Stories from Tuesday, April 22, 2014

John Steven Foster Oct. 15, 1950 - April 19, 2014 CAMBRIDGE, Nebraska -- John Steven Foster, 63, died Saturday (April 19, 2014), at Cambridge Memorial Hospital. He was born Oct. 15, 1950, at Cambridge, Nebraska to Loyal and Winifred (Sexton) Foster...

Earl Brown OBERLIN, Kansas -- Earl Brown, 102, died today (April 22, 2014), at Decatur County Good Samaritan Society in Oberlin, Services are pending with Pauls Funeral Home in Oberlin.

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 Junior High students Kylee Hauxwell, from left, Shayne Coleman, Zach Schlager, Ethan Casper and sponsor, Mr. Josh Kershaw, competed in the regional MathCounts competition on Feb. 14 in Kearney, Nebraska. They placed third out of 23 teams, earning them a berth in the state competition. The state competition was in Lincoln, Nebraska on March 22. The students also competed as individuals, with Zach Schlager placing sixth among 175 participants at the regional competition...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- A team of six fourth graders from Central Elementary in McCook, Nebraska, qualified for and competed in the state-level "Destination Imagination" tournament in Kearney on April 5. All DI teams from Central Elementary competed in a regional tournament in Axtell on March 1. Paula Davis' fourth graders qualified to advance to the state tournament April 5 at the University of Nebraska at Kearney...

HASTINGS, Nebraska -- About 160 individuals planning to attend Central Community College-Hastings have received scholarships for the 2014-15 academic year. They include: BENKELMAN: Julie Nelms; CAMBRIDGE: Krayton Banzhaf; CURTIS: Kylee Heinzle; HOLBROOK: Anthony Fischer; IMPERIAL: Leslie Acosta; MCCOOK: Branden Kofler and Devin Rambai...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- McCook Community College students involved in Phi Beta Lambda competed with 12 other state chapters recently at the state leadership conference in Kearney with three students qualifying to compete in the national competition. First and second place winners are eligible to compete in the national Phi Beta Lambda Leadership Conference in June in San Antonio, Texas. ...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- The four Red Willow County Sheriff candidates may all claim the same political party affiliation, but each has a very different outlook on the challenges facing the office. Sheriff candidates Shannon Brown, Kevin Darling, Alan Kotschwar and Steve Kotschwar were each asked to summarize what they believe will be the most significant short-term and long-term challenges facing the Red Willow County Sheriff's Department...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- McCook will host the Tractor Ride Across Nebraska on the afternoon of June 6 in Norris Park, with proceeds to the Operation Comfort Warriors Project of the American Legion, which provides extras for veterans in hospitals and homes...

STRATTON, Nebraska -- A sneaky fire hiding between layers of bricks destroyed the front of a business building in downtown Stratton, Nebraska, Monday evening. Stratton fire chief Earl Denio said this morning that the former "Flame" bar and grill, located on the west side of Bailey Street and south of the post office, hadn't been used for many years and had fallen into disrepair...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Upgrades to a city owned parking lot on East First Street could provide covered parking for downtown shoppers, as well as a landscaped walkway to Norris Avenue, if they receive approval from state officials this time around. The improvements are part of a revised $350,000 downtown revitalization grant application unanimously approved by the McCook City Council Monday evening. ...

Red Willow Western firefighters work to disconnect the battery in an SUV involved in a one-vehicle roll-over accident at noon, Monday, at the junction of Red Willow County roads 719 and 385, 21⁄2 miles north of the north end of McCook's West Third Street. The driver was checked on-scene by City of McCook ambulance personnel. More information will be released as sheriff's officers complete their investigation...

Mother Nature smiled her blessings over the small crown agathering on the ridge top. The sun peeked over the horizon tinting the cirrus clouds above a happy golden color. Easter morning and a most memorable Sunrise Service overlooking the calm waters of Swanson Reservoir. The son has risen. All is well in the small world immediately around us. Just another reminder how great it is to be alive here in Southwest Nebraska...

With American workers struggling to stay competitive with the world market, why is it we're finding more and more ways to make ourselves less and less productive? As if there weren't enough opportunities to get drunk, a company is now producing a powdered alcohol...