Stories from Friday, December 11, 2015

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...

With so many social events that revolve around food, it's not easy to get a fresh start on making healthy food choices. However, with a little thought and plan­ning, you can prevent taking your body on a roller coaster ride -- without having to choose between food deprivation and satisfaction...

LINCOLN, Neb. -- Alesia Hock of Culbertson, Nebraska, and Brett Schmit, Bellwood, Nebraska, were united in marriage Aug. 29, 2015, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Lincoln with Msgr. Liam Barr, the Revs. Paul Colling, uncle of bride, and Neal Hock, cousin of bride, officiating...

90th birthday The family of Pauline Frecks of McCook is requesting a card shower in honor of her 90th birthday Saturday, Dec. 19. Her family includes children, Cheryl and Harvey Steier of Atwood, Kansas, Gary and Pam Frecks of Wilsonville, Nebraska, Karen and Paul Smolik of Kearney, Nebraska and Mark and Nancy Frecks of Culbertson, Nebraska; nine grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren. Cards of congratulations will reach her at 1500 East 11th Street, Apt. 42, McCook, Nebraska 69001...

60th anniversary The children and grandchildren of Keith and Mary Etta Gage will host a 60th wedding anniversary and card shower open house Saturday, Dec. 19, 2 to 4 p.m. at the Wauneta Senior Center. Cards of congratulations will reach them at 248 Arikaree, P.O. Box 106,...

Woitaszewski, Randolph Shelby Woitaszewski and Justin Randolph of McCook announce their engagement and upcoming wedding. Parents of the bride-to-be are Randy and Shannon Woitaszewski of McCook. Grandparents are Dottie Evans of McCook and the late Dave Evans and Ira Woitaszewski of Ogden, Utah and the late Sandy Woitaszewski...

90th birthday The family of Ruth Shields of McCook is requesting a card shower in honor of her 90th birthday Sunday, Dec. 20. Cards of congratulations will reach her at 608 West G, McCook, NE 69001.

93rd birthday The family of Betty (Quigley) Davidson of McCook is requesting a card shower in honor of her 93rd birthday Thursday, Dec. 17. Cards of congratulations will reach her at Highland Park, 910 East 14th, Apt. C1, McCook, NE 69001.

I sent my DNA sample off last week. So, in six weeks or so I will possibly have additional proof of my Irish heritage. Regardless, since I have indisputable proof of two direct Irish descendants, the following websites are very useful. Before Ellis Island, the first immigration center in America was at Castle Clinton (or Castle Garden) located in the Battery Park at the southern tip of Manhattan in New York City. ...

It's chilling to see videos of ISIS fighters promising to take over the world, but before we allow our government to take away more of our civil rights in exchange for "safety," let's put terrorism in perspective. Yes, you have a better chance of being killed by a terrorist than winning the Powerball grand prize, but the Anonymous "hactivist" group points out that there's a 1 in 20 million chance a terror attack will take your life...

Boutique Air (kind of a funky name for an airline) is due to become the next passenger airliner in McCook, replacing Great Lakes Airline whose contract expires in June, 2016. Great Lakes has been heavily criticized in this column and by many of the flying public because of their recent unreliability. ...

McCOOK, Neb. -- The Nebraska Department of Education's recently released classification of schools will be explained more fully, at the McCook Board of Education meeting Monday, 6:30 p.m. at the junior high conference room. Under AQuESST (Accountability for a Quality Education System Today and Tomorrow), schools were rated as excellent, great, good or need improvement. ...

CURTIS, Neb. -- Hands-on learning opportunities in welding and agricultural chemical application got a boost last week in Nebraska's higher education programs. Come January, students enrolled in agricultural welding or agricultural chemical application at the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture can earn an undergraduate certificate, announced Ron Rosati, dean at NCTA...

McCOOK, Neb. -- The Heritage Senior Center is again hosting a Christmas Eve brunch after finding success with the event last year. Reservations are required and the menu includes waffles, sausage links, breakfast casserole and hash browns, with fruit juice and other refreshments...

Dolores Graff of McCook, Nebraska, has loaned a selection of her favorite Nativity sets to the Museum of the High Plains at 413 Norris Avenue in downtown McCook. Her most precious one, she said, is a hand-made wooden stable and figurines made in Germany and given to her by her brother in the early 1960's. ...

McCOOK, Neb. -- Auditions for the next Southwest Nebraska Community Theater musical, "Wizard of Oz," will be Jan. 4 and 5, 7 to 9 p.m. in the McCook Senior High band room. Enter through the West Door "I." Individuals must be age 13 and above. Performances will be March 13, 15, 18, 19 and 20 at the Fox Theater...

McCOOK, Neb. -- One of four burglars sentenced to probation in connection with a 2012 crime spree is facing violations stemming from his failure to pay restitution and probation fees. The offender, 21-year-old Michael J. Brawdy of 1604 W. Fourth No. 64, appeared in Red Willow County District Court Wednesday to face probation violations alleging he has made no payments to the court since September of 2014 and owes more than $13,000...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- A felon with a lengthy history of assault arrests who received probation last year in Red Willow County District Court after he was convicted on weapons and domestic assault charges was back in court earlier this week and sentenced to jail time on a pair of probation violations...

Roland John Miller Aug. 10, 1941 -Dec. 10, 2015 CULBERTSON, Neb. -- Roland John Miller of Culbertson, Nebraska, passed away Thursday, Dec. 10, 2015, at the Nebraska Heart Hospital in Lincoln at 74 years old. Roland was born on Aug.10, 1941, in Culbertson to parents, John W. and Martha (Wagner) Miller. He graduated from Culbertson High School in 1959...

Ronald L. Remington Feb. 5, 1956 - Dec. 10, 2015 McCOOK, Neb. -- Ronald L. Remington of McCook, Nebraska, passed away on Thursday, Dec. 10, 2015, at Bryan Medical Center West in Lincoln, Nebraska. He was 59 years old. Ron was born on Feb. 5, 1956, in McCook to parents, Alden Vern and Catherine Elizabeth (McConville) Remington. He attended St. Patrick's Parochial School through the eighth grade. He graduated from McCook High School with the class of 1974...

Earl A. Roberts Feb. 16, 1923 - Dec. 10, 2015 McCOOK, Neb. -- Earl A. Roberts, 92, passed away on Thursday, Dec. 10, 2015, at his home in McCook. Earl was born on Feb. 16, 1923, to Alvin and Esther Roberts in Hyannis, Arthur County, Nebraska. They later moved to St. Paul, Nebraska, where he attended and graduated high school...