Stories from Tuesday, March 21, 2023

They came, they saw, they dined, and they bid — some really high $$$ bids. But it was all for a worthwhile cause. Their dear to the heart cause of enabling the Christian Education of our next generation of precious children. Yes, the participants all already pay taxes to support the public schools, no choice in the matter, but obviously feel that a religious-based education is important enough to contribute over and above...

Victoria Ellen Bell Jan. 18, 1961 - March 16, 2023 ARAPAHOE, Neb. — Victoria Ellen Bell, age 62, of Arapahoe, died Tuesday (March 16, 2023), at her home. Vickie was born in Denver, Colo., to Kenneth and Alberta (Powell) Connor. She and her husband operated the Arapahoe Motel...

McCOOK, Neb. — The McCook Pool Committee will meet with the engineer and construction manager to work out details for a construction contract for a new pool. Andy Smith, an engineer with Lamp Rynearson, the engineering firm the city is working with, will contact pool committee members for a joint meeting with the construction manager, said McCook City Manager Nate Schneider in his update of the pool and ball park projects at the regular city council meeting Monday night...

McCOOK, Neb. — By unanimous vote, the McCook City Council approved on second reading raising the city water and sewer rates by 6%. The rate increase will have a third and final reading before they go into effect. There was no discussion before voting, other than Mayor Linda Taylor asking the council if they had heard anything from McCook citizens about the rate increase. All replied they had not, except for Councilman Jerry Calvin, who said he heard a few “comments in passing.”...

McCOOK, Neb. — Zoning and subdivision regulations will be updated in a new comprehensive plan for the city. The McCook City Council unanimously approved a Request for Proposals for consulting services for a new comprehensive plan for the city, that includes updated zoning and subdivision regulations for the city...

McCOOK, Neb. — A bill that could do away with an important source of revenue for Red Willow County is unlikely to make it out of committee this year, a representative of the Nebraska Association of County Officials told commissioners Monday. The county often helps balance its annual budget using funds transferred from the inheritance tax fund, this year a half-million dollars if needed...

Fewer and fewer of us live on the farm and are involved in direct ag production, but today’s National Ag Day is a good time to remind us that, realize it or not, most of us have direct ties to the farmland that surrounds our communities. We aren’t named the “Cornhusker State” for nothing; we’re near the top in corn exports and at the top in one of the major industries — beef — as well as others near the top, such as ethanol and hogs...