Stories from Thursday, July 23, 2015

Medical care has been in turmoil in recent years, first with increasing costs, then with the passage of the Affordable Care Act, and subsequent court challenges culminating with the recent Supreme Court decision approving subsidies in states which have not established health insurance exchanges...

By now I am sure you have heard that the New Horizons mission to Pluto went off without a hitch and some great data is being returned to Earth; all the scientists are giggling like school girls. Now, remember last spring when we discussed how it was not possible to see the Milky Way because it was running around the horizon? Well, we can see it now in all its glory...

Winners of the 105.3 Coyote Country Music Showdown Wednesday evening at the Red Willow County Fair in McCook, Nebraska, were, front row, from left: 12 and under, first place winner Lanie Overton, who sang "This Little Light of Mine," and runner-up Molly Miracle, "Party in the USA." Back row, Coyote Country operations manager Jesse Stevens; 13-18 age division runner-up Haley Hrnchir, "I Will See You Again," and first place winner Taylor Dack, "Last Name"; rodeo queen and trophy presenter Rebel Sjeklocha; and 19 and over age division first place winner Chris "Dozer" Lewis, "I'm a Fireman," and runner-up Kevin Cox, "Wanted." New this year was a "People's Choice," in which listeners texted their favorite performer's name to the radio station; the winner was Molly Miracle. ...

McCOOK, Neb. -- A McCook woman was sentenced to jail time earlier this month in Red Willow County District Court on a misdemeanor trespassing charge. 32-year-old Rebecca L. Woody of McCook was originally facing a Class IV felony attempted burglary charge stemming from an activated burglar alarm and cut padlock at the McCook Orscheln Farm and Home in June of 2014. ...

The Binning sisters of McDonald, Kansas -- from top, Porsha, Bianca and Jazzmin -- show their Holstein cows and a heifer at the Rawlins County Fair in Atwood Wednesday morning. The livestock judge named Bianca's cow, Dotty, grand champion in the confirmation class; Porsha's cow, Darla, was reserve champion, and Jazzmin's heifer, Jozlen, won a blue ribbon. ...

McCOOK, Neb. -- Red Willow and Hayes County court officials will provide courthouse wedding services, contrary to recent reports the service had been discontinued. Red Willow and Hayes County Court Judge Anne Paine will provide wedding services for both counties going forward, according to Red Willow County Clerk Magistrate Gretchen Wiebe. Wiebe previously split wedding service duties in both counties with Judge Paine and will no longer perform wedding services herself going forward...

If you have band instruments laying around and don't have a need for them anymore, the McCook Optimists would like you to consider donating them to the instrumental band programs at the McCook Public and St. Patrick's schools. "Both St. Pat's and the McCook schools have strong, growing band programs but, unfortunately, some students are unable to participate because their families can't afford to purchase instruments," said Jeff Gross, an Optimists member...

After growing his hair for about three or four years, Kendell Foster of McCook, Nebraska, had his hair cut by Feona Berry at the Beauty Zone, and donated it to a program at Pantene that makes wigs at no charge for female cancer victims.

After growing his hair for about three or four years, Kendell Foster of McCook, Nebraska, had his hair cut by Feona Berry at the Beauty Zone, and donated it to a program at Pantene that makes wigs at no charge for female cancer victims.

Lt. Col. George A. Larson USAF (Ret.) will sign copies of his book, "Great Plains Warriors of World War II: Airbases and Plants Built for War/Nebraska's Contribution to Winning the War," from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m., Friday, at the Museum of the High Plains at 413 Norris Avenue in downtown McCook, Nebraska. ...

Fair time is fun-time, and it's not just the talent show, rodeo or tractor pull. For a lot of us, it's those high-fat, low-nutrition, sugar-laden junk food treats that appear only at the county fair. If you're a dad thinking about buying a funnel cake to enjoy while watching your tot ride the carousel, think about this: a "dad bod" is a real thing...

Let me start out by saying that I am very thankful for getting to go on vacation with my family of five, especially an "awesome" vacation. "Awesome" would be defined as a vacation that would require flying somewhere. I didn't get the privilege to go on of these kinds of "awesome" vacations when growing up so I feel blessed to have the opportunity...