Stories from Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Peggy Ann Schmidt Jan. 7, 1935 - Jul. 29, 2013 McCOOK, Nebraska -- Peggy Ann Schmidt went to meet her loving Lord and Savior on July 29, 2013. Peggy passed away at Community Hospital in McCook. She was born in Rutland, Vermont on Jan. 7, 1935. She grew up in the New England states where she was raised by her mother, Margaret and father, Paul Martel, along with her three brothers: Robert, Morris and Wayne. ...

Mildred J. (Moore) Downing Feb. 22, 1920 - July 30, 2013 CAMBRIDGE, NEBRASKA --Mildred J. (Moore) Downing passed away on July 30, 2013, at the Cambridge Memorial Hospital at the age of 93. Mildred was born to Earl and Grace (Winsor) Smith on Feb. 22, 1920, in Ord, Nebraska. She graduated from Ord High School...

Courtesy photo Joseph McCarty of McCook is presented with a $250 scholarship by Christy Stevens, from the South West Nebraska Community Theatre Association. From the time he was nine, between community, college and children's theatres, Joseph has been involved in 25 productions. ...

STRATTON, Nebraska -- Fern Miller Nilson's ninth book, "My Life on the Prairie," is available at the New Life Christian Book Store, 212 Norris Ave. in McCook, and Accents Etc., 307 Norris Ave., in McCook, as well as other locations. Fern, who just turned 89 and lives in Aurora, Nebraska, says she was encouraged to write the book as she shared with her friend about growing up on a homestead, sharing what it was like to attend a country school, and telling about the many storms her family encountered during her growing up years.. ...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Southwest Nebraska Public Health Department (SWNPHD) announces the hiring of Tami Herskowitz, RN, as the public health surveillance nurse. "Tami brings excellent skills and a variety of nursing experiences that will make her a valuable team member,"said Myra Stoney, Director SWNPHD. "She has excelled in her surveillance training and we are looking forward to her quick learning in other categories."...

CAMBRIDGE, Nebraska -- On Aug. 1, 2013, Tri Valley Health System will go entirely tobacco-free on all campus properties indoors and outdoors. This means that smoking or any other use of tobacco products will not be allowed on any Tri Valley Health System property including parking lots...

Stephanie Poulsom, a native of Benkelman, Nebraska, has been appointed as a new sales associate for Gateway Realty of McCook, Inc. according to owner Randy Bauer. She comes to Gateway with a Nebraska real estate salesperson license and an Associates Degree in carpentry. She gained useful experience while working in home construction in Colorado. She has called McCook home for more than a year and is looking forward to serving the people of McCook and Southwest Nebraska as a real estate agent...

Barnett Park, situated south of McCook proper, is home to an amazing and eclectic variety of critters, including this green heron standing on the bank of one of the park ponds and digitally captured by Brenda Peters on the morning of June 2. She used a 300 zoom lens to get the shot. ...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- It's now just a waiting game to see if Hillcrest Nursing Home is approved by the Veteran's Administration to provide services. The Hillcrest Board of Trustees heard an update about the VA contract from Hillcrest Administrator Colinda Nappa Tuesday morning at the regular meeting. Nappa told them that all the paperwork has been submitted and she is waiting for notification...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- The Hillcrest Nursing Home 2014 preliminary budget proposes no room rate increases for next year, but instead will institute a fee for items that have been supplied free of charge. Colina Nappa, Hillcrest Administrator, presented the preliminary budget to the Hillcrest Board of Trustees Tuesday and explained that no room rate increases were included. ...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- A small group of McCook 7-9th graders are searching for the cutest and cuddliest kittens, puppies, cat and dog photo models in and around McCook to showcase in a calendar for 2014. Last year, Chloe and Sarah Dixon of McCook, with support from their friends and family, introduced a 2013 calendar called, "The Cats and Dogs of McCook."...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Hillcrest Nursing Home is waiting to hear on the status of a grant that was submitted that will help pay for a bus for residents. The bus, estimated at $55,000, will transport more residents than the van currently used and also allow the facility to transport obese residents. The new bus will be able to transport 5 to 7 ambulatory patients and two wheelchairs...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- A Nebraska economic development program has been dipping into McCook sales tax dollars with little advance notice, prompting one local official to refer to the program as being like a thief in the night. City Manager Jeff Hancock said notice had been received that the Nebraska Advantage Act had the ability to claim local sales tax dollars to benefit an industry and would be doing so to the tune of $31,000 in the upcoming year...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- A robbery report from the early morning hours on Saturday has been determined to be false after further investigation. The McCook Police Department was contacted at 3:06 a.m. by an employee of the carnival, in town as part of the Red Willow County Fair, claiming to have been robbed at gunpoint by a McCook resident on the 500 block of West C Street...

Southwest Nebraska Public Health Department nurse, Melissa Propp, RN delivers an immunization to a lucky student who received her "back-to-school" gift. Melissa will be in Hayes Center on August 6th from 4-5 pm at the Hayes Center Elementary School for the Vaccines for Children clinic. Please call to schedule at 308-345-4223. Walk-ins are always welcome. Adult immunizations will also be available...

"Complaint" used to be a regular occurrence during the summer, with children suffering diarrhea, cramps, fever and pain that usually went away in a week or so, but could be serious if the victim became too dehydrated. Better refrigeration, sanitation and food handling helped reduce the outbreaks, which were eventually traced to the campylobacter bacteria...

Mabel Helen Wright, my maternal grandmother, was born in sod house No. 39 in Alma, Nebraska, in 1886, and died in Denver in 1966. She was the third of five daughters born to William H. Wright and Mary Hortense (Petticrew) Wright. They had come from Springfield, Ohio, as homesteaders in about 1884. Drought and crop failures caused them to head to Colorado. Mary had serious health issues. She died when Mabel was 8 1/2 years old...

The second crown jewel in the summer sky -- the first being Scorpius -- is Sagittarius, the Archer located right next door to the left of Scorpius. It will be at its highest above the southern horizon at about 10 p.m. local daylight time these mid-summer evenings...

When Bill Longnecker was a young boy, he remembers being fascinated as he watched Bill Schilz at work in his McCook jewelry store. However, it was not until years later that Longnecker realized the jewelry business was what he wanted to do as his life's work...

Dennis Fredrick McCarville June 15, 1936 - July 30, 2013 McCOOK, Nebraska -- Dennis Fredrick McCarville, age 77, of McCook, passed away Tuesday, July 30, 2013, at Community Hospital in McCook. Dennis was born June 15, 1936, in Martin South Dakota, to George J. and Dorothy F. (Funk) McCarville...