Stories from Thursday, October 29, 2015

Gotta couple compliments last week. That's a pretty big deal when you're my age, and something you sorta treasure and want to hold onto for a while cause who knows when you'll get another one. I haven't been feeling too hot-to-trot these days so it was good timing. I'll just admit that my exercise routine is collecting a lot of dust on the back of my to-do shelf and my eating habits have sorta resembled a college kid's, if I'm being honest...

Phillip Ray Lahman May 2, 1954 - Oct. 28, 2015 OBERLIN, Kan. -- Phillip Ray Lahman, age 61, of Oberlin, passed away Wednesday. Oct. 28, 2015, at Good Samaritan Society in Atwood, Kansas, after a long battle with cancer. Phil was born on May 2, 1954, in Colby, Kansas, to Howard and Joanne (Nall) Lahman. He lived with his family in Winona, Kansas, until 1963, when he moved with his family to Brush, Colorado...

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...

60th birthday The family of Linda Maiden of McCook is requesting a card shower in honor of her 60th birthday Sunday, Nov. 1. Her family includes her husband, Lee Maiden; children, Kyle and Carissa Stritt, Kevin and Danielle Stritt, Keith Stritt, Stephanie and Jamey Ellis, Kelly Maiden and Carson Maiden; and grandchildren, Ricky, Avery, Leah, Camden, Mikah, Kasen and Callan. Cards of congratulations will reach her at 2 Gemini Court, McCook, NE 69001...

McCOOK, Neb. -- McCook High School football fans might be able to avoid a long line at the Weiland Field gates by purchasing advance tickets for McCook's Class B state playoff first round game. The Bison (8-1) host Beatrice (6-3) in first-round playoff action Friday, Oct. 30. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. Friday at Weiland Field in McCook...

VALENTINE, Neb. -- Replacement of a natural-lighting system in the Wrightstone Art Gallery in McCook was approved by the Mid-Plains board of governors Wednesday night. Meeting in Valentine, the board approved a lone bid from SpecPro Inc. for $112,847 plus tax to replace the Kalwall system that allows natural light into the classrooms and the art complex...

McCOOK, Neb. -- About a half million dollars of payments due to Hillcrest Nursing Home have been turned over to an attorney for collection. Hillcrest administrator Colina Nappa told the Hillcrest Board of Trustees Tuesday morning that an agreement has been signed with Nate Mustion, who also serves as the McCook City attorney, at $150 per hour, for help in collecting the outstanding payments. A total of $507,386.84 is currently due the facility...

Doug Dame Construction crews replace two large windows on the Bieroc Cafe in downtown McCook, site of McCook's first post office. Owner Matt Sehnert said the McCook Economic Development Corp. facade program "provides a real incentive to reinvest in a downtown business." The project, including a new door, more energy efficient windows and repairs, will cost about $30,000, completed with the help of a Rural Enterprise Assistance grant. ...

A makeup design called "Pot o' Gold," upper left, modeled by Monica Ebert and created by Autumn Sabatka wins first place Tuesday morning in the annual theatrical makeup contest at the McCook, Nebraska, Beauty Academy. In second place was "Rainbow Warrior," upper right, modeled by Shelby Sawyer and created by Kait Stensvad; in third was "Comic Book Girl," above, created by Dana Hearon and modeled by Amber Harker. ...

COLUMBUS, Neb. -- Red Willow County Tourism Director Carol Schlegel was honored recently for her role in strengthening Nebraska's tourism industry in recent years. Schlegel was awarded the 2015 Crystal Compass from the Nebraska Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus during the annual Nebraska Tourism Conference in Columbus earlier this month...

McCOOK, Neb. -- McCook Public Transit driver Mike Brown finished near the top in a statewide skills competition recently. Brown won third place in the minivan division at the Nebraska Association of Transportation Providers annual Transit Roadeo in Kearney last month...

LINCOLN, Neb. -- A McCook man sentenced to 2-6 years in state prison last fall on felony drug and destructive device charges was paroled Wednesday after serving a little more than a year. The parolee, 30-year-old Thomas Ortiz, was convicted in Red Willow County District Court in September of 2014 on a pair of Class IV felony offenses for possession of methamphetamine and possession of a destructive device, in addition to an infraction for possession of drug paraphernalia. ...

Bein' a country vet, I've had my share of emergency calls regarding escaped animals. Feeder steers in City Park, buffalo at the mall or snakes in the school yard. But none of my rescue missions can compare to Gary's tale entitled "THE DAY IKE TOURED FAIRVIEW."...

Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel has made thousands of enemies over the last few years, asking parents to tell their children, the day following Halloween, that they had eaten all their candy, and send video of their reactions to his show. He would actually be doing the children a lot of good if it were actually true...

Our Farmers deserve praise here in the Middle Republican Natural Resources District (MRNRD). MRNRD producers have been doing their part in sustaining the water resource. The MRNRD would like to recognize the efforts made by our local farmers that will result in sustaining our natural resources for generations to come. ...