Stories from Wednesday, January 8, 2014

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...

COLBY, Kansas -- Colby Community College has announced the Fall 2013 honor roll recipients. To earn a place on a CCC honor roll, students must earn 15 or more credit hours and have no failing grades. The Dean's honor roll includes students with grade point averages of 3.75-3.99. The President's honor roll includes only students with a perfect 4.0 GPA...

By Gene O. Morris McCook Gazette McCOOK, Nebraska -- During the midst of Saturday night's gala banquet of the McCook Area Chamber of Commerce, the Master of Ceremonies, Cal Siegfried, called attention to Ken and Marlene Foster's long-standing loyalty to community activities...

Southwest Nebraska Public Health Department McCOOK, Nebraska -- Southwest Nebraska Public Health Department is working with the U.S. Environmental Agency (EPA) on a nationwide campaign to educate Americans about the dangers of radon exposure. SWNPHD urges area residents to take action by testing their homes for radon during January...

A City of McCook, Nebraska, firefighter sets up a ventilation fan at the front door of the Tara and Mike O'Dell home at 510 Elizabeth in northern McCook, about 7:30 a.m., today. Firefighter/paramedic Lt. Rick Metcalf said mid-morning that the electrical panel in the home's basement caught fire, and the homeowners put it out with a fire extinguisher and called 911 at 7:12 a.m. ...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- The flu season is now in full swing, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Nebraska is one of 25 states now reporting widespread cases. This is up from only 10 states a week ago. January and February are traditionally considered the peak flu months so the number of cases and affected states are expected to continue to rise...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Candidate for governor, Mike Foley visited McCook Tuesday and touted his experience and desire to reform the Nebraska Department of Health of Human Services as reasons to support him in the coming election. Foley has been the Nebraska Auditor of Public Accounts for the last eight years and believes the experience sets him apart from the other five Republican candidates...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- The City of McCook has scheduled their annual public auction of surplus and abandoned property for this Friday. The auction includes 15 vehicles in varying conditions, ranging by model years of 1980 to 2008, as well as a dozen bicycles and various other items...

Imagine, if you will, a car insurance policy that would cover you, your passengers and those in other vehicles in case of an accident. So far, so good? Now suppose that same insurance policy had a rider that allowed a computer to run an algorithm, on a rare, random basis, to take control of your car and cause it to swerve into the ditch, or allow a wheel to fall off, or let the engine seize up...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- City Manager J. Jeff Hancock announced today that he has submitted his resignation letter to Mayor Dennis Berry and the McCook City Council. "With a great deal of emotion I am providing this letter as a 30 day notice of my resignation as City Manager of McCook, Nebraska. I would anticipate that my last day as McCook City Manager will be Friday, Feb. 7, 2014, and I will do everything possible during that time to assist in the transition."...

Well, as promised, we go to the old mail bag for a letter -- or in this case, the computer in-box. A question from a reader asks, "How do you know all this stuff about astronomy?" OK, very good question. I got started in astronomy when I was about 12 yearS old...

LINCOLN, Nebraska -- Remember that list we made last August to keep track of who's running for what in the May primary? Well let's get it updated and see where we stand now that the Legislature has convened its second session and we are heading toward the actual primary where we can considerably shorten certain parts of the list...

In early Jauary 2014, I watched a program on the Nebraska educational channel. It confirmed that China's problems are complicated ones. Key players over the centuries have been a series of emperors. The people believed their emperor was a parent of the persons living in their country...

Donald C. Spresser June 10, 1933 - Jan 7, 2014 SELDEN,Kansas -- Donald C. Spresser, 80, died Tuesday (Jan. 7, 2014), at Wichita, Kansas. He was born June 10, 1933, at Sheridan County, Kansas, to John and Katherine (Kamphaus) Spresser Sr. He graduated from Leoville HIgh School in 1951. He served in the U.S.Army from 1953-55...