Stories from Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Wilma E. (Rall) Steier March 4, 1924 - Feb. 3, 2013 VENICE, Florida -- Wilma E. (Rall) Steier, 88 died Feb. 3, 2013, at Venice. She was born March 4, 1924, to William C. Rall and Louise (Gaede) Rall. She grew up in Hoxie, Kansas. She married Robert Steier Aug. 8, 1954. She lived and worked in McCook for 55 years...

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...

LARAMIE, Wyoming-- The University of Wyoming lists six students from Nebraska, ncluding one from Stratton, on the 2012 fall semester Provost's Honor Roll. The Provost's Honor Roll consists of undergraduates who have completed at least six but fewer than 12 hours with a minimum 3.5 grade point average for the semester...

CHEYENNE, Wyoming -- Laramie County Community College is proud to announce the names of students, including Courtney Einspahr of McCook, who have earned a place on the president's honor rolls for the fall semester of the 2012 academic school year. Students earning president's honor roll recognition must have earned a cumulative 4.0 grade point average...

OBERLIN, Kansas -- A prospectus has been mailed to artists for the 9th annual High Plains ArtFest show and sale scheduled for April 26-28 at the Oberlin Gateway. Art Work will be accepted Sunday, April 14 from 1-5 pm, and Monday, April 15 from 1-7 pm...

ATLANTA, Georgia -- Mickey Stubblefield of Atlanta, Georgia, formerly of McCook, Nebraska, died this morning at the age of 87 years old. Mickey started with the McCook Cats semi-pro baseball team as a right-handed pitcher in late 1949 and went 13-6 in 1950...

OMAHA, Neb. -- Die-hard wrestling fans meeting Rulon Taylor for the first time might show a little disbelief when learning that the Medicine Valley senior is a championship competitor. Taylor probably doesn't fit the typical mold of a 220-pound high school wrestler. Rulon stands just 5 feet, 10 inches tall, and he doesn't have bulging muscles. One might even use the word pudgy in describing him...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Tax increment financing is a powerful tool that makes major redevelopment possible in towns like McCook, a self-described "country lawyer" told the McCook City Council Monday night. Mike Bacon should know. Twenty years ago, he helped Gothenburg use TIF to land a Baldwin Filters plant that might otherwise have come to McCook...

McCook, Nebraska -- A Concert for Cancer Care in March, sponsored by Community Hospital and Great Plains Regional Medical Center in North Platte, presents the Great Plains Opry featuring country music's award-winning Collin Raye as a guest celebrity...

Three late-season losses didn't help the McCook Bison, but those setbacks weren't overly detrimental for the Bison's post-season hopes. Pairings for Class B boys district tournaments were released Tuesday, Feb. 19, by the Nebraska School Activities Association (NSAA). McCook is the second seed in the B-6 District Tournament that starts Saturday, Feb. 23, at the Cougar Palace on the Western Nebraska Community College campus in Scottsbluff...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- The City of McCook is requesting assistance from citizens during their preparation for a snowfall predicted for Wednesday and Thursday. City staff is asking citizens to remove vehicles from streets, specifically the emergency snow routes which are marked by signs accordingly...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- A Trenton, Nebraska, woman was sentenced to less probation time for her sexual assault of a young girl, than she previously received from a drunk driving conviction. The offender, 27-year-old Megan Brennan, was sentenced to 18 months probation and required to register as a sex offender, Feb. ...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- With the annual banquet and the Home and Leisure Show under their belts, the staff of the McCook Area Chamber of Commerce is able to breath a little easier according to Chamber Director Tacie . Fawver told the Gazette that the banquet, which was held at the City Auditorium on Jan. 19 and featured a comedian entertainer, was well-received by those attending...

CULBERTSON, Nebraska -- The Culbertson Volunteer Fire Department invites everyone to a "Fun Night" Saturday at the Hitchcock County Fairgrounds. Homemade pies by Marlene Bedore and Hope Strong and the Culbertson Rescue Squad's soft serve ice cream will be served starting at 5 p.m. Bingo starts at 5:30 p.m., with Texas Hold 'em later in the evening...

Road grime smears across the shiny side of a rear view mirror parked near St. Alban's Episcopal Church, the Canterbury House and a corner of the McCook Gazette on West First in McCook, Nebraska. Be prepared for more moisture and mud, because forecasters are predicting snow -- and not just a skiff -- late Wednesday and Thursday. (Connie Jo Discoe/McCook Daily Gazette)...

If you caught the Ken Burns series "The Dust Bowl," you learned how economic and weather conditions can combine to produce an ecological disaster. High wheat prices during World War I prodded farmers, some of them absentee landowners, to break up fragile prairie land which was then left to blow away once the next period of drought set in...

Tax-subsidy report findings reveal opportunities for needed changes Those concerned with how Nebraska spends money should look at a report issued Monday by the Legislative Audit Performance Committee about some of Nebraska's business tax subsidy programs...

How would you like to be a young soldier headed to Afghanistan today? Most likely you will be one of the last of the American personnel to be assigned. By presidential decree our U.S. mission to bring peace is to draw to a close, win or lose, in the year 2014. Our politicians will simply declare victory, get out and let the devil take the hindmost...

SOUTHWEST NEBRASKA -- Alpha Iota Chapter of Alpha Delta Kappa is accepting applications for their 2013 scholarship. The scholarship will be awarded to an undergraduate student from Southwest Nebraska who has completed the sophomore year of college, majoring in education. ...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- McCook Community College in joining forces with McCook High School to host a Career and College Fair at the MCC Events Center Feb. 27. McCook High School will be hosting the Career & College Fair for their freshman and seniors from 1-3 p.m...

LINCOLN, Nebraska -- The Nebraska Nursing Facility Association (NNFA) and Nebraska Assisted Living Association (NALA) are accepting applications for their annual scholarship program. Recipients will be announced at the NNFA/NALA Spring Convention Awards Ceremony in Kearney on April 23, 2013. Scholarship applications are available at www.nehca.org and must be postmarked by March 1, 2013...

LINCOLN, Nebraska -- High school juniors and seniors with an interest in the Transportation, Distribution and Logistics career field are encouraged to apply for the Nebraska Logistics Council's annual $500 scholarship. The application deadline is April 1, 3:30 p.m...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Four McCook Community College athletic teams will play home games this week as part of homecoming activities. Today is the homecoming doubleheader basketball games against Western Nebraska with the MCC women taking the court at 5:30 and the men to follow, at about 7:30 p.m...

LINCOLN, Nebraska -- State Treasurer Don Stenberg has announced that the Nebraska Educational Savings Trust (NEST) will award $14,000 in college savings plan scholarships to Nebraska high school students who are on winning teams in the Personal Financial Challenge competition...

McCook Community College has elected Faculty Association Officers for the 2012-2013 academic year. Mike Hendricks (seated) will serve as president; (from left) Liz Jacoby will serve as treasurer; Susi Curl, Vice President; and Loretta Hauxwell, secretary. ...

Roxy Lang of Wilsonville, Nebraska, reports that on Feb. 12, she spotted four different kinds of birds taking advantage of the birdbaths at her Wilsonville home, saying, "When it is cold out the birds flock to the feeders and the birdbaths." The McCook Daily Gazette would love to showcase your weather photos. ...