Stories from Tuesday, February 3, 2009

One of the hottest basketball teams in the Nebraska Community College Athletic Conference and Region IX is the McCook Community College men's squad. The Indians have won six games in a row, seven out of their last eight and improved to 14-10 overall...

EUSTIS -- Eustis-Farnam's girls defeated Amherst 41-21 in the quarterfinals of the Fort Kearny Conference basketball tournament Monday night. The tournament is being played at Eustis. "Our defense carried us all night and we had stretches where we played well offensively," said Knights coach Brad Dunlap. "Brianne Keller and Kenzie Banzhaf were defensive stoppers all night...

KEARNEY -- The McCook Bison swim team competed at Kearney Thursday in a double dual with North Platte. The Bison girls placed second and fifth in the medley relay. Emily Wood and Madison Felker placed third and fifth, respectively, in the 200-yard freestyle and Matt Carriker placed fourth...

Oct. 30, 1916 - Jan. 6, 2009 SAN GABRIEL, Calif. -- Jean McNeal passed away at her home in San Gabriel, Calif., Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2009. Jean, the daughter of Fred and Iva Irene (Mills) Barker, was born Oct. 30, 1916, in Atlantic, Iowa, and moved to Max, Neb., where she grew up and attended Max Rural Public School and graduated in 1934...

July 31, 1953 - Jan. 31, 2009 Arthur James "Jimmy" Alegria died Saturday (Jan. 31, 2009) at his home in McCook. He was 55 years old. Jimmy was born on July 31, 1953, in Sutherland to Arthur Alegria and Tomasa (Gaona) Jarvis. He attended Aurora High School and graduated in 1971. He continued his education at North Platte Vo-Tech School studying Auto Body...

Nov. 1, 1933 - Feb. 1, 2009 JENNINGS -- Roger L. Shimek, 75, died Sunday (Feb. 1, 2009) in Kearney. He was born Nov. 1, 1933, on the family farm in Decatur County to Willie and Ellen (Cilek) Shimek. He grew up in the Jennings area and graduated from Jennings High School in 1952. He attended Kansas State University and Fort Hayes State University, graduating in 1962...

The family of Max Nelms of Bartley, is hosting an open house in honor of his 80th birthday. The open house will be Sunday, Feb. 8, from 2-4 p.m., at the Bartley Christian Church at 421 Lemon Street. Cards will reach him at 40072 Rd 725, Bartley, NE 69020...

Dorothy Malone of McCook, will celebrate her 97th birthday on Feb. 6, 2009. Cards will reach her at 101 Kelley Court, Apt. 4, McCook Ne 69001.

Although he was in the minority, a McCook City Councilman said he objected on moral grounds the funds the city may be able to obtain for street repair, funneled from the proposed $814 billion national economic stimulus package. But city staff and other council members called that objection na*ve and countered that the stimulus funds will be spent on projects across the nation regardless, and that the money will help free up city funds for other projects needing attention...

The McCook City Council suspended the three-reading rule Monday night and approved an ordinance that will allow a walk-in medical clinic to be built on U.S. Highway 83. The new ordinance allows business and professional offices in areas zoned as highway commercial and the amended law clears the way for developers who want to build a clinic along U.S. Highway 83, on Bison Holiday Drive behind McDonald's...

A new way to fix cracks on city streets could save the city thousands of dollars -- and be environmentally friendly. City Engineer Greg Wolford explained at the open hearing Monday night for the one and six year street plan, a pilot program that will be used on Elizabeth Lane to fix fractures on the street...

Proponents say the McCook Area's Entrepreneur Network is off to a fast and exciting start. "I couldn't be happier with the kickoff meeting which took place Friday," said Sue Shaner, who serves as business coach for the McCook Economic Development Corp and Cambridge Economic Development. "The meeting attracted 70 entrepreneurs from throughout the area," she said...

Then-Sen. Joe Biden lived up to his reputation by spouting off during the campaign that if elected, Barack Obama would almost certainly be tested by a challenge from some foreign power. Now vice president, Biden should be forgiven for stating the obvious, even though he gave his political handlers fits at the time...

How do we get more water into the Republican River? Could it be as simple as redesigning existing pasture dams to have drain down tubes installed? The 8 inch to 12 inch tubes would allow water from rainfall events to slowly drain out of the pasture dams and make its way to the Republican River...

Somewhere in my mind there has been a song that has played over and over since I was a child. The words go like this: There's a Star Spangled Banner waving somewhere in a distant land so many miles away. Only Uncle Sam's great heroes get to go there where I wish that I could also live someday. I'd see Lincoln, Custer, Washington and Perry and Nathan Hale and Colin Kelley too!...

A group of McCook Senior High dance team members were asked: What do you want the new superintendent of McCook Public Schools to know about the school and its students? ------ KRISTEN GREEN -- Our superintendent needs to know that we're involved in a lot of activities, and, that although we take our sports and our student lives seriously, we still know how to have fun...

CURTIS -- The Middle Republican Natural Resources District Board voted to reopen bids for the Acreage Retirement Program that began last fall. Landowners are invited to submit bids to the District for the purchase of their "right" to irrigate certified acres. ...