Stories from Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Amidst the bustle of Christmas and the New Year, two headlines reminded us of why the government should strive to rise above politics when debating and enacting policy. When a man with ties to al Qaeda attempted to blow up an American airliner on Christmas Day, it served as a fresh and stark warning that our enemies abroad remain committed to waging war against our country and our ideals. ...

April 20, 1928 - Jan. 11, 2010 OMAHA -- Allen Everett Morthole, 81, died Monday (Jan. 11, 2010) at the Imanuel Hospital in Omaha. He was born April 20, 1928, at Culbertson, the son of the late Louis J. and Agnes Caroline (Eggeling) Morthole. He grew up at Culbertson and graduated from Culbertson High School in 1945. He began working for the Equifax Credit Company...

EMPORIA, Kan. -- Roland "Scotty" Scott, 77, died Dec. 31, 2009. He was born in Hayes County to Glen and Wretha (Wilson) Scott, and graduated from Hayes Center High School in 1949. He was a Boeing paint shop manager until his retirement. He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers; and two sisters...

FRANKLIN -- Southwest High school won a close battle for team honors at the Franklin Invitational wrestling meet last Saturday. The Roughriders claimed the team title with 128 points. Minden was second with 113, as the Whippets nipped Southern Valley by one point. Franklin was fourth with 109 points...

McCook High School has been one of the top Class B football programs in the state of Nebraska in recent years. The Bison team that won the first of two state championships for head coach Jeff Gross was recently honored by a state-wide publication as the top team of the decade...

We've heard the mantra: smoking is bad for you. Stop smoking and live longer. That's true, but there's a 50 percent chance that we're living with a threat that, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, causes 21,000 lung cancer deaths per year...

Most agree that we need to change our present health care system. Many are rightly concerned about the cost of implementing the new health care legislation. But look at the costs we are already experiencing. Health insurance premiums spiraling higher every year. Pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, doctor and hospital care costs continue to experience above average inflation every year...

This past week I received a letter soliciting funds for the National Republican Party. Give once and you are on their mailing list forever! It had the usual questionnaire included -- the one you are supposed to fill out to determine the future course of action for the party. In looking it over it appeared to me that the Republican Party is the party of NO, no to every Democrat initiative, program or piece of legislation...

By CONNIE JO DISCOE Regional Editor Red Willow County's District 1 commissioner was elected to his 10th year as chairman during the county board's annual reorganization Monday morning. Commissioner Earl McNutt of McCook chaired his first meeting in January 2001. He was elected to the board of commissioners in 1998...

McCook Public Schools' board of education Monday evening approved a one-time program to pay financial incentives to long-time teachers and administrators wanting to leave the school system, a program reacting to an anticipated reduction in state aid...

CEO Roger Steinkruger looks on as TVHS employees Terry Fichtner and Vesta Whipple take part in the "signing of the beam" last Friday at the site of the new Tri Valley Health System Hospital in Cambridge. The event marks the finalization of the steel erection at the new facility. ...