Stories from Tuesday, April 12, 2016

One of the most hotly-debated bills of the past week was LB 947. LB 947 would allow those who were brought to this country illegally as children to obtain certifications, and to work to earn money for themselves. Many have framed this bill as "amnesty" or as special treatment for illegal immigrants. ...

You've got an extra weekend to pay your taxes this year, provided you have to pay. April 15 is the traditional tax day, but Friday is Emancipation Day in Washington D.C., so IRS employees get the day off. Most of us wish taxpayers could have an Emancipation Day of our own...

McCOOK, Neb. -- The McCook airport is off to its best start in several years and so far has boarded nearly twice the commercial passengers it did a year ago. McCook Ben Nelson Regional Airport boarded 188 commercial passengers during the first three months of 2016, according to city enplanement data. The 1st quarter passenger counts represent a 97 percent increase over prior year and the best calendar year start since 2013...

McCOOK, Neb. -- The McCook School District will compete in two conferences next year. Currently, McCook is a member of the Greater Nebraska Athletic Conference (GNAC) and competes in conference games against the member schools of Columbus, Hastings, Kearney, Lexington, Norfolk, North Platte and Scottsbluff...

LYONS, Neb. -- The Center for Rural Affairs' Rural Enterprise Assistance Project-REAP is pleased to announce that Nancy Flock, REAP Loan Specialist, will begin holding office hours in McCook. Along with providing financing, training, and technical assistance for small businesses, Flock will also provide bilingual assistance to Latino entrepreneurs...

McCOOK, Neb. -- A McCook woman with a history of local drug arrests and convictions was sentenced to probation last week in Red Willow County District Court for attempting to possess methamphetamine. The woman, 45-year-old Senamon Rade Rogers of 1209 West 12th Street, was already on probation at the time of her most recent arrest and faced sentencing on probation violations last week as well...

Heads up. Don't miss it. Check out the planted and tended beauty spot on the east end of Hillcrest as you head down West 5th street. The green of spring has arrived as the bulbed flowers, tulips and jonquils, show their welcome colors. The thinned and manicured lilac bushes are leafing out and will be showing their fragrant flowers in short order. It is worth the drive past and next time you see Don Harpst tell him thanks...

I heard on the news recently about Keith Harward, the man who was wrongfully convicted in a rape and murder case for which he served 33 years in prison. Although Harward was not given the death penalty, he did face it for a crime he did not commit in a state which does have the death penalty...

McCOOK, Neb. -- Proceeds from the seventh-annual Kathy Matson Memorial co-ed volleyball tournament April 2 in McCook will help grow the Victory Christian Academy scholarship fund established by Gary Matson in memory of his wife, Kathy, who died in 2008 at the age of 50...

McCOOK, Neb. -- A technology learning system that allows communication between all teachers in the district, as well as between parents and students, will be implemented starting next year. Canvas, a cloud-based learning system, will integrate with the current Infinite Campus. ...

BLAIR, Neb. -- Great Plains Communications will be launching its latest community program: IMPACT, in McCook, Neb., at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, April 21, at McCook Christian Church, 507 West B. The program offers non-profit organizations the resources to implement specific projects that make a significant difference in their local community...

McCOOK, Neb. -- Photograph submission and voting start Friday for the Cat Pack's annual "Cats and Dogs of McCook" fund-raising calendar for the McCook Humane Society. The top dog and top cat at the end of the voting will be declared "Cover Critters" and grace the cover of the 2017 calendar. Other photo submissions will be scattered throughout the calendar months...

Rose Smith April 14, 1920 - April 7, 2016 MONTROSE, Colo. -- Rose Smith of Delta, Colo., died April 7, 2016, at Montrose of congestive heart failure. She was born April 14, 1920, in rural Hayes County, Neb., the daughter of Hugh and Mary Little. Rose grew up in Hayes County and after graduating from high school at the age of 16, taught in Hayes County one-room schools for a few years. ...

Janice L. Brauer Feb. 25, 1933 - April 5, 2016 ELWOOD, Neb. -- Janice L. Brauer, 83, died Tuesday (April 5, 2016), at the Community Memorial Health Center in Burwell, Neb. She was born Feb. 25, 1933, at Lexington, Neb. to Wrex A. and Ruth L. (McCarther) Greenlee. She grew up in Lexington and later receive her G.E.D. She married Kenneth Brauer in Lexington on May 29, 1949. They lived Eustis, Neb...

75th birthday The family of Donna Seybold of North Platte, formerly of McCook, is requesting a card shower in honor of her 75th birthday Wednesday, April 13. She and her husband, Ron, moved to McCook in 1962 and worked at the Derby Gas Station on B Street. She later worked at Walmart for over 20 years, until moving to North Platte a few years ago. Cards of congratulations will reach her at 510 Centennial Circle, North Platte, NE 69101...