Stories from Friday, April 3, 2015

Busy weeknights call for meals you can prepare quickly, but there's no need to compromise on flavor and quality. One way to save time is combining fresh ingredients with frozen sides, such as those offered by Alexia Foods. Made with premium, natural ingredients and creative flavor com­binations, they lend a deliciously gourmet complement to any meal...

Lily Mae Uerling Joel and Sarah Uerling of McCook announce the birth of their daughter, Lily Mae Uerling, born Nov. 6, 2014, at Community Hospital in McCook. She weighed 7 pounds, 11.2 ounces and measured 20.5 inches long. She has one sister, Addyson and brother, Hayden. Grandparents are Mary Gutchewsky of Hernond, Kansas, and the late Jack Gutchewsky and Mark and Sherri Uerling of McCook. Great-grandparents are Bob and Claire Uerling of Indianola, Nebraska...

Anson Deloss Criffield Brent and Courtney (Arenz) Criffield of Ravenna, Nebraska, announce the birth of their son, Anson Deloss Criffield, born March 10, 2015, in Kearney, Nebraska. He weighed 9 pounds, 4 ounces and measured 21 3/4 inches long. He has two brothers, Jake, 20 and Colton, 3. Grandparents are Ed and Jo Arenz of Wauneta, Nebraska, Dick and Peggy Stacy of Kearney and the late late Bud Criffield...

60th anniversary Rose Marie and Clemens Kogl of Culbertson, Nebraska, will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary April 12. They were married in 1955 at Sacred Heart Church in Atwood, Kansas. Their family includes children, John and Rhonda Kogl of Holdrege, Nebraska, David and Tammy Kogl of Sidney, Nebraska, Tim Kogl of Culbertson, DeAnn and Vern Brickner of Kearney, Nebraska; three grandchildren, two step-grandchildren, three great-grandchildren and six step-great-grandchildren. ...

Arterburn, Adame Dr. Elissa Arterburn and Dr. Bradley Adame of Mesa, Arizona, announce their engagement and upcoming wedding. Parents of the bride-to-be are Dan Arterburn of Lincoln, Nebraska, and Connie and Jim Gohl Culbertson, Nebraska. Parents of the prospective bridegroom are Richard and Diane Adame of San Jose, California...

40th anniversary The family of Ed and Rita McConville of Indianola, Nebraska, is requesting a card shower in honor of their 40th wedding anniversary April 7. They were married in 1975 at St. Catherine's Church in Indianola. They farm and reside north of Indianola. ...

Susan Doak Southwest Nebraska Genealogy Society If you asked my husband, he would tell you that they could move the Empire State Building to a point along U.S. Highway 6 and 34 and I probably wouldn't notice it when I am driving. Probably true, for while he notices everything, I am a point A to point B driver and if it isn't on the pavement, it's not on my radar...

LINCOLN, Neb. -- AARP Nebraska and the Nebraska Hospital Association released a study Wednesday that examines the impact of not expanding Medicaid in Nebraska and provides a cost-benefit analysis of The Medicaid Redesign Act, LB472. The study, "Nebraska Medicaid Expansion: Protecting a Critical Infrastructure, Supporting Main Street, Improving Worker Productivity" was prepared by Allan Jenkins, Ph.D., Professor of Economics, University of Nebraska at Kearney, and Ron Konecny, Ph.D., Professor of Management, University of Nebraska at Kearney.. ...

McCOOK, Neb. -- The smoke and smell of burning wood that wafted into and over McCook, Nebraska, late afternoon Thursday came from controlled burns in the county to the north. City of McCook Fire Chief Marc Harpham had firefighters combing the community and its northern city limits bordering rural areas immediately north of McCook trying to locate a fire whose smoke could be blowing with gusty north winds over McCook about 6 p.m...

McCOOK, Neb. -- The McCook City Council is eyeing a possible change to the 7:30 p.m. meeting time of regularly scheduled meetings. City staff indicate they have been asked to review the current meeting time and whether an adjustment in times should be made. Agenda details for the item do not provide any clues as to what times are being considered in place of the 7:30 p.m. start time...

McCOOK, Neb. -- A threat on Facebook was made to a specific teacher at McCook High School Tuesday night, according to McCook Police Chief Ike Brown. Unidentified staff and students were also mentioned in the post, Brown said. The police department was alerted of the threat by concerned citizens Tuesday night...

McCOOK, Neb. -- Southwest Nebraska Public Health Department (SWNPHD) has been contacted that a diagnosis of pertussis is in our health district. Pertussis is known as "whooping cough" because of the "whooping" sound that is made when gasping for air after a fit of coughing...

McCOOK, Neb. -- This weeks Crime of the Week is a Theft report on file with the Red Willow County Sheriff's Office. During the late evening hours of Wednesday March 25 or early morning hours of Thursday March 26th, 2015, person or persons entered a parked vehicle in a residential neighborhood in McCook and removed items of value from it...

Area youth crowded Norris Park Thursday afternoon in anticipation of the annual MNB Youth Services Easter Egg Hunt. 11-year-old Gunther Spry, top right, makes a final pass of the grounds following the Easter egg hunt. 5-year-old Caylee Conour receives some last minute tips from Christopher Conour, left, before reaching for a prize, right, and 5-year-old Blake Willis waves to a friend. Top left, 11-year-old Natalie Modrell and 9-year-old Zoey Shields excitedly await the start...

I have friends who spread every rumor they hear like it's the absolute truth. They never verify or fact-check their stories and they can't wait to tell somebody else about them. It's not a new phenomenon at all; in fact we've been doing it forever. When somebody hears a piece of juicy gossip about someone, they just can't wait to tell somebody else. ...

Don't know if you were up in time to enjoy the setting full moon this morning, but if you were, you know it was a beautiful sight. Weather permitting, you'll have a chance for an even more spectacular sight Saturday, as the moon goes into eclipse just as it is setting...

Does anyone know about the quality of the pond water in Barnett Park? Is it safe to get on your hands and face? Are the fish taken from those waters safe to eat? Because those ponds are heavily laden with goose manure and built close to an old city dump, it is of concern...

80th birthday The family of Lewis Palmer of Cambridge, Nebraska, are hosting an open house in honor of his 80th birthday, as well as in honor of the 54th wedding anniversary of he and his wife, Jane. He was born April 13, 1935. The open house is Sunday, April 12, at the Heritage Plaza Retirement Village, 2-4 p.m., 1205 Nelson in Cambridge. ...

Jesse Ray Gonzales Krutsinger Aug. 16, 1973 - April 2, 2015 BARTLEY, Neb. -- Jesse Ray Gonzales Krutsinger passed away Thursday, April 2, 2015, at his home in Bartley. He was 41 years old. Jesse was born on Aug. 16, 1973, in McCook, Nebraska to Raymond "Butch" Gonzales, Jr. and Judy Rae Krutsinger. He graduated from McCook High School in 1992 and continued his education at McCook Community College. Jesse then moved to Lincoln, where he took classes at Metro Community College for carpentry...

Darrel Lee Brown Nov. 16, 1927 - April 2, 2015 BEAVER CITY, Neb. -- Darrel Lee Brown, 87, died Thursday (April 2, 2015), at Phelps Memorial Hospital in Holdrege, Nebraska. He was born Nov. 16, 1927, on the family farm in Furnas County, Nebraska, to Delbert Leroy and Anna Minnie (Straube) Brown...