Stories from Friday, March 17, 2017

“If not now, when?” That was the philosophy of the late Michelle Walters, killed in a bicycle accident last August in Boulder, Colo., where she was participating in her first Ironman Triathlon. Her life and philosophy will be celebrated June 24 with the first Michelle’s Tri Sprint Triathlon in McCook...

We’ve all heard how toxic the climate is for discussing politics and there now are some statistics that prove it, according to this week’s The Week magazine. It reports that a YMCA in Greater Scranton, Pa has banned new coverage on its workout rooms’ televisions in order to reduce the stress level of members. The report says that members kept having heated political quarrels that threatened to turn into fistfights...

70th birthday The family of Jerry Michaelis of McCook is requesting a card shower in honor of his 70th birthday on Sunday, March 26, 2017. His family includes wife, Barbara; children, Leanne (Steve) Miller, Brian (Terra) Michaelis, Kevin (Shawna) Michaelis and Jason Michaelis; and grandchildren, Ashley, Megan, Grady, Kassidy, Mason, Lincoln, Kenzie, Emerie, Landyn and Hadley. Cards of congratulations will reach him at 4108 E. Dragoon Ave., Mesa, AZ 85206...

C. LeRoy Lambert Sept. 3, 1943 - March 15, 2017 KEARNEY, Neb. — C. LeRoy Lambert, 73, of Miller, Neb., died Wednesday (March 15, 2017), at Brookdale Senior Living of Kearney. He was born on Sept. 3, 1943, at Oxford, Neb., to Harley K. and Luella (Weir) Lambert...

Abigail Lynn Clausen Adam and Kari Clausen of McCook announce the birth of their daughter, Abigail Lynn Clausen, who was born March 3, 2017, at Great Plains Health in North Platte, Neb. She weighed 6 pounds, 14 ounces and measured 19.5 inches long. She has a brother, Kole, 4, and sister, Addysen, 2. Grandparents are Jim and Kathy Riepl of Atwood, Kan., and  Duane and Debra Clausen of Alliance, Neb. Great-grandparents are Eunice Braxmeyer of Atwood and Harry and Mary Depe of Trenton, Neb...

70th Anniversary The family of Gorman and Luella Glaze of Curtis, Neb., is requesting a card shower in honor of their 70th wedding anniversary on March 28, 2017. Cards of congratulations will reach them at 611 Custer Avenue, Curtis, NE 69025.

80th birthday The family of Betty Woodruff of McCook is requesting a card shower in honor of her 80th birthday on Tuesday, March 21, 2017. Her family includes her husband, Bob; children, Chuck and Holly Woodruff and girls of Douglas, Wyo., and Tom and Janie Bredvick and boys of McCook; and six great-grandchildren. Cards of congratulations will reach her at 300 West 11th, C7, McCook, NE 69001...

Most of the time I try to find more information on someone featured in a story, but with this one, the history contained within the story speaks for its self. Taken from the June 14, 1895 issue of the McCook Tribune comes the following memories of William Springer and his hand in settling Red Willow County...

McCOOK, Neb. — To celebrate McCook’s 135th Birthday, The McCook Post Office will host a special pictorial cancellation event Saturday from 10 a.m to 1 p.m. The public is invited to come out to the Post Office at 411 West 3rd and get anything with a stamp on it cancelled...

McCOOK, Neb. — City leaders are looking for public input on the future of Barnett Park as they contemplate whether the venue can continue to sustain both a fish and geese population. City Council is scheduled to receive an update and discuss the park during Monday’s regularly scheduled meeting, 6:30 p.m., at the Municipal Center...

McCOOK, Neb. — The McCook, North Platte and Fremont JCPenney locations will be among 138 stores nationwide closing in the coming weeks. The retailer announced the move in February and made public the store listing of affected stores today. Approximately 5,000 positions nationwide will be impacted by the store closures, most of which will occur in June, according to the press release...

McCOOK, Neb. — Students from three area high schools took home the top academic prizes Wednesday at McCook Community College’s annual inter-high scholastic day competition which included 520 academic tests taken by students representing 19 area high schools...

We’ve all heard how toxic the climate is for discussing politics and there now are some statistics that prove it, according to this week’s The Week magazine. It reports that a YMCA in Greater Scranton, Pa has banned new coverage on its workout rooms’ televisions in order to reduce the stress level of members. The report says that members kept having heated political quarrels that threatened to turn into fistfights...

McCOOK, Neb. — McCook Community College’s Phi Theta Kappa has put together an all-day fishing trip prize to help send six members and a sponsor to the National PTK Conference in Nashville next month. The drawing is set for March 30 and the winner will receive an all-day fishing trip with premier fishing guide Steve Lytle. ...

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. — The Business and Community Education department at Mid-Plains Community College will expand its Free Youth ATV Training this spring by adding classes in Thedford and Benkelman. Trainings will continue to be offered in the traditional locations of North Platte, McCook, Imperial, Ogallala, Broken Bow and Valentine as well...

McCOOK, Neb. -- What is being called the largest and most damaging wildfire to ever burn across Kansas has left in its ashes indescribable and heartbreaking loss of life, livestock, homes, outbuildings, machinery and grassland. Smoke inhalation killed one truck driver in Kansas, and wildfires in Texas claimed five lives...

McCOOK, Neb. -- Despite having a picture on his desk of Neb. Sen. Ernie Chambers holding his grandchild, fellow state Sen. Dan Hughes says that any personal bias for or against Chambers will not figure into Hughes' consideration of a challenge to Chambers' eligibility to represent Omaha's 11th District...

OMAHA, Neb. -- While Scooter's Coffee is busy growing, it appears that it doesn't forget good customer relations. Omaha-based "Scooter's Coffee" is the brainchild of the daughter and son-in-law of Harold Talley of McCook. Since 1998, Linda (Talley) and Don Eckles of Omaha have grown their first two-person drive-through coffee shop in Bellevue into 160 Scooter's franchise locations in 13 states...