Stories from Friday, April 18, 2014

Ellen E. (Eisenhart) Smith-Somervell May 14, 1947 -- April 14, 2014 OMAHA, Nebraska -- Ellen E. (Eisenhart) Smith-Somervell passed away Monday, April 14, 2014. She was preceded in death by parents, Hugh and Claudine Eisenhart and sister-in-law, Lynn Eisenhart...

Donald L. Hill April 29, 1931 - April 12, 2014 SCOTTSDALE, Arizona -- Donald L. Hill passed away April 12, 2014, in Scottsdale at the age of 82, with his daughters by his side. He was born on the family farm west of McCook, Nebraska, on April 29, 1931. He was the youngest of eight children born to Charles Lee and Pearl Mae Hill...

DENVER, Colorado --Lisa Wemhoff and Matthew Whewell were united in marriage Jan. 4, 2014, by Deacon John Thunblom at Holy Ghost Catholic Church, in Denver. A dinner and dance followed the ceremony at The Lobby. Parents of the couple are Dale and Kathy (McConville) Wemhoff of Norfolk, Nebraska, and Richard and Sheila Whewell of Bristow, Virginia...

Keith Joseph Sheffield Kaleb and Laura Nielsen-Sheffield of Rapid City, South Dakota, announce the birth of their son, Keith Joseph Sheffield, who was born March 15, 2014, at Black Hills Birth Center in Whitewood, South Dakota. He weighed 7 pounds, 7 ounces and measured 19 inches long. He has one brother, Kaleb James, 20 months old. Grandparents are Chris and Leeann McCarty and John and Kari Sheffield, all of McCook and Rick Engellant and Becky Nielsen Engellant of Geraldine, Montana...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- The family of Betty (Luke) Wright of McCook, Nebraska, is requesting a card shower in honor of her 80th birthday. She was born April 24, 1934, in Cody, Wyoming. Her family includes children, Steve, Chris and Julie and two grandchildren. Cards of congratulations will reach her at 603 W. Third, McCook, NE, 69001...

Caleb Ray Tines Mike and Lesa Tines of Culbertson Nebraska, announce the birth of their son, Caleb Ray Tines, who was born March 19, 2014, in McCook, Nebraska. He weighed 6 pounds, 12 ounces and measured 20.5 inches long. He has two brothers, Landon, 9, and Reid, 2, and a sister, Reese, 6. Grandparents are Dude and Alice Tines of Venango, Nebraska and Lee and Barb Miller of Culbertson. Great-grandparents are Alma Miller and Catherine Blume of McCook...

Susan Doak SW Nebraska Genealogy Society McCOOK, Nebraska -- Spring on the acreage could be determined by when my mother, complete with broom and Black Flag insect spray, headed out to the two-hole outhouse. As my brother and I looked on, she would attack the dirt, spider webs and wasp nests that had appeared over the winter. ...

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. Activity log These items are taken from reports filed by the McCook Police Department. The locations refer to block numbers, not specific addresses. If you have information about any of these reports, call the police department at (308) 345-3450...

Antsy grade-schoolers await the start of the McCook National Bank Youth Services Sparky's Easter Egg Hunt at Norris Park, Thursday afternoon. From left, Isaac Nielsen, Abi Nielsen, Riley Hoffmeister, Colby Evans and Gavin Hoffmeister.

Despite drought conditions, not many of us were all that thrilled to experience last week's snowstorm, especially those who were trying to travel. We could take solace from the fact the April snow wouldn't last long, and we're now being rewarded with lawns that are greening up quickly, bulbs sprouting to break the crust in flower beds and trees have the green tinge that signifies leaves almost ready to appear...

We recently completed a search for an English instructor at McCook Community College and I was privileged to be on the search team. After posting the position on various educational sites, we had 40 qualified applicants from literally all over the country and over half of them were either in possession of Ph.D's or were completing them, although the minimum educational qualifications was a Master's degree. ...

CAMBRIDGE, Nebraska -- Those who can't make it to the dedication this evening of the new cross west of Cambridge, Nebraska, can watch it online. The dedication of the nine-ton, 50-foot-tall white cross is scheduled at 6 p.m, today, Good Friday. The ceremony will be at the base of the hill; parking will be available on the county road and in a nearby pasture and field...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- The McCook City Council will consider giving final approval to sell four city lots to citizens relocating mobile homes out of the West Q Village. Two of the lots received first reading approval from council earlier this month and a request from a second mobile home owner was received afterwards...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Growing up in Chicago and Denver, Melissa Davis fell in love with her dad's hometown back in Nebraska, through his eyes and his memories. She cherishes the stories that her dad told her about growing up in McCook -- his family, his friends ... all their adventures...

As I tucked Declan into bed earlier this week he looked up at me with wide eyes and proceeded to pull another rabbit out of his magic hat of questions. I am convinced it is no coincidence his last minute dialogue tends to delay his bedtime, however, his questions are typically far too creative to ignore...

Is the Affordable Care Act or ACA really the right medical care for everyone? One thing for sure, it is a law with real penalties. Those without it are fined. We are all affected by it. The original goal was to make health care available to everybody. Millions of Americans have explored health care coverage options as a result if it becoming a law in 2010. They're frustrated and upset...

Last week, the House of Representatives passed a budget plan which honestly accounts for the federal government's spending, proposes solutions to balance the budget in 10 years, and grow our economy. This plan stands in stark contrast to current policy which will continue to spend more money than we have, burden our economy, and plague future generations with trillions of dollars of debt...

Each year, April 15 serves as the dreaded deadline for all Americans to file their taxes. Nebraskans, especially small business owners, spend hours going through their records to fill out the necessary forms and meet the IRS' seemingly endless reporting requirements. An estimate from the National Taxpayer Advocate last year indicates Americans collectively spend 6.1 billion hours and $168 billion on efforts to navigate our confusing tax code and file taxes...

It's been a very good year for Nebraska taxpayers. One of the most important accomplishments of the recently concluded 2014 Legislative Session was providing more than $412 million of tax relief to Nebraskans over the next five years. We've indexed Nebraska's individual income tax brackets for inflation. ...

Nebraskans are no strangers to community service. Lending a hand has been engrained in our culture since our state's earliest days, when neighbor helping neighbor was often a matter of survival on the untamed prairie. Today, that spirit of community service is still alive and well in Nebraska...

LINCOLN, Nebraska -- Gov. Dave Heineman is seeking qualified candidates to the newly-expanded Natural Resources Commission. Applicants are encouraged to apply with the Governor's Office. Today, Gov. Heineman signed LB 1098 into law which aims to address water management, water quality and flood control issues. ...

"Why don't you give?" I ask. And the responses come back: "I don't have the time." "I don't have the money." "I don't think it will work." "I'm not interested." "I give to other things." In all my years of fundraising, I have heard every excuse imaginable. This is America--so nobody is forced to give to any cause or project; yet giving voluntarily and freely is a unique American tradition...

Stephen Ross Darnall Sept. 13, 1942 -April 17, 2014 McCOOK, Nebraska -- Stephen Ross Darnall passed away Thursday, April 17, 2014, at Hillcrest Nursing Home in McCook. He was 71 years old. Stephen was born on Sept. 13, 1942, in Scottsbluff, Nebraska, to parents, David Arthur and Phyllis June (Ross) Darnall. ...