Stories from Tuesday, October 1, 2013

Anna Marie Walker May 10, 1965 - Sept. 24, 2013 PALISADE, Nebraska -- Anna Marie Walker, 48, of Palisade, died Sept. 24, 2013, at Community Hospital in McCook after a seven-year battle with cancer. She was born May 10, 1965, in Denver, Colorado, to William and Louise (Friese) Keenan...

Elizabeth Jean Van Wormer CAMBRIDGE, Nebraska -- Elizabeth Jean Van Wormer, 86, died today (Oct. 1, 2013), at the Cambridge Memorial Hospital. No services are planned at this time. Lockenour-Jones Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Michelle Rae Jarmin July 13, 1961 - Sept. 28, 2013 BEAVER CITY, Nebraska -- Michelle Rae Jarmin, 52, of Wilsonville, Nebraska, died Saturday (Sept. 28, 2013) at her home. She was born July 13, 1961, at Hastings, Nebraska, to Eldean and Mary Lou (Lewis) Einspahr...

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...

BRUCE BAKER City Editor McCOOK, Nebraska -- City police officers began additional enforcement efforts today targeting motorists who do not yield to pedestrians, as well as citizens with campers, trailers and boats parked for longer than 72 hours. The additional enforcement efforts stem from complaints received by the police department, according to Chief of Police Isaac Brown...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Hillcrest Administrator Colinda Nappa released more information concerning the bond payment paid in September on a construction bond. Nappa clarified today that payments on the bond in September totaled $222,927.98. This includes the first $182,175.93 payment on the principal, plus a $40,752.05 interest payment for the loan. A $32,163.75 interest-only payment was also made...

Red Willow Western Rural Fire Department hosts a Heritage Days "Firefighters' Challenge." The team of Justin Heffner, Rod Brittain, John Clark and Jake Reiners carried their "victim" across "the pond," and Heffner was charged with "finding the target" -- the barrel -- while blindfolded. ...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- McCook is one of four Nebraska towns to receive a challenge grant from a foundation formed by Warren Buffett's daughter. At a reception at the Keystone Business Center, the McCook Community Foundation Fund announced that McCook has been chosen to receive the grant from the Sherwood Foundation, which was started by Susan A. Buffett, the eldest child of Warren Buffett and Susan Thompson Buffet...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- The Women's Fellowship of First Congregational Church in McCook, Nebraska, plans its 26th annual "International Food Fair and Bake Sale" Saturday, in the basement of the church at 212 East E. The bake sale runs from 9 a.m. until 1:30 p.m., and the food booths from 11:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m...

The sun came up this morning and the electricity still works, but that doesn't mean the overnight shutdown of the federal government won't be felt in McCook and Southwest Nebraska. We don't have any federal parks nearby, like the Scottsbluff National Monument, Niobrara Scenic River or Homestead National Monument -- those will be shut down -- but we do have the Nebraska National Guard, which planned to furlough about 560 full-time technicians, including vehicle and aircraft maintenance workers, and about 70 state employees whose salaries are partially or entirely paid by the federal government.. ...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- It's no longer enough to simply have good customer service and an upcoming seminar at MCC will help businesses become become real customer lovers. "Customer Lovers" is a seminar that will show employees how important they are to the overall success of the company through customer service that will get customers, keep them and have them talking about how wonderful "we" are. ...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Strategies to recruit alumni and young families to your community is a three-part webinar series presented by the Center for Rural Affairs & the Heartland Center for Leadership Development. This Lunch N' Learn Series begins at noon for each of the three sessions and includes lunch. Cost is $45 for the entire series. Contact the Center For Enterprise (398) 345-8122 or www.centerforenterprise.com to register...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Does your business want to know how your customers feel about your service level? A retail service analysis consultant will guide you step by step through your customer service abilities and overall store appearance, sharing how you may be perceived by customers. Program includes an initial analysis, secret shopper, and follow-up consultation...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- McCook Community College is offering season passes for the Events Center regular athletic schedule. The pass allows admission to all regularly-scheduled MCC Athletic events in the MCC Events Center for the current academic year. The passes do not allow admission to tournament games or any special event games...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- The McCook Community College theater department is holding auditions for its fall production of "Leaving Iowa." Open auditions are set for Thursday at 7 p.m. in the Weeth Theatre in Tipton Hall. This will be the first McCook production directed by MCC's new speech and theater instructor Clay Grizzle and is set for November...

Brooke Ballou, an agribusiness and marketing major from Wilsonville, Neb., is the daughter of Colleen and Brent Ballou. She was a finalist in the Hastings College 2013 Homecoming Royalty. She is involved with Alpha Chi academic honorary and was named the Alpha Chi Most Outstanding First-Year Female Student. ...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- A former McCook college student returned to his campus over the weekend to speak to students, promote his new book, and to re-state the importance his hometown college had on his life by announcing a series of gifts. Dr. Gene Budig spoke with McCook Community College student, faculty, staff and community members and announced that the royalties of his new book "George Norris, Going Home: Reflections of a Progressive Statesman," will go toward scholarships at McCook Community College.. ...

It would be a little challenging to play golf at the Iron Eagle golf course Sunday, Sept. 22 in North Platte, as most of the course was under water when the South Platte River rose to a record 14.2 feet. The flooding was the result of torrential rains that pounded Colorado a week earlier. ...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- The number of cars and the quality of drivers impressed Heritage Days demolition derby promoter Sam Jeager of Cambridge, who brought the first demo derby to McCook in about 10-12 years. "I thought the turn-out was good, considering it's been so long since McCook's had a demo derby," Jeager said Monday morning...

A wise friend and philosopher E.K. Woolley once imparted a bit of wisdom that has stuck with me over the years. E.K. related that a community invests in its youth by paying for education and creating a safe place to grow up and mature. Then for the rest of one's productive life it is time to give back to your community. It is each person's responsibility to pay for the education of the succeeding generations and to contribute to making his community a safe and nurturing place to live...