Stories from Friday, July 25, 2014

Gary Clark Mills Sept. 19, 1938 - July 24, 2014 McCOOK, Neb. -- Gary Clark Mills was born Sept. 19, 1938, to Clark and Emma Amen Mills at Gresham, Oregon, and died peacefully at his home July 24, 2014, in McCook. Gary moved to Culbertson, Nebraska, in 1947 with his family. Gary attended Culbertson school before joining the Marines. He served from Jan. 12, 1956, to Jan. 11, 1962, and was honorably discharged...

Harold Eugene Moore Dec. 17, 1929 - July 23, 2014 BARTELY, Neb. -- Harold Eugene Moore was born Dec. 17, 1929, to Ralph and Sylvia Rosier Moore at his Grandma Rosier's housein Red Willow County. He was welcomed into the arms of Jesus on July 23, 2014...

The lure of tinny music and bright colors draw parents and their kids to the Red Willow County fair in McCook, Nebraska, Thursday evening. Left, riding a motorcycle was 2-year-old Sawyer Wright, son of Haley and Tyler Wright of McCook; below, on the adjacent merry-go-round were 3 1/2-year-old Brailyn Powell and her dad, Ryan. ...

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...

90th birthday The family of Margie (Smalberger) Welsh of McCook is requesting a card shower in honor of her 90th birthday Aug. 5, 2014. Her family includes Janice and husband, Dennis Kisker of McCook, Donna and husband, Gary Barth of Culbertson, Nebraska, Leon and wife, Susan Welsh of Kearney, Nebraska; nine grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. Cards of congratulations will reach her at 701 West 14th, McCook, NE 69001...

50th anniversary The family of Ron and Patricia Severson of Panama, Nebraska, is hosting an open house in honor of the couple's 50th wedding anniversary. Patricia was born and grew up on a farm northwest of Benkleman, Nebraska, and attended McCook Junior College, now McCook Community College. ...

Lorelai Lynn Benes Lee and Chelsey Benes of Curtis, Nebraska, announce the birth of their daughter, Lorelai Lynn Benes, who was born June 17, 2014, in McCook. She weighed 9 pounds, 2 ounces and measured 21 inches long. She has two brothers, Wyatt, 5, and Wesley, 4. ...

Elliott Beau Wallace Sgt. Brian R. Wallace Jr. and Celia Brown-Wallace of Albuquerque, New Mexico, announce the birth of their son, Elliott Beau Wallace, who was born April 19, 2014, in Albuquerque. He weighed 5 pounds, 10 ounces and measured 18 inches long. ...

Carole Gaunt, from left, a teacher at McCook Elementary, cuts lining at the McCook Elementary playground today with help from principal Tim Garcia and recently-hired elementary teacher, Deborah Donelan, so the rest of new recycled mulch can be put down. ...

McCOOK, Neb. -- The Sales Tax Ballot Language Committee met for the first time Thursday evening to begin the process of renewing the city's local option sales tax. City Manager Nate Schneider presented committee members with several areas to focus on, including whether or not to sunset the sales tax, and if so, for how many years. ...

Dundy County, Nebraska, 4-H'er Lauren Kaski, and llama Sonnet, and pre-4-H'er Clover Kid Kate Barenberg, and alpaca Pearl Snap, run through the obstacle course during llama judging at the Dundy County fair in Benkelman Thursday afternoon. Lauren won grand champion honors with a llama named Lariat and the reserve championship with Sonnet. Llama judge Albert Hayes of Bartley awarded Kate and other Clover Kids "rainbow" participant ribbons...

Brynn Golden, below, of McCook, Nebraska, wows the karaoke crowd with her rendition of "The House that Built Me ... Won't Take Nothing but a Memory" during the Red Willow County fair in McCook Thursday evening. Also appearing on stage were Molly Miracle, lower right, of Indianola, who sang "Party in the USA," and Trinity Hendrickson, right, of Omaha, who sang, "God Bless the Broken Road." Trinity was in McCook visiting grandma and grandpa, Janet and Greg Hepp of McCook. ...

CAMBRIDGE, Neb. -- Gov. Dave Heineman praised Cambridge for its can-do leadership in economic development. He delivered opening remarks groundbreaking ceremonies for a new Cobblestone Inn and Suites in Cambridge. "Nebraska has our strongest presence" said Brian Wogernese, President of Cobblestone Hotels. ...

McCOOK, Neb. -- The Nebraska legislature is preparing for an unprecedented turnover of leadership in the coming year due to term limits, a situation which may present an opportunity for advocates of expanding the McCook Work Ethic Camp. Gov. Dave Heineman encouraged local business and community leaders to make certain incoming representatives on the Judiciary Committee were well informed when it came to the situation at the WEC. ...

Did we mention, "when it rains, it pours'? We pulled out that cliché in this space Thursday in regard to hailstorm repairs. Unfortunately, it applies to other, more serious topics this week as well. Plane crashes are one example -- on Thursday, an Air Algerie airliner went down in Africa...

The great majority of us believe we're in control of our own lives. It's our thought processes and our decisions and our abilities that either push us towards success or plunge us towards failure. We decide what we do, what we think and how we act. But most of us discover sooner or later that we're really NOT in charge. Hirings, firings, success, failure, good relationships and bad ones are often as much or more of someone else's decisions than our own...

Donna Jean Martin Aug. 11, 1928 - July 25, 2014 HASTINGS, Neb. -- Former Stratton resident Donna Jean Martin, 85, died Friday, July 25, 2014, at Mary Lanning Healthcare, Hastings, Nebraska. Services will be Tuesday, July 29, 2014, 2:30 p.m. at Community United Methodist Church of Stratton, Nebraska, with Pastor Sheila Taylor officiating. Burial will be in Rosehill Cemetery, Stratton. Memorials may be given to the Little House Museum...