Stories from Thursday, September 26, 2013

Albuquerque, New Mexico -- McCook balloonist John Kugler and Bert Padelt of Pennsylvania are teaming up to take part in the America's Challenge gas balloon race that is part of the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta. This is Kugler's 10th year in participating in the event, in which gas balloonists from around the world compete to see who can fly the farthest...

Kenneth Leroy Harding Jan. 18, 1934 - Sept. 24, 2013 BEAVER CITY, Nebraska -- Kenneth Leroy Harding, 79, of Cozad, Nebraska, died Tuesday (Sept. 24, 2013), at Cozad Community Hospital. He was born Jan. 18, 1934, near Beaver City to Leroy and Velma R. (Beeler) Harding. He grew up on a farm northwest of Beaver City. He moved to town with his parents in 1968...

McCOOK, Nebraska--Adults who have experienced a recent loss of a loved one are invited to join Community Hospital's grief support group, which begins Oct. 1. The support group meets for eight weeks on Tuesdays from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Sessions are Oct. 1, 15, 29; Nov. ...

Walk into the McCook Carpets Plus / Color Tile store at 206 Norris Avenue and you can immediately see the vastness of the floor store's immense inventory. With 7,000 square feet of open space, Carpet Plus's stock of carpet rolls, color tile, wood flooring, sample racks and accessories are readily visible to all who stop to shop and visit. ...

Missy Booher caught this colorful sunrise Sept. 23. She writes, "Catching one of nature's beautiful morning sunrises." 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 -- Community-minded individuals of the past, present and future were recognized Wednesday as the 43rd annual Heritage Days celebration kicked off with the traditional, crowded, McCook Area Chamber of Commerce mixer at McCook National Bank...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Nebraska State Bar Association officials said they support changest to the state's juvenile justice system created by LB 561, passed in May. "The legislation changes the focus of our juvenile system, away from punishment and towards diversion programs," said Marsha Fangmeyer, president of the NSBA executive council, during a visit to McCook on Tuesday...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Nebraska Secretary of State John Gale hopes to increase voter turnout by allowing online registration and expanding on the use of all-mail ballots in special elections. Gale visited McCook Wednesday and said he intended to seek legislative approval in the coming session for online registration and believed the Internet could help the state reach out to more voters...

Exaggeration, half-truths and outright lies are nothing new, especially when it comes to Washington rhetoric. There is no shortage when it comes to discussion of the Affordable Care Act, but Sen. Ted Cruz's 21-hour anti-Obamacare marathon on the Senate floor, and the response from the Obama administration have had more than their share...

President Eisenhower's Secretary of Agriculture, Ezra Taft Benson, once said "yesterday's meal is not enough to sustain today's needs." Bashar Assad of Syria has created a situation where the people in that country are severly malnourished in regard to their basic human rights and personal freedom. Other countries in the Middle East, such as Iraq, Afghanistan, Egypt and Iran, are suffering from the same type of affliction...

There are some slang words and language trends that have come and gone over the years. For instance, back in the '50s, you might hear the kids say, "Man, that cat is a real square." Or "My parents are such a drag." Or "Hey, Daddy-o, what's cookin'?"...

Leona R. Trout March 1, 1923 - Sept. 26, 2013 McCOOK, Nebraska -- Leona Anna Regina Trout, formerly of McCook, Nebraska, passed away Thursday, Sept. 26, 2013, at The Nebraska Masonic Home in Plattsmouth. She was 90 years old. Leona was born on March 1, 1923, in Okawville, Illinois, to parents, Henry and Caroline (Wiechert) Hoelscher...