Stories from Friday, February 15, 2013

Like many Nebraskans, I watched the president's State of the Union address hoping we would hear specific policy proposals to address our nation's ongoing economic challenges, including our $16 trillion national debt. I was disappointed that instead of offering realistic ideas to cut government spending, the president focused his speech on plans to increase spending under the pretext of job creation...

This week, President Obama delivered the annual State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress. The speech is a great tradition and it is an important opportunity for the President to share his vision with Congress and the American people. While there were positive elements of the speech, I was disappointed President Obama did not say anything to indicate he has a serious plan to address our nation's most urgent problem -- out-of-control federal spending and debt...

OMAHA, Neb. -- Two Gazette area competitors kept their perfect season records intact in the opening day of competition at the 2013 Nebraska State High School Wrestling Championships. Christian Lewis of Southern Valley and Rulon Taylor of Medicine Valley each won two matches Thursday, Feb. 14, to advance to the championship semifinals Friday night, Feb. 15...

KEARNEY, Nebraska -- Megan Gohl of Kearney, Nebraska and Eric Anderson of McCook, Nebraska were united in marriage Oct. 20, 2012, at Prince of Peace Catholic Church in Kearney with the Rev. Paul Colling officiating. Parents of the bride are DeWayne and Terri Gohl of Kearney. Grandparents are Delores Gohl of McCook and the late Harold Gohl and the late Charles and Carol Fischer...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Morgan Jane Chitwood and Jonathan Steven Bryant, both of McCook, Nebraska, were united in marriage Aug. 4, 2012, at McCook Christian Church with the Rev. Clark Bates officiating. Parents of the bride are Mark and Stacy Chitwood of McCook. Grandparents are John and Jane Fortin of Overton, Nebraska...

Grindle, Rogers Marie Grindle and Colin Lee Rogers, both of Cambridge, Nebraska, announce their engagement and upcoming wedding. Parents of the bride-to-be are Albert and Dana Grindle of Holbrook, Nebraska. Grandparents are Harold and Darlene Low of Arapahoe, Nebraska...

80th birthday The family of Twila Carter of Norton, Kansas, is requesting a card shower in honor of her 80th birthday Feb. 20. Her family includes, Gene and Linda Carter, Rhonda and Dean Jolly, Sondra and Ron Fowler, Kenny and Kim Carter, Vicky and Dan Ground and Curtis and Mary Carter. Cards of congratulations can reach her at 1010 Truman, Norton, Kansas, 67654...

80th birthday The family of Betty Joan Grafel of Culbertson, Nebraska, is requesting a card shower in honor of her 80th birthday. She was born Feb. 15 at Norton, Kansas. Her family includes husband, Wayne Grafel of Culbertson (originally from Herndon,Kansas); children, Cindy and Chris Cummins of Parker, Colorado, Catherine and Greg Anderson of Westminister, Colorado, Carol Grafel of McCook, Nebraska, Wayne Alan Grafel and Leticia of Louisville, Colorado, Michelle and Brian Martin of Parkville, Missouri;12 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. ...

Adams, Gardner Tori Rae Adams and Daniel Ryan Gardner, both of Wauneta, Nebraska, announce their engagement and upcoming wedding. Parents of the bride to be are Heidi Adams of Palisade, Nebraska and TJ Adams of Kearney, Nebraska. Parents of the prospective bridegroom are Karen Gardner of Wauneta and the late Rick Gardner...

Vera Frances Oliver Aug. 26, 1918 - Feb. 13, 2013 GOTHENBURG, Nebraska -- Vera Frances Oliver, 94, died Wednesday (Feb. 13, 2013), in Gothenburg. She was born Aug. 26, 1918, in Tryon, Nebraska, to Charles A. and Lena Belle (Parkhurst) Daly. She grew up in McPherson County, Nebraska, and graduated from McPherson County High School in 1934. ...

