Stories from Tuesday, April 23, 2013

If forecasters are right, this scene, captured March 23, by Roxy Lang of Wilsonville, Nebraska, could be repeated overnight as a blast of cold air turns this morning's soft rainfall into snow. Roxy reports that at one point March 23, they had 5-6 inches of accumulation, but by that afternoon, the snow melted as soon as it hit the ground. ...

Edward Johnson PALISADE, Nebraska -- Edward Johnson, 64, died Saturday (April 20, 2013), in an auto accident near Palisade. Survivors include his wife, Becki of Palisade; sons, Benji Harrison of McCook, Nebraska, Andrew Harrison and wife, Rebecca, of Thorton, Colorado and Kevin Harrison and Jessica Mowrer of Longmont, Colorado; sister, Kathy and Jim Fickle of Bartley, Nebraska and two grandchildren...

Lt. Col. Dale L. Hulse Oct 23, 1919 -- April 21, 2013 FORT WALTON BEACH, Florida -- Dale L. Hulse, at the age of 93, passed away peacefully after a brief illness while family members held his gentle hands. Dale was born in Stoneham, Colorado, to Ed and Ida Hulse. ...

Police activity Activity log These items are taken from reports filed by the McCook Police Department. The locations refer to block numbers, not specific addresses. If you have information about any of these reports, call the police department at (308) 345-3450...

JeriLynn Karr/Courtesy photo Gene Weedin is the recipient of the 2013 Spotlight Award from the Southwest Nebraska Community Theatre Association. A 38-year teaching veteran, Weedin has been a social studies teacher at McCook Junior High for the past 16 years. He joined the SWNCTA board of directors in 2005 and has served as president and vice president. In addition to performing in several shows, He has worked as producer and has taken care of many other behind-the-scenes responsibilities...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- During an emotional ceremony at Community Hospital this morning, officials announced the hospital had been awarded a $2,966,771 grant from the Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust. The funds are designated for the purchase of a new linear accelerator for the Radiation Oncology Center project, which will eventually eliminate the need to travel for many area cancer patients...

Torrential rains that built up and broke through a berm on the site of the new Red Willow County, Nebraska, jail and law enforcement center in McCook pause long enough Monday morning for a ground-breaking ceremony north of the courthouse. The new $5.4 million 24-bed jail and sheriff's department offices have been designed by Prochaska and Associates of Omaha; construction will be managed by Beckenhauer Construction Inc. ...

Residents at the Tri Valley Assisted Living Facility in Cambridge, Nebraska, enjoy the new dining room chairs purchased with proceeds from the 2013 Tri Valley Medical Foundation Gala. The event, on April 6, at the Cambridge Community Building, raised $11,000. Tri Valley Health Systems would like to thank all of the sponsors and guests that supported the event. The full list is available online at www.trivalleyhealth.com...

GOODLAND, Kansas -- Northwest Tech achieves another first. Recently the Kansas Board of Regents approved the Crime Scene Investigation Technology (CSI) program slated to begin in August 2013. The CSI program is the first of its kind in Kansas with the only other forensic science-based program a bachelors at Wichita State University...

NEBRASKA -- Distinguished Young Women's mission is to inspire high school girls to develop their full potential by providing college scholarships, developing self-confidence, encouraging academic achievement, fitness, performance skills and the ability to think and communicate clearly...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Area community business leaders can access the knowledge and experience of world-renowned leaders by attending Chick-fil-A Leadercast at McCook Community College May 10. The importance of quality leadership training is a focus Mid-Plains Center for Enterprise, McCook is honored to host the event this year for the first time...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- McCook Community College sophomores Emily Wood and Barbara Leising were recently named to the All-Nebraska Academic Team. They were selected to join other community college students from across the state in recognition activities, that was to include a "Commit to Complete" rally on the State Capitol, but that was cancelled because of weather...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Four McCook Community College women, each with 4.0 cumulative grade-point averages, swept the major award categories Tuesday at MCC's fifth annual honor's convocation at the Event Center. Barbara Leising won the Presidential Award, given to the student who has excelled in academics, leadership and service to the community. ...

CRETE, Nebraska -- Doane College is expanding its education degree offerings to include a new Master of Arts in Counseling with an emphasis in School Counseling. The program is accepting applications now, with classes set to start this summer. The mission of the program is to prepare graduates to become highly competent school counselors through the ability to reflect, work collaboratively and respond to student needs...

