Stories from Thursday, February 27, 2014

Shirley Ann Balcom Aug. 6, 1927 - Feb. 26, 2014 CAMBRIDGE, Nebraska -- Shirley Ann Balcom, age 86, of Cambridge, died at the Christian Homes in Holdrege on Feb. 26, 2014. She was born on the family farm in Gosper County, Nebraska, north of Holbrook on Aug. 6, 1927 to William and Anna (Rupp) Hilker. Shirley married Clare "Bus" Balcom on March 20, 1944, in Norton, Kansas. To this union five children were born: Roger, Richard, Lois, Diane and Pat...

68th anniversary Stan and Mitty Quigley will celebrate their 68th wedding anniversary March 1. In 1944, Stanley Quigley and Mitty Huggins met at a free USO dance in Fort Worth, Texas. Stan volunteered to serve in the United States Air Force in October of 1941. He received his honorable discharge in 1945. Stan and Mitty were married March 1, 1946, at the St. Patrick rectory in Fort Worth. Cards of congratulations will reach them at 39276 Rd. 720, Indianola, NE 69034...

SOUTHWEST NEBRASKA -- Five Nebraska LEAD Program Fellows of Southwest Nebraska have returned home after participating in a ten-day national study/travel seminar conducted by the Nebraska LEAD Program, February 5-14, 2014. Participants were Nick Fowler of Imperial, Calvin Wineland of Cambridge, Matt Broz of Hayes Center, Jolene Messinger of McCook and Alex Peterson of Haigler,...

After years of declining farm numbers, we've come to expect more of the same. It was a pleasant surprise, then, when the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Census of Agriculture showed Nebraska bucking the national trend. The report, released every five years, showed that the number of Nebraska farms increased 4.7 percent to 49,969 from 2007 to 2012...

So I read on the computer the other day a catchy life phrase "You can't make the same mistake twice. The second time you make it, it's not a mistake, it's a choice." I had to laugh. Yes that applies in a few cases, but mostly none in my case. For instance, as I've mentioned in the past, I made the mistake of putting my truck in reverse with the back hatch wide open. ...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Original surveys of the northwest corner of Red Willow County were done as accurately as possible at the time, but the way landowners used their property over the years has made things complicated in the 21st century. County Surveyor Dicenta told the Gazette today that landowners often didn't follow the existing survey when they laid out fencelines, for example, or planted crops...

Showcasing the school and community spirit that has become a mark of distinction for McCook, the Bison Boosters joined student athletes to pay tribute to the generous donors whose gifts have helped raise more than $56,000 for the McCook High School bleacher project. ...

GOODLAND, Kansas -- The National Weather Service (NWS) in Goodland and Red Willow County Emergency Management invite you to attend a Storm Spotter Class in McCook. This year's training will be held Thursday, March 13th at 6:30 pm CDT at the Senior Center (1400 W 5th Street)...

McCook, Nebraska, Senior High students Maddie Elder and Brock Scott practice the waltz, preparing for the 1950s-era dance that the school's National Honor Society and Math Club plan for the 55+ age group on Saturday, March 8, from 6:30 p.m. until 8 p.m., in the high school commons area. Admission will be free. The students are learning the two-step, fox trot, waltz and jitterbug from McCook dance instructors Don Harpst and Liz McCarty...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Concerns that the federal government would not fulfill its end of the bargain related to state medicaid expansion reimbursements may be unfounded, according to one official, who likened the scenario to farm subsidies. "If the federal government is not coming through, why don't we have the same doubt when it comes to farm subsidies? You can make the same argument," said Community Hospital CEO Jim Ulrich this morning during the Chamber of Commerce legislative conference call with Sen. ...

Rodney Glenn Hays Jan. 5, 1937 - Feb. 2, 2014 OMAHA, Nebraska -- Rodney Glenn Hays, 77, died Tuesday (Feb. 25, 2014), in Omaha. He was born Jan. 5, 1937, in Elwood, Nebraska, to Pearl and Verna Hays. He was preceded in death by his parents; first wife, Pat Morris Hays; sister, Pat Peters and daughter, Moni Hays...