Edith C. Millar SIOUX CITY, Iowa --Edith C. Millar, 91, of Sioux City, Iowa, formerly of Omaha and Lincoln, Nebraska, died Wednesday (Feb. 13, 2013), at a nursing home in Sioux City. Morningside Chapel, Christy-Smith Funeral Homes in Sioux City are in charge of the arrangements...

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...

KEARNEY, Nebraska -- About 310 individuals attended the 28th Annual Nebraska Emergency Medical Services Association (NEMSA) Winter Conference on Emergency Care Jan. 12-13 in Kearney. The event was sponsored by NEMSA, Central Community College and the Nebraska Health and Human Services Emergency Medical Services Program. ...

CONNIE JO DISCOE Regional Editor McCOOK, Nebraska -- An Indianola and McCook, Nebraska, attorney donated an historic business clock to the Museum of the High Plains in downtown McCook on Valentine's Day. The museum board of directors unanimously accepted the H.P. Sutton Co. jewelry store's key-wound "Waterbury" clock offered by John F. Hanson of Indianola...

Eating for heart health is actually easier -- and more delicious -- than you might think. When you have a good plan and plenty of mouthwatering recipes, you'll enjoy taking care of your heart. According to the FDA, diets rich in whole grain foods and other plant foods, and low in saturated fat and cholesterol, may help reduce the risk of heart disease...

Declan and I were scrambling to beat the morning bell earlier this week, well I was scrambling he was mumbling grumpily as he put on his shoes, the equivalent of first grader profanity. His primary topic of frustration was that I would not allow him to watch morning cartoons. I adopted a "no morning cartoons until after you're ready" rule a few weeks ago and Declan is not at all a fan of it...

The Alisa Parde/Jeff Crick team took top honors Friday at the No More Malaria event during halftime festivities at the McCook Bison boys basketball game, with Crick making of 3 of 10 possible shots, while Dave Winder, who was partnered with Lance Clay, senior pastor at Memorial United Methodist Church, made 2 out of 10 shots. ...

Birds of various feathers gather Wednesday in Roxy Lang's Wilsonville birdbath in spite of winter temperatures. She reports that robins don't go to her feeders but they surely enjoy the water. A cardinal waits for his spot to open. The McCook Daily Gazette would love to showcase your weather photos. ...

Dear Friend, INTRO A recent poll, reported in the Midnight Call magazine, revealed that 55 percent of Americans believe in the Rapture, some Pre-Tribulation, some Mid-Trib. and some Post Trib.. However, the Pre-Trib Rapture is the only one that correlates with all of scripture as these articles clearly reveal...

English scholar N.T. Wright uses a powerful example of how our lives fit into the big picture of what God is doing in the world: It is that of a stonemason working on a great cathedral. When these architectural wonders were built during medieval times, the construction process lasted for decades, even centuries...

This week I joined farmers, ranchers, agribusiness leaders, and policymakers to celebrate the accomplishments and future outlook for Nebraska agriculture. The Governor's Ag Conference is one of my favorite events. It was an even more special event this year because it was the 25th anniversary...

It is interesting to nore how often the word "signet" apperas while reading God's Word. So I got my trusty biblical dictionary out. It defines it as a seal, usually in the form of a ring that was used by a designated official much like a personal signature is used today to give authority...

LINCOLN, Nebraska -- The Southwest Focus on Pheasants Partnership was given the Wildlife Conservationist of the Year award on Feb. 2 in Kearney. It was presented by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission and Pheasants Forever (PF) for outstanding efforts promoting the ideals of conservation and working in a partnership...

Kearney, Nebraska -- Each spring more than a half million sandhill cranes congregate on Nebraska's Platte River. Like the migration of wildebeest in Africa and the march of the penguins in Antarctica, the seasonal movement of these graceful birds is a spectacular nature show...

An elk keeps a wary eye on a visitor in Southwest Nebraska. Depite being rare here over the years, more and more elk are finding their way into Southwest Nebraska.

