Stories from Wednesday, December 10, 2014

CULBERTSON, Neb. -- Richard Sensel of Culbertson was nominated by Michelle Doetker for the Linda Maiden State Farm Insurance Good Neigh-bear Award. Michelle said that Richard unlocked her car after she locked her keys in the car. Richard would not accept payment for his deed, but asked Michelle to "pay it forward" instead...

Germs: They're everywhere. From the common cold to Ebola, we're pretty much at the mercy of our microscopic companions. The flu virus is especially devious -- because of haphazard replication of its DNA, new strains are appearing all the time. Flu vaccines that have to be prepared months in advance are sometimes effective against the strains that actually appear, and sometimes not...

Well finally the mid-term election is over. Mary Landrieu went down in flames so now she can live in peace at her multi-million dollar home in Washington D.C. No more having to check in at the Senate for instruction by President Obama to see how to vote for the good of her long ignored Louisiana constituents...

McCOOK, Neb. -- Nebraska will begin a new way to rate schools, according to Mccook School District Superintendent Grant Norgaard. Previously, the Nebraska State Board of Education ranked the 249 public schools in the state from 1 to 249, he told the McCook School Board Monday night at the regular meeting. ...

As my Senate term comes to a close, I want to express my deep appreciation for the incredible privilege of serving you in public office. I'm honored by the trust you've have placed in me over the past 32 years. If I could turn back the clock, I'd do it all over again. But none of it would have been possible without God's blessings, faithful friends and supporters and a loving family, especially my spirited wife, Stephanie...

McCOOK, Neb. -- While prisons in Eastern Nebraska make headlines on a regular basis related to overcrowding issues, one Department of Corrections facility in Western Nebraska sits with empty beds and local officials coordinating efforts to attract the attention of prison officials...

Seven-year-old Julian Beltran of McCook, Nebraska, second from the right, and his sisters, from top/left to right, Araceli, 3, Alize 2, and Abygail, 6, snuggle into warm coats and stocking caps to watch the Christmas lights parade in McCook Saturday evening. ...

McCOOK, Neb. -- Saying the board was going in the right direction, two McCook School Board members attended their final meeting Monday night. Leaving with eight years on the board, Shane Messersmith told the board he's attended 94 meetings, two teacher hearings and served through three superintendents and ten different board members. ...

Cliff Shackelford June 5, 1921 - Dec. 2, 2014 WAUNETA, Neb. -- Clifford L. Shackelford was born June 5, 1921, in the Imperial, Nebraska, area, and he lived his early years in the Lamar community of Chase County, Nebraska. He passed away Dec. 2, 2014, at the age of 93...

Maxine (Mrstik) Sauvage July 2, 1927 - Dec. 9, 2014 OBERLIN, Neb. -- Maxine (Mrstik) Sauvage, 87, died Tueday (Dec. 9, 2014), in Oberlin. She was born July 2, 1927, in rural Kanona, Kansas, to Rudolph and Emma (Fiala) Mrstik. She graduated from Decatur Community High School in 1945. She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary and Rebekah's Lodge...

TRENTON, Neb. (AP) -- A 22-year-old man, who is sitting in a Colorado jail on another case, has been charged in Nebraska with killing an 18-year-old man whose body was found in April. The Nebraska Attorney General's spokeswoman Liz Eberle said Wednesday that John Leahy III had been charged with first-degree murder in the death of Austin Wright...

McCOOK, Neb. -- A McCook woman was sentenced to probation last week in Red Willow County District Court stemming from a felony conviction for fleeing the scene of an accident in July. The felon, 61-year-old Darla G. Wilson of 1111 W. Third Street, admitted guilt to a Class 3A felony for leaving the scene of a personal injury accident and an infraction for not having insurance...

Nebraska's weather can be unforgiving if you find yourself out in it unprotected, but the alternative can be just as dangerous if your heating equipment isn't up to snuff. Unfortunately, that's too often the case, and it's getting worse, according to the Nebraska Poison Center, which reports a 24 percent increase in carbon monoxide calls so far this year compared to last year...

Kudos first of all to the folks at NASA for the successful launch, orbit, and recovery of the latest generation of space vehicle, the Orion Crew Capsule. This vehicle will hopefully be the one that enables astronauts to travel to Mars or an asteroid and back...

Thank you, thank you for your great support for my Adopt-a-Chaplain project. It is greatly appreciated. We sent to three chaplains each receiving 50 boxes. Many of the boxes had Christmas cards in them and I know this warmed the hearts of many. I was so proud of the children who took this project on. The notes were priceless. (I peeked at a few of them!)...

McCOOK, Neb. -- A small Nebraska town brought three women together and 50 years later, their friendship is still going strong. Nowadays, Bobbie Kasson, Dorothy Ankenman and Virginia (Ginger) Rice get together regularly while living at Emeritus at Willow Ridge assisted living, to watch Husker football, sew quilt blocks or talk about their families. ...

CAMBRIDGE, Neb. -- On December 8, 2014 at approximately 2:23 pm the Furnas County Sheriff's Office executed a search warrant at 1219 Johnston Street, Cambridge, Nebraska. During the search methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia was located in the residence and outbuildings located on the property. A shotgun was also located in a closet within the residence...

Evie Cldwell directs the Community Chorus in its annual Christmas concert Sunday at Memorial United Methodist Church in McCook. Also performing were the Central Starz, directed by Deborah Donelan. The con- cert, funded in part by the McCook Arts Council, was followed by a soup supper sponsored by the Significant Light Praise Band...