Stories from Thursday, March 23, 2017

Frederick E. Wessel Feb. 16, 1951 - March 21, 2017 SELDEN, Kan. — Frederick E. Wessel, 66, of Selden, died Tuesday (March 21, 2017), at his home. He was born Feb. 16, 1951, in Hoxie, Kan., to Lawrence and Anna (Buehler) Wessel. He graduated from Decatur Community High School in Oberlin in 1969. He lived on a farm in the Selden community, then later moved to Selden in the late 1980s...

Vernon Whetstone WESTMINSTER, Colo. — Vernon Whetstone, 69, formerly of Benkelman, Neb., and editor of the “Star Gazer” articles in many local newspapers, died Friday (March 17, 2017), at the Clear Creek Care Center in Westminster. Survivors include his wife, Janice of Arvada, Colo.; children, Kimberly Bartholomew and husband, Chuck of Imperial, Neb., Stephanie Vinton and husband, Matthew of Arvada and Kenneth Whetstone of Denver, Colo.; brother, Larry Whetstone and wife, Jean of Altus, Okla.; and four grandchildren.. ...

McCOOK, Neb. — Outdoor track and field season’s officially going full speed for area teams with the Maywood-Hayes Center Invitational on Wednedsday. The Wolves hosted several teams at McCook High School’s track just west of MHS. Official team scores were not obtained, but there were plenty of high places for M-HC, Southwes, Hitchcock County and Medicine Valley...

McCOOK, Neb. — Long and powerful always seems more popular than putt-putt-putting across golf course greens. Perhaps that’s why the McCook Bison are defending Class B state golf champs. Even before coaches arrived on the scene for Wednesday’s pre-season practice finale, McCook players were focusing on those “little things” that can make their games great...

n early February, I was on the radio promoting the YMCA and made a proclamation. I said it would snow on Saturday, March 11, despite the fact that we hadn’t had any significant snow fall at that point. (Rather than waxing and sharpening my cross-country skis and ice skates this year, they are just decorative and get an occasional dusting.)...

McCOOK, Neb. — Double zero meant plenty of runs for McCook Community College when Angelica Evans took her final swings on Wednesday. Evans’ line-drive rope off the fence in right ignited an eight-run rally as the McCook Community College finished a super home sweep of Northeastern (Colo.) Junior College...

McCOOK, Neb. – The McCook Community College baseball team kept the late game theatrics going once again on Wednesday with another walk-off homerun; this time Jacob Sanford’s opposite field shot was just out of reach of Colby’s Joe Lubick to give MCC the 7-6 victory...

McCOOK, Neb. — State lawmakers critical of a proposal to freeze low-income child care subsidies for the year may be leading some Nebraskans astray on the situation, at least according to District 44 State Sen. Dan Hughes. “It’s not a cut, just not an increase,” said Sen. ...

CULBERTSON, Neb. — “Grumpy Gus” Gordon Gessleman sees a tough year ahead for the ag industry in the central plains of America. Gordon thought early last Wednesday afternoon that the small items at his annual farm machinery consignment sale were selling well. He was reserving his opinion for the vehicles and big machinery...

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. — Following a closed session to discuss negotiations, the Mid-Plains Community College board of governors approved a negotiated agreement with the Mid-Plains Education Association for a total compensation increase of 3.25 percent...

Kindergarten through third-grade students at McCook Elementary pose next to prizes that will be raffled off Friday night at Family Fun Night.The raffle prizes have something for everyone, including a “smart” television, a drone, weekend get-away packages, an electric scooter and more. ...

Get a better education, and have a better life, goes the oft-repeated mantra. Now you can add “have a longer life” to the advice young people should heed. Unfortunately, according to research by two Princeton University economists, lack of education can lead to early death...

So for all you young moms out there, consider yourself warned. All those things you “thought” you got away with back when you were a kid? Ya, it comes back! In some form or fashion, I’m getting repaid for all my poor decisions, and we’re not even out of high school yet. ...

It is of crucial importance for a nation to have a healthy population that can produce wealth for themselves and our nation. The Republican Administration is trying to modify the ACA. The rhetoric of repeal and replace will need to be filled in with legislation that improves the health of the American population. This is the challenge. How should preventative and primary care services be provided?...