Stories from Monday, October 29, 2012

Kenneth L. Baumfalk March 20, 1932 - Oct. 24, 2012 McCOOK, Nebraska -- Kenneth L. Baumfalk, age 80, died at the Hillcrest Nursing Home on Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2012. He was born in Stratton, Nebraska, to Alvin and Hannah (Pollman) Baumfalk on March 20, 1932. Kenneth attended school in Stratton. He was married to Della Elaine Roose and she preceded him in death in 1965...

Ronald Dean Latham Oct. 5, 1939 - Oct. 26, 2012 ARAPAHOE, Nebraska -- Ronald Dean Latham, 73, of Arapahoe, died Friday (Oct. 26, 2012), at Cambridge Memorial Hospital in Cambridge, Nebraska. He was born on Oct. 5, 1939, in Omaha, Nebraska, to Ernest and Leona (Seifert) Latham...

Expressing his gratitude for the grace exhibited by the McCook community in repacking more than 200,000 meals, Kevin Ewing, MobilePack Supervisor with Feed My Starving Children, welcomed the first group of volunteers Friday afternoon to the McCook Armed Forces Reserve Center, where they packed 36,936 meals during their 2-hour commitment. The original meals, packed March 23 and 24, had to be destroyed after the rice producer suspected some of the product may have been contaminated...

CULBERTSON, Nebraska -- Over the gray rump of "Dunny," trail boss Terry Morris kept a close eye on the 42 horseback riders who followed him through the hills south of Culbertson, Nebraska Oct. 20, raising money for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee...

ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- Sunshine Review, a nonprofit, pro-transparency organization, released a state transparency analysis for Nebraska's government websites in late August, as well as localized information evaluating the McCook Public School and Red Willow County websites. The organization used a 10-point transparency checklist, which resulted in an "F" grade for both the McCook Public School and Red Willow County websites and an overall "D+" for the State of Nebraska...

We know there are only seven days until the election, and you're in the fight of your political life with Gov. Romney, but we hope you'll take a couple of days off from campaigning to deal with Hurricane Sandy, which promises to become an unwelcome visitor to your neighborhood in the next couple of days...

Nebraskans who have had a chance to visit the Redwood National Park in California, Canyonlands in Utah, North Cascades Park in Washington and the Appalachian Trail are impressed by their pristine condition. We can thank Stewart Udall for their preservation...

EDITOR'S NOTE: In a recent story in the Gazette it was announced that a train on the Amtrak Line from Chicago to St. Louis would attempt to hit a top speed of 110 mph. While speed records have been achieved (and implemented) in other forms of transportation, in the U.S. it seems that we have not progressed that far in railroad travel in the last 100 plus years. A look back at some speed runs through McCook...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- The Fox Theatre, 412 Norris Ave. in McCook, Nebraska is hosting the Jackie Allen Jazz Quintet at 7:30 p.m. Thursday and admission is free of charge. The event is presented by The Lied Center's Arts Across Nebraska program and is made possible with the support of the Nebraska Arts Council, the Nebraska Cultural Endowment, Friends of Lied, and the Richard P. Kimmel and Laurine Kimmel Charitable Foundation. Artist transportation provided by Sid Dillon...

Members of the McCook Area Chamber of Commerce flank Chanda Bush, the new owner of Spotlight Studios, as she performs the ceremonial ribbon-cutting at the business Friday afternoon. The dance studio is on the southwest corner of West 1st and C Streets...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- The Red Willow County Republicans will hold a pre-election rally on the evening of Tuesday, Oct. 30 at the Coppermill Restaurant in McCook. United States Senate Candidate Deb Fischer will headline the event and all GOP candidates for local offices have been invited to offer comments...

A bundled up Silas Bitler, right, grandson of Ray and Jeanette Walter of McCook, heads for the next stop during the Halloween Parade on Norris Avenue, Saturday morning. Costumed trick-or-treaters braved the early morning cold to be rewarded with sweets from downtown retailers. Chase Wittman, above, was dressed as Cat Woman...

June 17, 1954 - Oct. 27, 2012 INDIANOLA, Nebraska -- Frances Elaine (Kage) Steer, 58, passed away after a courageous battle with cancer on Saturday, Oct. 27, 2012, at her home in Indianola, Nebraska surrounded by her family. Fran was born on June 17, 1954, in Lincoln, Nebraska to parents, Sherman and Geraldine (Lawerence) Kage. She graduated from Waverly High School in 1972. Fran moved to Indianola in June of 1992. She was employed as a department manager for the McCook Walmart until her passing. Fran loved her children, grandchildren, and long time companion, Dennis Rowe, and following all of their activities.She and Dennis loved taking long motorcycle trips across the United States having toured all but five states. She collected Coca Cola memorabilia and angels. Survivors include her lifetime companion, Dennis Rowe of McCook; children, Andy Jernigan and wife, Tara, of McCook, Tina and husband, Andrew Miller, of Lincoln, Christie Jernigan of McCook, Jamie and husband, Kenneth Emory, of McCook, John Steer of Hastings, Bobbie (Steer) Ogden of Lexington, James Steer of York, Dale Rowe of Divide, Colorado, and Diana and husband, Darren Staab, of Hays, Kansas; 32 grandchildren; siblings, Terry Kage and wife, Lois, of Tecumseh, Ricky Lawerence of Hickman, Phyllis and husband, Randall Eliker, of Lincoln, Charlotte and husband, Michael Von Busch of Lincoln, Rex Kage and wife, LaVerda, of Fort Smith, Arkansas, and Randy Kage of Lincoln; special friend and sister at heart, Betty Lewin of McCook; numerous nieces, nephews, and a host of other family and friends. Preceding her in death were her parents, Sherman and Geraldine Kage and brother, Roger Kage. Memorials may be given in her name. Friends may go online at www.carpenterbreland.com to extend condolences to the family. A Celebration of Life will be Friday, Nov. 2, 2012, 3 p.m., at Carpenter Breland Chapel in McCook with Mike Roth officiating. Carpenter Breland Funeral Home of McCook is in charge of the arrangement.

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...