Stories from Wednesday, October 14, 2015

Members of the McCook High School graduating class of 1975 met recently for their 40th class reunions. Those present for the class picture included, first row from left, Dari Olson, Pam Meyers Fraker, Cindy Reichstein Soucek, Laura Smith Tournade, Penny Clapp Stevens, Eva Monzon, David Hager, Kelvin Miller, Sharon Conroy, Mark Graff, Jim Stewart, John Townsley, Elizabeth Knedlik, Rick Linnemeyer, Gerald Baumgartner, Cara Luther Salerno. ...

Showing the McCook community's appreciation for Community Hospital, a large crowd of Chamber members and hospital staff members turned out Tuesday morning for the presentation of the fourth quarter Honor Business award by the McCook Area Chamber of Commerce. ...

Kay Flaska, center, as the sharp-tongued matriarch Grandma Kurnitz, has no problem speaking her mind, even when it's inappropriate, in the Saturday evening and Sunday matinee performance of 'Lost in Yonkers." Presented by members of the Southwest Nebraska Community Theatre Association, the cast includes the entire Kurnitz family, living in New York in the 1940s, including Martha Roe, from left and LeeAnn McCarty, who portray her adult daughters. ...

Nebraskans enjoy a relatively sheltered life, but that doesn't mean the seedier elements of the world are unknown in our cities and rural areas. That came to light again last week when 21 Omaha-area people were arrested and two underage victims were recovered in an FBI operation targeting human trafficking, the agency reported...

If you have been missing the early morning dance of the planets because of clouds or other such things that block your view, not to worry. It will continue on into November and for some aspects even into the next year. The planetary alignment is such now that Venus, Mars, and the giant Jupiter are visible together about an hour before local sunrise these early autumn mornings...

McCOOK, Neb. -- A new proactive instead of a reactive system for dealing with undesirable student behavior is being used at two McCook Public elementary schools. Teachers, parents and para-professionals presented Monday night at the regular McCook School Board meeting the PBiS ("Positive Behavioral and Intervention Support") approach being used by all staff at McCook Elementary and Central Elementary this year. ...

McCOOK, Neb. -- The "TeamMates" mentoring program at McCook Schools is not about fixing the child, or for fun and games. Rather, it's about building relationships with the student, said McCook TeamMates coordinator Darcey Hansen at the regular McCook School Board meeting Monday night...

McCOOK, Neb. -- Construction of a new 54-room hotel with indoor swimming pool kicked off this week in McCook and is anticipated to be completed by next spring. Representatives from BriMark Builders and Cobblestone Hotels coordinated a ground breaking ceremony at the development site Tuesday afternoon and shared their appreciation for local support. ...

Dan Jibréus of Uppsala, Sweden, left, and Cloyd Clark of McCook, Nebraska, prepare to drive to Massacre Canyon Monday evening. Jibréus published an article, "The Long Journey of White Fox," for Nebraska History, the magazine of the Nebraska State Historical society. ...

Pat Burns unloads bikes outside Santa Claus' bike shop in downtown McCook, Nebraska. Burns and his fellow "elves" are repairing and rebuilding bikes now for the annual "Toy Box" giveaway Sunday, Dec. 20, at McCook's Memorial Auditorium. The elves accept bikes, trikes, scooters and wagons in any condition -- some for cleaning and buffing, some for repair, some for parts, and some to sell for scrap price which the elves then use to buy parts. ...

McCOOK, Neb. -- A McCook man was sentenced to 360 days in jail last week in Red Willow County District Court after being convicted on a misdemeanor offense for attempting to possess methamphetamine and a felony offense for financially exploiting a vulnerable adult...

Lavila L. Pollman Aug. 13, 1933 - Oct. 13, 2015 TRENTON, Neb. -- Lavila L. Pollman, age 82, of Trenton, passed away at the El Dorado Manor in Trenton on Oct. 13, 2015. She was born in Amherst, Colorado, on Aug. 13, 1933, to William and Lily (Gygax) Kalthoff. She attended school and graduated from Trenton High School in 1951. She attended McCook College, where she received a teachers certificate. Lavila taught country school for several years near Trenton...

Eva M. Morton May 16, 1926 - Oct. 13, 2015 OBERLIN, Kan. -- Eva M. Morton, 89, died Tueday (Oct. 13, 2015), at Citizens Medical Center in Colby, Kansas. She was born May 16, 1926, in Lebanon, Nebraska, to George C. and Estella "Stella" (Ebert) Warner. She graduated from Lebanon High School. She married Ernest Purvis in 1948, and after his death, she married Ivan Morton in 1994...

Shirley Iva Burton-McCoy Jan. 18, 1928 - Oct. 13, 2015 CAMBRIDGE, Neb. -- Shirley Iva Burton-McCoy, 87, died Tuesday (Oct. 13, 2015), at Cambridge Memorial Hospital in Cambridge, Nebraska. Shirley was born Jan. 18, 1928, iin Arapahoe, Nebraska, to Harry B. Burton and Adelma (Sailor) Burton. She was graduated from Arapahoe Public High School in 1945 and graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a bachelor's degree in business education...