Stories from Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Teagan Michael Gish NORTON, Kansas -- Teagan Michael Gish, infant son of Timothy Gish and Desirae Shields, was born and died Jan. 31, 2012, at the Norton County Hospital, Norton, Kansas. He is survived by his Mother, Desirae Shields of Oberlin, Kansas; father, Tim Gish of Oberlin; maternal grandparents, Charlene and Daren Agan and Curtis and Chris Walston, all of Oberlin; paternal grandparents, Lonnie Gish and Kelly Black, both of Oberlin; maternal great-grandparents, Catherine and Varlen Neal, Eleanor Boyle, Dennis and Daxlene Agan and Doris Fringer all of Oberlin; paternal great- grandparents, Steve and Charlene Harris of Denver, Colorado and other relatives.. ...

David Johnson March 24, 1957 - Nov. 14, 2011 HAYES COUNTY, Nebraska -- David S. Johnson, formerly of Hayes County, died Nov. 14, 2011, in Loveland, Colorado. A graveside commitment service will be 2 p.m., MT/3 p.m. CT, Saturday, Feb. 11 at Hamlet's Meadow Lawn Cemetery in Hayes County...

90th birthday The family of Frary Rippen is requesting a card shower in honor of her 90th birthday Feb. 12. Cards of congratulations will reach her at P.O. Box 94, Culbertson, NE 69024.

McCOOK, Nebraska -- The McCook City Council approved an amendment to the $105,000 East Ward Village loan which would give the developer 30 years to pay it back. Prior to the action at Monday night's regularly scheduled meeting at council chambers, City Attorney Nate Schneider said that the option of granting the money to the housing developer had also been explored before ultimately deciding on the amendment...

WASHINGTON -- The passage of a bill preserving Essential Air Service in Southwest Nebraska is being hailed as good news for the area's future. "This is good news for McCook and Southwest Nebraska," McCook Mayor Dennis Berry said today. " Commercial air service to our area will help in retaining jobs and enhancing economic development in addition to meeting needs of recreational users."...

There wasn't quite enough snow to get out the big equipment, but too much for just a broom. And there isn't enough moisture to do anyone much good. "It's more of a pain," Ken Allen said of the inch or so of powdery snow that dusted McCook, Nebraska, Monday night and this morning. If Golden Plains residents want to believe them, forecasters aren't predicting any more snow until Sunday, and then only a slight chance...

McCook has dodged a bullet in its battle to stay competitive in the economic development battle. On Monday, the Senate gave final congressional approval to the Federal Aviation Administration Air Transportation Modernization and Safety Improvement Act, which includes continued funding for Essential Air Service subsidies for McCook...

And the winner is: The Airlines! It wasn't a great race, just a trip from McCook, Nebraska to Greensboro, N.C. to fetch a newly purchased Cessna 182, Skylane, and fly it back to McCook with the new owner. Sleepy-eyed, I departed McCook at 4 a.m., drove to North Platte and boarded Great Lakes to make connections in Denver. ...

Regarding "When the animals can shoot back" in Gazette's Feb. 2 issue: Was this printed as a serious suggestion? That "Permits could be offered through an auction" to kill the 20 or so cougars left around Nebraska and "imagine what some hunters would pay for a permit to kill a mountain lion, and either have it mounted or have it made into a 'rug' type of trophy."...

There may be a dog on the loose in the area of the 600 block of West Fourth. My cat is dead in the garage, reached by entering through the pet door. The tracks in the snow tell the story. Shame on someone. McCook, Nebraska...

BARTLEY, Neb. -- Mother Nature showed again last week that she is always in control. Many area high school athletic events were postponed or cancelled last weekend as winter storms blasted much of the Cornhusker State. Southwest High School did manage to stage an altered Southwest Invitational wrestling meet Saturday at the high school gym in Bartley...