Stories from Monday, November 14, 2016

Last month, I wrote that it was time for a national mutiny ... And, by the late hours of November 8, 2016, it was obvious that the silent majority of "flyover country" had successfully knocked the political world off its arrogant axis. With a vigor not seen since the 1980 Reagan Revolution the American middle class, drawing its own deep red line in the sand, shouted to the condescending plutocracy a resounding "This far, no further!" We the "deplorable" bottom dwellers - whose livelihoods have gone long maligned by those who regard our proper place one of fruitless labor in the dark dreary bowels of this republic - finally snapped the chains of indentured servitude. ...

Health insurance and immigration are the first things to come to mind when the subject of Donald Trump's election comes up, but no issue is off the table when it comes time for the new administration to take over the reins of power. The Dakota Access pipeline was the current flash point, drawing protests before and after the presidential election...

Barbara F. Lepper Jan. 14, 1948 - Nov. 12, 2016 McCOOK, Neb. -- Barbara F. Lepper, age 68, of McCook, passed away Saturday, Nov. 12, 2016, at Community Hospital in McCook. She was born in McCook on Jan. 14, 1948, to Glen L. and Rita (Kohmetscher) Titman. She graduated from Indianola High School in 1966 and attended McCook Community College...

Ivan Ekart IMPERIAL, Neb. -- Ivan Ekart, 84, longtime resident of Imperial, died Thursday (Nov. 10, 2016), at Nebraska Heart Hospital in Lincoln, Neb. Survivors include his wife, Peg of Imperial; children, Tami Ekart of Imperial and Keri Carter and husband, Robin, of Bird City, Kan.; brother, Jackie Ekart and wife, Dona June of Imperial; two grandchildren and one great-grandchild...

Irene Neumann Jan. 31, 1921 - Nov. 11, 2015 HOLDREGE, Neb. -- Irene Neumann, 95, died Friday (Nov. 11, 2016), at Christian Homes in Holdrege. Services are pending with Herrmann-Jones Funeral Chapel in McCook.

Ruth Behnke Feb. 22, 1920 - Nov. 11, 2016 LOUISVILLE, Colo. -- Ruth Behnke, 96, died Friday (Nov. 11, 2016), at Juniper Village in Louisville. Services are Friday, Nov. 18, 2016, 10:30 a.m. at St. Catherine's Catholic Church in Indianola, Neb. Rosary is prior to services at 9:30 a.m...

McCOOK, Neb. -- The McCook Housing Agency is assuming management responsibilities for the Curtis Housing Authority. The merger of management responsibilities was scheduled to officially take place last Wednesday. Executive Director Becky Dutcher shared the news with attendees at last week's Coffee with a Cop meeting at the Bieroc Cafe. She said the director of the Curtis Housing Authority retired several years ago and a replacement had been sought for some time...

Whenever I have a meal at Fuller's Restaurant in downtown McCook, near the Railway Station, I cannot help but think of the man who built that building in 1922 -- Alex Gochis -- a fellow who proved that while all the American heroes of World War II did not wear a uniform, they certainly did contribute to Tom Brokaw's assessment of "The Great Generation. Under the name of "The Olympia" he operated a restaurant, candy, and liquor business there until 1967...

McCOOK, Neb. -- "Beauty and The Beast" will be the spring 2017 production of by the Southwest Nebraska Community Theatre Association. Performances will be March 11, 12, 14, 17, 18 and 19. Auditions will be Tuesday, Dec. 6 and Thursday, Dec. 8, from 7 to 9 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 11 from 2 to 4 p.m., in the band room at McCook High School...

Peter Soncksen of Hayes Center and Rachael Anderson of Kearney (the granddaughter of John and Linda Gull of McCook) show off the mule deer they harvested during opening weekend of deer season in Nebraska. Both are 5x5 mule deer. Rachael said she's thinking about doing a "European (skull) mount" of her deer, which will best show the angle of her kill shot -- through the ear and out the forehead. ...

McCOOK, Neb. -- Red Willow County's board of commissioners, at its weekly meeting this morning, spent $164,800 on a new motor grader, purchasing a new Caterpillar grader from NMC Machinery, North Platte. The new grader is a 2016 Caterpillar model 12M3 whose outright purchase price is $231,500. ...