Stories from Wednesday, June 14, 2017

The Stars and Stripes were an act of defiance when, tradition holds, they were first hoisted by the Continental Army at the Middlebrook encampment during the Revolutionary War. The flag has been a lightning rod for attacks and protests ever since. We celebrate today as Flag Day because, 240 years ago, June 14, 1777, the Second Continental Congress passed the Flag Resolution which stated: “Resolved, That the flag of the thirteen United States be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation.”. ...

Betty L. (Hall) Hardie June 29, 1946 - June 12, 2017 TULSA, Okla. — Betty L. (Hall) Hardie passed away June 12, 2017, in Tulsa at the age of 70. Betty was born June 29, 1946, in Frontier County, Neb. She was the daughter of Floyd and Violet (Calkins) Hall. ...

Adele Elizabeth (Barenberg) Richard Feb. 18, 1933 - June 9, 2017 BENKELMAN, Neb. — Adele Elizabeth Richard, 84, of Benkelman, died June 9, 2017, in Lincoln, Neb. Adele was born on Feb. 18, 1933, to Joe and Fannie Barenberg on a farm 11 miles southeast of Atwood, Kan. She shares her birthday with a twin sister, Esther Caroline, who died when the twins were 18 days old due to pneumonia...

McCOOK, Neb. — A soaring number of choir students at the high school and junior high has compelled the hiring of a part-time music teacher. The McCook Board of Education unanimously approved Monday night at the regular meeting a 2017-18 teaching contract for Haley Priebe as the music teacher at Central Elementary...

McCOOK, Neb. — Red Willow County commissioners continued the county’s support of the Family Resource Center in McCook, agreeing Monday morning to contribute $5,000 for the second year in a row. FRC director Kathy Haas told commissioners the center continues to operate on a shoestring and “by the grace of God.”...

While the mercury climbed toward the upper 90’s Saturday, many of those enjoying the annual Palisade Pioneer Days celebrations sought shade — including Chris Baker and his kids, 7-year-old Ashton and 4-year-old Ellah. The hot sunshine, however, made classic and collectible cars look even cooler — like Mike Lorimer’s 1969 Camaro, right, and Heath Vrbas’s ‘71 Chevelle...

McCOOK, Neb. —Community Hospital was honored as a Top Performer hospital receiving 12 National Excellence in Healthcare Awards at the Professional Research Consultants conference in Austin, Texas, May 31 - June 2. The awards, including two Top Performer awards, were determined by the Voice of the Customer through patient perception telephone surveys of Community Hospital patients and employee surveys...

BEAVER CITY, Neb. — Two Arapahoe brothers face felony burglary charges after their arrests Tuesday, June 6, by Furnas County sheriff’s officers. Blake L. Jackson, 21, and Cliff A. Jackson, 28, both of 608 Sixth Street, Arapahoe, are each charged with burglary, a Class IIA felony punishable by up to 25 years n prison; and theft by receiving stolen property, a Class IV felony punishable by up to two years in prison, a fine of $10,000, or both...

McCOOK, Neb. – All champions and Gazette-area top six placers from Sunday’s Junior Olympic Track Meet. Running events are featured today with field events appearing Thursday. 100 meters Girls, age 8 and under: 1. Jaelyn Spangler, Curtis, 16.6 (new meet record); 2. Bailey McCorkle, McCook, 17.7; 3. Katelyn Cook, Trenton, 18.5...

FELLING FIELD— Roberts Farms Grasshoppers maintained their Minors Division lead by scoring a 13-3 win over High Plains Podiatry Clippers Tuesday night. The Grasshoppers (5-1 league record) are still one half-game better than Tigers Muckdogs (5-2), who rolled the Golden Plains Realty Lugnuts 9-2 on Tuesday...

LEXINGTON, Neb. — Mercy beatings became the theme as McCook Legion B teams mowed through northern foes with equal effiiciency Tuesday evening. McCook AmFirst Bank put an “88” on rival Lexington, plating eight during each of the first two innings in an 18-5 mercy-rule victory...

McCOOK, Neb. — Cozad used its opening at-bat to set the tone and didn’t look back...