Stories from Wednesday, December 2, 2015

Connie J. Stuckey July 20, 1957 - Nov. 30, 2015 LINCOLN, Neb. -- Connie J. Stuckey, 58, passed away Monday, Nov. 30, 2015, at her home in Lincoln. Connie J. Stuckey was born July 20, 1957, the daughter of Donald and Doris (Klients) Meints. She graduated from Culbertson High School with the class of 1975. ...

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 anniversary The family of Gene and Joan Gerver of McCook is requesting a card shower in honor of the couple's 60th wedding anniversary Saturday, Dec. 5. Cards of congratulations will reach them at 1411 West J, McCook, NE 69001.

Thanksgiving 2015 was the start of a new life for me. Actually, the episode began Wednesday night, November 25, 2015, while my wife, Barbara and I were watching "Pitch Perfect 2" with our granddaughter, Gracie, and Barbara's daughter, Debra, and our son-in-law, Tilman Adair...

McCOOK, Neb. -- College officials are seeking input from the community and area business leaders as they search for the best way to utilize the former Elks Club building. Perry and Vicky Case donated the building and roughly 14 surrounding acres to McCook Community College in November. The property has served a variety of roles over the years, including multiple stints as a golf course and at one time it was a popular softball locale...

McCOOK, Neb. -- A "Christmas Lamplight Tour" with caroling and cookies will be Saturday, Dec. 5, at the Sen. George W. Norris State Historic Site, 706 Norris Ave., from 6-8 p.m. The house will be decked out in holiday decorations from the 1930s and 1940s, pivotal years in the 40-year career of Norris as Nebraska's U.S. senator...

Today was bright and clear, but big snowflakes falling on B Street traffic Tuesday, above, were a good reminder that Christmas is only three weeks away this Friday. Santa arrives at Red Willow Aviation at 9 a.m. Saturday and the Christmas Light Parade is 6 p.m. Saturday in downtown McCook...

McCOOK, Neb. -- Although it's still the first half of the school year, it is prime time for high school seniors to be completing and submitting college scholarship applications. Seniors from McCook and Southwest high schools are invited to apply for the Col. Delbert L. Townsend Scholarship to attend the University of Nebraska (Lincoln, Kearney, Omaha or NCTA-Curtis)...

McCOOK, Neb -- The former KFC-Taco Bell on North Highway 83 in McCook, Nebraska, will be the site this year for "Santa's Wonderland." Santa and Mrs. Claus will visit the wonderland at KFC-Taco Bell from 5:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. on these evenings: -- Friday and Saturday, Dec. 4 and 5...

McCOOK, Neb. -- Curves of McCook recently relocated to 212 West C, south of JCPenneys, next to Spotlight Dance Studios. "We are thrilled to offer a new location to our members," said Bev Schlager, owner of Curves of McCook. "As we are constantly striving to improve, we've moved our location and look forward to helping our members with their health and wellness goals in McCook."...

While many observers noted declining importance of Black Friday sales to overall Christmas sales, one area is holding strong. The National Instant Criminal Background Check System processed 185,345 requests for firearm purchases Nov. 27, the highest number since the previous peak of 177,170 on Dec. 21, 2012...

Considering the simple definition of a "flat tax" - a single rate with no deductions - many proposals being bandied about by 2016 presidential hopefuls are not truly "flat." The 10 percent "tithe" proposed by one hopeful is, but, without significant -- really significant -- spending cuts, 10 percent won't generate sufficient tax revenues to be effective. ...

So, now it is we approach the time of year where, for some, thoughts of Sugar Plums start dancing in our heads, for others thoughts of what we have been wanting all year float in and out of our dreams. Often the question comes to us in the form of, "What telescope should I buy? That is like asking what kind of car should I buy? It comes down to first deciding what you want to do with it, before you decide which one you want...