Stories from Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Several hundred people checked out the free wellness fair Monday and Tuesday mornings at Community Hospital in McCook.The fair included discounted testing, such as for thyroid, prostate and a metabolic profile, along with vendors providing information and free gifts. Angie Langan, top left, of U-Save Pharmacy, sees what the complimentary breakfast buffet has to offer, with Candy Crosby, public relations coordinator at Community Hospital...

McCook, Nebraska--Community Hospital's mammography program was recently inspected and recertified by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), according to Sherri Kyte, Community Hospital radiologic technologist overseeing the hospital's mammography services...

Brady, Nebraska, High School students take a break in the McCook Community College Events Center this morning, while competing with about 400 other high school students in MCC's annual inter-high day academic competition. Students from 18 high schools tested in 27 academic subjects, competing for about $13,000 in scholarships and nearly 250 hours of free summer tuition credits. ...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- A contingent of FFA supporters filled the junior high conference room Tuesday night at the special McCook School Board meeting, asking that they be included in the selection of a new agriculture teacher. Although not on the agenda, McCook FFA Boosters spoke at the beginning of the meeting during "Public Comments" and emphasized their commitment to and the importance of the ag program at McCook High School. ...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Tuesday's special meeting of the McCook Public Schools board of education included a work session with Marcia Herring on setting procedures and fostering collaboration among board members. Herring, with the Nebraska Association of School Boards, spoke on the importance of setting goals, communication and trust...

LINCOLN, Nebraska -- Culbertson's and seven other Nebraska public libraries recently received a helping hand, thanks to the generosity of a lifelong educator, the late Shirley Kreutz Bennett of Lincoln. The Culbertson Public Library was awarded $20,000 to construct and furnish a new 3,000-square-foot library. The community has already raised more than $300,000 for the project...

BRUCE BAKER City Editor McCOOK, Nebraska -- Despite failing to get a single commercial flight off the ground yet this month, Great Lakes Airlines remains the best option for local air service, according to McCook airport officials. The McCook City Council coordinated a joint meeting with the Airport Advisory Commission, city staff and citizens, Tuesday evening, after being provided an opportunity to reconsider the air service contract they had previously approved for Great Lakes Airlines...

Quick, what do today's 20-somethings have in common with their grandparents? They may be worse off than their parents. According to the Pew Research Center, millennials -- those born anywhere from the late 1980s to about 2000, are facing economic realities foreign to every generation born since the Great Depression...

Circle Monday, April 14, on your calendar. No, not just because it is the day before your income tax is due, that is the date for a total lunar eclipse. This will be an eclipse that is not for the faint of heart as it will begin late in the evening of March 14, and end in the very early hours of Tuesday, April 15...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Authorities, family and friends are seeking information on the whereabouts of Austin Wright, 18, who was last ween in McCook on Saturday, March 8. He is described as a white male, 6 feet 1 inch tall, 175 pounds, brown hair and hazel eyes...