Stories from Wednesday, October 1, 2014

Helen Esther Riepl April 23, 1930 - Sept. 27, 2014 EDMOND, Okla. -- Helen Esther Riepl, 84, died Saturday (Sept. 27, 2014), at her home in Edmond. She was born April 23, 1930, in Oberlin, Kansas, to Leo and Esther Lillian (Hanson) Bendon. She graduated from Decatur Community High School in 1948...

Robert Burnell 'Bob' Bellamy Dec. 19, 1929 - Sept. 29, 2014 VALLEY, Neb. -- Robert B. "Bob" Bellamy, 84, formerly of Benkelman, Nebraska, died Monday (Sept. 29, 2014), at his home in Valley. He was born Dec. 19, 1929, in Wauneta, Nebraska. He joined the U.S. Navy in October of 1950, serving in the gunnery division aboard the aircraft carrier "Rendova." He took part in the world's first hydrogen bomb that was detonated in 1952 on a large atoll called Eniwetok in the Marshall Islands...

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...

80th birthday The family of Iva Fritz of McCook is requesting a card shower in honor of her 80th birthday Oct. 3. Her family includes children, Irene Johnson and husband, Randy, Steven Fritz and wife, Renee, Carlett Marshal; seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Cards of congratulations will reach her at 904 East G Street, McCook, NE 69001...

BRUCE CROSBY Editor Finances are a key part of a college education, State Treasurer Don Stenberg told the Gazette Tuesday, whether it's saving for it, choosing a major or graduating with a minimum of debt. Campaigning for re-election, Stenberg indicated his management of the state treasurer's office could be used as a good example...

McCOOK, Neb. -- A long-time Christmas tradition is returning to the Fox Theater stage again this year, but longtime loyalists of "A Christmas Carol" will see a new treatment of the holiday favorite. Auditions for McCook Community College's presentation of the Charles Dickens classic are set for Sunday, from 2-5 p.m. at the Weeth Theater on the MCC campus...

PALISADE, Neb. -- The sale bill for the Palisade, Neb., VFW Auxiliary fund-raising auction is very impressive -- offering everything from Dale Earnhardt Sr. collectibles, to Tri-City Storm hockey tickets and gambling and vacation trips. The fund-raising live auction, silent auction and meal will be Saturday, Oct. ...

McCOOK, Neb. -- Family ties are very important to Vickie Ortiz. She's passionate about the photographs that tie together the generations of her family. As precious as her own family pictures are to her, she's saddened by photographs that have no family. "These are all someone's mothers and dads, and brothers and sisters. These babies are so adorable. They deserve to be identified," Vickie believes...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- City of McCook one and a half percent local option sales tax receipts ended the 2013-14 fiscal year with a total haul of slightly more than $2.6 million. The amount represents an increase of $15,455 compared to prior year and recovers a portion of the previous year's $25,000 annual decrease...

Luna, the newest officer of the Red Willow County, Nebraska, Sheriff's Department, poses for a "mugshot" this morning at the Red Willow County Law Enforcement Center in McCook. Luna follows in the paw prints of R.C., a chocolate Lab, who worked for the sheriff's department for five years before succumbing to cancer on August 29. ...

Family Frolics Square Dance Club members -- from the right, Mary Duffield, Phil Goodenberger and Larry Tidyman -- share their excitement for the western style of dance with a young girl from Cambridge during a demonstration recently at the Cambridge Manor. ...

The world has enjoyed instantaneous electronic communication since the invention of the Internet, but worldwide air travel has put physical "communication" close behind. In the old days, crossing the ocean took days or weeks, meaning many diseases would have run their course by the time the carriers reached shore. Airline travel has cut transit time to the point that travelers may as well be beamed by Star Trek transporters...

Campaign signs have begun sprouting along Norris Avenue as election day draws near. The Gazette will participate in a KICX/KBRL candidate forum Oct. 14 at the Bieroc Cafe in McCook.

McCOOK, Nebraska -- When Dr. Fred Shank arrived in McCook in 1944, he brought with him a belief in the value of a clinic approach, teaming up with other doctors to provide health care services. With World War II drawing to a close, the idea quickly caught on and other well-known McCook doctors -- including Dr. Karrer, Dr. Batty and Dr. James -- joined Dr. Shank in the 1950s to establish McCook Clinic on West Seventh Street, across from where Hillcrest Nursing Home now stands...

OK my fellow space cases, we are a week away from the total lunar eclipse next Wednesday, Oct. 8. That's the good news, the bad news is the eclipse runs its course between 3:12 to 5:23 am, that is as in the early morning. Well, I guess we gotta take'em when we get'em...