Stories from Wednesday, July 24, 2013

STOCKVILLE, Nebraska -- 4-H champions from the Frontier County Fair are as follows: Photography: Photography Unit 1 Grand Champion --- Jacob Rupe Reserve Champion --- Tristin Smith Photography Unit 2 Grand Champion --- Mary Storm Reserve Champion --- Mckenzie Bartruff...

OMAHA, Nebraska -- Applications are now being accepted for the annual Miss Rodeo Ak-Sar-Ben and Little Miss and Mister ARCR contests. The competitions are open to youths interested in rodeo and the western way of life. Interested individuals should apply by visiting http://www.rivercityrodeo.com/rodeo/yout... for an application and more contest information. The application deadline is Aug. 15...

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...

PERU, Nebraska -- For the second year in a row, Nebraska Phi Beta Lambda (PBL) had six first place finishes at the recent National Leadership Conference (NLC) in Anaheim, California. Overall, Nebraska PBL finished with 41 Top Ten finishes, which placed them third in the overall state rankings behind Florida and Arkansas...

Potthoff family in America 100 years Gertrude Potthoff of McCook and Jocquin Potthoff of Westerstede, Germany, meet at the Potthoff family reunion. The wife of Fred and Anna's son, Otto, Gertrude is the only living member of that generation. At 88, she was the oldest person who attended the reunion. ...

Residents of Hillcrest Nursing Home enjoyed a toe-tapping musical performance presented by the Merrymakers performer, "Hillbilly Hal" Tuesday morning. Rightfully nicknamed, Hal Cottrell was born in the hills of West Virginia and was immersed in the world of bluegrass music at a young age. ...

PEGGY EVERITT Staff Nurse RED WILLOW COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT McCOOK, Nebraska -- July is here and August is fast approaching. It's time to send your children back to school with their vaccinations up to date. Before you gather school supplies, the Red Willow County Health Department urges you to schedule your children for the vaccinations required for entrance into school this fall...

Think before you drink: Erosion of tooth enamel from soda pop is permanent You may be saving calories by drinking diet soda, but when it comes to enamel erosion of your teeth, it's no better than regular soda. In the last 25 years, Kim McFarland, D.D.S., associate professor in the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Dentistry in Lincoln, has seen an increase in the number of dental patients with erosion of the tooth enamel -- the protective layer of the tooth. ...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- A positive test of West Nile Virus for a resident living in Southwest Nebraska has been reported to Southwest Nebraska Public Health Department. Confirmation came from lab testing by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. SWNPHD serves Chase, Dundy, Frontier, Furnas, Hayes, Hitchcock, Perkins and Red Willow counties...

LINCOLN, Nebraska -- Red Willow County has received $113,373 to fund its household hazardous waste facility in McCook. The permanent facility on the Railroad Service Road in south McCook, offers residents of 45 counties a safe and reliable way to dispose of household hazardous waste, along with fluorescent bulbs and electronic waste...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- A garage sale of a different sort will raise funds for the McCook Humane Society. Annette Irwin of Omaha, formerly of McCook, will sell her father Otto Nilsson's very eclectic collection of "miscellaneous stuff" -- from home, business, shop -- during a two-day rummage sale Friday and Saturday, Aug. 2 and 3, in the "Rutt Building" at 417 and 419 West B in McCook...

Elise Stevens exhibits her "Duck Dynasty" decorated cake during 4-H competition Tuesday morning at the Red Willow County, Nebraska, county fair in McCook. "Duck Dynasty is my favorite TV show, and Uncle Si is my favorite character," Elise grinned. Gage Overton showed his shoe birdhouse in the pre-4-H "Clover Kids" division. "It's not Dad's shoe," Gage grinned. "We got it at the thrift shop." (Connie Jo Discoe/McCook Gazette)...

A familiar sight in rural Nebraska, a windmill juts into a Nebraska blue sky, seeming to anchor the clouds in place. Roxy Lang of Wilsonville, Nebraska, captured this image July 17. The McCook Daily Gazette would love to showcase your weather photos. ...

Practice makes perfect they say, and that axiom could never be more true when it comes to driving. Unfortunately, it's difficult for some young drivers to get the "windshield time" they need to develop vital driving skills, and establish safe habits...

The center of celestial attention now shifts to the morning sky this week as bright Venus, who has kept us entertained for several weeks, is now starting an eastward slide which will last until early September when it will sink below the horizon. You early risers -- or those of you who just want to get up early for a planetary peek -- will be able to view three planets against the rising sun...

Nebraska Republican gubernatorial candidates are signing up for what promises to be a contentious race if the issues play out as expected. Democrats are salivating as they anticipate a bruised GOP candidate emerging from the primary, something that could give them a shot at a statewide seat they haven't occupied since the two terms of Ben Nelson. Admittedly, a Centrist Democrat could rule the day...

LINCOLN, Nebraska -- As abnormal dryness continues to expand eastward, according to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor http://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/, forecasts are not showing any indication of above or below normal precipitation through October, the state climatologist at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln said...

City of McCook rescue personnel transport at least one person to Community Hospital of McCook following a two-vehicle accident at about 12:30 p.m., Monday, at the intersection of West J and North Highway 83. More information will be released after police complete an investigation of the accident...

Chelsey Benes, superintendent for the Red Willow County, Nebraska, county fair 4-H photography competition Tuesday morning, hangs an 8x10-inch landscape photograph entered by Trey Barnhart. Kacy Anderson visited with photography judge Ann Fornoff about her picture of Barnett Park geese. 4-H competition started Tuesday and continues through Saturday...

Young Tri-City Storm hockey fans play street hockey with Storm players Jared Shafran (above) and Adam McLaughlin Thursday morning at the YMCA in McCook, Nebraska. Storm players are touring the state to conduct hockey camps for youngsters age 4 through 14, grow the sport of hockey and encourage healthy living activities among children...

HOLDREGE, Neb. -- The McCook National Bank Seniors have had some rough outings defensively during the 2013 summer Legion baseball schedule. But the McCook squad turned in a stellar effort in the field behind a strong performance by starting pitcher Jon Spilinek Tuesday, July 23. The result was a 7-1 victory over Holdrege First National in the finals of the Class B Area 6 Tournament at Holdrege...