Stories from Wednesday, August 22, 2012

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...

Jerry J. Shafer BENKELMAN, Nebraska -- Jerry J. Shafer, 55, died Tuesday (Aug. 21, 2012), at the Dundy County Hospital. He was 55 years of age. Survivors include three daughters, Darlene Shafer of Benkelman, Deidre Hill and husband, DeAngelo, of Benkelman and Jennifer Shafer of Lincoln, Nebraska; sister-in-law, Doris Jensen of Sidney, Nebraska and four grandchildren...

40th anniversary The family of Tom and Vickie Gohl of Hayes Center, Nebraska, is requesting a card shower in honor of the couple's 40th wedding anniversary. They were married Aug. 26, 1972. Cards of congratulations will reach them at 37060 Road 732, Culbertson, NE 69024...

Courtesy photo The 2012 Grand Officers of the Nebraska Chapter of Eastern Star will be in McCook on Friday, August 24, to visit members of the Eastern Star Chapters from Bartley, Benkelman, Imperial and McCook. The public is cordially invited to attend a reception for Brenda McGuire of McCook (center) who is currently serving as the Associate Grand Conductress of the Grand Chapter of Nebraska. ...

MCCOOK, Nebraska -- The annual Angermier/Maris family reunion was Saturday evening, Aug. 18, 2012, at McCook Christian Church with Jane Foster as hostess. Those attending from McCook were: Ervin and Elaine Bley; Bob and Jean Hardy; Sandra Maris; Delbert and Roberta Maris; Roger, Jennifer and Katie Maris; Deb Petty; Felicity, Isaiah, Trinity and Lydia Petty and Carl, Karen, Brittany, Aubry and Jacob Reimann...

However, the best advice for college freshmen remains unchanged over the years.

My traditions are disappearing, one by one, and I'm sorry to see them go. For years, the Fourth of July belonged to us. Fireworks were popping all day long, Danny leading the pack. Fire up the grill, make Mom's potato salad, slice the tomatoes thick, and wait for night to fall. ...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Due to the continued drought conditions, currently a large amount of CRP acreage in Nebraska is available for emergency Haying or Grazing. Earlier this month the Nebraska Farm Service Agency (FSA) announced that due to the exceptional circumstances, emergency haying and grazing was being expanded to be allowed on practices such as Grass Waterways, Wetland Restoration, Farmable Wetlands practices and Duck Nesting Habitat...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- City Manager Jeff Hancock announced Monday evening that the city was seeking citizens to serve on two groups, one focused on downtown planning and the second providing input to be used in the creation of a city-wide comprehensive plan. Hancock said both groups would serve a vital role focused on providing information about how citizens would like to see McCook grow...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Fresh from a tax reform roundtable in Sidney, Nebraska, earlier in the day, Congressman Adrian Smith stopped at various locations in McCook Tuesday afternoon continuing to answer questions and offer some of his proposals for tax reform. Smith serves on the House Committee on Ways and Means, which has jurisdiction over tax policy and will lead efforts for comprehensive tax reform in 2013...

City of McCook, Nebraska, police and ambulance personnel help a man struck by a vehicle about 9:45 a.m., today, in the intersection of Norris Avenue and East H, off the northwest corner of Norris Park. More information on the accident will become available when police officials complete their investigation...

The cornerstone of the McCook Community College Event Center was laid this morning, with a ceremony given by the Nebraska Freemasons, including Dennis Ricks, left and Rich Myers, both of Fremont, Nebraska, and local Mason Lodge AF & AM. Providing bugle music for the ceremony were Joel Baker, from left and Marcus Golden. More than 300 attended the cornerstone dedication, the ribbon cutting and the formal dedication of the Event Center following...

BEAVER CITY, Nebraska -- Fire destroyed the Brandin' Iron restaurant and half of the Strayer Motor Company -- owned by fire chief Lee Strayer -- in downtown Beaver City, Nebraska, about 4 a.m., Sunday morning. The buildings, at least 100 years old, housed the community's only cafe and bar and mechanic's shop. Strayer lost four classic cars in the blaze...

Unknown number of cattle killed

McCOOK, Nebraska -- The new McCook Community College Event Center is a 53,400 square-foot facility with an estimated seating capacity of 2,004 in the competitive gymnasium, 10 locker rooms, seven athletic offices, two conference rooms, an auxiliary gymnasium that can be used for baseball and softball winter training, a weight room, a catering kitchen and concessions. It's nearly three times larger than the facility it's replacing, True Hall...

The McCook High School girls golf team got a very ambitious start to the 2012 fall season. The Bison traveled to Omaha, then to Sidney, then back home in two days for a pair of invitational meets against tough competition. McCook opened the season Monday, Aug. 20, at the Elkhorn South Invitational at the Pacific Springs Golf Course in west Omaha. The Bison girls finished in the middle of the pack in a field dominated by some of the state's top Class A and Class B teams...

After more than a year of anticipation, McCook Community College fans finallly got a chance to view the inside of the new MCC Events Center. The new facility was dedicated Wednesday, Aug. 22, with a cornerstone laying ceremony and a ribbon cutting at the new MCC gym at East M St. and East 3rd, just north of Weiland Field...