Stories from Thursday, March 29, 2012

I've been under the weather since last Wednesday -- and it's been a particularly nasty storm -- so instead of my regularly-scheduled rambling about one thing, my column this week is a veritable stew of bullet points and random thoughts. Here's hoping that it's cooked all the way through.....

Jane Amsberry LAS VEGAS, Nevada -- Jane Amsberry, 82, former resident of Benkelman, Nebraska, died Jan. 26, 2012, in Las Vegas. Survivors include, sons, Terry Amsberry and wife, Sandra, of Grand Junction, Colorado, Michael Amsberry, and wife, Annie, of Las Vegas, and Steven Amsberry and wife, Judy, of Colorado Springs, Colorado; sister, Berenice Caress of Stratton, Nebraska; 11 grandchildren, and numerous great-grandchildren...

Barbara Jo Duckworth Contreary Nov. 16, 1950 - March 25, 2012 NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana -- Barbara Jo Duckworth Contreary died Sunday (March 25, 2012), at River Region Hospice in the New Orleans, Louisiana area. She was born in McCook, Nebraska, Nov. 16, 1950. She later resided in Curtis and Kimball, Nebraska, where she graduated high school...

This information is gathered at the McCook Public Safety Center, the McCook office of the Nebraska State Patrol, the Red Willow County Courthouse, the Red Willow County Sheriff's Office and the McCook Humane Society. Police activity Activity log...

NORTH PLATTE, Nebraska -- The Mid Plains Community College board of governors approved the purchase of a new bus for McCook Community College and considered creating full-time coordinator positions at the Broken Bow, Ogallala and Imperial Extended Campuses...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Sen. Mark Christensen said he state law is already in place to allow for joint county and state jail agreements. The conversation was a follow-up from the previous week when McCook Area Chamber of Commerce member Dale Dueland asked the Senator for his assistance in exploring the option of a joint Red Willow County and State of Nebraska jail facility that Dueland believed could lessen the tax burden on county residents, while assisting the state jail system with its overcrowding problem.. ...

Red ambulance and police car lights reflect off the heavy fog that enshrouded McCook, Nebraska, early this morning, when a pickup and a car collided in the intersection of East Third and G streets about 6:45 a.m. Emergency personnel transported one occupant of the car to Community Hospital of McCook. More information will be released when McCook police officers complete...

MAYWOOD, Nebraska -- A front-end loader attached by a steel cable to metal frame-work on the top of grain storage bins eight stories in the air tugged a couple times late Wednesday morning, and what had been the headhouse perched at the top of Ag Valley Coop's "south house" storage bins came crashing to the ground...

LINCOLN, Nebraska - State senators have filibustered to death a bill that would have required voters to show government-issued photographic ID at their polling places. State senators debated the bill, LB239, on March 27 and March 28. A motion for cloture, or ending debate, Wednesday failed by three votes on a vote of 30-16...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- A Palisade, Nebraska, woman accepted a plea agreement in Red Willow County District Court, March 5, that admitted guilt to three misdemeanor offenses of forgery. The woman, 30-year-old Melissa A. Richey, was originally charged with three felony counts of forgery stemming from more than $1300 in checks she fraudulently cashed in McCook...

KEARNEY, Nebraska -- A Colorado man is jailed after a traffic stop led to the seizure of 36 pounds of marijuana laced candy bars. Just before 4 p.m., Monday, March 26, a trooper stopped a westbound 2001 Mercedes E320 for driving on the shoulder. A Buffalo County Sheriff's Office canine indicated the odor of marijuana coming from the rear of the vehicle...

It's hard to argue against any effort to make children safer. That's especially true in agriculture, a dangerous occupation even for adults. Thus the Department of Labor regulations that would impose new limits on what children under age 16 are able to do while working anywhere but their parents' farm...

Planet ... the very name gives indication of what it does. Ancient astronomers recognized that there were "stars" that did not remain fixed in one position. They roamed, or wandered, and could be seen in different places at different times of the year...

Dear Editor, It seems like a week does not go by and I can read in the paper about some one being charged with DUI. What bothers me sometimes is there will be a plea agreement and the charges are reduced to a lower charge and this bothers me and it always will...

Moms are supposed to take care of everyone else, right? They don't dare be sick, or injured. No way. There are meals to be made, clothes to be washed and kids to boss around. I admit that God did not bless me with the most compassionate bones when it comes to taking care of sick kids or Hubby, but I'd much rather be the nurse, then the patient. Plus, I don't have time to deal with my own health issues. I've got stuff to do, for Pete's sake!...

Heath M. Fletcher May 13, 1975 - March 26, 2012 EUSTIS Nebraska -- Heath Fletcher, 36, of Eustis, died March 26, 2012, at the Cozad Community Hospital. Heath was born May 13, 1975, at McCook, Nebraska to Eugene "Gene" and Carol (Davis) Fletcher. He graduated from Culbertson High School in 1993, and continued his education at North Platte Community College...