Stories from Monday, May 18, 2009

Credit cards play a major role in the lives of everyday Americans and our overall economy. Electronic payments now account for more than half of all transactions which occur in the United States. However, the ease of acquiring a credit card along with rising interest rates has led to increasing occurrences of outstanding debt, which ultimately results in financial difficulty...

A fellow Nebraskan recently sent me an e mail saying he felt like he's being taken advantage of by his credit card company. The company had been increasing his interest rates for no reason to the point he was now paying nearly 24 percent interest on the balance. It made it difficult to pay anything on the principal because his entire payment was just to pay interest...

April 27, 1932 - May 15, 2009 Dorothy Ann Vontz, age 77, died Friday, May 15, 2009, at Community Hospital in McCook. She was born April 27, 1932, to Joseph B. and Hazel E. (Claflin) Kircher on their family farm north and west of Indianola. She graduated from Red Willow High School in 1949...

Jan. 13, 1918 - May 16, 2008 BENKELMAN -- Velma Jane (Baney) Cline, 91, died Saturday (May 16, 2009) at Hillcrest Nursing Home in McCook. She was born Jan. 13, 1918, at Benkelman to William Arthur and Mary Amanda (Richard) Baney. She graduated from Benkelman High School in 1937 and furthered her education at the Hastings Business College...

The decision by the Nebraska Supreme Court that the state must release the names of 957 people buried in the cemetery of a former psychiatric hospital cemetery in Hastings is long overdue. The Adams County Historical Society, which receives requests each month from people trying to find information about relatives who might have been buried in the Hastings Regional Center's cemetery between 1889 and 1957, has been battling with the state for two years to get the state to release the names and death records of those relatives.. ...

Though Nebraska's Sen. George Norris died in 1944, his inspiration and influence on the country has never stopped. The latest example occurred earlier this year when a new model of the "Norris House" was unveiled in Washington. Note: The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) has, for the last five years, conducted a contest for the best designs for alternative energy sources, agriculture applications, green chemistry, green buildings, sustainable water use, and other sustainable technologies at the National Sustainable Design Expo at Washington DC.). ...

July 16, 1946 - May 16, 2009 Wilma Jane Hayden, died Saturday (May 16, 2009) at her residence northeast of McCook, at the age of 62. She was born July 16, 1946, at McCook, the daughter of the late James Patrick and Mildred Laurabelle (Carfield) Norton. She grew up in McCook where she received her education...

Debate is escalating in Washington over the possible closure of the terrorist detention facilities at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The Administration has ordered the facility closed by the end of the year, but has no plan for where to relocate the detainees. ...

Josh Schilz of McCook heats up the tires on his brother Zach's '65 Mustang fastback at the Atwood Early Rod Run drag races Saturday afternoon. Hundreds of race fans watched as roadsters and street rods challenged each other on an eighth-mile strip at the Atwood airport. The 27th annual rod run featured downtown "show and shine," a pizza party, fireworks, a hog roast, dance and poker run...