Stories from Friday, August 12, 2016

The emerging power and influence of unions during the mid-twentieth century was a boon for workers and allowed them to finally work their way up to the middle class. Unions had the power to negotiate contracts with management and, because of the strength of numbers in unions, many obviously spoke much louder than one. Before unions, individuals had to negotiate themselves with management and management usually held most of the cards...

Whether you're a competitive sprinter chasing a new record or an everyday gym hound looking to get the most from your workout, seafood is among the best foods to support an athletic lifestyle. It not only delivers great-tasting nutrition, but also provides one-of-a-kind health benefits...

Daniel A. Doyle WICHITA, Kan. - Daniel A. Doyle, 97, died Tuesday (Aug. 9, 2016). He was a retired Cessna Aircraft Company employee and decorated World War II veteran. He was preceded in death by his wife of 60 years, Esther; mother and father, Nettie and Richard Doyle; brothers, Francis and James; sisters, Lucy, Agnes and Margaret, and grandson, Brian Robertson...

Marva Rae Gerlach Aug. 15, 1929 - Aug. 10, 2016 AURORA, Neb. -- Marva Rae Gerlach, 86, of Aurora, died Wednesday (Aug. 10, 2016), at Memorial Community Care. She was born in Callaway, Neb., to Seth A. and Lola M. (Smith) Best on Aug. 15, 1929. She was raised in Broken Bow and graduated from Broken Bow High School in 1947. ...

Gerald LaVern Schaffert Aug. 13, 1932 -Aug. 11, 2016 CULBERTSON, Neb. -- Gerald LaVern Schaffert, age 83, of Culbertson passed away on Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016, at Hillcrest Nursing Home in McCook. Gerry was born on Aug. 13, 1932, in Aurora, Neb., to Christian Schaffert and Elizabeth (Fritz) Schaffert, who moved their family to a farm south of Culbertson when Gerry was two weeks old. He would later graduate from Culbertson High School in 1950 before attending McCook College...

BEAVER CITY, Neb. -- Furnas County Sheriff Kurt Kapperman changed his mind about the resignation letter he presented to county commissioners on May 24. On June 20, he withdrew his resignation and commissioners agreed that he could continue in the sheriff's position he's held for nine years...

McCOOK, Neb. -- McCook Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Jamie Mockry is no stranger to chamber board meetings, having served as a volunteer board member for several years. But the August meeting was his first as the paid executive director in charge of the day-to-day operations of the chamber...

McCOOK, Neb. -- McCook High School Class of 1995 graduate Eric Binkey recently retired from the U.S. Air Force after more than two decades of service. Master Sergeant Eric M. Binkey was honored by the 605th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron on June 24, 2016, paying special tribute to his "21 years of honorable and faithful service to his country. We extend him a sincere wish for success in all his future endeavors."...

McCOOK, Neb. -- City leaders are facing a budget shortfall and looking to a couple familiar solutions, increasing the property tax levy and implementing an occupation tax on cell phones. "We're at a point we need to consider options for alternate revenue sources," said City Manager Nate Schneider during a budget review meeting Wednesday evening. ...

85th birthday The family of Barbara Grafel of McCook is hosting an open house in honor of her 85th birthday Sunday, Aug. 21. The open house is Saturday, Aug. 20, from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Culbertson Ambulance Barn in Culbertson, Neb. Come join us in wishing her a Happy birthday! Cards of congratulations will reach her at 71612 Dove Trail, McCook, NE 69001...

80th birthday The family of Eugene Anderson of McCook is requesting a card shower in honor of his 80th birthday on Sunday, Aug. 14. He was born in Ong, Neb., in 1936 and has been a resident of McCook since 1975. He has been a member of the United Methodist Church, Rotary, and the local Tractor Club. ...

60th Anniversary The family of George and Peggy Pearson of Sun City West, Ariz., are hosting a reception and card shower in honor of the couple's 60th wedding anniversary Friday, Aug. 12th. A reception for the couple will be Sunday, Aug. 21, 2016, at the McCook Senior Center, 1400 West 5th Street in McCook, from 2-4 pm. ...

