Stories from Monday, November 2, 2009

This week I want to highlight the work of the staff at the Division of Children and Family Services, which is the largest of the six divisions making up the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. The primary responsibility of the approximately 2,100 employees within the division is to ensure that Nebraska children and families are safe. ...

One of the most important components of America's security is deterring attacks on our vital interests at home and abroad. Nebraska plays a key role in this through the U.S. Strategic Command, better known as STRATCOM, head of the nation's nuclear and strategic forces, which is headquartered at Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska...

Aug. 26, 1916-Oct. 30, 2009 LINCOLN -- Pauline D. Deines, 93, died Friday (Oct. 30, 2009), in McCook. She was born Aug. 26, 1916, in Saginaw, Mich., and was raised by George and Marie (Weigandt) Horn. She was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church, Eagle's Auxiliary, Senior Bowling League, A.H.S.G.R., Lutheran Women Missionary League, WSI and was a charter member of Dorcas Society. She had formerly worked at Lincoln Letter Guide Co., Goldenrod Printing Co. and Elgin Watch Co...

June 28, 1990-Oct. 24, 2009 Elizabeth F. Thompson, 19, passed away Saturday, Oct. 24, 2009, at the Childrens Memorial Hospital in Omaha, Neb. She was born on June 28, 1990, in Omaha. Elizabeth attended Buffalo Grade School in North Platte for two years, then moved to Wauneta where she attended the Wauneta-Palisade Public Schools...

July 27, 1920 - Oct. 30, 2009 Gary Eckhardt, 89, of McCook, died Friday (Oct. 30, 2009). He was born in Edison, on July 27, 1920, to George and Zadie Eckhardt. On June 1, 1940, he married Dorothy Kentner. They moved to McCook in 1952 and owned and operated the Pow Wow Club and Gary's Steak Barn until 1999...

KEARNEY -- Sophomore running back Rustin Dring ran for a career-high 219 yards and the Nebraska-Kearney defense came up with eight sacks as the Lopers beat Colorado School of Mines, 24-12, Saturday afternoon. The victory at Ron & Carol Cope Stadium on the UNK campus in Kearney gave the Lopers a share of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference title. ...

Midwesterners who visit Europe are often amazed at the history they encounter, seeing buildings that have been in use virtually unchanged, for centuries. That's a shock to those of us whose family history goes back only a few generations. We may recall stories our grandparents or great-grandparents told about the early days, and we may live in homes built by some of the first Europeans to settle on the Plains...

In 2009, football bowl games, in which the Cornhuskers are one of the contestants, are pretty much of a given. Many fans plan vacations around the annual bowl game. On the rare occasion that the Huskers fare so poorly that they are not invited to a bowl, there is general discontent throughout the state. This was not always the case...

Attention Marines, Air Force, Navy, Army: As you are well aware, Marines celebrate their organization's birthday every year. Tuesday, Nov. 10 will be the 234th birthday of the United States Marine Corps. McCook has had a good group of participants these past 8-10 years...

The Bureau of Reclamation is releasing water from Red Willow Dam to make it easier to inspect and repair a small hole discovered Oct. 19 by maintenance crews. Engineers are examining the facility, about 11 miles north of McCook, and sand and gravel are being stored at the site for use as filter material and to backfill excavations...

Red Willow County commissioners approved recalculations in the amount of tax support for the High Plains Historical Society and in income guidelines for county medical assistance during their weekly meeting Monday morning. Nebraska's state auditor spotted a miscalculation in the historical society's lid limit, and reduced the amount of tax support it will receive from $16,658.78 to $15,441,46, and its levy from $.002476 to $.002295. ...

Nebraskans should be very proud of the progress our state has made in transforming mental health services. We are now looked upon as a national leader in this area. I am very pleased to have introduced a bill that would adjust our nation's policies to follow Nebraska's good example by helping those facing mental illnesses, as well as the physically and developmentally disabled, to access affordable housing. ...