Stories from Wednesday, December 2, 2009

First the state took away our money illegally, and now it doesn't know how to give it back. Is there any wonder most of us don't have much faith in our government? State Sen. Mark Christensen told Republican River NRD officials Monday that the funds in question are caught in limbo between Gov. Dave Heineman, the Legislature, the NRDs and the courts...

Can it be nearly 40 years gone since that fateful night? For some reason, I had the house to myself. Mom and Dad were probably at Tac's, the local Chinese restaurant and lounge where Mom worked part-time after her full shift in the warehouse at a magazine distributorship. ...

Feb. 23, 1982 - Nov. 30, 2009 INDIANOLA -- Robert "Rob" Jacob McConville, age 27, died Monday, Nov. 30, 2009, as a result of a motor vehicle accident. He was born Feb. 23, 1982, to Bob D. and Cindy L (Brooks) McConville in McCook. He graduated from Republican Valley High School in 2001 and went on to Mid-Plains Community College in North Platte. Upon graduation he returned to become a partner in the family farm with his parents and brother Jason...

Aug. 2, 1932 - Nov. 30, 2009 YUTAN - Donald Cumpston, 77, died Monday (Nov. 30, 2009). He was a teacher and coach at Arapahoe and Weeping Water, and served in the United States Military. Survived by wife Barbara; daughters Paula and husband, Cass Lofgreen of Steilacoom, Wash., Carla and husband, Bob Snyder of Yutan, Neb., Sheila Cumpston and Mila Bird of San Jose Calif.; brothers and sisters-in-law Leonard and Phyllis of Pittman, N.J., Harold of Carroll, Ind., Virginia Cumpston of Lexington, Janice Cumpston of Grand Island Neb., and brother-in-law Luther Miller of Cozad; four grandchildren; and one great granddaughter.. ...

The family of Robert Felker Sr. is requesting a card shower in honor of his 80th birthday Dec. 4. His family includes sons, Scott Felker and wife, Amanda of McCook, Robert Felker Jr. and wife, Brenda of Rochester, Minn., and two grandchildren. Cards of congratulation will reach him at 305 E. Third, Apt. 4, McCook, NE 69001...

About the only carryover from last year's McCook High School girls basketball program is the red on the Bison uniforms. The McCook basketball program has a new head coach and no returning starters from last season. Jeff Ellis takes over as head coach, and he has a group of letter winners returning that saw little varsity playing time in 2008-09...

The McCook boys basketball team will take a night class in Imperial Thursday night. The inexperienced Bison varsity squad opens the 2009-10 season at Chase County Thursday, Dec. 3, with tip off set for approximately 6:30 p.m. following the McCook-Chase County varsity girls action...

LINCOLN -- Keep an eye on your inbox. If you receive an e-mail that appears to be from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) asking you to create a personal H1N1 vaccination profile, it's a scam. The CDC received reports of fraudulent e-mails talking about a CDC-sponsored state vaccination program. The federal agency has not implemented a state vaccination program requiring registration on its Web site...

The family of Betty Wortman is requesting a card shower in honor of her 80th birthday Dec. 5. Her family includes her children, Mike and wife, Deb of Belle Plains, Kan., Denise and her husband, Joe Yauney of Mitchell and Curtis of Ogallala. She has six grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. Cards of congratulation will reach her at 712 West 10th, McCook, NE 69001...