Stories from Friday, June 3, 2016

McCOOK, Neb. -- The President's Award for Educational Excellence is awarded to 8th grade students who meet the criteria of a grade point average of 90 percent or above and scores at the 85 percentile or higher in math or reading on their ITBS achievement tests. Each student will have received a pin and certificate...

Clarke Constant McCOOK, Neb. -- Clarke Constant, 68, of McCook, passed away at his home. Services are pending with Carpenter Breland Funeral Home of McCook.

In this town of many nicknames, here's another one to consider: "Little Boston." McCook's hills - most prominently beginning with the upward slant of Norris Avenue - is one of the reasons "Little Boston" fits, but even more important - through the years - is McCook's reputation for running excellence, including the success of the track and field and cross country teams at McCook High School and McCook Junior College...

80th birthday The family of Elda Youngs of McCook is hosting a card shower in honor of her 80th birthday Tuesday, June 14. She was born in Lenora, Kan. in 1936. Her family includes daughters, Chris Mitchell (Marty) of Colorado and Cyndia Rose (Craig) of Texas; four grandchildren, Ashley, Seth, Jake and Luke; and four great-grandchildren, Tayler, Kaelyn, Caleb and Abby. Cards of congratulations will reach her at 38602 Ravenswood Road, McCook, NE 69001...

50th anniversary Dewey and Carla Miller Teel of Neligh, Neb. are celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary on Thursday, June 9. They were married at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in McCook in 1966. Their family includes children, Sharlee and Neal Hochstein of Wynot, Neb., Stacey and Mark Kozisek of Omaha, Neb., Justin and Erica Teel of Bassett, Neb., Joshua and Amanda Teel of Kenesaw, Neb.; and nine grandchildren. ...

Arrowlinn Charis Garza Brenda and Silver Garza of Dallas, Texas, announce the birth of their daughter, Arrowlinn Charis Garza, born May 29, 2016. She has one sister, Selah Grace, 4. Grandparents are Tonia Garza and Jessie Garza, and Martha and Tom Gill. Great-grandparents are Bonnie and Jim Ross of McCook, Neb. and Sylvia and Ray Garza...

KEARNEY, Neb. -- The University of Nebraska at Kearney announced the names of students who earned a place on the dean's list for the spring 2016 semester. Students who are on the dean's list must have completed 12 credit hours or more of classes with a 3.5 or better on a 4.0 scale. Students earn a 4.0 for an "A," 3.0 for a "B" and a 2.0 for a "C." Courses taken on a credit/no credit basis aren't included among the necessary 12 credits...

I'm sure you all have been in my shoes. You find a partial bag of carrots in the back of your vegetable bin. You're not sure when you bought them and they kind of look OK. After all they are a root crop and root crops last forever! Well, at least they aren't squishy like the bag with two leafs of lettuce in it. So, are they soup carrots? Or, are they garbage carrots? When in doubt throw it out?...

There's nothing like the perfect picnic or barbe­cue to slow down and reconnect with friends and family. This season, gather together guests and surprise them with a rustic backyard picnic, starring delicious new recipes that bring out the flavor of apples -- a versatile and healthy year-round fruit...

McCOOK, Neb. -- Tourism officials are gearing up for a new marketing campaign they hope will significantly boost the demand for Prairie Chicken Dance Tours in the area. Red Willow County Tourism was recently awarded a $15,000 grant from the Nebraska Tourism Commission which will be used to promote the Nebraska Spring Birding Trifecta. ...

LINCOLN, Neb. -- Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality Director Jim Macy announced the awarding of $3,454,825 in grants through the Waste Reduction and Recycling Incentive Grant Fund. That includes $171,072 for Red Willow County to conduct 47 household hazardous waste collections and 17 pickup/disposals in 23 Nebraska counties and purchase light bulb/tube crusher and a computer to assist with collections...

McCOOK, Neb. -- McCook residents got a rare opportunity Thursday to experience Southwest Nebraska through the rails of the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad. BNSF invited community leaders and families of BNSF employees to come aboard for a short excursion west of Trenton and back to McCook...

McCOOK, Neb. -- Commercial air service at the McCook airport is already seeing marked improvement with new provider Boutique Air. Airport officials confirmed this morning no flights were canceled this week. Avoiding spring-time cancellations might be considered a minor achievement in some airport circles, however, it's a big step forward from the three flights cancelled just last week at the McCook airport under the previous airline...

Pain management is an important part of health care and the healing process, but painkillers that were hailed as effective and non-addictive only a few years ago have helped fuel a new opioid and heroin epidemic. The death of entertainer Prince, ruled to be as a result of an overdose of the painkiller fentanyl, a concentrated opioid, has thrown the spotlight on a growing problem...

The most exciting weekend of the year begins today at McCook's Heritage Hills golf course with the annual Ron Coleman Memorial Horserace which kicks off the festivities at 4 pm. In a unique format, all 25 professional golfers due to tee it up in the Pro-Am will also compete in the horserace. It will begin simultaneously on holes one and 9 and one pro will be eliminated on each hole until only one remains after play is finished on the 18th hole...

We are better than that! China, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan have communist forms of government, suppress women's rights and severely restrict Christian religion. they are also the top tier of countries using the death penalty. Right behind them in killing in the name of the government is the United States!...