Stories from Monday, August 9, 2010

When most people think of hydropower, they think of huge dams and millions of gallons of water powering entire cities. Very rarely does anyone think of a small stream or an irrigation ditch. But this is exactly where the future of hydropower lies...

From 1941 through 1945, our nation was engaged in the most expansive war this world has ever known. Nebraskans were called to duty so that our country would never experience the devastation that war had brought to Europe and Asia. On the home front, military bases were constructed in several communities throughout our state so that young men and women could be trained in the military skills necessary to defeat the tyranny we faced in World War II...

EUSTIS, Nebraska -- Following is a list of 4-H champions for the 2010 Eustis Fair & Corn Show: Photography: Photography Unit 1 Grand Champion--McKenzie Bartruff, Eustis Reserve Champion--LeighAnne Lehmann, Eustis Photography Unit 2 Grand Champion--Shelby Farr, Cambridge...

This week, expert Brent Pollina released his annual study of America's Most Pro-Business states. Nebraska climbs from last year's #15 position, to a current #6. This ranking is a further example of what we as Nebraskans already know. Nebraska's strength is visible in the way our economy has managed to remain, by and large, steady and secure through the past few years of recession. It is an impressive feat, as most state economies have suffered and are struggling to regain footing...

Aug. 17, 1983-Aug. 7, 2010 McCOOK, Nebraska -- Ryan Lee Carlson, 26, formerly of Ashtabula, Ohio, died Saturday (Aug. 7, 2010) at his home in McCook. He was preceded in death by his paternal grandfather, Wallace G. Carlson. He is survived by his parents, John W. Carlson of Bay Village, Ohio and Judy (Eskelin) Carlson of Ashtabula, Ohio; brother, Brandon Carlson; grandparents, Kathleen Carlson, Richard and Janet Eskelin, all of Ashtabula; and girlfriend, Dawn Monzon of McCook...

April 8, 1957-Aug. 7, 2010 McCOOK, Nebraska -- Rosetta Marie Jensen, 53, died Saturday (Aug. 7, 2010) at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney. She was born April 8, 1957 in McCook, the daughter of Gerald W. and Rose E. (Howard) Geishler. Funeral services are Thursday, 10:30 a.m., at the Herrmann Memorial Chapel in McCook with the Rev. Gary Howitt officiating...

After the long drought earlier this decade, it's ironic that flooding could be a problem in Nebraska, but that was the case earlier this week. Hundreds of families in central and northeast Nebraska were displaced and faced weeks of clean-up, but had the help of more than 200 trained Red Cross volunteers to provide food, clothing, shelter, comfort and care...

The concepts of freedom, faith, industry, integrity and independence live outside us. The Kingdom of God and the building blocks of our lives are within. Happiness is intrinsic. True change first finds its origins within us. When we realize that we should alter our course the change or realization must first happen internally before it becomes manifest in our outer environment...

Until the NRD's go sustainable on water use in the basin -- no more out then what goes in -- surface water flows will decrease at an accelerated rate and the quick response area will expand to compensate for the overuse. The Legislature has now allowed the NRDs to require both, (QR quick response), surface and ground water irrigator, who will be shut off in water short years, to pay a tax or fee at the NRD's discretion in any year they receive any amount of irrigation water...

In 2004 McCook (and Nebraska) lost one of its finest storytellers, when Frank Benner Morrison passed away at the McCook hospital, just a few days short of his 99th birthday. Frank was born in Colorado, where his parents, Frank and Viva had planned to homestead, in the eastern part of the state. ...

EDITOR'S NOTE -- Sgt. Terry Young, a Valentine High School graduate, joined the Army National Guard while living in McCook. His wife, Melissa, is the daughter of Mitch and Candy Farr of McCook and the late Dora Farr. Young transferred to the Lincoln 313th medical corps and was sent to Afghanistan in July 2009 He returned in March, leaving behind the heroes that stopped a suicide bomber from entering the barracks in Dand Aw Patan. ...

After a very hectic July and early August, the Senate has adjourned for a month, giving me a great opportunity to return home to Nebraska. As you're reading this, I've already embarked on a trip across the state and look forward to meeting with many of you at open coffees from Omaha to Oshkosh...

WAHOO -- McCook's Legion baseball representatives in the 2010 Wahoo Kiwanis All-Star Classic came out on top on the final score. Cody Broomfield and Shane Wallen were members of the South All-Star team that beat their North counterparts, 9-6, in the nine-inning contest played Saturday, Aug. 7, at Wahoo's Sam Crawford Field...

A former McCook High School football standout has experienced a fall habit every year since he was a young boy. Through each of the last 12 years, Jeff Lyster has put on the pads each fall, through his first years in the McCook Football League, through four years of success for the McCook High School team, followed by four more seasons as a member of the Chadron State College football program...

2008 was a bad year for the Stock Market, and as Wall Street tumbled many Americans tumbled with it as jobs were lost, retirement accounts were decimated, and homes were repossessed. The troubles on Wall Street sent shock waves through the rest of the economy triggering the worst recession since the Great Depression and now, two years later, we haven't recovered yet...

Russtanna Dawn (Faimon) and Kent Lutt of Kearney announce the birth of a daughter, Leonella Ann Lutt. She was born May 25, 2010, at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney weighing 8 pounds, 5 ounces and measuring 21 inches long. Grandparents of the newborn are Barbara (Hilker) and David Faimon of Grand Island and Michelle and Korlin Lutt of Columbus. Great-grandparents are Roland and Linda Hilker and Donna Sautner, all of McCook...