Stories from Wednesday, June 27, 2012

The opening scene of the new HBO Sunday night drama "The Newsroom" sets up a situation that could make for a great series. In it, a cable TV news anchor named Will McAvoy (played by Jeff Daniels) is sitting in the middle of a contentious 3-person panel in front of a large audience of college students. ...

Archie B. 'Burdette' Malleck Aug. 14, 1940-June 15, 2012 KILLEEN, Texas -- Archie B. "Burdette" Malleck, 71, died June 15, 2012, in a Temple hospital. He was born Aug. 14, 1940, at Imperial, Nebraska, to Charles L. and Lorene Agnes (Weskamp) Malleck...

Shizuko Smith Feb. 7, 1930 - June 26, 2012 HAYES CENTER, Nebraska -- Shizuko Smith, age 82, of Hayes Center, Nebraska, passed away Tuesday, June 26, 2012, at Hillcrest Nursing Home in McCook following a battle with cancer. Shizuko was born on Feb. 7, 1930, in Tokuyama, Japan to Kazui and Kura (Fukuya) Ishida. ...

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...

OMAHA, Nebraska -- College of Saint Mary congratulates its 286 students named on the Spring 2012 Dean's List. CSM offers over 30 undergraduate and seven graduate programs include nursing, occupational therapy, education, paralegal and business leadership. ...

BARTLEY, Nebraska -- The William Wight Unit No. 245 Bartley meeting opened in regular form by President Arlene Newcomb. Five members answered roll call. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and approved as read. Treasurers' report was given...

Courtesy photo VFW donation VFW Post 1652 present a $300 check to Makayla DaMooude to help her with her adventure on Bugles Across America. Shown from the post are, from left, Bob Nemechek, Commander, Howard Mace, Jr. Vice, Makayla and Eugene Custer, Quarter Master...

Courtesy photo Thirteen McCook Junior High School students were selected to participate in this year's Duke University Talent Identification Program. Four qualified for recognition at the state level: Katie Kjendal, Brandon Smith, and not pictured Luke Moorhous and Sam Smith. They received an invitation to the Nebraska state ceremonies in May at the University of Nebraska - Kearney. These students were all in seventh grade and took either the ACT or the SAT in the winter...

HAYES CENTER, Nebraska -- Larissa Wach, daughter of Loran and Nancy Wach of Hayes Center, Nebraska, was awarded a $500 Marilyn Spiker Memorial Scholarship to the college of her choice. The scholarship was given by the Foundation for Agricultural Education and Development (FAED), which is the education arm of Women Involved in Farm Economics (WIFE). Only three scholarships were offered nationwide...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- When local artist Michelle Lytle of Eakes Office Plus, heard about the untimely passing of Switch, she painted a portrait for Switch's owners Chloe and Sarah Dixon of McCook. Switch was a real life adopted cat, and the inspiration for Chloe Dixon's comic story, The Return of Katnip World. Each weekend in the Whiskers section of the McCook Daily Gazette, feline hero Super Switch fights crime to protect Katnip World from evil doers...

TRAER, Kansas -- He stood on the powder-dry county road, looking west through bloodshot eyes at smoke and dust blowing over charred topsoil, drifting ashes and smoldering trees and yucca plants. "Damn ... ," he said softly. " ... it looks like a war zone."...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Twelve leaders from the University of Nebraska Medical Center updated McCook Rotarians and Community Hospital of McCook representatives on UNMC education, research and patient care programs during a Rotary meeting at noon Tuesday at Community Hospital...

McCook, Nebraska -- Community Hospital Board of Directors approved the fiscal year 2013 operating and capital budgets during the regularly scheduled board meeting on June 20, according to Troy Bruntz, Vice President of Finance. The report highlighted an operating margin that is budgeted at 5.0 percent and $1.9 million. Gross revenue is projected to increase 4.8 percent to $49.2 million. Total expenses are expected to increase to $36.4 million...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Because of the extreme heat and very high water usage, the City of McCook is stating that effective immediately, all citizens must refrain from using any outside water between the hours of 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. While prior water restrictions were voluntary, they were elevated to mandatory with this action...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- The City of McCook has been receiving concerns about low-hanging tree branches over sidewalks and streets. City codes requires branches to be a minimum of 8 feet above a sidewalk and 16 feet above a street or alley.

LINCOLN -- High temperatures combined with high humidity can be a dangerous combination according to the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services . "The body normally cools itself by sweating. When humidity is high, sweat doesn't evaporate as fast. That prevents the body from releasing heat, causing its temperature control system to overload," said Dr. Joann Schaefer, Chief Medical Officer and Director of the Division of Public Health for DHHS...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- The McCook Area Chamber of Commerce's Young Profession Group will unveil and dedicate a memorial bench in honor of soldiers that have served our country in the past, are currently serving or will serve in the future. The unveiling and dedication will be on July 3 at 3 p.m.in front of the Museum of the High Plains, 413 Norris Ave...

LINCOLN -- The recent hostage situation in a downtown Alliance business begs the question of where people who are otherwise unaccustomed to such violent activity can turn for some help and understanding that will lead to healing. This Panhandle community of 9,000 people, better known nationally for its quirky tourist attraction of Carhenge and its sprawling Burlington Northern coal train switching yards, was thrust into the national spotlight on June 12 when an armed young man entered a local pharmacy in the heart of downtown and demanded drugs from the pharmacist who has long been a business leader. ...

Does Mother Nature have your attention yet? If you were outside a little before 7 p.m. Tuesday, you experienced weather as hot as it's ever been in McCook, 115, which tied with Hill City, Kansas, as the nation's high for the day. It also bested the previous record of 114, set on July 20, 1932 and tied after the latest turn of the century...

As my 100+ Facebook friends may or may not know, I've said good-bye to Facebook. (My posts disappeared when I did.) Facebook proved to be too much of a gossip fest and I've seen too many hearts broken by careless comments. Also, the whole "de-friending" issue is problematic. I'm not much for slamming doors, at least not since I slammed one in anger many years ago. (The slam was insufficient to the anger level and the next thing I knew, I had ripped the door completely off its hinges.)...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- The Red Willow County, Nebraska, Emergency Management Agency and County Sheriff Gene Mahon are asking all residents to keep an eye on family members, friends and neighbors -- especially the elderly -- who may be suffering in the unrelenting heat, with or without air conditioning...