Stories from Tuesday, March 31, 2015

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- A former McCook attorney who served time for stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars here faces felony theft and embezzlement charges in El Paso County, Colorado, after being accused of stealing more than $1 million from two water districts over the past 10 years...

STRATTON, Neb. -- A deadly tornado in Pilger, Nebraska, last summer made a Stratton man realize the full destructive power of nature, and Joel Richardson decided to add storm shelters to the services he offers through his business. Geri Downing has lived at the top of the hill on Stratton's main street since 1978, without a basement. "I decided 'I'm not living in fear anymore'," she said, explaining her research last year into storm shelters...

McCOOK, Neb. -- The City of McCook will begin picking up compost cans Wednesday, April 1. City staff issued a reminder Tuesday asking residents to have compost cans out at the curb for pickup by 7 a.m. The cans will be picked up every Wednesday continuing through November...

The deadline to register for S.C.O.R.E. (Science Camps Offer Rewarding Experiences) Camps at Chase County Public Schools in Imperial, Nebraska, is Monday, June 1. Camp activities are geared for first/second, third/fourth and fifth/sixth graders, and each age division meets for three days throughout the week of June 8. ...

One of the really fun times in my childhood came at Easter. Long descended from pagan times of antiquity to celebrate the passing of the hard times of Winter into a refreshing warmth of Spring Christians adopted the rite and called it Easter. The blooming of Easter Lilies and the egg as a symbol of new life has become tradition...

McCOOK, Neb. -- Community leaders working to resolve what has been dubbed a critical housing shortage in McCook are beginning to see progress on a couple of fronts. City Council approved an essentially rent-free lease in recent weeks for non-profit Prairie Gold Homes, which specializes in new home construction, coupled with a groundbreaking ceremony at the Clary Village Senior Housing development last week...

STRATTON, Neb. -- A memorial account has been established at McCook National Bank to benefit the Braxton Charlie Bradbury Education Fund. Braxton is the infant son of Stratton native and former Southwest Nebraska Physician's Assistant Katie R. Watt Bradbury who passed away on March 28, 2015. Donations may be made at any MNB location or mailed to MNB-Stratton, P.O. Box 367, Stratton NE 69043. http://www.ymlfuneralhome.com/obituary/5......

Last week was Severe Weather Awareness Week, and we hope you thought about protecting yourself and your family in case a tornado or other destructive storm strikes. You can even read about a business designed to help you out in that regard elsewhere in this issue...

Katie RaeAnn (Watt) Bradbury Aug. 11, 1980 - March 28, 2015 MANHATTAN, Kan. -- Katie RaeAnn (Watt) Bradbury, age 34, of Manhattan, died Saturday, March 28, 2015, at the Mercy Regional Health Center in Manhattan. She was born Aug. 11, 1980, in McCook, Nebraska, the daughter of Charles Edward and Kathy Rae (Wilson) Watt...

Gail Wesch Jan. 10, 1921 - March 28, 2015 NORTH PLATTE, Neb. -- Gail Wesch, 94, of North Platte, formerly of Maywood, Nebraska, died Saturday (March 28, 2015), at Linden Court in North Platte. She was born Jan. 10, 1921, in Frontier County, Nebraska, to Frank and Ethel (Barrett) Owen. ...

Thomas J. 'Tom' Conroy June 6, 1928 - March 28, 2015 McCOOK, Neb. -- Thomas J. "Tom" Conroy, age 86, passed away at Hillcrest Nursing Home in McCook on March 28, 2015. He was born on June 6, 1928, at McCook, Nebraska, to Phillip Laurence and Mary Catherine (Kennedy) Conroy. Tom attended rural school north of McCook through the eighth grade and then went to work on the family farm. In the 1970s, he found time to earn his GED...