Stories from Monday, May 5, 2014

Terry Dean Chitwood Feb. 15, 1956 - May 2, 2014 McCOOK, Neb. -- Terry Dean Chitwood, age 58, died at Community Hospital in McCook on Friday, May 2, 2014. He was born in McCook on Feb. 15, 1956, to Jessie and Roberta (Kohmetscher) Chitwood. Terry attended school and graduated from McCook High School in 1974...

Clair Duysen IMPERIAL, Neb. -- Clair  Duysen, 88, died Thursday (May 1, 2014), at the Chase County Community Hospital in Imperial. Survivors include brother-in-law, Don Einspahr of McCook, Nebraska, and numerous nieces and nephews. Funeral services are Tuesday, May 6, 2014, 10:30 a.m. (MDT) at Zion Lutheran Church of Imperial with the Rev. David Kahle officiating. Interment will follow at Mount Hope Cemetery, Imperial...

Avis Nadine Suda PALISADE, Neb. -- Avis Nadine Suda, 92, died Saturday (May 3, 2014), at Community Hospital in McCook, Nebraska. A graveside service will be Wednesday, May 7, 2014, at 2 p.m. in the Palisade Cemetery with the Rev. Bruce Lester officiating...

Stanley James Hansen June 29, 1940 - May 2, 2014 BENKELMAN, Neb. -- Stanley James Hansen, well-known gunsmith and farmer in the Benkelman area, passed from his earthly home to his eternal home May 2, 2014. Stan was born June 29, 1940, the son of Thomas and Mabel Hansen. He attended school in Benkelman and was married to Joleen Fagan for 36 years. To this union two sons were born, Keith and Guy...

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. Activity log These items are taken from reports filed by the McCook Police Department. The locations refer to block numbers, not specific addresses. If you have information about any of these reports, call the police department at (308) 345-3450...

McCOOK, Neb. -- With a new location and a new schedule, Jeri and Richard "Dick" Collicott are dispelling rumors that they've retired from taxidermy. Jeri and Dick have moved their favorite mounts from their home and shop in Culbertson to a new studio at 1707 West N in McCook. It's easy to find -- one block east of the intersection of North Highway 83 and West N, on the north side of the street. Or, across the street from the northwest corner of Memorial Park Cemetery on West N...

McCOOK, Neb. -- A structure fire destroyed a Lewis and Clark Expedition replica canoe and a McCook farmer's pickups and irrigation supplies early Sunday morning on Ravenswood Road south of McCook. The farm building owned by Neal and Mary Lee Corey was a total loss, Red Willow Western Rural Fire Department fire chief Bill Elliott said this morning...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- The number of commercial passengers at McCook Ben Nelson Regional Airport has yet to show signs of recovering from the pilot shortage officials blame for the cancellation of nearly 90 percent of the airport's departing flights during the first three months of the year...

Todd Sitzman directs Corky Hagan of Plainville, Kansas, into position during the Terry Sitzman Memorial Car Show in downtown McCook, Nebraska, Saturday. Todd and his brother, Tracy, were moved by the tremendous turnout to the annual spring car show planned by their father, Terry, who died unexpectedly April 7. ...

McCook Firefighter Steve Renner, right, presents Anne Trail with a check for $260 to support the McCook Adopt-A-Chaplain military care package program. Renner won best mustache during the "Mustache March" charity fundraising contest and selected which non-profits benefitted. ...

Members of McCook, Neb., Senior High's 2014-2015 dance team are, front row, from left: freshmen Heather Neises, Haley Potthoff, Abby Smith, Haiden Loop and JoAnn Neel. Second row: sophomores Lindi Johnson, Emily Wells, Brenna Erdman and Allison Tolliver. Back row: Josie Dominguez, junior captain; Kylie Messersmith, junior; Alaini Priebe, senior captain; Amanda Slattery, senior; Madisyn Garcia, junior captain; and Morgan Uerling, junior. (Connie Jo Discoe/McCook Gazette)...

May 5 may be Cinco de Mayo, but for residents of certain areas in east central Nebraska, today's the 50th anniversary of the one of the worst tornadoes Nebraska has ever experienced. The last F5, measured by the old Fujita Scale, tornado reported in the state killed two people on a farm about three miles northwest of Bradshaw, injured 20 near Harvard and hurt others near Hastings and rural areas. More than 40 farmsteads were damaged and over 100 head of livestock were killed...

Ethan Hardin, left, and Connor Larson, right, had lunch with Tim Miles at Raising Cane's in downtown Lincoln Monday after mounting a Twitter campaign Sunday inviting the Nebraska mens basketball coach (@coachmiles) to Raising Cane's. Hardin (@goinHARDINhere) is the son of Ben and Susan Hardin of McCook and Larson (@conlars24) is the son of Greg and Cindy Larson of McCook. You can read their full exchange here: http://bit.ly/1rWxkmw...

May 5 may be Cinco de Mayo, but for residents of certain areas in east central Nebraska, today's the 50th anniversary of the one of the worst tornadoes Nebraska has ever experienced. The last F5, measured by the old Fujita Scale, tornado reported in the state killed two people on a farm about three miles northwest of Bradshaw, injured 20 near Harvard and hurt others near Hastings and rural areas. More than 40 farmsteads were damaged and over 100 head of livestock were killed...