Stories from Tuesday, December 31, 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...

McCOOK GAZETTE McCOOK, Nebraska -- The flu season is gearing up with high school and college aged kids in the bullseye this year. That's because they are the demographic that typically doesn't get a flu shot, said Melissa Propp, RN at Southwest Nebraska Public Health Department in McCook...

If you're not among the crowd that likes to stay up long enough to welcome in the New Year, there's a good chance you'll be able to get a good night's sleep tonight. That's because the fireworks boom, made possible by a 2010 law that allows local government to allow fireworks sales for New Years, seems to have turned out to be a dud...

The short session (60 days) of the 103rd Legislature starts in one week. It's the last shot for Governor Dave Heineman and 16 of the 49 state senators who are term-limited. The senators are wrapping up 8 years. Heineman, who has served longer than any other Nebraska governor, is finishing 10...

Grannie Annie and I are back visiting the land of the "fruits and nuts" spending some time with our friend Jimmy the Democrat. Actually Jim the former department head of Industrial Arts at Merced College here in California and I are working on my son's 1941 Mercury Club Coupe "hotrod project."...

CURTIS, Neb. -- After spending nearly a quarter of a century in North Dakota, a career-long conservationist is returning to his roots as manager of the Middle Republican Natural Resource District. Jack Russell, 57, takes over managerial responsibilities at the NRD office in Curtis on Thursday...

A crane has plenty of heavy lifting to do as construction continues on the Radiation Oncology Center at Community Hospital in McCook. The vault that will house the linear accelerator is being built with 457 special 3,500-pound concrete blocks, creating a structure with walls and ceiling four- to eight-feet thick. ...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- The investigation into who was responsible for placing a mock-bomb at the McCook Ben Nelson Regional Airport in April has been closed. According to the McCook Police Department, test results of the hoax device revealed a partial fingerprint and a partial DNA profile, but both were eventually determined to be insufficient for identification...

Gene O. Morris McCook Gazette CAMBRIDGE, Neb. -- Realizing that golf will fade in popularity without youth involvement, Cross Creek Golf Links in Cambridge has voted to allow youth under 18 in the Cambridge area play golf and use the practice range at the course free of charge...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- McCook will soon add an Italian restaurant to its assortment of eateries. Luigi's Italian Restaurant is opening on the main floor of the Keystone Business Center and touts authentic family recipes backed by six generations of restaurant experience...

McCOOK, Neb. -- Now that the packages have been opened the Buffalo Commons Storytelling Festival committee invites the public to share any shopping and possibly gift return stories at their First Tuesday event on Jan. 7. Male and female shoppers alike are encouraged to meet from 7 -- 8 p.m. at the Bieroc Café to tell a story or to just enjoy listening...

McCook, Nebraska -- Community Hospital board member, Jim O'Dea was recognized and congratulated at the December board of directors meeting as he completed his second, 3-year term and has retired from the board. Newly elected Community Hospital board member, Todd Thieszen, began his first term at the meeting. Re-elected and commencing their second, three-year terms were Connie Olsen and Mark Eiler...

LINCOLN, Nebraska -- Allen and JoAnn Cooke of Columbus recently won $1 million playing Nebraska Mega Millions. For the Tuesday, Dec. 17 drawing, JoAnn Cooke purchased a Mega Millions ticket at Corner Stop, 220 23rd Street in Columbus. The three-play quick pick ticket contained one play with all five winning white ball numbers (8, 14, 17, 20, 39) from the Dec. 17 drawing for a corresponding prize of $1 million...