Stories from Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Feb. 17, 1935 - Aug. 27, 2012 McCOOK, Nebraska -- Joann W. Martin went to be with her Triune God Aug. 27, 2012, after a short battle with an aggressive form of cancer. She passed away in her sleep at Hillcrest Nursing Home with her husband, Paul C. Martin, of 56 years at her side...

Oct. 6, 1935 - Aug. 28, 2012 Donald L. Miller passed away at his home in Culbertson on Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2012. He was 76 years old. Don was born on Oct. 6, 1935, in Culbertson to John William and Martha (Wagner) Miller. He graduated from Culbertson High School in 1953...

McCOOK, Nebraska--Adults who have experienced a recent loss of a loved one are invited to join Community Hospital's grief support group, which begins September 25. The support group meets for eight weeks on Tuesdays from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Sessions are Sept. ...

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. Activity log These items are taken from reports filed by the McCook Police Department. The locations refer to block numbers, not specific addresses. If you have information about any of these reports, call the police department at (308) 345-3450...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- A new federal law will cost Hillcrest Nursing Home around $50,000 in new equipment. The new mandate requires that all nursing homes be updated to have electronic charting, said interim administrator Jerry Rothmyer at the regular board meeting Tuesday morning. The electronic system must be in operation by Jan. 1, 2014...

LINCOLN, Nebraska -- On Tuesday, Gov. Dave Heineman, in accordance with the proclamation from President Barack Obama, announced all U.S. and Nebraska flags to be flown at half-staff as a sign of respect for the memory of Neil Armstrong. Flags will be flown at half-staff on Friday, Aug. 31...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Applications have been sent to Red Willow County Schools in search of two outstanding seniors whom will be selected to serve as Heritage Days Royalty. They will each receive a $500 scholarship payable to McCook Community College. ...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- A group of local skate park enthusiasts is coordinating a float for the Heritage Days parade in September and are seeking additional area youth who wish to participate. The group is looking for skateboarders, inline skaters and BMX bike riders to ride along side the float, as well as others to ride on the float...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Hillcrest Nursing Home Board of Trustees took action Tuesday concerning energy grant funds. After hearing suggestions from its accountant, Doug Kucera, the board voted unanimously to put $250,000 in energy grant money the facility received in 2010, into a restricted funds account, to increase cash flow payments from Medicare and Medicaid...

Red Willow County, Nebraska, Sheriff Gene Mahon, right, stands with his staff of deputies and jailers as they provide security -- wearing high-definition neon-yellow shirts -- during the county fair in July. They are, from left, Deputy Justin Davis; Jake Metcalf, jailer; Gerry Hunter, jail supervisor; Lt. ...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Hillcrest Nursing Home has a new administrator. Colinda Knappa was introduced at the regular Hillcrest Board of Trustee meeting Tuesday morning. Knappa is from Madison, Wisconsin and originally of Imperial, Nebraska. Prior to coming to McCook, Knappa worked for a private company for a county-owned nursing home, she said...

McCook National Bank's thermometer at the intersection of U.S. Highways 6&34 and North 83, recorded this unofficial temperature Tuesday around 5 p.m. Tuesday's official high temperature of 102 degrees marked the 34th day this season of temperatures of 100 degrees or higher, tying a record set in the 1930s. With the forecast calling for 102 degrees today, and 103 degrees Thursday and Friday, 2012 will hold the new record, hopefully for a long, long time...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Red Willow County Commissioner Vesta Dack told Hillcrest Board of Trustees that a budget from the facility needs to be done before Friday. "This should have been a long time ago," Dack told the board at its regular meeting Tuesday morning. ...

Dear Editor, I am writing this letter to you in response to Justin Davis. I HIGHLY agree with him, there is way too much focus on him and his personal life. He is entitled to his privacy and home life. For heaven's sake, he is not a actor on TV or a politician. This man is a civil servant to the public as a police officer, who is paid to serve and protect...

Agency celebrating 10 years of service to the region Thursday.

My new letter-writing campaign is paying dividends in a big way. Not everyone likes writing letters, but almost to a man, everyone loves getting letters written especially to them. I have enjoyed several lengthy phone conversations from recipients who do not care to write, but do care to keep in touch, in response to my missives...

White-out. Wiped out. The highly-anticipated debut of athletic competition at the new McCook Community College Events Center will be delayed by one week. The MCC women's volleyball team was scheduled to debut the new facility with a home match Wednesday, Aug. ...

Perhaps a sign of a good team is being able to make adjustments during an athletic contest. The McCook girls did just that in a huge 6-0 win over Cozad Tuesday, Aug. 28, in high school softball action at the Jaycees Sports Complex in McCook. Bison head coach Jason Cochran said his team struggled early at the plate, so McCook altered its hitting strategy and used bunts and slap hits to spark the offense...