Stories from Wednesday, July 13, 2016

We haven't made a study of it, but a couple of innovative ideas have caught our eye in recent days when it comes to streets and highways. A television report Tuesday how injected foam was being used to repair a major traffic artery in Grand Island, which apparently was improperly constructed in the first place...

One of the favorite and most recognizable jewels of the summer sky is the constellation Scorpius, the Scorpion. It is one of the few constellations that actually looks like what it is supposed to be, a giant, fierce, menacing, scorpion. To find it look due south when the sky is good and dark after local sunset (about an hour and a half). ...

GENE O. MORRIS McCook Gazette McCOOK, Nebraska -- Keep your eyes wide open and ye shall see the dramatic emergence of one of the great small town success stories in the recent history of America. I'm talking about the blossoming in the Golden Plains of America of the Cobblestone Hotels & Suites...

McCOOK, Neb. -- The number of teachers and staff members active the community drew commendations from the McCook School Board Monday night. Board member Diane Lyon started off the "Positive Comments" portion of the regular school board meeting Monday night by citing teachers and paraprofessionals already back in the classroom for summer school...

From gutter to gutter, a crew from BSB Construction of Curtis mills the asphalt surface of West D Street between West Fifth and West Seventh in McCook Tuesday morning. The project will include sub-grade prep, re-placement of the asphalt millings as a base and installing a new concrete driving surface. The street, two blocks long on the north side of Hillcrest Nursing Home, is closed to traffic during work...

McCOOK, Neb. -- McCook Chamber of Commerce's annual Crazy Days begins Thursday and will run throughout the weekend. Look in today's Gazette for our Crazy Days insert. It tells you where the best bargains to be found will be located, along with special food and beverage offers by McCook's best eating establishments. ...

McCOOK, Neb. -- Black Hills Energy is looking to ditch the Choice Gas Program which requires residents to research and select a natural gas supplier annually, at least according to one City Council member. "There is one concern before the Nebraska Public Service Commission. ...

CONNIE JO DISCOE Regional Editor IMPERIAL, Neb. -- Dirk Bauerle must have a whale of a telephone booth. In putts a typical farm tractor, and -- Shazam! Out rumbles a "smoker" tractor that'll knock your socks off, take your breath away, rattle your ribcage and plaster a silly grin on your face...

McCOOK, Neb. -- The cross-country motorcycle ride celebrating sisters Augusta and Adeline Van Buren's ride across America 100 years ago stops in McCook today. The sisters went through McCook on their trip 100 years ago. In 1916, the sisters were the first women to cross the continental U.S., each on her own motorcycle, campaigning for women to be allowed to serve in the draft. ...

McCOOK, Neb. -- The McCook Area Chamber of Commerce plans a ribbon cutting for a new chamber member, Pristine Clean, 508 West 10th, at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, July 28. Members and guests are welcome to attend.

McCOOK, Neb. -- The McCook Area Chamber of Commerce will present its third quarter Honor Business Award to the Coppermill Steak House, Highway 83 and Coppermill Street, at 10 a.m. Wednesday, July 20. The public is invited to help congratulate Adam Siegfried and staff...

Ten-year-olds Emma Carfield and Cookie run a purple-ribbon-quality agility course before judge Brittany Klotz of Bartley this morning during the first day of the 2016 Hitchcock County Fair on the fairgrounds in Culbertson. 4-H and Clover Kid competition continues through the livestock sale at 5:30 p.m, Saturday. ...

MINDEN, Neb. -- McCook's Junior Legion Red/First Central Bank went undefeated in Class B6 district play in Minden, winning the championship Tuesday evening with a 10-0, five-inning defeat of Holdrege.They're state-bound Saturday, playing at 10 a.m. MT on Legion Memorial Field in Sidney; their opponent was unknown as of this morning...

IMPERIAL, Neb. -- The competition keeps getting tougher for the McCook youth summer swim team as the season nears an end. The McCook summer swim team competed at the western Plains Tsunami Swim League qualifying meet in Imperial on Saturday. The top finishers in each event at the three qualifying meets will swim at the league championship meet in Lexington next Saturday...

McCOOK, Neb. -- Juggling school work, athletics and a new environment can be tough on a college student, especially one attending school miles away from home. That's where the Adopt An Athlete program can help. Families who participate in the Adopt An Athlete program are paired with an athlete, or more than one if they choose, from those participating in the six sports at McCook Community College: volleyball, baseball, women's and men's basketball, softball and golf...