Stories from Monday, October 28, 2013

The 43rd issue of the Bison Alumni Newsletter is ready to be folded for mailing. Alumni & friends are needed at 6 pm Tuesday, Oct. 29 at the McCook Junior High Cafeteria. Join in the fun!

Betty J. (Carpenter) Harmon June 16, 1919 - Oct. 11, 2013 McCOOK, Nebraska -- Betty J. (Carpenter) Harmon passed away Friday, Oct. 11, 2013, at Hillcrest Nursing Home. Betty was born on June 16, 1919, at Campbell, Nebraska to Tarlington Bates and Minnie Blanche (Harvey) Carpenter...

Dareld Dean Blake April 24, 1937 - Oct. 24, 2013 SUTHERLAND, Nebraska -- Dareld Dean Blake, 76, of Sutherland, passed away Thursday, Oct. 24, 2013, at Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney, Nebraska. Dareld was born on April 24, 1937, to Marjorie and Claude Blake in McCook, Nebraska. He grew up in Bartley and graduated from Bartley Public School in 1955. In 1954 Dareld enlisted in the U.S. Navy at the age of 17 and was honorably discharged in 1958...

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...

AmFirst Bank and AmFirst Investments Services personnel present 250 pounds of ground beef to Garnet (left) and Dorothy Henton (center), representing the McCook Pantry. Dorothy, who is the Pantry's president, said it's not always possible to put meat on the Pantry's "shopping list," so the AmFirst banking and investments departments' donation of beef is especially appreciated. ...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- "Share the Heat" is a community program that helps people with their heating bills. The funds are raised by volunteers who work toward keeping the heat source connected for each household. Referrals for assistance are placed through the Community Action Partnership of MidNebraska, Barb Ostrum coordinator, and the heating bills are then paid through an independent account directly to the utility involved; each household can be helped one time per winter...

When we open our hearts and minds, and take on new challenges, it's amazing to behold all the things that happen to us in a short amount of time. Certainly that's true for Lisa Wilcox, who three and a half years ago entered the business world by purchasing New Life Christian Book Store at 211 Norris Avenue in McCook...

McCook, Nebraska, firefighter/paramedic Shane Smith, above, checks on the condition of a McCook Community College baseball player "injured" in an SUV/bus accident mock disaster drill Sunday afternoon. Brian Sandusky, top, an MCC paramedic student from Spokane, Washington, his 4-year-old son Sullivan and his 3-year-old daughter Sela played the parts of the SUV driver and passengers. The drill involved MCC, McCook's fire, rescue and police departments and Community Hospital...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Camper trailers and mobile coaches must be moved off city streets and out of front driveways by Nov. 1, according to the McCook Police Department. Citing city ordinance, the police department issued a reminder to residents in an effort to avoid complaints and reduce parking citations...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Red Willow County, Nebraska, commissioners must advertise and conduct a public hearing before deciding whether or not to sell a quarter-section of land gifted to the county by Tom Kiplinger. Kiplinger, the benefactor of the Kiplinger arenas on the county fairgrounds in McCook, gave the land to the county to rent or sell, the proceeds of either will be placed in an endowment fund to operate and maintain two indoor arenas and the associated pens, stalls and animal handling equipment.. ...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Complaints of drivers failing to stop before turning right at the U.S. Highway 83 intersections with B Street and J Street has prompted the McCook Police Department to conduct extra patrol activity in an effort to increase awareness and potentially reduce accidents...

Seven-year-old Mason Stoddard free-hands a cow in the floor of the Trudy Arena, while his mother, Josey, left, the artist and proprietor of "Blu Stone Designs," visits with shoppers at her "Junktoberfest" booth Saturday on the fairgrounds in McCook, Nebraska. ...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- McCook and regional emergency responders participated in training recently designed to teach them how to administer casualty care outside of their usual environment and while incorporating the completion of a tactical mission. The Tactical Combat Casualty Care Course was taught by Craig Jacobus of Metro Community College-Fremont Campus at the McCook Municipal Center last weekend...

Ghosts, Goblins and Ghouls fill the streets of McCook Saturday during the McCook Gazette - McCook Area Chamber of Commerce Halloween Parade in McCook. Generous downtown merchants, many in costume themselves, provided treats for hundreds of trick or treaters who showed up to celebrate the fun. ...

Edward Klein's best-selling book, "The Amateur" skewered President Obama as an out-of-touch, arrogant incompetent who wouldn't admit what he didn't know. Implementation of the Affordable Care Act, unfortunately, hasn't done the president's reputation any favors. Critics are calling for the resignation of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, former Kansas governor, but she would only be a convenient scapegoat...

As they approach 100 years of combined service to this region, the partners who guide and direct Southwest Nebraska Physical Therapy are joining to pay tribute to the people and communities they serve. "We are appreciative of all the support we have received," said the partners. "Since we pooled our resources to form Southwest Nebraska Physical Therapy in 2001, the number of people we serve has continued to increase, requiring us to nearly double the size of our staff during the past 12 years."...

(Note: In the 100-plus year history of Nebraska, the state has produced many great players. Most of us have our favorites. One of mine is Tom Novak, a one-of-a-kind Nebraska boy who came along in the bleak years of Cornhusker football, after World War II. Tom was an inspirational leader of his teams, and has served as an inspiration to the players who came after him. This football season, I feel Tom deserves another look.)...

Photographer Roxy Lang of Wilsonville, Nebraska, reports that she got this photo of a bobcat, not down at the river, but up on the hill southeast of Wilsonville, on Oct. 9. She used these settings: f/9, 1/200, iso1250, 130mm. The McCook Gazette would love to showcase your weather photos. ...

Coat Closet coordinator Barb Ostrum of Community Action Partnership of Mid-Nebraska, left, and Joan Bass, who coordinators Coat Closet volunteers from the McCook Public Schools' LIFT program, sort through coats and sweatshirts donated to the 2013 "Coat Closet and Winter Clothing Give-Away." Although Barb says they can always use more children's coats and winter clothing, they are in particular need this year of men's and women's sizes extra large and up. ...

Tri Valley Health System was recently recognized as a 2013 Governor's Excellence in Wellness, Sower Award recipient. TVHS along with 40 other companies/businesses across Nebraska were recognized for their work in employee wellness. Companies and/or businesses that receive the Sower Award are identified as "planting the seed for wellness." Tri Valley Health System will honor this award for 3 years, while working toward improving overall wellness for its employees and community members...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- A McCook community blood drive is set for 12:30 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday at the Community Building on the Red Willow County Fairgrounds, West Fifth and O. Walk-ins are welcome and needed, or make an appointment by calling Cathy Carman at (308) 345-4473...

KEARNEY, Neb. -- Molly Sughroue's running career didn't end at the 2013 Nebraska State High School Cross-Country Championships. The McCook High School senior will likely continue running cross-country and track and field at the collegiate level next year, and she should be one of the top girls competitors in the state's prep middle distance events on the track next spring. ...

The night of Oct. 25 t won't go down in the annuls of McCook High School football as the prettiest effort by a Bison team. But head coach Jeff Gross always talks about a win's a win -- whether by one point or 100, it's still a notch in the 'W' column. The Bison won't give this one back...

Lola May Wilke May 5, 1934 - Oct. 27, 2013 TRENTON, Nebraska -- Lola May Wilke was born in Dickens, Nebraska, which is in Hayes County on May 5, 1934. She was the seventh one of 11 children. Lola went to school in Dickens, but later moved to Wallace, Nebraska, where she graduated. She was the only one of her siblings whoever went to college. She went to McCook Junior College for 2 years. After that she began working by teaching school at St. Ann's Country School...