Stories from Wednesday, October 30, 2013

McCOOK, Nebraska -- The Red Willow County, Nebraska sheriff's department was recognized recently for its commitment and assistance to the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services and the NDCS Work Ethic Camp in McCook. Sheriff Gene Mahon, on behalf of his staff, accepted a "Certificate of Appreciation" and the "NDCS Challenge Coin" and plaque...

HOUSTON -- NASA needs men and women, like you, to participate in a program that helps study the physical changes an astronaut might encounter during micro-gravity conditions of spaceflight. Currently, a Countermeasure and Functional Testing study in the Head-Down Tilt Bed Rest program called CFT 70 is designed to minimize loss of muscle, bone and cardiovascular function through high intensity aerobic and resistance exercises...

LINCOLN, Nebraska -- Brad McConville, Lieutenant at the Work Ethic Camp in McCook, was honored on September 26, 2013, at the Nebraska State Capitol by Lt. Governor Lavon Heidemann and Director Michael L. Kenney as a Nebraska Department of Correctional Services' 2013 "Team Award" recipient. There were 40 Department employees honored for various individual and team awards at the same ceremony...

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...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- The Red Willow County 4-H Achievement celebration was Sunday, Oct. 20, at the 4-H Building with a group of approximately 100 people in attendance. 4-H Council Chairman, Bill Cappel, gave the welcome. Janet Rippe, 4-H Council member, presented the Nebraska 4-H Foundation Awards. ...

It was a girl thing Monday night at Community Hospital in McCook, with the free program, "Girls Night Out." The event promoted breast cancer awareness and included several activities, such as free hand massages by massage therapist Kelly Catt
, above and a message from main speaker, Karey Graves, breast cancer survivor...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Since being approved as a contracted nursing home by the Veteran's Administration, Hillcrest Nursing Home is already fielding calls about it from families. But vets must go through their local VA representative before they can come to Hillcrest, said Hillcrest Administrator Colinda Nappa on Tuesday...

Michelle Larington and her 6-year-old son, Leo, are among volunteers at the "Coat Closet and Winter Clothing Give-Away" to sort and fold coats, clothes and bath towels in preparation for the 2013 coat closet distribution today, Thursday and Friday. Coat Closet coordinator Barb Ostrum, of the McCook office of Community Action Partnership of Mid-Nebraska, says they are in need of adult sizes extra large and up, and infants', mens and boys coats and clothing. ...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- For the fourth year, National Honor Society of McCook Senior High will coordinate "Trunk or Treating," and Student Council members will provide crossing guards for children on Norris Avenue and its cross streets the evening of Halloween...

OMAHA, Nebraska -- When members of the Red Willow Western Hazmat team arrived for the soon-to-be annual Nebraska hazmat challenge at the Omaha Fire Training Facility in Omaha, Nebraska, Sept. 19, they discovered things had been changed up a bit."We usually train as a unit," said Billie Cole, one of the three RWWRH members who competed. "When we got there, they split everyone into new teams." Joining Cole in the challenge were fellow RWWRH team members Doug Wasia, Jeffrey Cole and John Clark...

HAYES CENTER, Nebraska -- Neither driver nor passenger was wearing a seat belt in a one-vehicle roll-over accident Sunday afternoon on a county road southeast of Hayes Center. Nebraska State Patrol Troopers Bryan Walter and Doug Petty reported that the driver of 1999 Dodge pickup, Lucas M. Clifford, 23, of Hayes Center, was driving southeast when he lost control as he rounded a curve in County Road 364A, 2.3 miles southeast of Hayes Center. The pickup went into the ditch and rolled onto its top...

Food, clothing and shelter are three of life's most important necessities. The McCook Pantry and the community suppers at Memorial United Methodist both do a yoeman's job helping meet the first must-have, this week's Coat Closet event helps meet the second, and several public and private systems, such as Habitat for Humanity, are in place to meet the third...

Tomorrow is Halloween, that annual celebration of things ghoulish. Speaking of ghoulish, that word reminds me of one of my favorite quotes from an old Scottish prayer book, "From ghoulies and ghosties, and long legged beasties, and things that go bump in the night, good Lord deliver us."...

There's never a good time for a blizzard in the High Plains ... but there are some really bad ones. The bookend blizzards in January 1949 were probably the most historic of the worst ones. An estimated 500,000 farm animals died in that storm as ranchers were contemplating spring calving on the cusp of economic recovery from World War II...

The sunset over Enders lake reflects off the water and the shoreline and brightens the fall foliage. Photo taken by Jamie Garner with her iPhone. 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. ...

LINCOLN, Nebraska -- Gov. Dave Heineman and Department of Agriculture Director Greg Ibach have announced the selection of the members of the 2013-2014 Nebraska Agricultural Youth Council (NAYC). The council is comprised of college-aged students from throughout the state that exhibit and promote a passion for agriculture and educating others about the agricultural industry...

Medicine Valley CURTIS, Nebraska -- Medicine Valley Jr/Sr High announce the first quarter honor roll of the 2013-14 academic year. A double asterisk (**) indicates all A's. Seventh grade: Tristen Smith, Reid Stout and **Sidney Veldhuizen. Eighth grade: Johnathan Hazen, RaeAnn Heapy, Sheldon Johnsen, Ryan Klintworth, Rachel Lashley, Isaac Lenz, Tzi Martiner and **Nathan Nicklas...

Richard A. Sitzman March 17, 1934 - Oct. 29, 2013 INDIANOLA, Nebraska -- Richard A. "Dick" Sitzman of Indianola passed away Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2013, at Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney. He was 79 years old. Dick was born on March 17, 1934, at Culbertson to parents, Henry and Helen (Hill) Sitzman. He graduated from Culbertson High School in 1951...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Community Hospital today was named Top Performer on Key Quality Measures®" by The Joint Commission, the leading accreditor of health care organizations in America. Community Hospital was recognized for its achievement on the measure set of Surgical Care...