Stories from Wednesday, November 16, 2016

McCOOK, Neb. -- Darren Dale, the manager of the annual "McCook Farm & Ranch Expo" expects great attendance at his ninth annual expo today and Thursday. "When corn harvest is done and the cows are on the stalks, then I know there's a good chance of a really good attendance," Darren said with a grin Tuesday afternoon...

McCOOK, Neb. -- The Forest Services of Nebraska and Kansas are cooperating on a tree-planting initiative designed to broaden the diversity of trees growing in communities on the Great Plains. In Nebraska, 16 planting projects in 14 different Nebraska communities, including McCook, are being implemented this fall to test and display a wide variety of uncommon trees as part of the "Environmentally Adapted Trees Initiative."...

McCOOK, Neb. -- Southwest Nebraska Public Health Department is encouraging tobacco users to take advantage of a special offer from the Nebraska Tobacco Quitline. The Quitline will mail directly, a no-cost, two-week supply of nicotine gum, patches or lozenges, to any Nebraska resident over the age of 18 who is ready to quit tobacco...

To Trevor Jones, left, the new director and CEO of the Nebraska Historical Society, John Hubert explains McCook's connection as the home of Nebraska governors Brooks, Morrison, Nelson and Heineman, and U.S. representative and senator George W. Norris. ...

AURORA, Colo. --Pauline Pearl (Warburton) Childs, age 80, peacefully entered eternal rest on Nov. 14, 2016, at Aurora, Colorado. Pauline was born in Oberlin, Kansas on Dec. 17, 1935, to Fred and Goldie (Larreau) Warburton. She attended McCook schools. Polly was employed by Woolworths, Fuller's Café, and St. Catherine's Hospital...

HOLDREGE, Neb. --Nettie "Irene" Neumann passed away Nov. 11, 2016, at the Christian Homes in Holdrege, Nebraska. She was 95 years old. Irene was born the first of five children on Jan, 31, 1921, at Hazard, Nebraska, to parents, Richard Ray and Katheryn Emelia (Smith) Ward. She was raised in Berwyn and graduated from Berwyn High School with the class of 1939. She worked at the Berwyn Depot and Telephone Company...

FARNAM, Neb. -- Linda Kay Schurr, 67, of Farnam died Monday (Nov. 14, 2016) following a courageous battle with cancer at Gothenburg Health in Gothenburg. Linda was born June 14, 1949, at Sutherland to Bernard and Pencieetta (Case) Gummere, Jr. She attended the Birdwood one room country school, District #36 thru 2nd grade and finished her schooling at Sutherland, She attended UNL after high school...

Kudos to the groups organizing the Buffalo Jones Outdoor Festival, set for next June in Barnett Park. Inspired by this year's HEAR Nebraska event, The McCook Area Chamber of Commerce, McCook Economic Development and McCook/Red Willow Visitors Bureau got together to plan a festival honoring the bison conservationist while filling out a busy Buffalo Commons Storytelling Festival weekend...

If the election didn't go your way, and you decided Canada is too cold and you couldn't get the immigration website to work anyway, there's another place you might consider moving. A Hungarian parliament committee has given initial approval for the country to remain on daylight saving time all year around...

OBERLIN, Kan. -- Margaret Lund, 85, died Monday (Nov. 14, 2016), at Hays, Kan. Services are Thursday, Nov. 17, 2016, 1:30 p.m. at First United Methodist Church of Hays with the Rev. Michael Rose officiating and on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2016, 11 a.m. at Pauls Funeral Home in Oberlin with the Rev. Gordon Pettibone officaiting. Interment is at the Oberlin Cemetery...

COLBY, Kan. -- Jay B. Gilbert, 98, died Sunday (Nov. 13, 2016), at Citizens Medical Center, Colby. He was born May 1, 1918, at Rawlins County to Floyd Gilbert and Harriet Raber. He was raised on a farm home southeast of Achilles in Rawlins County. Gilbert graduated from Decatur County High School in 1936 and resided on a farm southeast of Atwood in Rawlins County...

It was expected to be almost 80 degrees today, but while the forecast is in a flux, the reality of November will set in any day now; let's hope bringing some much-needed moisture with it. We remember many Thanksgiving holidays offering challenging travel conditions, and this year's Nebraska State Patrol focus is "Be Here for the Holidays," promoting voluntary compliance with traffic safety laws...

HERNDON, Kan. -- Lloyd H. Arden Jr., 70, died Oct. 14, 2016, at Herndon. He was born Sept. 22, 1946, to Lloyd H. Arden Sr. and Lois Mabel Campbell. He was raised in Mesa, Arizona, and Fresno, California. On April 13, 1974, he married Edith Irene Downs in Las Vegas, Nevada. He was employed in building construction...

Get on Ozzie Osbourne's "Crazy Train" which leads to one question after Friday's Class B state semifinal at Weiland Field: Was this really one of the best football games we have ever seen?