Stories from Friday, April 29, 2016

James Doyle 'Dewey' Thomas August 21, 1924 - April 27, 2016 NORTH PLATTE, Neb -- James Doyle "Dewey" Thomas of North Platte died Wednesday (April 27, 2016) at North Platte. He was born Aug. 21, 1924, to Harv and Florence (Davies) Thomas. He grew up in Stratton, Neb. and worked at Frenchman Valley Services in Imperial, PAK's services in Ogallala and North Platte Opportunity Services in North Platte...

Roger E. Endicott Sept. 6, 1957 - April 26, 2016 ANGORA, Neb. -- Roger E. Endicott, 58, of Angora, died Tuesday (April 26, 2016), at Angora. He was born Sept. 6, 1957, in Scottsbluff, Neb. to Richard and Rose Endicott. He was preceded in death by his parents, Richard and Rose Endicott; and siblings, Pamela (Endicott) Jackson and Francis "Mike" Endicott...

McCook Community College McCOOK, Neb. -- On Tuesday McCook Community College's first "graduate" of the newly formed Associate of Fine Arts degree will give a piano recital. Taylar Hegwood, Culbertson, who attended Victory Christian Academy, has completed the two-year degree in less than nine months and is excited for the possibilities this degree opens up for her...

Henthorn, Fischer ShelbyLin Henthorn and Samuel James Fischer announce their upcoming wedding May 18, 2016. Parents of the bride-to-be are Roger and Linda Henthorn of McCook. Grandparents are the late Bob and Virginia Henthorn and the late Elvid George...

Gifts of annuals or city directories are always appreciated by the Southwest Nebraska Genealogical Society and our library has several to choose from. Our latest gifts were given by Jean (Harmon) Hallowell -- both the 1925 and 1926 McCook High School annuals. These were from relatives, Walter and Twildi (Carpenter) Aman...

No matter what kind of events you have on your social calendar, you can pop up delicious treats that are sure to be a hit. Whether hosting a get-together for the guys and tuning into the game or having a night in with the girls, freshly popped popcorn, which is naturally low in fat and calories, non-GMO and gluten free, can help you please every palate...

Trees were a rare commodity in the early days of Nebraska, a situation J. Sterling Morton sought to rectify through his efforts in Nebraska City, planting many rare varieties and heirloom apple trees around his 52-room mansion styled after the White House, now in Arbor Lodge State Historical Park...

Even though I have classes today (Friday) and will give final exams next week, yesterday (Thursday) was ceremoniously the end of my college teaching career. After stints at four-year colleges and universities, including being a member of the Graduate Faculty at Northwestern Oklahoma State University in Alva, Oklahoma, I landed my first and last community college job when I took the position of Sociology and Criminal Justice Instructor at McCook Community College in January of 1995. ...

BARTLEY, Neb. -- The 2016 recipient of the McCook Area Educator of the Year grew up hearing his dad preach constantly about the benefits of education. "He used to say, you can lose everything else in life, but one thing you can't lose is an education," said Les Roggenkamp Thursday night, after receiving the McCook Area Educator of Year award from Linda Wood, representing the McCook Area Chamber of Commerce...

TRENTON, Neb. -- The reported home of a man involved in a murder-suicide early Wednesday morning burned down early this morning. A Nebraska state fire investigator from Gibbon was on the scene, 201 E. Second, Trenton, Neb., to determine the cause. Hitchcock County authorities have not released names, but NTV television of Kearney quoted family members as saying Bob Lawing shot and killed Jim Baxter in his home, elsewhere in Trenton, before turning the gun on himself outside...

McCOOK, Neb. -- The deadline to register to vote in the upcoming Primary Election is 6 p.m. on Monday, May 2. The 2016 Primary Election is on May 10 and includes two or less contested tickets on each ballot. The Republican ballot includes five presidential candidates; Ben Carson, Ted Cruz, John R. Kasich, Marco Rubio and Donald J. Trump. The ballot includes two candidates for Public Service Commissioner District 5; Jerry Vap and Mary Ridder...

McCOOK, Neb. -- When a local resident fails to remove snow or ice from the sidewalks adjacent to his property within 24 hours McCook city ordinance puts the duty onto the Public Works Director to remove the substance. City staff think this reference was inadvertently added to the city code book and are asking City Council to make a change...

Logan Henry of Seibert, Colo., a Colorado State FFA Executive Committee member, asks those at the 2016 McCook Senior High FFA awards banquet Thursday evening, "Who likes apple pie?" Many want to reap the fruit, he said, but they don't want to put in the time to grow the tree. ...

McCOOK, Neb. -- The McCook Community College Music Department's spring concert is set for Sunday 1 at 7 p.m. in the Weeth Theater in Tipton Hall on campus. MCC's student recital is Monday, May 2 at the Methodist Church in McCook at 7 p.m. On May 3, sophomore Taylar Hegwood, who will be the first MCC student to graduate with an Associate in Fine Arts Music Degree, will give a piano recital at the Weeth Theater at 7 p.m...

In celebration of Arbor Day, First Central Bank McCook donated a tree to the city. The tree was planted outside of the McCook city office Thursday afternoon. Pictured from left to right are First Central Bank McCook employees Savannah Strauch, Brenda Liess, Ryan Moore, Linda Pick, Clint Bryant, Don Moore, Darryl Volquardsen, Melanie Cherry and Laura Ruggles. (Courtesy photo)...

Hitchcock County Girl Scout Brownie Troop 10541 members, from left, Jill McArthur, Riley Hagan, Raegan Hagan and Calista Carney "autograph" the picnic tables they painted at the Culbertson Hillside Park for a service project. The girls scraped and sanded the tables to prepare them for paint and added a little of their own personality to the tables by customizing each with their hand prints. ...

LINCOLN, Neb. -- Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality Director Jim Macy announced today that the state is awarding $2.08 million to support 128 tire recycling and cleanup projects across the state. They include $9,987 for 25 percent reimbursement of an athletic track maintenance system at the Cambridge Public Schools; $11,902 for a 100-ton scrap tire cleanup at Chase County Imperial and $14,010 for a 125-ton scrap tire cleanup for Hitchcock County in Trenton...

Curtis, Neb. -- The Annual Plant Sale at the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture will be April 30 and May 5 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the NCTA Greenhouse in Curtis. The plant sale is conducted every year by the NCTA Horticulture Club and this year features coleus, peppers, tomatoes, irises, houseplants, and more...

80th birthday The family of Neva J. Korell of Culbertson, Neb. is hosting an open house in honor of her 80th birthday May 8. The open house is Sunday, May 8, from 2 to 4 p.m. at United Methodist Church in Culbertson. Her family includes son, Kenny (Christie) and daughter, Peggy (Mike) Messersmith, all of Hayes Center; eight grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren, with another one due in August. Cards of congratulations will reach her at 36926 Road 729, Culbertson, NE 69024...