Stories from Monday, June 30, 2014

Douglas "Doug" C. Tucker June 25, 1932 - June 25, 2014 STRATTON, Neb. -- Douglas "Doug" C. Tucker, 82, died June 25, 2014. He was born in Sioux City, Iowa June 25, 1932. His mother was Bessie Tucker. He served in the United States Air Force. He was a member of the Nevada State Elks Association and was State President from 2007-2008...

Joe Traphagan Jan. 9, 1920 - June 26, 2014 SUN CITY WEST, Ariz. -- Joe Traphagan, 94, died June 26, 2014, at Sun City West, Arizona. He was born in McCook, Nebraska, on Jan 9, 1920, to Robert Sr. and Mary (Braun) Traphagan. He was preceded in death by his wife, Helen; his parents, Robert and Mary Traphagan and several brothers and sisters...

Jeffrey E. Brooks Dec. 17, 1965 - June 22, 2014 PHOENIX, Ariz. -- Jeffrey E. Brooks went home to be with his Lord and Savior on June 22, 2014. He was born Dec. 17, 1965. Jeff will be missed by his many friends and loved ones. He was kind and generous, always willing to lend a helping hand. He served his country in the Army from 1984 to 1987...

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, Neb. -- The Community Hospital board of directors approved the fiscal year 2015 budget, received a report on the recent Joint Commission visit and learned about the implementation of daily safety huddles during their regularly scheduled board meeting on June 18...

McCOOK, Neb. -- The fire hazard related to fireworks may have been higher during recent drought years, however, the actual number of fires started tends to increase during high moisture years like the one we are experiencing this summer, according to one official...

McCOOK, Neb. -- A jury found a McCook man guilty of first degree sexual assault last week in Red Willow County District Court. The offender, 33-year-old Greg Stevens of 412 W. Third Street, was subsequently scheduled for sentencing on the Class II felony offense at 1 p.m. on Sept. 8, 2014...

River Rat Volleyball participants have a real river to work with this year, compared to the sand that greeted them last year. Some participants in the event Sunday at Holbrook were actually hindered by too much water -- but few complaints could be heard, especially considering the 95-degree weather. The annual event draws hundreds of participants from far and near...

McCOOK, Neb. -- McCook Junior High will have an orientation program for students who will be attending the junior high for the first time in 2014. The schedule is as follows: Thursday, Aug. 7 -- 9 a.m.: all sixth graders with last names A through F; 10:30 a.m.: all sixth graders with last names G to O...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- A McCook man the Department of Homeland Security said was in the country illegally attempted to conceal his identity after being arrested for drunk driving and was ultimately recognized as being wanted on two different Red Willow County warrants. The offender, 27-year-old Jesus Mendez-Gonzales, claimed to be Jesus Omar Montes after running into a medium on U.S. Highway 83 and being arrested for drunk driving with a blood alcohol content more than triple the legal limit...

McCOOK, Neb. -- "Seat belts. Wear 'em." That's what Mike Gapp of McCook, Nebraska, said after the pickup truck he bought a month ago got broad-sided in an intersection Friday evening and it rolled onto its top on the sidewalk. Neither Gapp nor the driver of the car were injured...

It seems to be the year for big animals to sell fireworks. A giant inflatable gorilla beckons buyers on North U.S. 83, a huge bald eagle dares B Street drivers not to pull in for seasonal incendiaries and various, odd dancing characters do their bit at other stands...

In January 1958, McCook, along with the rest of Nebraska, was caught up in a near panic situation. Word had come out of Lincoln that one Charles Starkweather had killed multiple victims in cold blood (the number eventually reached 11). He had left Lincoln and headed west in a stolen car, and every community, with many unfounded reports of seeing the fleeing car, was convinced that the killer, Starkweather was either in, or headed toward their town...

Rusty Kinder IMPERIAL, Neb. -- Rusty Kinder, 87, died Saturday (June 28, 2014), at the Imperial Manor Nursing Home in Imperial. Survivors include his wife, Colleen of Imperial; children, Kurt and wife, Deb, of Kansas City, Kansas, Shari Kinder and husband, David Campanella, of Kansas City, Missouri, Jannean Kinder of North Platte, Nebraska, Risa Kinder of Sidney, Nebraska; three grandchildren, two step-grandchildren, four great-grandchildren and four step-great-grandchildren...

Dorothy Jean Ridpath Berndt June 24, 1927 - June 29, 2014 McCOOK, Neb. -- Dorothy Jean Ridpath Berndt, age 87, passed away Sunday, June 29, 2014 at her home in Willow Ridge. Dorothy was born June 24, 1927, to Elmer and Ethel (Hitchcock) Ridpath in McCook. She attended McCook schools, graduating in 1944, and attended McCook Junior College...

Leota May Brown May 25, 1934 - June 26, 2014 TRENTON, Neb. -- Leota May Brown passed away at Community Hospital in McCook on June 26, 2014, after a long and courageous battle with cancer surrounded by family. She was 80 years old. Leota was born in Palisade, Nebraska, on May 25, 1934, to Gladys (Sharrah) and Wayne Porter. She graduated from Curtis, Nebraska, in 1952...

John William Shepherd Sept. 8, 1956 - June 23, 2014 TRENTON, Neb. -- John William Shepherd, age 57, of Trenton died at his home June 23, 2014. He was born in Cripple Creek, Colorado, on Sept. 8, 1956, to Guy and Helen (Wallace) Shepherd. John attended and graduated from McCook High School in 1975...

Lonnie Eldon Casper May 31, 1934 - June 25, 2014 McCOOK, Neb. -- Lonnie Eldon Casper, age 80, died at the Hillcrest Nursing Home in McCook on June 25, 2014. He was born in McCook on May 31, 1934, to Lonnie Ernest and Gladys (Bollman) Casper. Lonnie attended and graduated from McCook High School. He moved to Madison, North Carolina, to work in a restaurant with his aunt and uncle, Sylvia and Johnny Moore...

Roberta J. 'Bert' Brooks May 23, 1935 - June 29, 2014 BARTLEY, Neb. -- Roberta J. "Bert" Brooks, died Sunday (June 29, 2014), at Cambridge Manor in Cambridge, Nebraska.. She was born on May 23, 1935, in Indianola, Nebraska, to Henry and Ethel M. (Junker) Schamel. She graduated from Indianola High school in 1953. On Oct. 3, 1954, she married Gerald "Geb" Brooks...