Stories from Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Fifteen students, including Danielle Samuelson, an Oxford native, have been inducted into the Alpha Tau Tau Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society at Central Community College-Grand Island.

Adam Dean Kruger, a McCook native, was among the students who earned degrees, diplomas or certificates from Southeast Community College in Nebraska following the 2013 Fall Quarter.

Eight area natives were among the more than 800 students at Wayne State College named to the school's Dean's List.

Teachers interested in science are invited to attend the first Nebraska Science Festival Teachers' Night on Thursday, April 24, in Lincoln.

Congressman Adrian Smith (R-Nebraska) is encouraging high school students in Nebraska's Third District to submit their artwork for the 2014 Congressional Art Competition by March 2.

Blaine Adrian Farrar June 19, 1926 - Jan. 26, 2014 CURTIS, Nebraska -- Blaine Adrian Farrar was born on June 19, 1926, at his parents' home north of Maywood. He departed this earth on Jan. 26, 2014, at his home in Curtis, Nebraska. He was preceded in death by his wife of 47 years, Eileen (Shirley); his parents, Vance and Fern Farrar; two brothers, Lynn and Dale and one sister, Veryl Tuttle...

Teddy Leroy Wickard Feb. 1, 1927 - Jan. 24, 2014 McCOOK, Nebraska -- Teddy Leroy Wickard passed away Friday, Jan. 24, 2014, at Community Hospital in McCook. He was 86 years old. Teddy was born on Feb. 1, 1927, at Jerry City, Ohio, to parents, Ralph and Bessie May (Dyer) Wickard. On Feb. 29, 1944, he entered the US Navy during WW II. He served on the USS Welles USS Rupertus, part of the 7th fleet in the Pacific. He was honorably discharged April 19, 1946...

Kenneth Potthoff BENKELMAN, Nebraska -- Kenneth Potthoff, 82, a longtime resident of Haigler, Nebraska, died Sunday (Jan. 26, 2014), at the Sarah Ann Hester Home in Benkelman. Survivors include children, Kevin Potthoff and wife, Donna, of WaKeeney, Kansas, Leesa Wark and husband, Kerry, of Colby, Kansas, and Tonya Stover and husband, Ryan, of Norton, Kansas; sister, Shirley Blakeney and husband, Joe of San Diego, California; sister-in-law, Betty Summerville and husband, Milo, of Coos Bay, Oregon and four grandchildren.. ...

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...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Red Willow County commissioners opened bids for kitchen appliances and storage systems for the new jail during their weekly meeting Monday morning. Commissioners took no action on the bids, but gave them to Prochaska & Associates architects Bill Huey and Scott Lundberg, who will review them and return Monday, Feb. 3, with their recommendations to commissioners...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Bill Elliott, Red Willow County, Nebraska's weed control superintendent, told county commissioners during their weekly meeting in McCook Monday morning that he has found the weed "houndstongue" in Red Willow County. Houndstongue is on Nebraska's "watch list" of invasive plants that could become a threat to Nebraska land and water quality and the farming/ranching economy...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Local skate park enthusiasts took another step forward recently when they received an $8,000 challenge grant to assist with fund raising for their project. Karl Shaddock and Jan Korell with the McCook Community Foundation Fund presented the grant earlier this month to representatives of the Build McCook a Skate Park group...

LINCOLN, Nebraska -- A former Wauneta, Nebraska, man will take over as executive director of the Nebraska Corn Board, effective July 30 with the retirement of Don Hutchens, the corn board director for 27 years. In discussions of Hutchens' retirement announcement, succession planning and options, the board of directors interviewed and selected Kelly Brunkhorst, originally from Wauneta, to succeed him. Brunkhorst currently serves as director of research for the Nebraska Corn Board...

President Obama's approval rating is down to 46 percent from 55 percent a year ago, according to an ABC/Washington Post poll, and tonight's State of the Union speech isn't likely to convert many of those who are already critical of his leadership. Frustrated at being unable to push much of his agenda through Congress, the president will report his own steps to raise the minimum wage, at least for government contract workers, and other steps on gun control, job training, climate change, infrastructure development and education.. ...

Big High School Wrestling Tournament in Lexington last Saturday. Grannie and I attended to watch our grandson from Omaha's Millard West perform. Major tournament with teams from large schools in Lincoln and Omaha to schools as far west as Imperial and Scott City, Kansas including the McCook Bison...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Red Willow County, Nebraska, commissioners authorized the county assessor to purchase a used car to replace the county car needing about $1,100 in repairs. Assessor Sandra Kotschwar said she and her staff use the county car, a 2004 Ford Taurus with 138,162 miles on it, to travel the county as they appraise property and to attend workshops and conferences out of the county. ...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- A plea agreement was reached with a McCook man earlier this month who was charged in connection with beating his girlfriend unconscious and stabbing her with a knife. The woman escaped the ordeal after fleeing out a back door of their home when the offender, 38-year-old Christian R. Schaffert, got up to answer the front door...