Stories from Wednesday, September 4, 2013

Gary E. Metcalf Aug. 25, 1931 - Aug. 20, 2013 LAKEWOOD, Colorado -- Gary E. Metcalf, 81, passed away Aug. 20, 2013, at Catherine's Quality of Life Home in Lakewood, Colorado. He was born on the family farm in Decatur County, Kansas on Aug. 25, 1931, to Elmer and Vida May (Berry) Metcalf...

Eugene Glenn 'Gene' Koons July 31, 1928 - Aug. 9 2013 ATWOOD, Kansas -- Eugene Glenn "Gene" Koons was born July 31, 1928, on a farm seven miles south of Watkins County. He died Aug. 9, 2013, at Rawlins County Medical Center in Atwood, Kansas, at the age of 85...

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...

NORTH PLATTE, Nebraska -- A McCook High School alumni is now practicing dentistry in North Platte. Dr. Kate Wolford, D.D.S, a 2005 McCook High School graduate, is the full-time dentist at the West Central District Health Department in North Platte Wolford grew up in McCook and after graduating from MHS, attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where she graduated with honors, receiving her Bachelor's degree in nutrition sciences. ...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Southwest Nebraska Public Health Department's 10th annual Walk to Health walking program was completed on Aug. 9. The program lasted for 12 weeks and included 388 residents of all ages in the SWNPHD eight-county service area. "We are pleased to announce our top performers and teams for Walk to Health," said Myra Stoney, Director of Southwest Nebraska Public Health Department (SWNPHD). ...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Bryan Health will provide mobile vascular disease screenings on Tuesday, Oct. 1 in McCook. Bryan Health mobile screening bus will be in Community Hospital's front parking lot to perform carotid artery ultrasound screenings, abdominal aortic ultrasound screenings, peripheral arterial disease (PAD) screenings and atrial fibrillation (AF or afib) screenings...

The deep blue water in this garden pond reflects the puffy white clouds overhead. 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. Include the photographer's name and where and when the photo was taken and the camera settings used to get the shot (optional)...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- The McCook Ministerial Association will bring the Tabernacle Experience, a full-scale replica of the old testament Tabernacle of the Wilderness to McCook on Friday, Sept. 27, through Sunday, Oct. 6. The presentation will be just south of Community Hospital in McCook...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- The Buffalo Commons Storytelling Festival planning committee is once more in motion preparing for the 2014 Storytelling Festival, June 13-14, 2014. As in years past, the committee will host monthly planning Huddles followed by their First Tuesday storytelling opportunities. Each month, October through May, will feature a different topic for seasoned and beginning storytellers alike. All are welcome to come to the Bieroc Café at 7 p.m. to participate or just to listen...

Annette Irwin of Omaha, formerly of McCook, will sell furniture from her father Otto Nilsson's apartment house in McCook at an estate sale -- not an auction as indicated in an earlier Gazette headline -- Friday and Saturday, Sept, 6 and 7, through the north (alley) doors of the two-story brick Rytt Building at 417 West B in McCook. ...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- The City of McCook is once again offering a tree rebate program in an effort to encourage property owners to plant trees. This year's focus tree is oak of the English, white, heritage or bur variety. Some of the restrictions of the program, developed by the McCook Tree Advisory Board, include that the tree(s) must be planted in the front yard, visible from the street, two trees will be rebated per property owner or tenant per lot, per spring and per fall, if planted in the front yard. ...

Using Sesame Street-type puppets and other props, McCook Elementary students were mesmerized by a puppet show Tuesday about bullying, presented by trained puppeteers with the Nebraska Elks Kids on the Block puppet troupe. Students learned what to do if they are bullied, if they see someone else being bullied and the power of words. ...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- The McCook Area Community Choir will begin rehearsals at 1:30 p.m. Sunday at Memorial United Methodist Church, Norris and E, in McCook. This is in preparation for the annual Christmas concert held on the first Sunday of December Anyone who likes to sing is welcome to be a part of this choir...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- The McCook Area Chamb er of Commerce is bringing the Harlem Ambassadors to McCook 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28, for a special comedy event. A team of local celebrities will play against the Harlem Ambassadors as they exhibit high-flying slam dunks, dazzling ball-handling tricks and hilarious comedy routines...

The women's movement has struggled for equality for years, but when it comes to one aspect of serving in the military, women have, unfortunately, achieved more than their share. A RAND Corp. study found predictable results when it tracked the marital status of more than 460,000 U.S. service members between 1999 and 2008. With each passing month that a spouse was away at war, the chance of divorce increased...

The first Nebraska territorial fair was held in September 1859 in Nebraska City. The first state fair was also held in Nebraska City in 1868. Next came Brownville and then alternately Lincoln and Omaha until the 1901 Nebraska Legislature gave it to Lincoln, permanently -- or so everyone thought...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Four world-class performances right here in McCook, and 10 others only a pleasant evening drive away are in the offing for this year's members of the McCook Concert Association. The MCA's membership drive for the 2013-14 season begins Sunday and lasts until Monday, Sept. 30, with $45 for adults, $90 for a family. Student memberships remain at $10...

A relatively young McCook Community College women's volleyball team is trying to find a groove early in the 2013 season. And trying very hard to record the first match win of the year. The Lady Indians hosted four other two-year junior college squads in the MCC Invitational Friday and Saturday, Aug. 30-31, at the MCC Events Center. While the hosts lost all four of its matches, the McCook women were competitive in pushing three of its matches to five sets...

40th anniversary The family of Mike and Anna Hays of McCook is requesting a card shower in honor of the couple's 40th wedding anniversary Sept. 5. Their family includes children, Melanie and Jeff Alberts and Stephanie and Jesse Stevens, all of McCook, and grandchildren, Shelby, Andrew, Nick, Ethan and Emily. Cards of congratulations will reach them at 907 W. Third, McCook, NE 69001...

The comet it coming, the comet is coming! While in ancient days that may have served as a notice of impending doom, for us today it means we may be in for a spectacular showing of dark sky splendor put on by an icy visitor from the outer reaches of our solar system...