Stories from Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Jan. 9, 1915 - Jan. 18, 2010 Eleanor was born Jan. 9, 1915, at Walton, the second child of John Frederick and Edith Louisa (Schoenleber) Anderson and departed this life on Jan. 18, 2010, at the Cambridge Manor at the age of 95 years and nine days. Eleanor was baptized and confirmed in the Walton Grace Lutheran Church at an early age and later transferred her membership to the United Methodist Church of which she was a 75-year-member. ...

April 13, 1917 - Jan. 18, 2010 COZAD -- Evelyn M. Anderson, 92, died Monday (Jan. 18, 2010), at Golden Living Center in Cozad. She was born April 13, 1917, in Lincoln to Robert and Agnes (Barnett) Bullock. She received her education and graduated high school in Lincoln with the class of 1935...

The city will try to recoup costs incurred in removing a dilapidated structure at 810 W. Fourth. The McCook City Council approved Monday night at its regular meeting a resolution that will fix a special assessment on the property totaling $14,706.56. If the property is sold in the future, the assessment will be paid to the city by the new owner...

Friday is the early registration deadline for the McCook Women's Winter Conference. Women registered on or before that deadline will save $5 on conference costs. The conference, "Spaghetti for the Soul," features Kathy Troccoli and Ellie Lofaro and is Saturday, February 6 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the McCook city auditorium at West Fifth and C Streets. It is sponsored by the McCook Evangelical Free Church...

City sales tax dollars collected by the city are down due to the economy, but still ahead of projected losses. Before approving the city's financial report at the regular McCook City Council meeting Monday, Councilman Aaron Kircher pointed out that the city is getting less city sales tax revenue than it did this time last year...

Citing the need for public input and reining in of costs, the McCook City Council is looking at alternatives for a new public safety center. At Monday night's regular meeting, the council came up with other options, such as cooperating with the county, and will discuss them at a special City Council meeting Monday at the McCook City Fire Station, 500 West B...

OBERLIN -- What'd Shakespeare say? "The first thing we do, let's kill all the lawyers"? The vice chairman of a grassroots organization whose goal is to improve the health of the Republican River isn't really advocating killing lawyers. But Bud Meckelburg is frustrated by too much talk and not enough action...

There is no doubt that the Senate Health Care Reform bill has caused controversy with attacks coming from both sides. Some think it goes too far, others think it doesn't go far enough. Like is so often the case, there are many in the middle who have contacted me and are pleased we are doing something because they understand that the system needs to be repaired...

LINCOLN -- The McCook Police Department is receiving $4,400 in grant funding assistance to purchase one in-car camera system and one mobile radar unit, according to Fred Zwonechek, administrator for the Nebraska Office of Highway Safety. "This highway safety grant funding, for one camera system and for one mobile radar unit, will assist the McCook Police Department in obtaining this state-of-the-art equipment," Zwonechek said...

The McCook Police Department is investigating three reports of sexual assault, received Jan. 9, Jan. 12 and Jan. 15, and although they are not believed to be connected, they are being investigated fully, according to a release issued today. "Each of these reports is being investigated as a separate event, and there is no evidence to show that they are connected in any way," the release continued...

LEXINGTON -- The McCook High School boys basketball team has been a high-scoring machine early this season. The Bison freshmen were grounded last Saturday in the Lexington Invitational tournament. McCook lost for the first time this season in a 42-38 setback to Hastings St. Cecilia in first-round tournament action Saturday, Jan. 16. The McCook boys bounced back later in the day and beat Kearney Catholic 41-36 to claim third place...

LINCOLN -- McCook High School's swimming and diving team had several strong performances last weekend at the Lincoln High Invitational. The diving competition was held Friday, Jan. 15, with the swimming events contested Saturday, Jan. 16. The Bison girls recorded several secondary state qualifying times, led by Whitney Korgan and Jayde Aufrecht...

It is so sad to see the terrible devastation in Haiti so vividly reported hour after hour on TV. Scenes of human misery that are difficult to look at much less comprehend. On the other hand, though, seeing our military taking charge to lend a helping hand makes me proud! It is times like these that our tax bill for supporting the best military in the world is more than worth it. President Obama did well in immediately directing our Armed Forces on scene to render whatever aid is necessary...