Stories from Tuesday, March 17, 2015

Reta Ann (Parker) Williams July 14, 1939 - Feb. 22, 2015 BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- Reta Ann (Parker) Williams died Feb. 22, 2015, in Bakersfield. She was born July 14, 1939, to Leonard F. and Charlotte (Woods) Parker in Palisade, Nebraska. She graduated in 1957 from Benkelman High School in Benkelman, Nebraska. She married James L. Williams on Aug. 30, 1959, in Benkelman. They lived in Denver, Colorado, before moving to Bakersfield...

McCOOK, Neb. -- McCook Economic Development Corp. Executive Director Rex Nelson has provided additional details about the Clary Village Project in response to a March 13 Gazette article, "Clary Village Next Keystone?" According to Nelson, the Clary Village project will bring much-needed housing to McCook just as Kelly Creek Apartments, Maplewood, Landmark Apartments and East Ward Village did. ...

The thermometer said a record 93 degrees; the geese said, "Feed me! Feed me!" Candis Shaw of Cambridge, Nebraska -- getting a tan in her summer wardrobe of shorts and tank-tops, yes, in March -- made friends with the birds on the shore of an unfrozen pond in Barnett Park in McCook Monday afternoon. The shorts will be OK until about Thursday, when forecasters predict a chance of rain and highs in the upper 50s...

McCOOK, Neb. -- Prairie Gold Homes received approval Monday for the final item necessary to begin coordinating their inmate training program at the former Public Safety Center. Representatives from the Lincoln based non-profit thanked McCook for supporting their program and said they would begin interviewing applicants at the McCook Work Ethic Camp this week...

80th birthday The family of Stan Garretson of McCook is requesting a card shower in honor of his 80th birthday March 22. Cards of congratulations will reach him at 38098 U.S. Highway 6, McCook, NE 69001.

McCOOK, Neb. -- The first two performances of Irving Berlin's "Annie Get Your Gun" hit the bull's eye for audiences that came to the Fox Theatre Saturday and Sunday. In my book, all performers exceeded expectations and they pulled together a great show...

McCOOK, Neb. -- City officials Monday night set Wednesday as the date for a special meeting to approve items for the upcoming sales tax renewal vote. During the meeting, the City Council will consider a resolution authorizing a special election on May 12, 2015, asking voters to approve a 1.5 percent local-option sales tax for a period of 15 years...

McCOOK, Neb. -- Owners of a popular brewpub were presented the 2014 Entrepreneur Award by the Center for Rural Affairs Friday at a reception at the Keystone Business Center. The presentation came at a meet-and-greet that was part of an outstate meeting of the board of the Center for Rural Affairs, parent of the Rural Enterprise Assistance Project which was instrumental in establishment of the business...

LINCOLN, Neb. -- Cambridge, Neb. (pop.1,063) has earned designation in the Nebraska Department of Economic Development's Certified Leadership Community Program. It is the fifth community to earn certification, joining Tecumseh, Madison, Central City and Neligh...

We've sometimes lamented the stripping of the "German" label from McCook's annual Heritage Days celebration, feeling that it would be better to focus on our community's predominant ancestry, German, would be better than conducting some sort of generic activity...

Stop. Wait. If you haven't seen "Annie Get Your Gun" don't let next weekend go by without attending Irving Berlin's wonderful musical at the Fox. Great costuming and the stage scenery is brilliant but Annie played by Tyler Rambali is superbly done. The young lady obviously has great talent and in my opinion, should she choose, will be a national star in theatre. Guaranteed you will enjoy the evening...