Stories from Tuesday, October 30, 2012

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Transparency, water for future generations and animal control were some of the issues touched on by local candidates at the forum Tuesday night at the Bieroc Cafe. Sponsored by High Plains Radio and the Nebraska Farm Bureau Federation, candidates for the McCook School Board, Middle Republican Natural Resources District and McCook City Council gave opening and closing statements and answered questions from a panel of four. ...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Nebraska legislators passed several bills during the 2012 session that will offer incentives for data center businesses looking for a home, which should complement a national effort supported by the Chamber of Commerce that is anticipated to result in 1000 new data centers built in the U.S. ...

Nebraskans have had an independent streak since the days of John Holbrook Powers' ill-fated 1892 run for governor on the People's Party ticket. Like Powers, third-party candidates have had little success in actually taking office -- a Democrat was finally declared the winner in 1892, sending "Honest John" back to his homestead in Hitchcock County...

Election crossroads Dear Editor, About two years ago, Newt Gingrich said that we are at a crossroad and that there are two distinct paths that our country is destined to take, and the elections in November of 2012 will be the pivot-point determining which way we will go...

Are you kidding me? Use taxpayer's tax money to buy developed farm ground, undeveloped it, then continue to pump irrigation water from under it to dump into the Republican and North Platte Rivers. All that just to send water to Kansas. Pumping costs money but there is always more available, just raise the "occupation tax" that irrigated farmers are forced to pay. What could go wrong with that kind of a deal?...

WAUNETA, Nebraska -- Aneta Engel, 55, died Monday (Oct. 29, 2012), at the Sunrise Heights Nursing Home in Wauneta,Nebraska. Survivors include her parents, Robert and Doris Kramer of Stapleton, Nebraska; her husband, Robin Engel of Wauneta; a son, Robert and wife, Cindy of Wauneta; two daughters, Jackie Taylor and husband, Bill of Madrid, Nebraska and Dena Engel and special friend, Robert Wade of Ogallala, Nebraska; four brothers, Dan Kramer and wife, Kristy of Stapleton, Alvin Kramer of Beemer, Nebraska, Rolland Kramer and wife, Janis of North Platte, Nebraska, and Arthur Kramer and wife, Becky of Stapleton; a sister, Marie Pyzer and husband, Layne of North Platte; seven grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.. ...

KEARNEY, Nebraska -- Chester C. Hampton, 82, died Wednesday (Oct. 24, 2012) at Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney. He was preceded in death by his parents and three brothers. Survivors include his brothers, Bruce and Esther Hampton of McCook, Nebraska and Richard and Hilda Hampton of Culbertson, Nebraska...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- A 6-year-old McCook girl is happy to donate her tresses to the Locks of Love program for cancer patients, but not just because one of her best friends and classmates in Mrs. Stephanie Sydow's first grade class, Isiah Casillas, is fighting brain cancer...

A 1939 lithograph by Mabel Dwight (American, 1876--1955), titled "Railway Station," will be part of a Sheldon Statewide art exhibit at the Museum of the High Plains on Norris Avenue, beginning today. The exhibition, "Railroads and the Making of Modern America," features work that examines the way artists captured and influenced the modern ideas and practices made possible by the railroad. The exhibit will be on display through Nov. 28...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- McCook Community College will host trick-or-treaters Wednesday from 3-5 p.m. Costumed day care children and students through the fifth grade will visit the campus for treats and some other Halloween activities. The event starts in the MCC Welcome Center in McMillen Hall and is sponsored by MCC students and the MCC Vice-President's Office. ...

The University of Nebraska Medical Center recently held ceremonies in Omaha, Lincoln, Kearney, Scottsbluff and Norfolk to recognize 759 new students in pharmacy, nursing, medicine, dentistry and allied health. The symbolic ceremony signifies the beginning of a health career...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- St. Patrick School has released the honor roll for the first quarter. The levels of honor roll are listed below with the students who achieved them. HONOR ROLL ST. PATRICK SCHOLARS (Must have "A" in 6 core subjects and no grade below 95 percent)...

ARAPAHOE, Nebraska -- Pumpkins, and turkeys and letters the spell BOO were all part of the Afterschool Fall Craft Workshop Oct. 22, at the Ella Missing Community Center in Arapahoe. The workshops allowed youth to paint and decorate ceramic pumpkins, design a canvas bag for Thanksgiving, and to create a wall hanging by using Mod Podge to attach paper to wooden letters...

In a little over two months I'll be out of office. The stark reality that 20 years of public service, 8 as governor and 12 as senator, is coming to a close really hit home last week during my first extended interview since I announced I would not seek re-election to the Senate...