Stories from Thursday, April 16, 2015

Mark W. Benjamin Jan. 31, 1959 - April 14, 2015 KEARNEY, Neb. -- Mark W. Benjamin, age 56, of Kearney, died Tuesday morning, April 14, 2015, at his residence following a lengthy illness. Funeral services will be Friday afternoon, April 17, 2015, at 3 p.m. ...

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...

Sworn government officials make contact with nearly every voter six days a week in Nebraska, so why not put them to work when it comes to making our democracy function? Why not indeed, according to the latest information from the Nebraska Secretary of State...

My daughter doesn't know I'm writing this, so please don't tell her. She would be embarrassed by me sharing this, but what's that's nothing new I guess? Anyway, this is too good of news not to share. Ya see, we have a new edition to our family. He's tiny and adorable and has been a surprising little blessing for me and Hubby...

McCOOK, Neb. -- A car wash on U.S. Highway 83 in McCook may soon be traded-in for a $3.5 million hotel development. The McCook Planning Commission advanced a redevelopment plan Monday evening for the Cobblestone Hotel Project Area 2015, which intends to construct a 3 story 54 room motel on the northeast corner of the intersection of U.S. Highway 83 and N Street. The plan would require demolition of the existing car wash, as well as a neighboring storage unit business...

INDIANOLA, Neb. -- Indianola, Nebraska, and Red Willow Western firefighters were thankful that the rain fell when it did late Wednesday evening, after fighting a fire in a salvage yard bordered by a stubble field on the north. Indianola Fire Chief Tom Davidson reported this morning that salvage yard owner Donnie Schamel said he was using a cutting torch when scrap in a nearby pile caught on fire about 9 p.m. ...

BARTLEY, Neb. -- A 71-year-old Cambridge, Nebraska, man was transported to the hospital in Cambridge following a two-vehicle accident near Bartley Wednesday afternoon. Nebraska State Patrol Trooper Cassie Wegelin reports that Gary Joseph, 71, of Cambridge, was eastbound on Highway 6&34 three miles east of Bartley, and a semi-tractor-trailer rig driven by Terence Lyons, 55, of Lincoln, Nebraska, was westbound when the two vehicle collided in the westbound lane...

Emergency personnel needed a "Jaws" tool to pry apart two of the three vehicles involved in an accident at the west junction of Highways 6&34 and 83 in McCook about 7 p.m., Wednesday. An ambulance responded although it was unclear whether anyone was transported. The three vehicles were the older van and the Ford Expedition above, and a Honda SUV. Information on the accident will be released when the McCook Police Department completes its investigation...

The McCook, Nebraska, Area Chamber of Commerce thanks its volunteers with a pizza party at Pizza Hut/KFC/Taco Bell in McCook at noon Tuesday. Chamber Executive Director Tacie Fawver said they've never been able to count all their volunteer hours, an almost impossible task. ...

IMPERIAL, Neb., Motorcyclists are invited to help escort the traveling Vietnam memorial wall into Imperial for display. They are asked to meet at 2:30 Wednesday at Enders to begin the escort. Call Dennis Shannon at (308) 692-3241 for more information...

McCOOK, Neb. -- A Superhero Dash 5K Run/Walk is planned for Saturday, June 13, to benefit the McCook Evangelical Free Church youth group annual Mystery Trip. Participants are invited to come dresses as your favorite -- or completely fabricated -- superhero for this super amazing dash...

Certified arborist Bruce Hoffman of McCook ponders the working end of a hand stapler as he and Amy Seiler of the Nebraska Forest Service office in Scottbluff stake the "Princeton" elm tree they planted Wednesday afternoon among the new front yard landscaping of the McCook Public Library. ...

McCOOK, Neb. -- A McCook man facing three felony charges for attempting to strangle to death his then 15-year-old younger sister, before stuffing her in a duffle bag and carrying her to his apartment, was found not responsible by reason of insanity last week in Red Willow County District Court...