These McCook Community College welding students recently helped build two trailers for former instructor Mike Harris. The project allowed them to put to good use some of the skills they have been learning over the past semester. Those skills include, print reading, planning, fabrication, and the use of multiple welding process. Students include (from left) Stuart White, Dominik Loibl, Tanner Powell, and Tate Stang...

Members of the McCook Community College Phi Beta Lambda chapter competed at the state leadership conference in Kearney and brought home numerous state awards. Members include: front row from left, Paige Jones, Charles Skilling, Veronica Waddell and Carlos Dominguez. Second: Kasha Messersmith and Brittany Sutton. Third row: Co-advisor Janet Stalder, Brisa Rodriquez, co-advisor Lorrie Mowry, Jessica Midkiff, Kyra Stark, and Ashley Noltensmeier...

Two McCook Community College students from Australia, Natasha Fonoti and Jordan Myers, show students from St. Patrick's how to throw a boomerang. The event was part of the college's International Fair sponsored by members of the campus International Club. The Australian booth was one of six countries represented by MCC students who displayed information, offered food items and gave away friendship gifts...

McCook National Bank representative, Angela Wagner (left), is pictured presenting Miranda Wordekemper, a junior at Southwest High School, with the "MNB Student of the Month Award" for the 2012-2013 school year. She was nominated by teacher, Bob Loshbaugh (right). ...

This crocus, digitally captured March 14, by Mary Pate of McCook, Nebraska, offers a vibrant promise that spring has come, in spite of the recent snows and cold temperatures. McCook set a new record low of 20 degrees Friday morning, erasing the record of 22 degrees set in 1953. ...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Seventh and eighth grade science club students at McCook Junior High showed their science savvy April 20 at the Nebraska Science Olympiad in Lincoln, Nebraska. Students of Cheri Schneider competed either with projects they assembled or by taking tests in science related categories, such as biology, physics and astronomy...

NORTH PLATTE, Nebraska -- Nine members of the North Platte Community College chapter of Phi Beta Lambda placed in 21 events, including nine first place finishes, at the State Leadership Conference, April 5-6 in Kearney. Additionally, NPCC PBL Advisor Kathy McCune was named Advisor of the Year and the chapter received the Gold Level Excellence Award for involvement and contribution to PBL...

LINCOLN, Nebraska -- A bill that would change the formula for state aid to schools pitted senators representing smaller, mostly rural school districts against those representing larger districts. Lawmakers began debate Monday on LB 407, introduced by Sen. Kate Sullivan of Cedar Rapids...

Any doubt that McCook likes to think big should be a thing of the past. The city police, administration and fire departments are still settling in to their new facilities, and the McCook Community College Events Center is just completing its first year of service...

The Nebraska Pride Chorus of Sweet Adelines would like to thank all of the McCook merchants who so willingly helped sponsor our performance at the Fox Theatre. The chorus was looking forward to singing here and the Fox did not disappoint. What a wonderful place to sing! We had a great time and if there are other ladies who like to sing and have fun AND learn to be better singers, please feel free to check us out. For further information, you may call Evie Caldwell, director, at (308) 345-4165...

With all due respect to those who support Medicaid expansion, let me explain why LB577 will not provide the "good" that it promises, and will actually cause harm to the state and those it claims will be helped by it: In the summer of 2012, by a 7-2 vote, the United States Supreme Court held that Obamacare violated the Constitution by forcing states to radically expand Medicaid. ...

It is often said (and bears repeating) there is too much redundancy. We're heard this many times over and over again. Redundancy is unnecessary verbal repetition. I've said this many times over and over again. I repeat: The use of too many words should be gotten rid of and eliminated. I've said this many times. Need I reiterate?...

I had the best seat in the house last week. Well maybe Kevin, the captain of the jet, seated just 20 inches to my left had it better if one values the privileges of command. No matter, the view was identical. We leapt off the ground from the municipal airport at Gary, Indiana, just after dusk. ...

Kids enjoy airplane rides -- both real and imaginary -- at the Cambridge Municipal Airport Saturday, hosted by Golden Plains Aviation. The Experimental Aircraft Association offered Young Eagle flights to youngsters, LifeTeam offered tour of its air ambulance and a free pancake and sausage breakfast was served...

LINCOLN, Nebraska (AP) -- Farmers in the Republican River Basin could get paid by the state if Nebraska cuts off their access to surface water, under a bill that won first-round approval Tuesday from lawmakers. The bill was advanced in the midst of drought fears and repeated legal battles involving the Republican River. Lawmakers voted 27-0 to move the bill through the first of three readings...