Stories from Friday, October 12, 2012

Nebraskans have challenged state agencies to deliver services in a way that better serves their needs and fits their busy lifestyles. One agency responding to that challenge is the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) through its ClickDMV online services. The DMV currently provides 19 online services that streamline and save time for businesses and individuals alike...

We're not sure Ann Trail knew what she was getting into when she began crafting cross ribbons for an organization supporting the military, but then again, perhaps she did. Beginning by crafting 9,300 cross ribbons for the Adopt-A-Chaplain program in 2009, Mrs. Trail soon recruited help in assembling and shipping hundreds of care packages to selected chaplains who distributed them to military personnel in Iraq and now Afghanistan...

There is a remarkable story, almost unbelievable in fact, in this week's Newsweek magazine. It's written by Dr. Eben Alexander, a respected neurosurgeon, and reflects his trip to heaven while in a coma when his brain was literally "turned off" by the illness he had...

This Halloween, why not put a fun twist on pumpkin carving by making some Jack O'Melons? Watermelons carve up boo- tifully, and you can eat the fruit right away, making it easy to scare up some delicious Halloween fun. This Bat Jack O'Melon, Tiki Mask, and Jack O'Melon man can add a frightfully fun touch to a Halloween party -- and the whole family can help carve them. To get more carving ideas and instruc­tions, visit www.watermelon.org...

I can't help but notice the growth spurt Declan is experiencing, mind you it is a first grade growth spurt and nothing I would think that is out of the norm, but it seems like every week another pair of his pants is suddenly too short to wear. His resistance to traditional manners at the dinner table seems to be growing at the same pace, unfortunately...

The McCook Chamber of Commerce selected Horse Creek Inn in McCook as the honor business for the fourth quarter. Perry Strombeck, owner, said a number of interior improvements are planned, including those for the dining area and guest rooms. "We are positioning ourselves very well for the future," Stombeck said, with upgrades for rooms including flat screen tvs with HD that will be able to connect to laptops. ...

Dear Friend, INTRO The Bible is full of doom and gloom for the wicked, BUT it is filled with wonderful blessings, both temporal and future, for the believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, the one who acknowledges his or her own sinfulness and receives Jesus Christ as their Savior...

Bishop Desmond Tutu celebrated his 81st birthday this past week. The accomplishments of his eight decades are well-known and many. We know the story: For most of his life he has labored in the racial tension and trenches of South Africa, working to break down the barriers of apartheid, where a white minority, through force and repression, subjected the African natives to untold suffering and injustice...

"It is impossible to rightly govern....without God and the Bible." These prophetic words come from George Washington our first president. Our 6th President, John Quincy Adams , once said, "The [Holy] Bible is the Book of all others to be read at all ages and in all conditions of human life...I speak as a man of the world to men [and, women] of the world, and I say to you, 'Search the Scriptures.'" The 26th President, Theodore Roosevelt once said, "Every soldier and sailor of the United States should have a Testament...We plead for a closer, wider and deeper study of the [Holy] Bible, so that our people may be in fact, as well as in theory, 'doers of the Word and not hearers only.". ...

The Rev. David Feddern, left, pastor at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Cambridge, Adam Spanier, KNGN station manager, and Ree Smock, daytime announcer at KNGN, have fun with the listeners Thursday afternoon during the listener-supported Christian radio station's 2012 Fall Share-A-Thon. The fund-raising event continues today until 7 p.m. KNGN is at 1360 AM or streaming online at www.kngn.org. To bid call (800) 710-1360; (308) 345-2006; or via email: bidkngn2012@gmail.com...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Court proceedings are wrapping up for the two men accused of forcing their way into several McCook homes in May, wearing bandanas to hide their identity and assaulting residents that they startled awake in many instances. The offenders, 29-year-old Joshua R. Knappert of 1517 W. First Street and 21-year-old Nicholas R. Clapp of McCook, have both accepted plea agreements in their cases...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- The Red Willow County Health Department is hosting a Saturday Walk-In Flu Vaccine Clinic this Saturday, October 13, from 10 a.m.-12 noon at their office located in the Ag Complex at the Red Willow County Fairgrounds. "Influenza is a serious respiratory illness that causes thousands of hospitalizations and deaths every year. The Centers for Disease Control recommends a flu vaccine annually for everyone age 6 months and older," states Pam Klug, RN, Public Health Nurse at RWCHD...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Absence makes the heart grow fonder, something Andrea Soden Malleck, the new eighth grade science teacher at McCook Junior High, has learned first hand. A 2006 McCook High School graduate, Malleck earned her four year degree at the University of Colorado at Boulder...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- The McCook Planning Commission will coordinate a public hearing Monday evening to discuss a request for approval of a minor subdivision just West of U.S. Highway 83 on Drive 716. The application from Richard Cappel to create "Cappel Industrial Park" indicates the subdivision would be located just west of property approved to be developed for storage units and southwest of the future home of JLB Welding...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- The McCook City Council will consider adding a city ordinance that would authorize them to implement a temporary ban on permissible fireworks within city limits, should forecasted weather conditions create a very high risk of fire danger. Although the fire department had very few firework related fires during a record dry and hot 4th of July season this year, concerns raised by citizens are said to be the driving force behind the new ordinance...

