Stories from Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Live in rural Nebraska and have a steady job? You're one of the lucky ones, according to a University of Nebraska researcher. Rural, small-town Nebraska is gravitating toward a "frontier economy," the UNL rural sociologist told The Associated Press...

I read with interest Dick Trail's column of Aug. 5, 2008. ("Combined law enforcement, stealth buildings") After considerable deliberation, I decided to respond. I feel it important to emphasize that the opinions I am expressing here are mine, and mine alone, as a private citizen of McCook and Red Willow County. [EDITOR'S NOTE -- The writer is an officer with the McCook Police Department.]...

Did you miss it? The hottest part of the summer has come and gone, hopefully, and McCook had no water rationing. Missing have been any official notice to conserve water and or any notice for even numbered house address to water lawns only on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. ...

The McCook Bison have made five appearances in the Class B football state title game in the past six years, and according to the new Huskerland Prep Report are the team to beat in Class B in 2008. Cambridge and Chase County are ranked 8-9 in Class C2 and Hayes Center is No. 8 in Class D2...

The Ed Thomas YMCA in McCook is getting ready to make teams for the youth volleyball and flag football programs. If your child is interested please get them registered so teams can be made.

The McCook Area APA Pool Leagues are now accepting team registrations for the upcoming Fall Session. Registration deadline is Friday, Aug. 22. Play begins in September and runs through December. APA Pool Leagues that are available include Sunday Open 8-Ball, Tuesday Open 8-Ball, Wednesday Masters (no handicap), Thursday Open 9-Ball and Friday Ladies 8-Ball...

Feb. 1, 1918 - Aug. 11, 2008 STRATTON -- Verna Annabell Burks died Monday. Aug. 11, 2008, at Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney, Neb., at the age of 90. She was born Feb. 1, 1918, in Hamlet, Neb., the daughter of the late Clarence and Ottie Bell (Perkins) Graham. She grew up at Hamlet where she graduated from Hamlet High School in 1937. She began working as a practical nurse at the hospital in Stratton, Neb...

Sept. 5, 1937 - Aug. 9, 2008 ARAPAHOE -- Raymond Glen "Pete," Highland, age 70 years of Omaha was born Sept. 5, 1937, in Cambridge, Neb., to Glenn and Vera (Campbell) Highland. Pete passed away at Hospice House in Omaha on Aug. 9, 2008, after a long and courageous battle with cancer...

PALISADE -- Pauline Landrus, 84, died Wednesday (Aug. 6, 2008) at her brother, Ray Ridlen's home in Palisade. Survivors include her sons, Daniel Ridlen and wife, Alice, Keith Ridlen and wife, Rhonda and Marvin Ridlen, all of Spokane, Wash.; sisters, Marie Mader of Tacoma, Wash., and Lucille Dinnell and husband, Verlon of Enders; brothers, Carl Ridlen and wife, Virginia of Fairview, Tenn., Ray Ridlen and wife, Thelma of Palisade and Robert Ridlen and wife, DeAnna of Aurora, Colo.; sisters-in-law, Delores Ridlen of Hot Springs, S.D., and Leola Ridlen of Broomfield, Colo.; four grandchildren; and numerous great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.. ...

July 6, 1919 - Aug. 8, 2008 BENKELMAN -- Nannie Blanche Draper, 79, died Friday, Aug. 8, 2008, at Dundy County Hospital in Benkelman, Neb. She was born July 6, 1919, in Davie County, N.C., the daughter of Samuel Wesley and Lola Elizabeth (Cook) Ellis. Blanche moved with her family from North Carolina to Nebraska in 1920, by train, and lived on a farm northwest of Benkelman with her family. She attended country school near her home...

Californians Bryan Ostergren and Oluf Olufson, traveling coast to coast and back riding a 1923 Harley Davidson and driving a 1925 Ford Model T, spent a couple of hours fixing a minor breakdown near Max before continuing on their way.

Red Willow County commissioners mediated a dispute Monday morning between two landowners arguing about a road and access to farmland. During a 73 minute public hearing, Phil and Janice Bamesberger asked commissioners to abandon and vacate the road; Stan and Steve Quigley said they don't want its status changed...

Red Willow County commissioners are at the end of their rope with the helicopter kit company that owes the county $370,119 in back payments on two loans. Commissioners at their weekly meeting Monday morning directed Rex Nelson, the executive director of the McCook Economic Development Corp., which oversees the county's revolving loan fund, to get updated financial information on Pawnee Aviation and report back at the commissioners' Aug. 25 meeting...

Take note, Red Willow County elected officials. County commissioners Monday morning made about $50,000 of painful cuts in the only county budget over which they have total control. In a budget workshop during their weekly meeting, commissioners reduced proposed spending on line item after line item in the county's road and bridges fund -- despite their growing concerns about the condition and maintenance of the county's roads...

Black Tie Affair performs at the Battle of the Bands Friday night at Municipal Auditorium, beating out two other bands, Leave None Alive of North Platte and Kaleidoscope Eyes of McCook, for $150 and the right to open for national recording artists Deaf Pedestrians next week. ...