Stories from Wednesday, July 6, 2016

Larry Kay Stone Sept. 19, 1936 - June 25, 2016 McCOOK, Neb. -- Larry Kay Stone passed away Saturday, June 25, 2016. He was 79 years old. Larry was born on Sept. 19, 1936, in McCook to Harry Valentine and Myrtle Blanche Belle (Bales) Stone. Larry was the youngest of 11 children. He was united in marriage to Mary Jane Coker in 1954 and divorced in 1984...

Gary Richard Kapustka Aug. 26, 1943 - June 30, 2016 OMAHA, Neb. -- Gary Richard Kapustka, aged 72, passed away on June 30, 2016, in the sixth floor oncology ward at Methodist Hospital in Omaha. Gary was born Aug. 26, 1943, to Richard and Hazel (Smith) Kapustka at the Community Hospital in Broken Bow, Neb. For the first 13 years of Gary's life, his family made their home in Anselmo, Neb. Gary enjoyed his childhood there and made many life-long friendships...

Herman R. (Bob) Welk May 20, 1922 - June 28, 2016 COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- Herman Robert Welk, age 94, passed away in his apartment in Colorado Springs on June 28, 2016. He was born to Max and Grace Welk on May 20, 1922, in Beverly, Neb. Bob attended a one-room school in Nebraska until he was drafted into the U.S. ...

McCook, Neb. --At the Community Hospital Board of Directors meeting June 22, board members met Kris Mathews, the new Chief Operating officer for Decatur Health Systems in Oberlin, Kan. Kris joined the Community Hospital staff on May 31 and works in Oberlin full-time as part of the management agreement between the two hospitals. ...

McCOOK, Neb. -- Barnett Park reopened today after officials closed the popular park over the weekend due to a mass fish kill in one of the ponds. During Monday's meeting of the McCook City Council, city officials indicated the park had experienced similar occurrences over the years and state and local entities were in agreement this scenario was likely related to oxygen levels in the water. ...

Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts, left, congratulates Lonnie Karre of Lincoln after Karre was presented with his Bronze Star during a surprise ceremony hosted by Cabela's in Lincoln, where Lonnie is employed. Karre served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War and received a commendation for the Bronze Star award, but did not receive the star. ...

McCOOK, Neb. -- Vacant property north of the Red Willow County fairgrounds drew criticism from at least one McCook resident for being an eyesore, prompting economic development officials to offer an explanation and reassurances it would be cleaned up soon...

McCOOK, Neb. -- The McCook Police Department received fewer firework related complaints over the 4th of July weekend than it had in several years, thanks to responsible revelers and understanding residents. Chief of Police Isaac Brown praised residents for generally staying within the permitted discharge timeframe, as well as for being more tolerant of their neighbors...

Oil has always played a pivotal role in wars from the B-24 raids on Hitler's refineries in Ploiești, Romania, the Imperial Japanese invasion of the Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia) to Dick Cheney's contention that the invasion of Iraq could be paid for with oilfield proceeds...

Well troops, here we are past the Fourth of July and past all the sound, and those flashy, bright sparkly-things, and noise. Now all we can hope to avoid is Nature's fireworks shows -- at least until wheat harvest is over. We have managed to blow through the first half of the year, so I guess we can say it is all downhill from here...

McCOOK, Neb. -- The McCook Football League Program will again be run for boys entering 5th through 8th grades this summer. Because of the large number expected to participate, parents are being asked to enroll their athletes as soon as possible so that organizers can address equipment needs...

The McCook National Bank Seniors beat Kearney Little Caesars 9-1 in the fifth inning to take the Mid-Nebraska League championship game Tuesday in McCook. They are, front from left, Dalton Goodenberger, Travis Wallen, Dustin Bredvick, Kaden Sitzman, Cole Peters, Clayton Stevens, Drew Harvie. ...

MINDEN, Neb. -- First Central Bank Juniors start area games this Friday, July 8. The Red team is No. 1 seed and will play No. 8 Hershland at 11 a.m. The Black team is No. 6 and will play No. 3 Cozad at 4:30 p.m. on Friday. This is a double-elimination tournament...

Violet Carolyn Brown April 4, 1930 - June 23, 2016 OBERLIN, Kan. -- Violet Carolyn Brown, age 86, of Oberlin, Kansas, passed away on Thursday, June 23, 2016, at Good Samaritan Center in Oberlin. She was born April 4, 1930, north of Oberlin to Kenneth and Charolette (Uehlin) VanPelt. ...

Marvin LeRoy Carriker Nov. 21, 1929 - June 23, 2016 AURORA, Neb. -- Marvin LeRoy Carriker, age 86, of Harvard, passed away Thursday (June 23, 2016) at Memorial Hospital in Aurora. Funeral Services will be held at 2 p.m., Monday, June 27, 2016, at the First United Methodist Church in Harvard. Rev. Travis King will officiate. Interment will be in the Harvard Cemetery...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- It has been a long, long time since the town of McCook has hosted a Town Hall Meeting, but that void in community living will be rectified Thursday night when McCook's two newest movers and shakers, Kirk Dixon and Ben Dutton, unite to present an old-fashioned, forward-looking exchange of ideas to make McCook more appealing for newcomers and visitors...