Initially, Chloe and Sarah Dixon just wanted to see the kittens. When they found out that they could visit the kittens and help socialize them, making them more adoptable, the two little girls were thrilled. But that was just the beginning -- the beginning of an ongoing relationship with the staff at the McCook Humane Society and with all of the animals sheltered there while they wait for new "forever homes."...

Violet Marie Tabor Feb. 17, 1917 - Oct. 11, 2012 McCOOK, Nebraska -- Violet Marie Tabor passed away Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012, at Hillcrest Nursing Home in McCook. She was 95 years old. Violet was born on Feb. 17, 1917, to Peter C. and Clara J. (Vinicky) Kucera. She graduated from Hayes Center High School with the class of 1934...

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...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- The seventh annual Nebraska Kids Fitness and Nutrition Day (NKFND) was Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2012, at McCook High School, Junior High and YMCA. Four hundred twenty-seven fourth grade students from across the Southwest Nebraska Public Health Department (SWNPHD) eight-county health district participated in the one day fitness and nutrition event. ...

80th birthday The family of Kenneth Bradley of McCook is requesting a card shower in honor of his 80th birthday. He was born Oct. 16, 1932, in Culbertson, Nebraska. His family includes wife, Betty Bradley, children, Keith and Ruth Bradley and Doug and Brenda Dame; two grandchildren and three great grandchildren. Cards of congratulations will reach him at 1203 Norris Ave., McCook, NE 69001...

Aisley Renea Weems Nathaniel and Kendra Weems of Parker, Colorado, announce the birth of their daughter, Aisley Renea Weems, who was born Oct. 5, 2012, at SkyRidge Medical Center in Lone Tree, Colorado. She weighed 7 pounds, 13 ounces and measured 20.5 inches long. ...

Sherman, Sailors Natasha Sherman of McCook, Nebraska, formerly of Omaha, Nebraska, and Derek Sailors of McCook, announce their engagement and upcoming wedding. Parents of the bride to be are Kathy Wheelbarger of McCook, formerly of Omaha and Don Wheelbarger and David Sherman of Bellevue, Nebraska and Ina Sherman...

Gavin Keith Johnson Jason and Danielle Johnson of McCook, Nebraska, announce the birth of their son, Gavin Keith Johnson, who was born Sept. 15, 2012, in McCook. He weighed 7 pounds 15.5 ounces and measured 21 inches long. He has one sister, Jillian Lynn Johnson, 2 1/2 years old. Grandparents are Denis and Doris Stritt of Indianola, Nebraska and Ron and Julie Johnson of Elsie, Nebraska. Great grandparents are Ruth Stewart and Alyce Mae Stritt, both of McCook...

90th birthday The family of John Ferguson of Parks, Nebraska, is requesting a card shower in honor of his 90th birthday. He was born Oct. 20, 1922, in Haddam, Kansas. His family includes wife, Wilma Ferguson, children, Wayne and Marlyn Ferguson of Parks, Jean and Robert Beck of Benkelman, Nebraska, Mark and Julie Ferguson of Imperial, Nebraska, six grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. Cards of congratulations will reach him at 71676 Ave 327, Parks, NE 69041...

75th birthday The family of Dude Drain of Trenton, Nebraska, is requesting a card shower in honor of his 75th birthday Oct. 23. Cards of congratulations will reach him at 70502 Hwy 25, Trenton, NE 69044.

80th birthday The family of Cora Ann Wood of Grand Island is requesting a card shower in honor of her 80th birthday Oct. 19. She grew up in the Trenton area. Cards of congratulations will reach her at 2721 Stewart Drive, Grand Island, NE 68801

Quaduor, Herrman Tiffany Marie Quaduor and Nathaniel Jerome Herrman, both of Indianola, Nebraska, announce their engagement and upcoming wedding. Parents of the couple are Rob and Kathy Quaduor and Travis and Kim Herrman, all of Indianola. The bride-to-be graduated from Central Community College with a AAS degree. She is employed as an Agronomist at Ag Valley Coop in Indianola...