Stories from Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Sept. 10, 1926-Dec. 21, 2010 NORTH PLATTE, Nebraska -- Johnny Main, age 84, of North Platte, passed away Dec. 21, 2010, at his home. Johnny was born on Sept 10, 1926, the youngest of seven children, to Glen and Ella May (Brethower) Main. He grew up in and around Benkelman, Nebraska and graduated high school before enlisting in the Air Force at the age of 17. ...

TRENTON, Nebraska -- Marion Willis Nelsen, 93, formerly of Curtis died Monday (Dec. 20, 2010), at El Dorado Manor in Trenton, Nebraska. Cremation was chosen and services will be held at a later date. To sign the online guest book, go to www.blasestrauser.com...

The Greater Nebraska Athletic Conference has announced pairings for the 2010 GNAC Holiday Basketball Tournament. The McCook High School boys have drawn A tough test in Scottsbluff in first-round action, while the Bison girls will face Lexington in the opening round next Tuesday...

DENVER -- Nicole Vap, McCook native and 1987 graduate of McCook High School, today won the prestigious Alfred I. duPont-Columbia Journalism Silver Baton Award for excellence in broadcast journalism. The award, administered by the Columbia School of Journalism which also confers print journalism's Pulitzer Prizes, is the first in the storied history of 9NEWS, the NBC affiliate in Denver, Colorado, and the first won by any station owned by the Gannett Broadcasting Group since 1989...

OBERLIN, Kansas -- A case against four Wisconsin men accused of killing trophy mule deer without permits has been continued until sometime in February. Summonses were expected to be issued in connection with charges against two local people later this week, according to Margaret Mahoney, assistant Decatur County attorney...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- In 1911, a 19-year-old Harry Strunk, along with a partner, decided to begin publishing a twice-weekly newspaper called the Red Willow County Gazette. At the time, McCook's population was only about 4,000 and there were already two established weekly newspapers in the community and six in Red Willow County...

SUTHERLAND, Nebraska -- The western Nebraskan man, 51-year-old Charles Jensen, whose life was recently claimed in a construction accident in Sutherland, was the husband of Kathy (Corder) Jensen. Kathy Jensen is originally of McCook and taught for the McCook school system for nine years, according to family members. Condolences will reach her at PO Box 293, Paxton, NE 69155...

Political observers are noting that more liberal states are losing seats in Congress to more conservative ones. Nebraska, while it won't lose a seat -- this time -- could easily gain a more liberal district. Not surprisingly, it's the 2nd District which gave President Obama an electorial vote in the 2008 election...

Dear Editor, The members of the McCook Humane Society would like to thank the caring and thoughtful people who have given donations to help with the care of the unwanted and neglected pets of the area. Each donation goes directly to keeping the doors open and improving the operation of our shelter. There are no middle men, no highly paid executives and no gold watches given...

It's easier to predict what the Nebraska winds will bring than it is to predict what direction any given conversation will take in the newsroom at the McCook Daily Gazette. For example, the question "which came first, the chicken or the egg?" was posed several weeks back. ...

NORTH PLATTE, Nebraska -- McCook High School's swim team turned in improved times at a triangular meet at North Platte Friday, Dec. 17. In each event, swimmers competed in heats, then times were compared to help determine team standings. In the final scoring, North Platte's boys topped McCook 77-22, and the Bison boys lost to Scottsbluff, 81-18. In the girls division, North Platte beat McCook 76-25, and the Bison lost to Scottsbluff, 80-21...