Stories from Wednesday, May 5, 2010

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Three pieces of auto shop equipment donated Tuesday afternoon by McCook Public Schools to the McCook Army Air Base Historical Society may be completing a full circle. V.H. Bunker of Culbertson was a propeller specialist at the McCook Army Air Base in 1945, and, during a donation presentation Tuesday afternoon of a joist, floor jack and parts washer, said that there's "a good chance" that the equipment came from the Air Base. ...

LINCOLN, Nebraska -- The Nebraska Public Service Commission has set a hearing for June 2 on a proposal by SourceGas to reduce a surcharge for the cost of natural gas. The surcharge, which is reflected on bills as part of the base rate, would decrease by roughly 9 cents per therm of gas consumed under the company's proposal...

ATWOOD, Kansas -- The Rawlins County Sheriff's Office is seeking information about a burglary that occurred on or about April 25 in rural Rawlins County. The list of items taken included a white 2003 Chevrolet 2500 pickup truck, four door with Kansas tag 305BQP, a 2008 18 foot PJ car trailer, yellow Husler Fastrak zero turn riding mower; green 2004 Rancher 350 ATV four wheeler, 60-gallon air compressor, tire changing machine, two diesel space heaters, metal chop saw, red Snapper hydro riding mower, silver chopper mini bike, pull behind sprayer, acetylene welder with two small bottles and cutting tips, Big Red rolling tool set full of various hand and power tools, tire balancer, battery chargers and miscellaneous wrenches and socket sets.. ...

Oct. 16, 1975-May 1, 2010 BRADY, Nebraska -- Allen Lee Abbott, 35, died Saturday ( May 1, 2010), at his home in Brady. He was born Oct. 16, 1975, in Atwood, Kansas, to Dale and Shirley (Vrbas) Abbott; he attended McCook Westward Elementary School and Gibbon High School and graduated in 1994...

While health care reform is capping or phasing out popular Health Savings Accounts and Flexible Spending Accounts, the tide is running the other way when it comes to the attitude toward personal savings. TD Ameritrade, which admittedly has a vested interest in helping customers build personal wealth, commissioned a phone survey of more than a thousand adults and found that 39 percent said becoming debt-free is part of their definition of success...

It could have been summer. More likely, it was winter. Whatever the case, we were trapped inside by the elements with naught but the TV to distract us. The clicker landed on either The History Channel or Discovery and a documentary about Mardi Gras beads...

BEAVER CITY, Nebraska -- A Furnas County man has received a 45-year-sentence on a motor vehicle homicide charge in connection with an October 2007 crash that killed a former Arapahoe volleyball coach. The man, Hershel Huff Sr., also received a consecutive sentence of five years for refusal to submit to a chemical test, 20 years for manslaughter to be served concurrently, and 20 to 60 months for tampering with a witness. ...

LEXINGTON -- Perhaps the McCook High School girls tennis team should change their nickname to the Avengers. The Bison girls are getting at avenging dual meet losses from earlier this season. McCook gained revenge for an early-season loss to Lexington with Tuesday's 7-2 win over the host Minutemaids...