Stories from Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Ann Rowley WAUNETA, Nebraska -- Ann Rowley, 72, died Sunday (Nov. 10, 2013), at the Great Plains Regional Medical Center in North Platte, Nebraska. Survivors include children, Jerry and wife, Lori, of Imperial, Nebraska, Kelly and wife, Amanda, of Logan, Utah; brothers, John Ruppert of McCook, Nebraska and Robert Ruppert and wife, Jean, of Maywood, Nebraska; sisters, Helen Magee and Mary Zimbelman of McCook; sisters-in-law, Donna Ruppert and Naomi Ruppert of McCook; brother-in-law, Roger Rowley of Wauneta; eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.. ...

Betty Lou Phillips Oct. 8, 1926 - Nov. 10, 2013 SAN MARCOS, Texas -- The wonderful, loving Betty Lou Phillips (nee O'Dea) born on Oct. 8, 1926, in Red Willow, Nebraska, died on Nov. 10, 2013. She was predeceased by her daughter Hollis A. Osburn, and is survived by her husband of 67 years, Richard H Phillips, her daughter, Kathleen L Maercklein, her daughter, Debra J. ...

Diane Lou Walsh Dec. 25, 1949 - Nov. 9, 2013 COZAD, Nebraska -- Diane Lou Walsh, 63, of Cozad, formerly of Curtis, died Nov. 9, 2013, at the Golden Living Center at Cozad. Diane Lou was born Dec. 25, 1949, to Harold and Margaret Jorgensen at Curtis, Nebraska. She went to be with her Heavenly Father Nov. 9, 2013...

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...

Kathleen Hansen of Bartley, Nebraska, shares this photograph of a burning bush in a yard in Bartley, wondering if the bright days of autumn will return. The forecast says "yes," at just about this time next year. The McCook Gazette would love to showcase your weather photos. ...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Third grader Evan Humphrey is the first student at McCook, Nebraska, Elementary to reach the goal of 100 points in the school's "Accelerated Reader" reading program. Principal Tim Garcia, reading teacher Charlene Springer and Accelerated REading program administrator Linda Wood presented Evan a certificate of recognition and a stuffed frog award before Evan's class Tuesday afternoon...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- The McCook Community College Theatre's production of "Leaving Iowa" appears on stage this weekend at the Weeth Theater on campus. Performances are set for 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and a 2 p.m. matinee Sunday. Cast members include: Joseph McCarty, Dorothy Schneider, Allison Priddy, Daniel Jordan, Katie Brawdy, and David Sandman...

High school students learn self-defense techniques recently on the McCook Community College campus as part of the FCCLA (Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America) conference, hosted by MCC. More than 200 students attended the conference.

You won't find a more generous people than those in Southwest Nebraska and Northwest Kansas. There is evidence nearly every day on the pages of the McCook Gazette, fund drives and food collections, benefit dinners and special events all designed to help make life better for someone in need, whether a hungry family, someone facing overwhelming medical bills -- even innocent animals looking for a forever home...

Veterans Day was yesterday. In preparation for a little talk celebrating the day, I scoured the Internet for opinions and ideas. A column by Paul Greenberg struck my fancy as it was almost a scold of our daily lives. I'd like to share. Writer Greenberg writes that "We don't spend much time examining the underpinnings on which our lives rest. ...

As members of the highest group of beings, "homo sapiens," we have been blessed with the gift of language to communicate with each other, through "words," the reality of what our senses tell us about the reality that exists outside of ourselves in this universe that we inhabit...

Tucked out of Monday's wind between two pop machines, a "homeless" American veteran spent Sunday night, Veterans Day and this morning making a statement about financial troubles that plague so many veterans. Donations to the veteran will now be put into a fund coordinated by VFW Post No., 1652 of McCook and Barb Ostrum of the McCook office of Community Action Partnership of Mid-Nebraska, and used to help local veterans with immediate emergency funding of such things as utility bills or travel to/from veterans' clinics and hospitals. ...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- The McCook School district may join the ranks of schools providing a tablet computer to each student. McCook Public Schools technology directors Joel Bednar and Scott Johnson gave an update on the computers in the district Monday night at the regular McCook Board of Education meeting. ...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Annie Trail of McCook, Nebraska, started the 2013 Christmas season planning to mail 150 "care packages" to three "adopted" chaplains serving with the U.S. military in the Middle East. However, one of the adopted chaplains thought he might not be deployed right away, so Annie requested the name of one more chaplain. "But I got the names of two chaplains! How could I pick just one?" she asked, grinning, with a twinkle in her eye...

Cambridge High School's cheerleaders, band and drum line -- dressed in their school's traditional orange and black -- perform at the McCook Community College lady Indians' home opening basketball game Saturday evening. The MCC ladies -- who wear the college's blue and white -- came away with a victory; the ladies' next home game is today, against Hastings College JV, in the new Events Center at 6 p.m. ...

CURTIS, Nebraska -- Agriculture leaders in the beef cattle and crops industries will highlight a fall "kick-off" of the 100-Beef Cow, 100-Acre Farm Ownership Advantage programs at NCTA on Thursday in Curtis. Ownership Advantage programs assist individuals in preparations and training to operate their own farm or ranch. Producers and students interested in pursuing an on-campus, 2-year degree program or the off-campus, outreach program are encouraged to attend...