Stories from Friday, July 8, 2016

Ladies and gentlemen of the McCook area, I would like you join me today in giving a great big round of appreciation to Val Fuller, the owner and manager of the only restaurant -- and one of the few businesses in the Golden Plains area -- to be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week and -- most impressively -- 365 days a year in most years and 366 days on leap years...

CURTIS, Neb. -- Jennifer Rittenhouse McConville instituted a college budget, gained a new title and soon adds a new skill on her resume as an accreditation reviewer. McConville has served as assistant dean of finance and operations at the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture in Curtis since January, 2015...

This information is gathered at the McCook Public Safety Center, the McCook office of the Nebraska State Patrol, the Red Willow County Courthouse, the Red Willow County Sheriff's Office and the McCook Humane Society. Police activity Activity log...

Jenson Scott Linn Beau and Brianne Linn of Bellevue, Neb., announce the birth of their son, Jenson Scott Linn, who was born May 3, 2016, at Nebraska Medicine in Omaha, Neb. He weighed 7 pounds, 8 ounces and measured 20 inches long. He has one brother, Reeve, 3. ...

Bills, Dack William and Marcia Bills of Orleans, Neb., are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter, Abigail to Micheal Dack, son of Joseph and Nancy Dack of McCook, Neb. The bride-to-be is a 2011 graduate of Southern Valley High School and a 2015 graduate of the University of Nebraska-Kearney, with a degree in business administration with an emphasis in marketing...

60th anniversary The family of Stan and Ellen Garretson of McCook is requesting a card shower in honor of the couple's 60th wedding anniversary Friday, July 15. They were married at the First Christian Church in Othello, Wash., in 1956. They have lived in McCook since 1967 and are both retired teachers. Stan retired from McCook Community College and Ellen retired from McCook Central Elementary School. Cards of congratulations will reach them at 38098 U.S. Highway 6, McCook, NE 69001...

By the time 1898 rolled around, McCook was apparently ready to celebrate Independence Day in style once again. The McCook Tribune exclaimed that the planned events "Will Beat the Record"! Starting at 10 a.m., a calithumpian and trades parade was planned that would end at the water-works park (Norris Park?) at 11. The Reverend W.J. Turner would speak, the Declaration of Independence would be recited and the Brigade Band would provide music throughout the event...

Jason Lee Brown TRENTON, Neb. -- Jason Lee Brown of Trenton went home to be with his Lord and Savior Thursday, July 7, 2016 at Community Hospital in McCook, Neb. He was 35 years old. Jason was born in Caracas, Venezuela to parents Michael L. and Carolyn L. (Young) Brown while the couple was serving as missionaries to the country. He was one of four siblings, holding the title of big brother to his 3 younger sisters...

McCOOK, Neb. -- Developers are eyeing property adjacent to the intersection of West Q Street and West 17th Street for a new business commercial subdivision. The McCook Planning Commission will coordinate a public hearing Monday evening to discuss a subdivision request related to the project...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- An automobile dealership which got its start 45 years ago in McCook is expanding again. The company -- now called Janssen Auto Group -- gained approval this week from Ford Motor Company for the purchase of the Ford dealership in York, Nebraska. This represents the Janssens' first dealership in eastern Nebraska, as all of their other dealerships are located in the western Nebraska cities of McCook, Holdrege and North Platte and the west central Kansas town of Larned...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Hello, world! Now, and from this day forward, McCook and the surrounding counties of the Golden Plains shall be known as the "Capitol of the Buffalo Commons." The new brand -- announced at Thursday night's Town Hall meeting at the Fox Theatre - was proclaimed -- for the first time ever -- by Carol Schlegel, executive director of the McCook/Red Willow County Tourism Bureau...

McCOOK, Neb. -- Costs for renovating the front entrance of McCook Senior High will increase slightly with another change order. The McCook Board of Education will be asked to approve at its regular meeting Monday night, 6:30 p.m. at the junior high conference room, a $1,521 increase in the construction project. The increase is due to higher-than-expected costs in leveling the floor in the front office and nurse areas...

