Stories from Friday, January 9, 2015

Margaret Ellen Rodgers Feb. 14, 1919 - Jan. 8, 2015 PALISADE, Neb. -- Margaret Ellen Rodgers, 95, died Thursday (Jan. 8, 2015), at Community Hospital in McCook. Services are pending and will be announced by Carpenter Breland Funeral Home.

McCOOK, Neb. -- The McCook Board of Education will be asked to approve two teacher resignations, one new teaching contract and bids for equipment at the junior high cafeteria, at the regular meeting Monday, 6:30 p.m. at the junior high conference room...

McCOOK, Neb. -- The McCook Economic Development Corp. is making progress on a redevelopment project which could result in more than a dozen new senior housing units north of the Red Willow County Fairgrounds. The project is a welcome sign given the local housing shortage, however, it also calls into question the use of Tax Increment Financing in areas where residents have been displaced...

Three years ago, Qantas' reservation system broke down, leaving passengers stranded for hours and the planes that never crash lined up on the tarmac. Reddit, Foursquare, Yelp and LinkedIn all bogged down, as did systems using Java and Linux -- the operating system underlying all of those Android phones and tablets...

When people get cancer, they and everyone involved with them want to know how and why. A groundbreaking study recently published in the journal Science and performed by Dr. Bert Vogelstein of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore and Johns Hopkins biomathematician Cristian Tomasetti claims that it's just plain old bad luck!...

A friend of mine from South Dakota noted that the U.S. Postal Service delivered a lump of coal to many small towns last Christmas when it proceeded to eliminate overnight mail in most of the nation in 2015. That was a good description. USPS will slow delivery officially by one day for First-Class and Periodicals mail. Many members of Congress have asked it to hold off. But USPS is plowing ahead...

City of McCook Fire Chief Marc Harpham said the fire department responded to the fire at Lazy L Mobile Home Park, Lot No. 82, 1604 W. Fourth, at 2:10 a.m. Upon arrival, the front half of the mobile home was fully involved. Harpham said that although the fire was under control within 15 minutes, the house and its contents were a total loss. The fire started in the kitchen...

90th birthday The family of Ervin Bamesberger of Papillion, Nebraska, is hosting an open house in honor of his 90th birthday Jan. 15. He formerly lived in Red Willow County and farmed in the Indianola/Bartley area. The open house is 1 to 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. ...

Noah Michael Oiler Jon and Amber Oiler of McCook, Nebraska, announce the birth of their son, Noah Michael Oiler, who was born Sept. 2, 2014, at Cambridge. He weighed 6 pounds, 12 ounces and measured 20 inches long. He has one brother, Kaeden, 3. Grandparents are Michael and Camille Fangmeier of Hubbell, Nebraska, Matthew and Angela Immel of Exira, Iowa, Steve and Deborah Sines of McCook and Don and Darlene Oiler of Springfield, Ohio. ...

Isaac Wayne Weiser Kyle and Katie Weiser of McCook, Nebraska, announce the birth of their son, Isaac Wayne Weiser, who was born Dec. 30, 2014, at Community Hospital in McCook. He weighed 9 pounds, 3.3 ounces and measured 23 inches long. He has one sister, Isabella, 2. Grandparents are Don and Jackie Grassia of Bartley, Nebraska, Randy Whiteley of Hastings, Nebraska and the late Marcia Whitely and Doug Weiser of Overton, Nebraska...

80th birthday The family of Marita Todd of Trenton, Nebraska, is hosting an open house and card shower in honor of her 80th birthday on Jan. 21. The open house is Saturday, Jan. 24, 2015, 2-5 p.m. at the Blue Colonial Bed and Breakfast in rural Trenton, 71609 RD 359. Cards of congratulations will reach her at 71611 RD 359, Trenton, NE 69044...

75th birthday The children and grandchildren of Marilynn (Callan) Jezek of McCook are requesting a card shower in honor of her 75th birthday Jan. 15. Cards of congratulations will reach her at 1313 East A, McCook, NE 69001.

100th birthday The family of Helen Swayne of McCook is hosting a reception in honor of her 100th birthday Jan. 18. The reception is Sunday, Jan. 18, 2015, from 2-4 p.m. at Our Savior's Lutheran Church, 312 Seminole Drive in McCook. Her family includes children, Lila Lipska of Bridegeport, Nebraska, Carolyn Schmidt of McCook, the late Rita Schaffer; grandsons, Bob and Karla Lipska of Palisade, Nebraska, and Aaron Schmidt of McCook; granddaughter, Karen and Kevin King of Persia, Iowa; four great-grandchildren, Kyle and John King of Persia and Nate and Bella Schmidt of McCook. ...

By Susan Doak SW Nebraska Genealogy Society McCOOK, Neb. -- Our little genealogy society had some really bad karma this week when the water lines above our library burst and destroyed all of our electronics, including the computers, monitors and printers that are available for use when researching with us. ...

FAMILY FEATURES -- As a kid, the winter season was always a special time of year filled with snow days, ice-skating, favorite movies and fun board games. Bringing back carefree moments from winters past can be as easy as gathering together family and friends for game night and sipping your favorite wintertime drink - hot chocolate...