Stories from Wednesday, December 15, 2010

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Hunger is often invisible, and it's likely to get worse, even here in one of the most productive agricultural regions in the world, according to an official with the Food Bank for the Heartland. "If the recession is over, we aren't seeing it," said Brian Barks, director of development and public relations for the organization, which serves 16 counties in Iowa and 77 in Nebraska, including Red Willow County and Southwest Nebraska...

Oct. 17, 1928--Dec. 11, 2010 OBERLIN, Kansas -- Marie "Jean" Regina Vavroch, 82, died Saturday (Dec. 11, 2010), at the Decatur County Hospital in Oberlin. She was born Oct. 17, 1928, in Jennings, Kansas, the fourth of eight children of Henry and Theresa (Robben) Hickert...

Firefighters try to knock down the blaze at a trucking company on Airport Road this morning, staying at the scene throughout the morning as smoke billowed from a metal building at the site. After it became apparent more help was needed, Red Willow Western Rural Fire Department personnel were called in to help McCook Fire and Rescue personnel. The State Fire Marshal was called to the scene. More information will be released when it becomes available...

CAMBRIDGE, Nebraska -- A Cambridge man was killed late Tuesday when his pickup truck went off the road northwest of Cambridge, struck an embankment and burst into flames. Lynn Rakes, 55, Cambridge, was pronounced dead at the scene. According to the Nebraska State Patrol, Bartley fire crews were called to the scene of the resulting grass fire and reported the crash at 11:25 p.m...

CURTIS, Nebraska -- In their final meeting in 2010, the Middle Republican Natural Resource District board of directors approved the correction to the 2011 Occupation Tax, 10-1, raising it from $4.78 to $4.90 per acre. James Uerling was the lone dissenting vote...

When the wind whips snowflakes across the lonely, frozen prairie, it's hard to remember just how good Nebraskans have it. No, we don't have the spectacular mountains or balmy weather -- or the high salaries demanded by workers in more popular areas, but we are doing well with what we have...

At the WIFE National Convention in Billings, Montana, last month, Mary Jo Rideout and Sheila Massey from Arizona and New Mexico, women who live on the Mexico borders gave real-life stories of what is happening in their area. Their lives are in jeopardy every day and they dispute that our borders are more secure than they have ever been...

Last month the chamber of commerce issued a warning about a rash of phony 20 dollar bills being passed in McCook. Spotting a counterfeit bill is relatively easy. So is the training on how to spot one. Bank tellers and others who handle a large amount of currency simply study the bills. ...

OBERLIN, Kansas -- Some 1,200 dogs from a large breeding operation northwest of Oberlin were euthanized after animals infected with distemper turned up in Wyoming pet stores, according to the Great Bend (Kans.) Tribune. Read the story here...