Landon Robert Hagemann Josh and Brandi Hagemann of Wilbur, Neb., announce the birth of their son, Landon Robert Hagemann, born July 22, 2016, at Crete Area Medical Center in Crete, Neb. He weighed 7 pounds, 5 ounces and measured 20 inches long. He has a sister, Sadie, 2. Grandparents are Dennis and Ann Hilton of Hershey, Neb., and Bill and Sue Hagemann of Culbertson, Neb. Great-grandparent is Larry Tinkham of Imperial, Neb...

Saige Marie Hayden Jesse (Toby) Hayden and Christina Lee of McCook announce the birth of their daughter, Saige Marie Hayden, born May 23, 2016, at Community Hospital in McCook. She weighed 7 pounds, 2.8 ounces and measured 20 inches long. She has a sister, Sawyer, 3. Grandparents are Darryl and Carolyn Lee of McCook, Joe and Valarie Hayden of Lincoln, Neb., and Kathy and Doug Bradley of McCook. Great-grandparents are Jim and Gwen Lee of McCook and the late Griff and Carol Helm...

Registration deadline is today for the McCook YMCA's youth flag football and volleyball leagues...

Getting to swim at the sandpits was the ultimate when I was young. An ultimate that I got to experience only once since my mother had an extreme aversion to allowing her child to swim in something filled with dangerous areas. I didn't do much better with getting to swim in the river since my dad was fully aware of how many pitfalls existed in the (at that time) mighty Republican...

McCOOK, Neb. -- Self checkout stations have arrived in Southwest Nebraska and are now in use at the Walmart Super Center on the western edge of McCook. The self checkout system debuted Saturday, August 6, 2016, in the up-front, southwestern part of the store located at 1902 West B Street...

The emerging power and influence of unions during the mid-twentieth century was a boon for workers and allowed them to finally work their way up to the middle class. Unions had the power to negotiate contracts with management and, because of the strength of numbers in unions, many obviously spoke much louder than one. Before unions, individuals had to negotiate themselves with management and management usually held most of the cards...

Don Keller of Trenton displays the rebuilt and repurposed historic Trenton post office boxes that are now helping to pay off construction costs of the Family Life Center at the Church of God in Trenton. Keller bought the post office boxes more than 60 years ago when they were phased out, and used them in his shop as bolt bins. ...

McCOOK, Neb. -- Heavy equipment began relocating dirt and removing brush from vacant property north of the Red Willow County Fairgrounds earlier this week. The prep work represents the early construction stages of the Quillan Courts housing development and was a welcome sight for city leaders hoping to address what has been referred to as a critical housing shortage in McCook...

McCOOK, Neb. -- The City of McCook is hauling more trash than ever from its transfer station to the J Bar J Landfill in Ogallala, Nebraska, according to city officials. Public Works Director Kyle Potthoff said the city is hauling four loads a day which requires the transfer station supervisor to haul two of and prevents him from doing his normal duties...

McCOOK, Neb. -- The 2016-17 fiscal year City of McCook budget will be presented for first reading approval Monday evening. The meeting, set for 6:30 p.m. at the Municipal Center, will begin with public hearings pertaining to the proposed budget and setting the final tax request at a different amount than the prior year...

OXFORD, Neb. -- The Furnas County native who practiced medicine in Benkelman for 53 years has bequeathed the Oxford Library $500,000. The will of Dr. Kenneth C. Stout leaves half-a-million dollars to the Village of Oxford, with the stipulation that it be used for the benefit of the Oxford Library...

McCOOK, Neb. -- You might not think of McCook as a tourist destination, but there are times -- from time to time -- when that is exactly what this place on the plains is. The Tourism Director for McCook and Red Willow County, Carol Schlegel, gave the 'Coffee with a Cop' crowd evidence of McCook's tourism drawing power Tuesday morning during a leisurely chat about branding, birding and Face-booking...

Lewis E. Cackler Dec. 19, 1929 - Aug. 11, 2016 McCOOK, Neb. -- Lewis Earl Cackler passed away Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016, at McCook at the age of 86. He was born on Dec. 19, 1929, in Driftwood Township to Jesse and Florence (Randal) Cackler south of Culbertson...