Stories from Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Doris Elaine (Rhoades) Liester Oct. 16, 1930 -March 9, 2015 SALIDA, Colo. -- Doris Elaine (Rhoades) Liester was born in Culbertson, Nebraska, on Oct. 16, 1930, to Geraldine and Lester Rhoades. She passed away on March 9, 2015, in Salida, Colorado. Shortly after birth, Doris family moved to western Kansas, where she spent her childhood and high school years. She married Forest Liester in December of 1948 and they soon moved to Colorado Springs, Colorado, where they raised five children...

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. -- City leaders recapped sales tax expenditures over the past decade during recent town hall meetings in hopes of rallying support for renewal of the local-option tax, which brings in approximately $2.6 million a year. The City of McCook has spent a significant amount of sales tax revenue over the past decade, upgrading local streets and parks, while also making long overdue improvements to facilities that house the most critical of municipal services...

McCOOK, Neb. -- The McCook School Board approved unanimously Monday night a new insurance carrier for the district, with lower rates for vehicles and buildings. Because the previous carrier had increased the annual premium for this year, from $102,000 to $185,000, it made sense to make the change, said McCook Public Schools business manager Rick Haney Monday night at the regular school board meeting. ...

McCOOK, Neb. -- A McCook High School senior was recently highlighted by a Nebraska television news show. Nick Cole was recently chosen as "Farm Youth of the Month" by NTV News, said McCook School Board member Teresa Thomas at the regular board meeting Monday night...

McCOOK, Neb. -- A McCook man received jail time last week in Red Willow County District Court stemming from failing to report to his probation officer and other violations. The offender, 19-year-old Reid E. Wilcox of 71228 County Road 385 was sentenced to 180 days in jail with credit given for 82 days already served...

Self-effacing storyteller Garrison Keillor enjoys poking fun at himself, with stories in which the English major gets the girl, and sponsoring segments of his radio show with the Professional Organization of English Majors -- POEM. We've often decried the damage done to great literature by requiring it to be read in high school English classes instead of discovered on one's own, but there's new evidence studying literature in the classroom has benefits beyond fulfilling a graduation requirement...

Let's take a step back and look at the ecliptic some more. The ecliptic is the imaginary line that is Earth's equator extended into space. A line that the Sun seems to follow -- as seen from Earth against the background stars of the zodiac. The planets and the moon also seem to follow this imaginary line in their orbits which is why we have been -- and will be -- able to see the planets in occasional conjunction with each other...

Pipelines, eminent domain, federal intervention. If you think all of these topics are newcomers to the Nebraska landscape in the wake of the Keystone XL debate, join me as we roll the legislative time machine back to March 1976. Yes, it was 39 years ago that lawmakers in several states seriously considered building a 1,302-mile pipeline from Wyoming to Arkansas to carry coal-slurry...

McCOOK, Neb. -- Plans are gaining steam for next year's McCook High School graduation being on a Saturday instead of a Sunday. Talk of a Saturday graduation first surfaced among the McCook School Board at its February meeting, because of Senior Celebration typically held on graduation night. ...

Phyllis L Clapp Aug. 21, 1929 - March 11, 2015 McCOOK, Neb. -- Phyllis L Clapp, age 85, of McCook, passed away Wednesday, March 11, 2015, at Kearney Regional Medical Center in Kearney, Nebraska, surrounded by her children and granddaughter. Phyllis was born Aug. 21, 1929, in Indianola, Nebraska. to parents Gustav William and Lydia Ernestine (Schaffert) Unger. She was one of six children. Phyllis attended school in McCook, graduating from McCook High School in 1947...

Virginia Mae Brown April 3, 1939 - March 10, 2015 McCOOK, Neb. -- Virginia Mae Brown, age 75, of McCook, passed away Tuesday, March 10, 2015, at Bryan Medical Center East in Lincoln, Nebraska. Virginia was born April 3, 1939, in McCook to parents John Jr. and Mary (Roth) Uhrich. She was an only child. Virginia attended McCook High School, graduating in 1957. After high school, she attended McCook Junior College for two years, and then Kearney State College and University of Northern Colorado...

Betty Jean Krieger June 13, 1928 - March 11, 2015 McCOOK, Neb. -- Betty Jean Krieger, age 86, of McCook, passed away Wednesday, March 11, 2015. Betty was born June 13, 1928, in McCook to parents John Frederick and Myrtle Belle (Blake) Masters. She was one of four daughters. At a very young age, she went to live with her aunt and uncle, Mary and Bert Masters. Betty grew up in McCook and attended McCook High School...