Stories from Tuesday, April 27, 2010

The Nebraska Commission on Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice was established in 1969. Better known as the Nebraska Crime Commission, it is lead by Mike Behm and today serves as an umbrella agency for criminal justice programs in the state. The main responsibilities of the Crime Commission include overseeing the training of Nebraska's law enforcement officers and administering state and federal grants for criminal justice and crime victims programs. ...

It is no surprise that trust in Congress is at an all time low. Partisan gridlock has become the norm rather than the exception when addressing today's challenges. As a result, important steps are often skipped. Ideas to improve legislation are often overlooked and efforts to understand the impact of a proposed law by inviting thorough analysis are overtaken by rhetoric. Such was the case with health care reform and the consequences continue to come to light...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- With the arrival of spring weather, more people and pets outside and children playing in parks, the McCook Police Department is alerting people to new changes in local animal control laws. With the new laws, it remains unlawful for persons in control of animals to allow the animals to run at large at any time on any occasion in the City of McCook, including in any and all parks. ...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Proceeds from a benefit car show in McCook Saturday will help pay medical and travel expenses for the family of a McCook girl injured in a car accident Feb. 1. Free-will donations and proceeds from the sale of raffle tickets will also be given to the family of Baylie Simmonds...

Jan. 28, 1914 - April 25, 2010 BIRD CITY, Kansas -- Maude Mae Elliott, 96, died Sunday (April 25, 2010) at Cheyenne County Hospital. She was born Jan. 28, 1914, at Naponee, Nebraska. She was a homemaker. She was preceded in death by her husband, Carles "Irl" Elliott in 1992...

Winds that gusted to 46 miles an hour throughout the day Monday were still strong enough at 9 p.m. to unfurl the flag at the very top of the Frenchman Valley Farmers Co-Op Elevator in Palisade, Nebraska. At the same time, an almost-full moon topped the co-op's 120-foot-tall elevator...

Jamie Lewis pauses Monday on his trek across the state, having left Wray, Colorado, on Friday on his way back to his home in Omaha. A former mountain climber and bicyclist, Lewis, 60, said he just wanted to see the state, but his knees and hip wouldn't allow anything more strenuous than pushing a jogging stroller loaded with luggage and camping gear. ...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- A benefit supper and silent auction for Jacquetta Davis is Saturday, May 1, 6 p.m., in the Fellowship Hall at Memorial United Methodist Church. All funds raised will be used to offset medical expenses. Items for sale in the silent auction include handmade jewelry, art, gift baskets, handmade greeting cards, plants, home-baked goodies and CDs. There will be a minimum bid requirement on all items...

Waiting for a license at the Red Willow County Treasurer can take a little time on busy days, but it's nothing like the horror stories we've heard from other Department of Motor Vehicle offices. That situation should be improving everywhere in the state, however, with the implementation of a new online system Monday...

I am considering telling my grandchildren not to struggle getting an education. All they need to do is get elected to public office. Immediately following election they will be smarter than the public and can totally ignore public opinion, adopting the firm belief that no non-government individual has any good ideas...

This week I wanted to recap and highlight where Nebraska's budget sits at the end of the 2010 Legislative Session. With a unanimous vote of 49-0, the Legislature passed LB 935, which was the mainline budget bill, on March 26 along with the other budget bills. The Governor signed the budget bills on April 1 putting in place a -1.1 percent reduction in General Fund appropriations over the two-year biennium, and balancing our budget...

Great timing! I received my income tax refund this week. The largess arrived just in time to trundle down to the court house and pay a large chunk of it into the county real-estate tax fund. Poor planning on my part I know. I should have arranged things to make withholding and income tax come out even. ...

Call him Mr. Dependable. The McCook Community College men's baseball team has learned to lean on pitcher J.J. Jaramillo. The Littleton, Colo. freshman delivered again Monday, helping the Indians clinch a berth in the National Junior College Athletic Association Region IX playoffs...

McCOOK JV INVITATIONAL Monday at McCook High School GIRLS DIVISION Team Standings -- Cambridge 152.16, McCook 139.83, Southwest 79.5, Holdrege 57.5, Hitchcock County, 41, Lexington 41. Top Six Finishers in Each Events Field Events...