Stories from Monday, August 8, 2016

Everything from human foosball to volleyball, a beer garden and other activities drew a crowd to Barnett Park Sunday night for the final stop of the Good Living Tour, which provided music for McCook's first Prairie Roots Festival. Josh Hoyer & Soul Colossal, stage image, closed out the night, after performances by McCook's own Homemade Crazy, plus Matt Cox and DJ Nick Fitch. ...

Audre E. Haussler July 9, 1930 - Aug. 3, 2016 ARAPAHOE, Neb. -- Audre E. Haussler, 86, of Arapahoe, died Wednesday (Aug. 3, 2016), at C.A. Mues Good Samaritan Society of Arapahoe. She was born on July 9, 1930, in Arapahoe to Carl and Lena (Hilker) Menze. She graduated from Arapahoe City School in 1947. After high school, she taught at District 1 Sunflower School northwest of Arapahoe...

Connie Jo Bible Feb. 18, 1945 - Aug. 3, 2016 NORTH PLATTE, Neb. -- Connie Jo Bible, age 71, of North Platte, passed away Aug. 3, 2016, at the University Medical Center in Omaha with her family at her side. She was born Feb. 18, 1945, at McCook, Neb., to Ruth Jeffers and Joseph J. ...

McCOOK, Neb. -- During their regular weekly meeting this morning, Red Willow County commissioners approved the ballot language to allow voters to decide if they're "for" or "against" raising funds to help maintain and operate the county's nursing home...

There were plenty of places to sit, such as lawn chairs or an M-60 tank, and plenty of distractions, such as human foosball or the beer gardent, but the main attractions at the Prairie Roots Festival are Matt Cox, Josh Hoyer & Soul Colossal and Homemade Crazy Sunday evening in Barnett Park. The concert was the final stop in this year's Hear Nebraska Good Living Tour...

Five-year-old Langley Hudson of Haigler dances with her dad, Jason, Sunday afternoon to the music of "Driven," who shared the stage with "That Damn Sasquatch" band from Denver for the 15th annual and finale of the Haigler Bluegrass Festival. Carol Peterson, a member of the bluegrass festival committee, told the crowd not to give up on the possibility of continuing the festival. ...

Heritage Hills Board of Director president Nick Nothnagel set an example for all who play the Heritage Hills Golf Course, recording two eagles on opening day to lead his team to the First Flight championship in the 2016 Member-Guest Tournament at McCook's acclaimed 25-year-old links style course....

INDIANOLA, Neb. -- Anyone interested in old-time harvesting and farming methods should mark Sunday, Aug. 14, on their calendar for the eigth annual Bum Malleck Memorial Threshing, four miles south of Indianola in conjunction with the Indianola Old Settlers Celebration...

BENKELMAN, Neb. -- The next one-day "Mobile Pantry" event in a Southwest Nebraska community will be Saturday, Aug. 13, at the Dundy County-Stratton High School at 400 Ninth Ave. West, (straight south of the Dundy County Hospital) from 10 a.m. until noon MT...

The Lehman and Carl brothers clean white and red onions -- three rows worth in a 60x40-foot garden -- that they pulled during Tuesday morning's cool hours. Thirteen-year-old Blair Lehman said they'll use them "in spaghetti ... and in spaghetti and ... ...

Artist and photographer Norma and Jack Stevens, of McCook, display the print, "Indianola Elevator," and photograph, "Old House," that they have donated to a fund-raising raffle for McCook Habitat for Humanity. The Habitat raffle also includes two tickets donated by MNB Investments to the Nebraska Cornhusker football game against Minnesota on Saturday. ...

Barnett Park was revived as a great events venue with Sunday night's Hear Nebraska/Good Living Tour/Prairie Roots Festival, when the stars aligned just right for what should be the first of a successful series of community gatherings. This one differed from other traditional events in that it was initiated and carried out by young people who have the most to gain and the most responsibility for providing nourishment for community growth...

(Note: One of the best kept secrets in the Nebraska State Parks System is the venerable old Army Remount Station, Fort Robinson, in Northwest Nebraska. This old Army Post, far removed from the population centers of Nebraska cannot be as popular with the vacationing public as the State Parks closer to Lincoln and Omaha, yet it offers some of the most spectacular scenery in the state, the chance to see wild life, and offers the peace and quiet that travelers profess to be looking for when they take a vacation. ...

Kristen Garner, top, sings "The National Anthem" Saturday morning before the start of the 2016 Trenton Harvest Festival parade, whose color guard included Luther "Jesse" Anderson, above, who leaves soon for his fourth deployment to Iraq with the U.S. Army; he has completed two tours of Afghanistan. Jesse is the son of Reva Carlson of Trenton, and a 2001 graduate of Lakeside (Trenton) High School. He is a 15-year, career member of the Army...

Kyle Teel, left, and Nate Herman, right, ran the Super Hero Run Saturday in full bunker gear, weighing 50 pounds. Despite the handicap, Teel took first place in the 20-29 division 5K with a time of 39:29 and Herman took second in the same division with 45:40. ...

Bruce Melvin Bortner HASTINGS, Neb. -- Bruce Melvin Bortner, age 57, passed away Sunday, Aug. 7, 2016, in Hastings. Bruce was the son of Melvin and Barbara Bortner of McCook, Neb. He is survived by one sister, Cindy Ruffner, of Bellevue, Neb.; and three sons, James and Leigh of Grand Ridge, Ill., Ryan of North Platte, Neb., and Matthew and Jessica of North Platte...

Betty Charlene Hiatt Oct. 3, 1942 - Aug. 5, 2016 McCOOK, Neb. -- Betty Charlene Hiatt, age 73, passed away Friday, Aug. 5, 2016, at Great Plains Health in North Platte. Betty was born on Oct. 3, 1942, in McCook to Paul H. and Mary F. (Dawson) Schneider. She graduated from McCook High School...