Stories from Monday, February 4, 2013

Ruth Lorraine Hayward Jan. 6, 1914 - Feb. 1, 2013 KEARNEY, Nebraska -- Ruth Lorraine Hayward, age 99, formerly of Trenton, Nebraska, passed away at Cambridge Court in Kearney, Nebraska, on Feb. 1, 2013. She was born in Hitchcock County near Stratton on Jan. 6, 1914, to Roy and Effie (Gagle) Spencer. She graduated from Stratton High School and received her Normal Training in 1932 to teach school. She received her Bachelor of Arts Degree from Kearney State Teacher's College in 1964...

Tommy E. Wheeler Nov. 25, 1961 - Feb. 2, 2013 OXFORD, Nebraska -- Tommy E. Wheeler, 51, of Oxford, died Saturday (Feb. 2, 2013), at Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney, Nebraska, as the result of an automobile accident. He was born Nov. 25, 1961, at Alamosa, Colorado, to Ernest S. and Geneva R. (Kerchner) Wheeler...

Elaine B. Meeks CULBERTSON, Nebraska -- Elaine B. Meeks, 80, of Culbertson, died today (Feb. 4, 2013), at Hillcrest Nursing Home in McCook. Services are pending with Carpenter-Breland Funeral Home of McCook.

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...

Connie Jo Discoe/McCook Daily Gazette Cal Siegfried, above, right, of Willow Creek Meats, and Trevor Taylor of VK Electronics, far right, visit with window-shoppers Saturday morning at the McCook, Nebraska, Area Chamber of Commerce's 23rd annual "Home & Leisure Show" in the Events Center at McCook Community College Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Approximately 1,300 visitors toured 44 booths...

Roxy Lang of Wilsonville, writes, "We had gone by this place so many times and this day I happened to notice (the barn) setting back in the trees bare of their leaves in a winter setting." The photo was taken in February 2012, south of Arapahoe. Roxy provides these camera settings: ISO 200, f9, 1/500, 70mm. ...

From the collection of old McCook papers of H.P. Waite

Nebraska leaders need to get on board.

McCOOK, Nebraska -- A McCook, Nebraska, seventh grader placed third in the nation with the poster she created -- two years ago -- for radon awareness. JoAnn Neel's poster -- "The Answer is Clear" -- features a clear ribbon, the "color" of lung awareness, warning readers that radon is "clear, tasteless, odorless and colorless, and can cause lung cancer."...

Two-year-old Adreanna Moberly of St. Francis, Kansas, drains her sippy-cup as she pauses in her mother's "Girlie Girls TuTus" booth during the McCook, Nebraska, Area Chamber of Commerce's 23rd annual "Home & Leisure Show" Friday, Saturday and Sunday in the gym at the new McCook Community College Events Center. ...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- The total number of McCook crimes reportable to state and federal governments, which does not include city ordinance or traffic violations, rose three percent in 2012 while local burglaries decreased 13 percent. According to crime and arrest statistics through November 2012, provided by the McCook Police Department, the total number of crimes during the same time period increased from 516 in 2011, to 530 in 2012...

It's probably a safe bet that the McCook Community College men's basketball team won't win many games scoring under 50 points. The Indians suffered from cool shooting against a strong North Platte C.C. squad Tuesday, Jan. 29, at the MCC Events Center. The result was a 63-47 MCC loss in the Region IX South Sub-Region contest...

No coach at any level is probably ever satisfied with the performance of their team, no matter what the outcome. Most coaches are always striving for a better effort from their performers, win or lose -- always seeking improvement, that's probably a strong trait of a successful tutor...

OGALLALA, Neb. -- It seems like playing McCook brings out the very best of every Bison girls basketball opponent these days. The top 10-ranked McCook girls got a tough test Friday, Feb. 1 at Ogallala. The host Indians played tough, but McCook squashed the upset hopes and came home with a 60-46 victory...

OGALLALA, Neb. -- For a little while Friday, Feb. 1, McCook boys basketball fans probably envisioned a shootout with host Ogallala. The Indians went toe-to-toe with the Bison early, but those shootout thoughts didn't last long. McCook used a surge late in the first quarter and a strong second period to run away from the Indians in a 68-32 decision. Friday's contest was played at the Ogallala Auditorium...

BARTLEY, Neb. -- A few new school colors made a tough Southwest Invitational wrestling meet even tougher this season. Over 20 varsity and junior varsity teams were represented in the meet Saturday, Feb. 2, at the Southwest High School gym in Bartley. Several Gazette area teams battled for top team honors, with the Decatur Community Red Devils from Oberlin, Kan. claiming first place...

Marian Ellen Croutcher Dec. 17, 1928 - Feb. 2, 2013 McCOOK, Nebraska -- Marian Ellen Croutcher of McCook, passed away Saturday, Feb. 2, 2013, at Community Hospital. She was 84 years old. Marian was born on Dec. 17, 1928, at McCook to parents, Harold Harvey and Nellie Louise (Echternach) Snyder. She graduated from McCook High School with the Class of 1947...