Stories from Tuesday, February 28, 2017

We got a letter from the lawn service the other day and you can see the bags of garden soil and mulch piling up outside the garden departments -- can spring be far away? While we're getting soil ready to plant some tomatoes, we'll also want to think about where we want to spend our summer vacation...

On March 2, I will introduce LB 537 in front of the Health and Human Services Committee. LB 537 would allow the Department of Health and Human Services to screen any applicant for and recipient of cash assistance benefits if they have reasonable suspicion that a person is using illegal drugs...

For Grannie Annie it was a heartfelt thank you for a job well done. As she says "I am only the hands and feet, it is the community that should receive the thanks!" Nathan Witt, Pastor of the Cambridge Calvary Baptist Church, does double duty as a Chaplain in a Kansas National Guard unit. ...

HAYS, Kan. -- Decatur Community's Tabor Erickson scored five state tournament wins including three pins to lead all area Kansas 3A-2A-1A qualifiers who competed last weekend. Red Devil teammate Kel Grafel earned fourth place to join Erickson as state medalists. They teamed to score all 34 Decatur team points...

KEARNEY, Neb. -- Southwest's 37-36 win over Tri County started the Roughrider wrestlers to third place overall at Saturday's Class D State Dual Tournament. State medalist Anthony Starr's 32-second pin started the victory as matches began at 220. Heavyweight Logan Kircher, another state qualifier, promptly finished his opponent in 4:26...

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. -- Bartley's probably still buzzing along with a few other southwest towns about something never seen before Monday evening. "It's so big for our community and the school," Southwest boys basketball coach Marcus Bish declared. No Roughrider boys team had ever played a state basketball game since the school officially started in 2004-05...

R.B. Headley Gazette Sports Editor OGALLALA, Neb. -- Unlike LaLa Land, McCook was having one magical movie night that wasn't going to end with one guy declaring this was a mistake. No bearded bald guy in a tuxedo was denying Zach Schlager from banking in not one but two early three-point shots...

McCOOK, Neb. -- The McCook City Council provided preliminary approval last week for a mixed bag of changes to city liquor license fees. The effort was motivated by a desire to align city fees with the state, according to city staff. The State of Nebraska allows municipalities to tack on their own liquor license fees, so long as the amount is less than double the amount the state charges. City Manager Nate Schneider said the effort to align McCook's fees stemmed from a desire for uniformity...

McCOOK, Neb. -- Red Willow County commissioners fear that an action proposed by the county's fair board will generate ill feelings and set into motion major changes in how the county offers health insurance coverage for county employees. At the commissioners' weekly meeting Monday morning, fair board members told commissioners that they want to give an $800-a-month raise to one fairgrounds/Kiplinger Arena employee so he can pay for an increase in his family insurance not covered by the county...

A Forever Stamp Celebrating the Nebraska Sesquicentennial will debut Wednesday with a ceremony at the Nebraska State Capitol, featuring photographer Michael Forsberg, who will discuss the perserverance involved in capturing the photo of the sandhill cranes migrating along the Platte River. They will go on sale at Nebraska post offices Wednesday, and can be pre-ordered at usps.com. The Cornhusker State became the 37th state of the Union March 1, 1867...

David Allen Vigneur March 21, 1965 - Feb. 24, 2017 MCCOOK, Neb. -- David Allen Vigneur, of McCook, passed away Friday, Feb. 24, 2017, at Creighton University Medical Center in Omaha. He was 51 years old. David was born on March 21, 1965, at Denver, Colo., to parents, Michael Richard and Lois May (Strickland) Vigneur. He attended school at Adam's City High School and graduated with the class of 1984...

"Walk in My Shoes" representatives Bonnie Terry (from left) and Kaylynn Harris, along with McCook Community Chest Co-Chair Lisa Felker receives the $400 in proceeds from the Jan. 25 "Blue Out" at MCC from Melissa Hall, a MCC student. MCC's Phi Theta Kappa coordinated the "Blue Out" during the MCC/MPCC basketball games to raise funds as well as awareness for those with disabilities...

Leland Carl Rippen Dec. 13, 1915 - Feb. 25, 2017 MCCOOK, Neb. -- Leland Carl Rippen, of McCook, formerly of Culbertson, Neb., passed away Saturday, Feb. 25, 2017, at Community Hospital in McCook. Leland held the honor of being a centurion, passing away at the age of 101...