Stories from Tuesday, March 6, 2018

McCOOK, Neb. -- Sometimes the smallest opportunity can turn into an invaluable experience...

SMITHFIELD, Neb. — Most of the water passing through Nebraska moves slowly, taking its time meandering through the state. Water projects and regulatory policies take their time as well. About 10 years ago, then-State Sen. Mark Christensen of Imperial proposed a pipeline or channel of some sort to transport “excess” Platte River water south to the Republican River in order to help Nebraska deliver the right amount of water to Kansas as mandated in a 1943 Republican River Compact, thus avoiding costly lawsuits and Supreme Court battles.. ...

Loran Junior Fisher Nov. 11, 1926 - March 4, 2018 ARAPAHOE, Neb. — Loran Junior Fisher, 91, of Arapahoe, died Sunday (March 4, 2018), at Cambridge Memorial Hospital in Cambridge, Neb. He was born Nov. 11, 1926, in Edison, Neb., to Loran and Anna (Buhler) Fisher. He graduated from Edison High School in 1943 and served in the Korean War in communications. In 1953, he married Geraldine (Baily) Fisher...

Several years back Grannie Annie was in the hospital recovering from her second hip replacement. A new procedure of applying a long lasting pain prevention medicine before closing the large incision was working well — she was experiencing minimal pain. ...

Dear Editor, Curious readers and history buffs are enthusiastic about “Killing England” by Bill O’Reilly and Martin Dugard, Henry Holt and Co. published it in 2017. It describes the struggle for our American Independence. Unpleasing experiences and limited opportunity were commonplace in 1776...

“And I suppose if your friends were all jumping off a cliff, you’d do that too!” Maybe you heard your mother say that right after you pleaded to be allowed to (fill in the blank) because “Everybody’s doing it!” Opponents of LB 1009, advanced to general file, to allow the Department of Transportation to raise speed limits statewide say the state is using the same logic as your teenage self...

McCOOK, Neb. — A lodging occupation tax is a way to offset the property tax burden, according to McCook City staff. It’s a way to distribute the burden more equally and a revenue stream not paid by City of McCook people, said Nate Schneider, McCook City Manager...

McCOOK, Neb. — The jarring sound of semi truck engines braking to a stop on a city street has actually drawn complaints from guests at a McCook motel. Susan Dons of the Chief Motel, speaking at the regular McCook City Council meeting Monday night, said the sounds rattle the glass at the motel, which faces B Street where traffic stops at two stoplights, on Federal Avenue and West Fifth...

A Palisade woman will challenge Sen. Dan Hughes for the District 44 seat in the Legislature, and a Red Willow County Clerk’s office employee will challenge Jacque Riener for District 3 Red Willow County commissioner. Stephanie L. Malcolm of Palisade is a teacher and small business owner, and will challenge Hughes, who is seeking his second and final consecutive four-year term in the Legislature...

McCOOK, Neb. — A pile of trees burned on Feb. 14 rekindled in 40-60-mile-an-hour wind gusts Monday and started a wildfire that threatened a home southwest of McCook. Red Willow Western rural firefighter Billie Cole said the landowner burned the tree pile with a permit nearly three weeks ago. But, Monday’s wind found a smoldering ember somewhere in the pile and fanned it into a blaze that then spread through dry pasture grass, wheat stubble and drilled wheat...

A quick rundown of the top area girls basketball teams’ best wins and other highlights as 2017-18 high school hoops concluded on Thursday: Hitchcock County (18-7). Falcon fan and mom Pam Hamilton delivered probably the best prediction in January, saying Hitchcock could make state...

STOCKTON, Kan. — Sophomore Kristen Beckman shot a sizzling 65 percent in two substate games, but Stockton was slightly hotter during its 73-65 finals win over Rawlins County (Kan.) Saturday night. The Buffaloes finished one win from 1A state tournament play despite Beckman scoring 48 points — 28 vs. Triplains-Brewster on Friday and 20 against Stockton...

McCOOK, Neb. — Tyra Cheatham, a 5-8 guard from Riverside High School in Basin, Wyoming, has signed a national letter of intent to play basketball next season at McCook Community College. “Tyra is a player that loves to be in the gym and competes,” McCook Community College Coach Kellen Fenetti said. “She is a player that we believe can shoot the 3 point shot and be a player on the perimeter.”...

McCook officials have ordered the evacuation of the northwest corner of the city — west of Norris Avenue and north of Q Street — in reaction to a swiftly moving grass fire headed toward town. The McCook Fire Department has called for extra hose, all available volunteers and mutual aid from nearby towns...

McCOOK, Neb. — A canyon filled with dry pasture grass and dormant and dead trees funneled a wildfire straight toward McCook this afternoon, and eventually engulfed a home on the northwest edge of town. Nebraska Fire Marshal Ryan Sylvester said this evening he has started his investigation of the cause of the fire. ...