Stories from Friday, September 16, 2016

Colin Kaepernick, the back-up quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers pro football team, created a flashpoint of support and criticism last week by kneeling during the playing of our National Anthem as a protest against the continued oppression of blacks in this country and police brutality against that same group of people. ...

I was elected by the voters in Hitchcock County in 2014. I have done everything I can to fulfill the responsibilities of the office in which I was elected. Upon taking office on January 8, 2015, it was clear that delinquent work including appraisals, inspections of properties and agricultural land uses were incorrect and tons of work was left for me to undertake. ...

Dottie and Al White McCOOK, Neb. -- Celebration of Life service for Dottie and Al White will be 2 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 19, 2016, at First Congregational Church in McCook with Pastor Steve Bales officiating. Dottie passed away July 26, 2016, and Al on Sept. 19, 2013...

Nebraska certainly took note when Oregon's Royce Freeman got his season rolling last weekend with over 200 yards rushing...

Playing at the state-rated Wild Horse Golf Course in Gothenburg, McCook fired a 372 team score to finish third place at Thursday's Gothenburg Invite...

A recap of Thursday's area volleyball matches

Some observers were saying the Heritage Hills Course is tougher than the state cross country challenge at Kearney Country Club next month...

Cheering from a perch above the runners at Heritage Hills, no friend or relative was looking down on what Elsi Rodewald achieved Thursday afternoon...

94th birthday The family of Mitty Arminta (Huggins) Quigley of Indianola, Nebraska, is requesting a card shower for her 94th birthday Monday, Sept. 19. Her family includes her husband, Stan Quigley of Indianola, children, Jacque (Quigley) Baker of Lincoln, Nebraska, Scott and Kari (Ellis) Quigley of Indianola, Steve and Cindy (Housley) Quigley of Indianola, seven grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. Cards of congratulations will reach her at 39276 Rd 720, Indianola NE 69034...

100th birthday Come help celebrate Edna Ficken's 100th birthday at an open house at Brookdale McCook on Saturday, Sept. 24, from 2 to 3 p.m. She was born Sept. 28, 1916, at her grandparents' home, south side of Eustis, Neb. After graduating Eustis High School, she taught in rural schools until her marriage to Herman Ficken in 1938. ...

75th birthday The family of Ed Ruf of Wilsonville, Neb., is requesting a card shower in honor of his 75th birthday on Sunday, Oct. 2. He was born at St. Catherine Hospital in McCook, Neb., in 1941. He has been a lifelong resident of Wilsonville. His family includes wife, Ruth Ruf of Wilsonville, Kevin and Barb Ruf of Long Island, Bill and Bev Ruf of Keller, Texas, Bob Ruf of Oberlin, Kan., and the late Sherri Ruf; 8 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. ...

Lane Frederick Hirsch Joe and Nakita Hirsch of Hope, Kan., announce the birth of their son, Lane Frederick Hirsch, born Sept. 6, 2016, in Abilene, Kan. He weighed 7 pounds, 4 ounces, and measured 20.5 inches long. Grandparents are Steve and Anita Hirsch and Dave and Kala Bose, all of Oberlin, Kan. ...

Hadley Gwen Esch Matthew and Kelsey Esch of McCook announce the birth of their daughter, Hadley Gwen Esch, born on Aug. 10, 2016, in McCook. She weighed 6 pounds and measured 19.5 inches long. Grandparents are Kip and Kristi Korell and Michael and Barb Esch, all of McCook. ...

Nebraska is the home of an exquisite National Park Service monument commemorating the passage of the Homestead Act of 1862. Four miles west of Beatrice in Gage County, situated on 211 acres of land, part of which are some of the first acres that were claimed under the act, the monument was included in the National Register of Historic Places on October 15, 1966...

Cooler temperatures, beautiful chang­ing leaves and the familiar scent of pumpkin pie spice are all signs of fall. Whether you're hosting a pumpkin carving party or decorating sweet treats with family, celebrate the season with maple-flavored leaf-shaped cookies, pumpkin patch cupcakes and hot apple cider...

OBERLIN, KAN. -- Early American history and lore are crowded with colorful characters like Buffalo Bill Cody, Wild Bill Hickok, Crazy Horse, Billy the Kid. George Custer ... Geronimo ... Calamity Jane, Sacajawea and Pocahontas. Ever heard of William D. Street?...

BEAVER CITY, Neb. -- Every conceivable autumn activity will be available when "Linner's Lil' Barn Pumpkin Patch" opens for the first time ever after Beaver City's "Eager Beaver Day" parade Saturday. The parade kicks off the community's celebration of fall at 10:30 a.m. Then, follow Main Street north to the "Pumpkin Patch" at 1209 Ninth Street, north of the Furnas County fairgrounds...

McCOOK, Neb. -- The McCook City Council is on the verge of approving a property tax hike while receiving significantly more in annual sales tax dollars committed to property tax relief than could be generated by maxing out the levy. A resolution representing the final step in the city's first property tax hike, McCook's first in more than decade, will be considered for approval during Monday's regularly scheduled meeting, 6:30 p.m. at the Municipal Center...

McCOOK, Neb. -- Roadway resurfacing is scheduled to begin Monday, Sept. 19, northbound on East 11th Street from East J Street to city limits, as well as on Airport Road from East C Street to East H Street. The project is estimated to take two weeks to complete...

McCOOK, Neb. -- More than 70 years after his earthly life ended, awards of merit are still being bestowed upon the late, great U.S. Sen. George W. Norris of Nebraska. Sen. Norris, who lived the last half of his life in McCook, served for 40 years in the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate...

OMAHA, Neb. -- Food Bank for the Heartland plans two mobile food pantries, in Frontier County in Curtis on Wednesday, Oct. 5, and in Hitchcock County in Stratton, Saturday, Oct. 8. The Curtis distribution is sponsored by Farm Credit Services and is scheduled from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m., at the Curtis Memorial Community Center at 301 Garlick Ave...

McCOOK, Neb. -- An Indianola resident is looking to the City of McCook to repair damages her vehicle sustained when severe weather struck the region earlier this month. Heavy rainfall on Sept. 3 relocated a city dumpster from where it rest in an alley near 402 West 4th Street, slamming it into a parked Blazer owned by Candis Shaw, according to a property damage incident form submitted to the city. ...

All that was missing at the bonfire was the fire. The threat of severe weather, some thunder, lightning and dusty-gusty winds canceled McCook Senior High's homecoming bonfire celebration Thursday evening, but not before the MHS drum corps -- led by band instructor Nathan Hudson, left, and percussionist Syd Wier -- whipped up some school spirit. ...

TRENTON, Neb. -- Despite one defendant's mostly incoherent mumbling about the number of prisoners compared to the population of the town, Hitchcock County Judge Anne Paine declined Wednesday morning to reduce the bond she set earlier for three Trenton residents charged with felonies after arrests Sept. 2 in Trenton...