Stories from Tuesday, March 1, 2016

It is a love story! An ordinary special couple. Man and wife living out their vows of "In sickness and in health until in death will we part." A shining light of Christendom. Life in faith as it should be. Grannie and I went just a wee bit out of our way back home. Grannie had called an hour or so out to see if it would be okay to stop by for a few minutes...

McCOOK, Neb. -- Winners of a recent photography contest honoring Nebraska's 150th birthday are on display at the McCook Arts Center on Norris Avenue through Feb. 15. The exhibit showcases historical places in Nebraska from 2010 to 2016. Emily Davidson of Kearney judged the competition this weekend and photography work by Alexis Popp of Indianola won Best of Show...

CULBERTSON, Neb. -- Culbertson Rescue plans a pancake feed 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday, March 13, at the rescue building. Plain and blueberry pancakes, eggs, coffee and tea will be served.

McCOOK, Neb. -- The Chamber of Commerce plans a ribbon cutting for the new Tractor Supply Store at 208 Westview Plaza, 10 a.m. Tuesday, March 8. The public is invited to welcome the new store into the chamber and business community.

McCOOK, Neb. -- The McCook YMCA's annual Partners With Youth fund-drive will be Wednesday evening. More than three dozen volunteers will be making phone calls for donations toward the YMCA's scholarship program. If anyone has questions about a call from a YMCA volunteer or needs more information about Partners With Youth, please contact the YMCA at 345-6228...

MOOREFIELD, Neb. -- It's a history that the family protects. It's a passion that has grown into pride of a product made now in the former schoolhouse in the tiny town of Moorefield. Bill Roe of Moorefield explains that the "Lazy RW" whiskey that he and his son, Todd, started distilling in the schoolhouse in 2015 began with the recipes of his great-uncle who operated a still on Nebraska's Niobrara River during Prohibition. ...

McCOOK, Neb. -- Dale Cotton of McCook, whose Army Airbase Historical Society owns part of what remains of the former World War II airbase northwest of McCook, warned Red Willow County commissioners Monday morning of potential water drainage and flood problems at the airbase...

Leads in the upcoming production of the Wizard of Oz are, from left, Sean Tolliver -- Scarecrow, Tyler Rambali -- lion, Shelby Stevens -- Dorothy, Charles Coleman -- Tinman Performances will be March 13, 15, 18, 19 and 20 at the Fox Theater.

If we weren't already convinced we live in a great state, there were a couple of national stories within the last few days that should finish the job. For one, Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo, always ranked as one of the best, was approved to receive elephants imported from drought-ravaged regions in Africa. No small accomplishment in light of the current political climate...

A Source Gas crew repairs a gas service line severed by a private contractor who was working on a sewer line in the alley behind a home in the 700 block of East Fifth in McCook late Monday afternoon. Fire Chief Marc Harpham said that Source Gas's monitors indicated high levels of gas in the air, forcing the evacuation of five homes on the east side of East Fifth, south of H Street. ...

Artist Lucas Kotschwar of Culbertson, Nebraska, far left, talks art with former McCook Public Schools art instructor Steve Clapp and McCook Community College art instructor Rick Johnson during a reception at the Wrightstone Gallery, Friday evening. Kotschwar's oil paintings drew praise from attendees for having a striking uniqueness and rare thought-provoking qualities. The exhibit will be available for public viewing from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Friday and on Tuesday until 9 p.m...

Cambridge, Neb. -- Tri Valley Health System has been awarded a three-year term of accreditation in mammography as the result of a recent review by the American College of Radiology. It has also passed its annual Mammography Quality Standards Act inspection by the FDA with no deficiencies. ...

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. -- An investigation into a murder for hire plot led to the arrest of two men on charges of Conspiracy to Commit Murder. On Friday, Feb. 26, the Nebraska State Patrol was contacted by the Aurora Police Department reference an Aurora man who had solicited another individual to kill his estranged wife...

Wayne Henry Pick July 21, 1933 - Feb. 29, 2016 McCOOK, Neb. -- Wayne Henry Pick of McCook passed away Monday, Feb. 29, 2016, at Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney. He was 82 years old. Wayne was born on July 21, 1933, at Quick, Neb., to parents, Henry and Mary (Andrijeski) Pick. He graduated from McCook High School in 1951...

Teresa J. Carlin June 13, 1950 - Feb. 29, 2016 McCOOK, Neb. -- Teresa J. Carlin age 65, of McCook, passed away at her home on Feb. 29, 2016. She was born in Hildreth, Neb., on June 13, 1950, to Lester and Irene (Warnken) Hubert. Teresa went to school in Upland, graduating from Upland High School in 1968. She attended Kearney State College for two years where she took business and finance classes...