Stories from Wednesday, July 10, 2013

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...

OMAHA, Nebraska -- More than 100 nursing students at the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Nursing recently were inducted into the Nebraska Gamma Pi At-Large Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International (STTI) Nursing Honor Society. STTI supports the learning, knowledge and professional development of nurses committed to making a difference in health worldwide. Founded in 1922, it is a global community of nurse leaders with 486 chapters in more than 85 countries...

GREELEY, Colorado -- Joel Knepper, son of Patricia Knepper of Eaton, Colorado and grandson of Cecelia Knepper of McCook, Nebraska and the late Verle Knepper, graduated May 25, 2013, as the valedictorian of Greeley West High School in Greeley, Colorado. ...

LINCOLN, Nebraska -- Nebraska Wesleyan University has announced its Academic Honors List for the spring semester of the 2012-2013 academic year. A student must have a minimum grade point average of 3.75 (on a 4.00 scale) for 12 or more hours of coursework to qualify for the list...

Will Jack, 18, left, of Eustis, Nebraska and Frontier 4-H leans back during exercises on Tuesday, July 2, 2013, at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln, Nebraska. Nebraska 4-H was presented a check for $30,000 from UnitedHealthcare to support healthy-living programs that encourage young people and their families to eat more nutritious foods and exercise regularly...

Residents of Willow Ridge were treated last week to an exotic get-away without ever leaving the port. Some of the week-long activities included a Hawaiian luau, casino party and Captain's dinner. Top left, Gerri Rasser being escorted to her table by Jesus Samaniego; top right, Ervin Schaffert poses at one of the photo ops; above left, Holly Olson deals a round of black jack; above rght,staff at Willow Ridge getting ready to begin the cruise, including Mindy Schmitz, bottom; second row, Kelli Pachner, Holly Olson, Judy McCune; back, Diane Trew, Val Pollmann, Shad Dewey and Linda Dixon.. ...

Cristin Soucie, the new pharmacist at U-Save Pharmacy in McCook, said interacting with customers is one of the best parts of her job. "Getting to know someone, making sure they're taken care of, as opposed to sitting behind a desk all day and not seeing anyone, that's my favorite part," she said. ...

This long-established nest only needed a few upgrades this year as mama king bird needed a place to keep her nestlings safe until they are big enough to leave the nest. The family lives just outside the McCook home of John Clapper. The McCook Daily Gazette would love to showcase your weather photos. ...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Construction continues to move forward at the McCook School District, with re-surfacing of the high school track now complete. Lines have been painted on the track and the new surface should hold up for about 14 years, said McCook School Business Manager Rick Haney at the regular McCook School Board meeting Monday night...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- A closed session to discuss evaluations for McCook School District Superintendent Grant Norgaard was tabled until August. Board members evaluations were not completed in time so the board will meet in closed session in August to assess Norgaard's performance...

A fireplace in the recently completed "Grant Memorial Community Room" at East Ward Village originally adorned the wall when the room was a kindergarten classroom. McCook Housing Agency Executive Director Rebecca Dutcher said she had received many calls inquiring as to whether the fireplace would remain and it was ultimately decided the fireplace would be a fitting decoration for the room. ...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- A McCook woman will face sentencing for what will be her third felony criminal case in Red Willow County District Court this year. The offender, 21-year-old Toni Hopkins of 906 East E Street, accepted a plea agreement last week that reduced a Class III felony burglary charge against her to a Class IV felony of attempted burglary...

Ask most kids where their food comes from, and they're likely to offer a couple of answers. "The refrigerator." or, if they're a little more observant: "The store." Even kids whose parents are directly involved in agriculture may have no better idea than their city cousins, since their parents likely purchase their food retail like everyone else...

The June 4 issue of the Gazette ran an article on the town's housing project. In the article, one town official was quoted as saying "Trailer Folk," aka as "Trailer Trash." I find this term insulting and bigoted. I am NOT a second-class citizen as implied...

The Faith and Freedom Coalition's goal since its inception in 2009 is to expose the Obama Administration's all-out assault against Christianity, the family and the moral values that built America. Legal experts say Obamacare will require pro-life doctors and hospitals to perform abortions if they want to remain licensed. ...

Following is my answer to the "fun puzzle" in the 6-18-13 issue of the McCook Daily Gazette. As a reminder, here is the puzzle: Do you like to fool around with math puzzles? If so, fill in the blanks and solve this puzzle! The "Archway" cost in year 2000, was said to be 60 million dollars. (McCook Daily Gazette, 5-30-13, page 2)...

When you look at the night sky and see the constellations you are familiar with and know the stories behind them. Did you ever stop to consider that someone on the other side of our planet may be looking at the same constellation but have a different story for it?...

CAMBRIDGE, Nebraska -- The north side of an upside-down rusty sign on a Quonset building in an alley in downtown Cambridge, Nebraska, says something about a "New Idea." The other side of the sign and the black block letters on the Quonset door read "Shop."...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Fraudulent telephone calls have been reported, throughout the McCook area to McCook National Bank customers and non-customers alike, informing them that their McCook National Bank Check Card has been deactivated. These calls were not made by McCook National Bank and are phishing attempts to obtain card information. The automated message instructs the listener to enter their card number and PIN to reactivate their card...