Stories from Friday, January 17, 2014

Alice Vrbas May 12, 1922 - Jan. 14, 2014 BENKELMAN. Nebraska -- Alice Vrbas was born May 12, 1922, to Joseph and Marie (Podskubka) Vachuta in Rawlins County, Kansas. She received her elementary education at Lone Tree School in Rawlins County. She walked ¾ miles to and from school except when it snowed. ...

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...

KEARNEY, Nebraska -- University of Nebraska at Kearney announced the names of students who earned a place on the dean's list for the 2013 fall semester. To earn a place on the dean's list, UNK students must complete at least 12 credit hours with a 3.5 or better overall grade point average on a 4.0 scale. Courses taken on a credit/no credit basis aren't included among the necessary 12 credits...

Staff at Lifetime Eyecare in McCook and members of the McCook Lions Club accepted used eyeglasses that were donated at the McCook High School basketball game Jan. 11. The used eyeglasses are used for the "Sight First, Vision for all" Lions Club program. ...

102nd birthday The family of Elsie Becker is requesting a card shower in honor of her 102nd birthday. She was born Jan. 24, 1912, the sixth living child and second daughter of Carl and Doris (Fortkamp) Bartels, on her parents' home site on the Ough Divide in Dundy County south of Enders, Nebraska. ...

Horton, Wagner Ashley Horton of Oberlin, Kansas, and Garrett Wagner of McCook, Nebraska, announce their engagement and upcoming wedding. Parents of the bride-to-be are Dalene Horton of Oberlin and Larry Horton of Hobbs, New Mexico. Parents of the prospective bridegroom are Chris and Annette Wagner of McCook, Nebraska...

Smith, Beard Philip and Penny Smith of Pampa, Texas, are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter, LisAnne Smith, to Kenneth Beard, son of James and Linda Beard of Reinholds, Pennsylvania. The bride-to-be graduated from Bentley College in Boston, Massachusetts, with a bachelor of science degree in finance. She is employed as a portfolio manager at First Western Trust in Denver, Colorado...

Julia Sue Harders Ramsey and Tammy Harders of Trenton, Nebraska, announce the birth of their daughter, Julia Sue Harders, who was born Dec. 4, 2013, at Community Hospital in McCook. She weighed 7 pounds, 1 ounce and measured 19 1/2 inches long. She has one sister, Moriah, 2. Grandparents are Ron and Alana Hoyt of Culbertson, Nebraska, Dave Harders of Wahoo, Nebraska, and Garnet Harders of Wahoo. Great-grandparents are Antonette Turner of Bladen, Nebraska, and Howard Manstedt of Wahoo...

By Susan Doak SW Nebraska Genealogy Society McCOOK, Nebraska -- Going back to the 1926/27 Red Willow County directory, it is noted that the soil in Red Willow County is listed with the best for general farm purposes to be found anywhere in the nation...

The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. No, we're not talking about legalized marijuana, although Colorado does figure into today's discussion. Instead, we're talking about taxes. We've all heard anecdotal evidence about the state of Nebraska's taxes being higher than that of adjoining states -- whether it comes to registering a car, buying gasoline or paying property taxes on our home...

ROGER LAWSON CURTIS, Nebraska - The Republican River Basin Natural Resources Districts have been working hard to protect Nebraska's most valuable natural resource in the basin: our water. The approximately 1.1 million irrigated acres in Nebraska's portion of the Republican Basin represent what is believed to be the largest area of regulated groundwater use not only in Nebraska, but in the eight-state region that overlies the Ogallala Aquifer. ...

A few weeks ago, the Omaha World-Herald ran a series of stories about one family in Omaha that has 633 criminal convictions against 35 family members since 1979. We know that nationwide, a vast majority of police calls originate from a very small number of addresses. ...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Historic U.S. Route 6, which passes through McCook, had its Nebraska roots in 1911 when civic leaders from Southwest Nebraska joined transportation advocates from further east to form the State Good Roads Association. This historic fact -- along with many other interesting facts -- will be discussed Sunday afternoon at the Horse Creek Inn in McCook. ...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- The terms "blighted and substandard" may be removed from language related to the use of Tax Increment Financing in Nebraska. According to Nebraska Sen. Mark Christensen a constitutional amendment introduced by Sen. Greg Adams intends to strike the controversial phrases and replace them with wording stating TIF funds could be used for a "designated area in need of rehabilitation or redevelopment."...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- The McCook JCPenney clothing store was not one of 33 locations the clothing retailer announced would be closing recently. The retailer released a list of 33 locations Wednesday, primarily to the east but including a store in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and one in Rancho Cucamonga, California...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- The Old Home Bakery Outlet on East B Street in McCook, owned by Bimbo Bakeries USA, is closing Feb. 1 after nearly 50 years in business. Employees at the location were saddened by the news but unable to comment. David Margulies, a representative from the public relations firm contracted by Bimbo Bakeries USA, said the closing was not part of a mass closing of stores and added "they open and close these stores all the time."...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- With 23 vendors already committed and more firms and organizations signing up every day, an interesting and multi-faceted array of products and services is awaiting the crowds which will gather for the 2014 McCook Home & Leisure Show...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Members of the McCook Area Chamber of Commerce board of directors are operating one person short of a full house, and they are looking for a volunteer member to help them out. Because of the resignation of Dale Stewart from the board, Chamber Director Tacie Fawver told the Gazette that a seat on the board is open. ...

CAMBRIDGE, Nebraska -- The tide is turning. After years of losing young people to larger cities, the rural areas of America are experiencing a long hoped for change. For the first time in decades, youth in Rural America not only want to come back home, they are ready to do so if hometown leaders are willing to work with them and extend a genuine hand of welcome...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Memorial Auditorium may receive its first tenant since being made available for commercial and public use in May 2013. The McCook City Council will consider approval of a lease with the Southwest Nebraska Theater Association during their regularly scheduled meeting Monday evening...

50th anniversary The family of Mr. and Mrs. Ed Tines of Cambridge, Nebraska, is requesting a card shower in honor of the couple's 50th wedding anniversary. They were married Jan. 25, 1964, in Cambridge. Their family includes children, Mr, and Mrs. Mike Boen of Claremore, Oklahoma and Mr. ...