them into the Gazette offices at West First and E Streets. ...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- A McCook man facing eight felony charges of sexual assault accepted plea agreements recently which admitted guilt to one felony offense of first degree sexual assault of a minor and a misdemeanor offense of third degree sexual assault...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- A Holbrook woman was sentenced to 24 months probation last week in Red Willow County District Court after accepting a plea agreement that admitted guilt to a misdemeanor offense of attempting to possess methamphetamine. The woman, 19-year-old Alexis L. ...

An exhibit featuring McCook, Nebraska artist Norma Stevens' paintings is on display at the TruCafe, 2100 Central Avenue, Kearney, Nebraska, through August. A public reception is scheduled Thursday, Aug. 15, from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m., to welcome the artist and to view her art. The exhibit features landscapes, florals, and still life...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- A federal aid road project in Red Willow County that's been in the works for at least 14-15 years will start this fall. Red Willow County will pay $292,000 of the "McCook North" project; it's already made one $85,000 payment. The federal government will pick up the remainder of the $1.4 million project...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- The McCook School Board gave Superintendent Grant Norgaard a unanimous vote of confidence, with a 2.9 percent increase in salary. The board met with Norgaard for his evaluation in closed session after the regular meeting Tuesday night. Norgaard left the closed meeting while the board discussed terms of his contract...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Fuller's Family Restaurant waitress and cashier Renee Diaz, left, and manager Linda Thayer unload coffee at the new location of Fuller's, at 110 Norris Ave, the former Looking Glass in downtown McCook, Nebraska. Val Fuller's restaurant in the 200 block of West B burned beyond repair and renovation July 20 and 21. "We want to open Monday," Linda said, smiling. "We're all anxious to come back. I'm ready to see some old, familiar faces."...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Despite the continuing drought in Southwest Nebraska, and particularly in Red Willow County, weeds continue to grow, well ... hmmm ... like weeds. Bill Elliott, the county's weed control specialist, told county commissioners during their weekly meeting Monday morning that he continues to inspect sprayed and uncontrolled infestations of musk and Canada thistles, salt cedar, phragmites and leafy spurge, and now, even a weed called "houndstongue" or "dog bur."...

"Only you can prevent forest fires!" scolds Smoky Bear in those old posters, and it's still an important message for hikers and campers who spend any time in the mountains. Many of us watched Ken Burns' latest PBS series, "The Dust Bowl," pointing out the importance of conservation measures on the Great Plains...

It has been some 35 years ago that for the first time we crested the ridge to behold a panoramic view of the south shore of mighty Lake Superior. Spread before us was the town of Marquette, Michigan, about the size of North Platte. On the outskirts of the city, the sign announced "Visitor Center." Uncle Sam had assigned us to stay an indeterminate number of years at nearby K.I. Sawyer AFB. So it was that we pulled in to learn the flavor of the place from a friendly Chamber of Commerce...