WRAY, Colo. -- During the latter part of March and the month of April, the small town of Wray in northeast Colorado becomes a busy place on the weekends. Bird lovers throughout the United States and from all over the world arrive to view the greater prairie chickens in their natural habitat...

Space geeks were caught by surprise this morning when they heard an asteroid had struck Russia hours ahead of another one they were already expecting to zip past Earth at a safe distance, yet closer than many communications satellites, later today. An asteroid about 150 feet in diameter, 2012 DA14, was to pass by our planet later today. ...

Brent Musburger caused somewhat of an uproar during the Alabama-Notre Dame National Championship game he was broadcasting when the camera zeroed in on Katherine Webb, the girlfriend of Alabama's starting quarterback A.J. McCarron. He spent a good deal of air time talking about how beautiful she was and how all the young kids watching the game should start playing quarterback because the quarterbacks get the best looking girls...

CULBERTSON, Nebraska -- The McCook Area Crime Stoppers is spotlighting the theft of an ATM machine from the K Store in Culbertson sometime in the early morning hours of Feb. 9. An undisclosed amount of cash was inside the machine. Officials are reportedly also investigating the theft of two pickup trucks that evening, but it is not known if they were related to the break-in...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Several public hearings scheduled for Monday evening offer citizens a rare opportunity to have their voices heard on a range of local topics, all in one meeting. The McCook City Council will coordinate public hearings pertaining to downtown revitalization, priority of street improvements, expanding the blighted designation to several neighborhoods and updates to the city's official zoning map. ...

LINCOLN -- A statewide consensus appears to be growing on the need to address water resource sustainability in Nebraska. During a Feb. 13 hearing of the Legislature's Natural Resource Committee, representatives from a diverse array of interest groups testified in support of LB 517, a bill introduced by Sen. Tom Carlson of Holdrege...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- The Nebraska State Patrol is looking for a semi-truck tractor-trailer rig involved in an accident at 6:09 p.m., Monday, on Highway 6&34 four miles east of McCook, Nebraska. Three occupants of a van were injured and taken to Community Hospital of McCook when the van swerved to avoid a collision with the truck that continued westbound...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Walking into the track area at the Ed Thomas YMCA, the sound of the treadmills rolling and the stationary bicycles spinning still can be heard. But there is something new, which cannot be missed. The YMCA's Kid'z Zone area is up and running and - judging by the activity level -- very popular with kids of all ages...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- A McCook man was sentenced to 20 to 60 months in state prison after being convicted of fourth offense drunk driving in Red Willow County District Court. The offender, 53-year-old Marvin D. Mueller of 200 East C Street, accepted a plea agreement in December 2012 that reduced a Class III felony fifth offense drunk driving charge to a Class IIIA felony fourth offense charge, the plea also dismissed a charge for driving with a revoked driver's license...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- The McCook City Council will consider approval of a resolution Monday evening that adopts a new redevelopment area and expands the blighted designation to other areas throughout McCook. The expansion of the designation is driven by efforts to address a housing shortage, which McCook Economic Development Executive Director Rex Nelson said is a priority to the community...

90th birthday The family of Ruby Rains of Stratton, Nebraska, is hosting an open house in honor of her 90th birthday Feb. 21. The open house is Saturday, Feb. 23, 2-4 p.m. at the Grandview Senior Center in Stratton. Cards of congratulations will reach her PO Box 194, Stratton, NE 69043...

Maralyn Courange July 20, 1936 - Feb. 14, 2013 LAKEWOOD, Colorado -- Maralyn Courange died Wednesday (Feb. 14, 2013), at St. Anthony Hospital in Lakewood. She was born July 20, 1936, to Valti and Ida (Montgomery) Magers in Oberlin, Kansas. She was raised in Decatur County. She attended Traer grade school and graduated from Decatur Community High School in 1954...