Stories from Tuesday, September 23, 2014

Willard Lynn Hoyt May 9, 1916 - Aug. 20, 2014 McCOOK, Neb. -- Willard Lynn Hoyt was born in Hitchcock County, south of Culbertson, Nebraska, May 9, 1916, to Lynn and Helena (Hellriegel) Hoyt. His mother died nine days after his birth so he was raised by his Aunt Vira and Uncle George Wallen on their farm south of Lincoln, Nebraska, until the age of five. ...

Ardis D. lbarra Feb. 9, 1928 - Aug. 21, 2014 DENVER, Colo. -- Ardis D. lbarra, 86, died Aug. 21, 2014, at home in Denver. She was born Feb. 9, 1928, in McCook, Nebraska, to the late George Francis Drain and Marion Esther (Fassler) Drain. She graduated from Trenton High School in 1945 and moved to Denver to attend business college. ...

HERNDON, Kan. -- Anyone who attended the "Walsh School" northwest of Herndon, Kansas, and everyone interested in the history of education on the plains of America is invited to an open house for the restored school Sunday, Sept. 28, from 2 p.m. until 5 p.m...

McCOOK, Neb. -- A plea agreement was reached Thursday in Red Willow County District Court with a former McCook man which admited guilt to attempted sexual assault. The offender, 38-year-old Gregory A. Cole of Palisade, was subsequently scheduled for sentencing on a Class III felony offense at 3:30 p.m. on Nov. 5, 2014...

McCOOK, Neb. -- A McCook woman was convicted Thursday on a Class III felony offense for issuing bad checks to several local retailers. The felon, 21-year-old Hollie M. Quitt of 1112 Missouri Avenue, was subsequently sentenced to 30 months probation and ordered to pay $1,907 in restitution...

McCOOK, Neb. -- Nebraskans should pay less in property taxes and more in sales taxes for online purchases, Democratic candidate for governor Chuck Hassebrook said Friday. Hassebrook shared his priority and vision for leadership with local residents during a stop at the Bieroc Cafe in downtown McCook...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Patients at Community Hospital now have the ability to instantly access their health information online through a secure patient health portal. The RelayHealth portal allows patients to more conveniently view, manage, transmit and download certain medical records such as lab test results, immunizations, procedures and allergies at any hour and wherever internet access is available...

Thirteen-year-old Elizabeth Blaser of rural Duncan, Nebraska, and "Whiz Be Quick" -- Liz and Quincey, for short -- will compete in the Great Plains Futurity of the Central Plains Reining Horse Association Oct. 3-5 at the Kiplinger Arena in McCook, Nebraska. ...

McCOOK, Neb. -- Two cows are dead following a three-vehicle accident at 7:15 a.m., Monday on Highway 83 about nine miles north of McCook. All four people involved reported wearing their seatbelts. Nebraska State Patrol Trooper Robert Golden indicates that the first vehicle, a semi-tractor and trailer driven by Jarod Priest, 36, of Trenton, was northbound when he moved into the southbound lane to avoid cattle on the highway. ...

Money can't buy happiness goes the old saying, and it's as true as ever. Or can it? Yes it can, up to a point, if you want to believe a recent study. Let's just hope Washington isn't paying attention. Otherwise, they'd be tempted to impose a 100 percent tax rate above $75,000, the point above which researchers contend we gain no more happiness with each additional dollar...

When Congress passed the Clean Water Act in 1972, it didn't just defend the mighty Mississippi or Missouri rivers from pollution. It also protected the smaller streams and wetlands that flow into rivers like the Loup, Elkhorn, Lower Platte, and Niobrara in Nebraska. Streams and wetlands are crucial for fishing, hunting, tourism, agriculture, recreation, energy, and businesses...

This week I was sorely disappointed in my brothers in arms, the U.S. Air Force. Actually it was some lawyer in the Department of Defense that made a politically correct judgment. "The resulting opinion concluded that an individual may strike or omit the words 'So help me God' from an enlistment or appointment oath if preferred." Tradition be damned!...