McCOOK, Neb. -- The City of McCook is implementing a new contractor licensing program it hopes to have in place by early August. The program requires all contractors doing work in the community to be licensed, insured and initially pay a $75 license fee with renewal to cost $25 annually...

Noah Hofman of McCook, right, wins second place with a two-day 36-hole total of 149 in the 15th annual Nebraska Lions High School Senior All-Star Golf Tournament June 27 and 28 at Meadowlark Hills Golf Course in Kearney. The tournament featured 15 girls and 19 boys invited from all-class high school senior top finishers in the state high school golf championships in the spring. ...

McCOOK, Neb. -- The MCC Indians Boosters have kicked off the annual fundraising drive for McCook Community College sports. Anyone interested in helping promote MCC's sports programs is invited to send a contribution. The MCC Indians Boosters, Inc. is a non-profit organization formed in 1996 to support the growth and prosperity of McCook Community College through its sports programs...

CRETE, Neb. -- Seven Southwest Nebraska athletes are among recipients of the Pflieger / Olson GPAC Scholar-Athlete and Doane College Scholar-Athlete awards for the 2015-16 academic year. They are Ashia Love Culbertson Neb. Women's Track & Field; Cassa McConville Indianola Neb. ...

LINCOLN, Neb. -- Mitchell A. Carlson of Central City, Trae A. Heathers of McCook, Tim N.K. Stilmocheck of Syracuse and Calvert R. Switzer of Gretna have been awarded the Hurlbert Memorial Scholarship by the Nebraska American Legion for 2016-17. The Jim Hurlbert Memorial Baseball Scholarship is based on a player's leadership, scholarship, citizenship, and financial need. ...

McCOOK, Neb. -- The McCook Football League Program will again be run for boys entering 5th-8th Grades this summer. Due to large enrollment expected, officials are asking for parents to enroll their athletes as soon as possible so that they may address equipment needs. Once again, registrations are strictly limited to no more than 80 participants per age division...

Many have dangerous jobs, and we're wise not to take our loved ones for granted when they head off to work. Even so, it's shocking and outrageous to hear that five police officers lost their lives Thursday night as they were working to protect the rights and lives of peaceful protesters only a few blocks from where President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in 1963...

It begins shortly after birth and continues throughout our lives. Every decision we make that leads to a choice alters the direction our lives take. At any point in our lives, we are the result of the choices we've made. So the responsibility for who we are, what we believe, and where we're going from here isn't anyone else's responsibility, it's our own. ...

So the fish died off because of lack of oxygen! OK! Why was there a lack of oxygen? Because of too much algae there? Why is there so much algae there? Was it because a shallow, warm, almost stagnant body of water, nurtured by tons of goose poop, is supplied to it, along with hot weather to spurt plant growth, the algae?...

Kaden Sitzman, left, and Travis Wallen take aim during the all-star game Thursday night in Kearney. Four McCook players were part of the West squad, which dropped a 10-7 contest to the East.

Darlene LaRue Oct. 2, 1934 - July 7, 2016 OBERLIN, Kan. -- Darlene LaRue, 81, died Thursday (July 7, 2016), at Decatur Health Systems in Oberlin. She was born Oct. 2, 1934, to Harold and Dena (Kroeze) Hartzog in Prairie View, Kan. She attended Jennings High School. ...

Iris Iona Barnes Feb. 9, 1934 - July 7, 2016 BRIGHTON, Colo. -- Iris Iona Barnes was born Feb. 9, 1934, to Asahel and Nettie (Birdsall) Gage in Palisade, Neb., and departed this life July 7, 2016, in Brighton at the age of 82. The youngest of four children, she spent most of her childhood in the Palisade area and graduated from Palisade High School in 1952, valedictorian of her class...