Stories from Wednesday, April 29, 2015

Hazel Marie Durner April 6, 1934 - April 26, 2015 KEARNEY, Neb. -- Hazel Marie Durner, 81, died Sunday (April 26, 2015), at CHI Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney, Nebraska. She was born April 6, 1934, to Ralph and Sylvia Rosier Moore at Freedom, Nebraska, in Frontier County. She graduated from Cambridge High School in 1951. She married James "Eldon" Durner on Sept. 4, 1954. They moved to Whidbey Island in Oak Harbor, Washington, where her husband was stationed in the U.S. Navy...

Treva G. (Westfall) Henry Sept. 1, 1935 - April 23, 2015 BIRD CITY, Kan. -- Treva G. (Westfall) Henry, 79, died Thursday (April 23, 2015), at Hays Medical Center in Hays, Kansas. She was born Sept. 1, 1935, in Luray, Kansas. She was a senior citizen meal program coordinator...

There's no doubt marijuana shows some promise as a useful drug -- even Sanjay Gupta, CNN's chief medical correspondent recently came out in support of its medical use. There is legitimate evidence that it is, or might be, effective in treating conditions and side effects of illnesses such as glaucoma, cancer, epilepsy and other types of seizures, anxiety, Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis, muscle spasms, hepatitis C, inflammatory bowel diseases, arthritis, obesity, lupus, Crohn's disease, Parkinson's disease, PTSD, stroke, brain concussions and trauma, nightmares, nausea and lack of appetite from chemotherapy and even alcoholism.. ...

Quick, name a politician who has ever campaigned on being soft on crime. So, it comes as no surprise that Gov. Pete Ricketts and Attorney General Doug Peterson and a handful of prosecutors would come out in support of "public safety" with harsh words for a Legislature they characterize as being soft on crime. ...

When I was a boy I remember visiting my grandparents who lived out in the country. What I remember most -- aside from gathering the eggs from under the hens for grandma and helping grandpa with the milking -- was the darkness of the skies. In town there was a streetlight across the corner from our house that lit up the corner (but not much else) and by retreating to the backyard and putting the several large Black Walnut and broad-leafed Catalpa trees between me and the streetlight I could get a reasonably dark sky.. ...

BRUCE BAKER City Editor LINCOLN, Nebraska -- Nebraska legislators hope to follow suit with at least a couple of neighboring states and increase the state's motor fuel excise tax this session. LB 610 advanced to final reading earlier this month on a 27-14 vote, with 8 senators either absent or not voting. The bill intends to increase the state motor fuel excise tax by six cents over the next four years...

OMAHA, Neb. -- The 35th annual Bicycle Ride Across Nebraska will roll through Southwest Nebraska. The week-long, 410-mile charity ride begins Sunday, June 7 in Wauneta and ends Saturday, June 13 at the Conestoga High School, with stops in Cambridge, Eustis, Axtell, Clay Center, Wilber and Syracuse in between...

McCOOK, Neb. -- Cat Pack volunteers for the McCook, Nebraska, Humane Society remind animal lovers to cast their votes for their favorite dogs, cats and "other pets" in their latest fund-raiser for the humane society's animal shelter. Cat Pack kids are raising money to create a deck of playing cards with the "Dogs and Cats of McCook" emblazoned on the cards...

McCOOK, Neb. -- The City of McCook Tree Rebate Program is underway for the spring 2015 season. The program offers rebates to residents for up to two trees purchased, per property, between March 30 and June 12, 2015. Trees must be a minimum of 6 feet in height, planted on property located within city limits, and purchased from a McCook business...

High Ability Learners within the McCook Public Schools system present their research projects during an end-of-the-school-year showcase Tuesday evening. At right, McCook High School senior Hannah Goodenberger explained to Marti Siebrandt her project, "'What qualities does art possess in order to have a lasting impact on our society?," while MHS juniors, above, Caleb Suda (and Travis Wallen and Erik Eiler) stumped Brendan Hunter, right, and Brodie Mitchell with a tangle -- untangle "Math Magic" rope trick.. ...

CAMBRIDGE, Neb. -- Cambridge, Nebraska, U.S. Army veterans Desiree and Calvin Wineland are scheduling Cambridge's fourth annual Armed Forces Day veterans recognition and barbecue Saturday, May 16. The Winelands' invitation reads: "Everyone is invited to come and honor our veterans. And if you don't have one, come and adopt one!"...