Stories from Thursday, September 5, 2013

McCOOK, Nebraska -- The Nebraska Department of Insurance will be hosting a series of educational sessions across the state, including one in McCook, with regard to the Affordable Care Act. The Department will be giving an introductory presentation on Health Insurance Exchanges and the role of the state in a federally facilitated marketplace (Exchange). There will be a question and answer session after the presentation...

This school mascot for the Southwest Roughriders, appeared on this building in Bartley, Nebraska, owned by Greg Hofman. A second photograph was submitted by Roxy Lang of Wilsonville, Nebraska and she reveals that the painting took place in one week's time, in 100+ degrees temperatures...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- The McCook City Council gave final approval Tuesday evening to the city employee pay plan for the upcoming 2013-14 budget year. The plan included an across-the-board "cost of living" wage increase of 2.5 percent for fire department employees, and a 2 percent increase for the police department and all other city employees...

Members of McCook's fire and police departments huddle at the scene of a collision Thursday morning near the intersection of West 10th and J Streets. Multiple police and fire vehicles briefly blocked off the north-south street between I and J to assess the accident. No one appeared to be seriously injured in the crash...

OBERLIN, Kansas -- An Oberlin man was taken by ambulance to the Decatur County Hospital after the passenger side tire on his pickup truck blew out and the vehicle overturned in the ditch. The injured driver, Marlin Anthony Hackney, 44, of Oberlin, was wearing a seatbelt when the accident occurred 4.5 miles east of Oberlin on Highway 36...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Nebraska Public Power District employees will perform scheduled maintenance, requiring an interruption in service, on a distribution line affecting more than 150 customers in Northwest McCook Saturday, between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. Power will be restored as quickly as possible...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- The McCook City Council approved the 2013-14 fiscal year city budget Monday evening after making a few last minute changes. The changes included shifting the source of funds used to purchase a new trash hauling trailer; adding a new full time position to the fire department; delaying the purchase of a new police vehicle by placing the funds into a contingency fund that would allow for further discussion; setting aside funds to pay Memorial Auditorium deposit and rental fees for two annual charity events; and the General Fund cash reserve was increased by another $75,000, bringing it to $500,000.. ...

LINCOLN, Nebraska -- Nebraska LEAD Group 33 participants were announced by Terry Hejny, director, Nebraska LEAD (Leadership Education/Action Development) Program. Among Nebraska LEAD 33 Fellows are Matt Broz, Hayes Center; Nick Fowler, Imperial; Jolene Messinger, McCook; Alex Peterson, Haigler and Calvin Wineland, Cambridge...

It's amazing what a mom will find in her laundry when responsible for washing the clothes for a family of five. Most weeks, I can do the laundry without any fun surprises but everyone once in a while I get blessed with little extra goodies that are sometimes shocking, sometimes funny and sometimes ridiculous...

Southwest Nebraska is a long way from the night life in Omaha and Denver, let alone Broadway, but that doesn't mean there's any shortage of things to do. We couldn't help but think of that point when we scanned Wednesday's front page, which carried no stories of crime or corruption, but did have six stories about special musical, historical and cultural events, some home-grown, some world class, but all worthwhile...

The Southwest Nebraska Community Theatre Association play selection committee hit 5 stars when it selected Robert Harling's "Steel Magnolias" for the Oct. 18-19-20 production at McCook's historic Fox Theatre. Actually, the count is six because every member of the cast brings a special story that takes place within a beauty shop...

Amanda 'Mandie' Douglas WAUNETA, Nebraska -- Amanda "Mandie" Douglas, 35, died Tuesday, (Sept. 3, 2013), at her home in Wauneta. Survivors include her husband, Troy Douglas; daughter, Tryphena; and parents, James and Marvene Roe, all of Wauneta; sisters, Tammy Walkowski and husband, Nick of Paris, Illinois and Laura Blomstedt and husband, John of McCook; brothers, Darren Roe and Isaiah Roe, of Wauneta...

After spending the August work period visiting with our constituents, Congress is now gearing up for a busy month of legislative business. The situation in Syria has captured the attention of the president, lawmakers, and the American people. As Nebraskans know, the president is calling for a military response to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's use of chemical weapons against his own people...