Stories from Tuesday, January 26, 2016

David A. Cobb Aug. 20, 1947 - Jan. 23, 2016 CAMBRDGE, Neb. -- David A. Cobb, 68, of Cambridge, died Saturday (Jan. 23, 2016), in Papillion, Nebraska. He was born Aug. 20, 1947, in Hollister, California, to Robert and Patsy Ayer and was later adopted by Bill Cobb...

Barbara Lee Beisner June 15, 1933 - Jan. 23, 2o16 OBERLIN, Kan. -- Barbara Lee Beisner, 82, passed away Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016, at Decatur Health Systems in Oberlin. Barbara was born June 15, 1933, in Traer, Kansas, to Charles R. and Velma A. Magers. ...

Mary Frances Lott Oct. 22, 1927 - 21, 2016 McCOOK, Neb. -- Mary Frances Lott, age 88, passed away Jan. 21, 2016, at her daughter's home in McCook. Mary Frances Wortham Lott, daughter of John Brent and Bertha Katherine Wortham, was born Oct. 22, 1927, in Arlington, Kentucky, in Carlisle County...

McCOOK, Neb. -- Second quarter and first semester merit/honor roll students at McCook Senior High include: Merit roll, first semester 9th Grade Raven Arasmith, Morgan Arnold, William Bennett, Bailey Brown, Alec Bunger, Sophia Burns, Alexis Carney, Deanne Crocker, Jaxson Dueland, Alexandria Erickson, Morgan Fawver, Melinda Gillispie, Joel Gray, Robin Grigg, DJ Gross, Isaac Hegwood, Skyla Henning, Macy Hill, Delaney Jumps, Kyle Kinne, Adrienne Labay, Mackenzie Larson, Riley Mai, Devon Meixner, Kassidy Michaelis, Celie Moore, Connor Moorhous, Zoey Morris, Sierra Paulson, Spencer Reiners, Brittany Riemann, Adam Rowe, Gabriel Sehnert, Mackenzie Smith, Sunnie Stephens, Rosemarie Stoney, Mollie Tate, Paxton Terry, Rebecca Tietz, Ariana Vanpelt, Syd Wier, Bailey Wiese, Ryan Wilson Nicholas Wolvin.. ...

KEARNEY , Neb. -- High school vocal and instrumental music students from 112 high schools in Nebraska and Kansas were selected to participate in the University of Nebraska at Kearney's Honor Band and Choral Clinic on Monday. The event included 711 students and featured three choirs and two bands, which rehearsed all day before presenting a 6 p.m. concert at the UNK Health and Sports Center. The honor choir was directed by Jing Ling-Tam, professor of music at University of Texas at Arlington...

It won't be long until the calls and emails start coming in. So-and-so is raising money for such-and-such a cause, is riding a bicycle from coast to coast and will be in our area. We try to catch up with as many of them as possible to spotlight their worthwhile efforts, but it's a difficult task...

Once in awhile a person gets assigned a task that puts one a little outside his comfort zone ... "Do an interview in front of the camera?" was the request from a "local" television host. "Sure I can do that but let me find someone better and more deserving," was my response. Good luck on that one! Some kind soul, anonymous, had fingered me so the commitment was made...

McCOOK, Neb. -- District 44 State Sen. Dan Hughes was among a group of legislators the Nebraska Farmers Union asked to return Smithfield Foods campaign contributions or abstain from voting on legislation which advanced to final reading Monday. Nebraska Farmers Union (NeFU) circulated a letter to state senators last week asking them to consider returning their Smithfield Foods, Inc. ...

McCOOK, Neb. -- Todd Stevens is no stranger to the car sales business. And his new location is no stranger to the display of used cars. Stevens, who has sold cars since he graduated from Republican Valley High School 40 years ago, has relocated his "T&T Auto Sales" from Indianola to a Highway 6&34 frontage in McCook. And the new location, at 1226 East B, was Bill Weiss's used car lot, "Weiss Motors," in the 1990s...

INDIANOLA, Neb. -- Bonnie Stevens and Donnie Schamel lost everything in a house fire early Thursday morning. Everything. Everything but their dogs and each other. Bonnie is quick to tell the most important part of the story of the blaze that leveled the couple's rural Indianola home. "Donnie saved my life," she says...

OMAHA, Neb. -- An Arapahoe woman was one of 15 defendants indicted by the federal grand jury for Nebraska, according to U.S. Attorney Deborah R. Gilg. The woman, Ashley D. Rupp, 26, is charged with theft of mail on or about Nov. 4, 2015. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 5 years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 3 year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment...

McCOOK, Neb. -- Red Willow County tax payers will not be be paying for major road improvements in the Calabria Subdivision northeast of McCook, following official action by county commissioners Monday morning. Abiding by state statute, commissioners will not create a road improvement district for the 71-acre subdivision...

Lois G. Lamb June 7, 1926 - Jan. 25, 2016 OBERLIN, KAN. -- Lois G. Lamb, 89, died Monday (Jan. 25, 2016). at Good Samaritan Society-Decatur County in Oberlin. She was born June 7, 1926, in Cheyenne, Wyoming. She was a homemaker and certified nursing assistant...

William 'Bill' Francis Vontz May 11, 1929 - Jan. 25, 2016 INDIANOLA, Neb. -- William "Bill" Francis Vontz of Indianola passed away Monday, Jan. 25, 2016, at Cambridge Hospital surrounded by his family. He was 86 years old. Bill was born on May 11, 1929, at his grandparents' home near Indianola to parents, Marion Henry and Elda Theresa (Colling) Vontz. He graduated from Indianola High School in 1947 where he participated in football, basketball and track and was a very respected athlete...

CURTIS, Neb. -- Honor roll students at Medicine Valley High School include: 7th Grade: 2nd Nine Weeks Kaden Bonini, Emmaline Jackson**, Noah Nicklas**, Jaden Wolfe 1st Semester Kaden Bonini, Jaden Henderson, Emmaline Jackson**, Noah Nicklas, Jaden Wolfe...

Gary Dean Orr, Sr. Sept. 8, 1939 - Jan. 25, 2016 OBERLIN, Kan. -- Gary Dean Orr, Sr. was born Sept. 8, 1939, at the family farm near Kanona, Kansas, to Dean and Myrtle (Spiers) Orr. He passed away Monday, Jan. 25, 2016, at the Good Samaritan Society in Oberlin, Kansas, at the age of 76...