Stories from Thursday, December 17, 2015

McCOOK, Neb. -- The Nebraska Department of Roads is planning a $10.8 million road improvement project beginning at McCook and spanning roughly 11 miles through Indianola. The project includes resurfacing the roadway and replacing two bridge structures along U.S. Highway 6/34. It is tentatively scheduled to begin during the fall of 2016 and estimated to be completed by the fall of 2017, according to information presented to the Red Willow County Commissioners Monday morning...

McCOOK, Neb. -- A wood burning stove is suspected of causing a garage fire Wednesday evening which resulted in an estimated $35,000 in property damage. The City of McCook Fire Department was on the scene within two minutes after receiving a report of a fire behind the house at 1006 East B Street at just past 4 p.m. in the afternoon. A three stall garage at the residence had smoke exiting the back side and coming from the eaves, according to the fire department...

McCOOK, Neb. -- A Lincoln woman was sentenced to probation last week in Red Willow County District Court on a misdemeanor offense for attempting to possess methamphetamine. The woman, 21-year-old Alexandria Curran, accepted a plea agreemen admitting guilt to a Class I misdemeanor offense for attempting to possess a controlled substance. Curran originally pleaded not guilty in July to a Class IV felony alleging possession of a methamphetamine before accepting the plea agreement t in October...

McCOOK, Neb. -- A Cambridge woman was sentenced to probation last week in Red Willow County District Court on several lesser drug charges. The woman, 26-year-old Cherri M. Kershaw, accepted a plea agreement in August admitting guilt to a Class I misdemeanor offense for attempting to possess a controlled substance, alprazolam. ...

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. -- The Mid-Plains Community College board of governors approved on first reading an amended Athletic Grants-In-Aid policy which eliminates a requirement that at least one-third of student athletes on each MPCC-approved team be Nebraska residents...

McCOOK, Neb. -- The McCook School District is right on target for financials. For September, October and November, expenditures and expenses are at 25 percent, which is where it should be for the first quarter, said McCook Schools business manager Rick Haney at the regular school board meeting Monday night...

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. -- A newbie to the pageant world is not letting her inexperience stop her from giving it a try. "I know I'm not the typical pageant girl and don't have a lot of experience, but I think it's important to break stereotypes," said Emily Geschwentner, a 2007 McCook High School grad, now of North Platte, Nebraska. Far from being the stereotypical pageant contestant as portrayed on television, she hasn't spent a fortune on wardrobe or started in the pageant world at a young age...

President Obama was once overheard telling the outgoing Russian president that he would have "more flexibility" after his second election. He was referring to a missile treaty, but his administration is apparently now extending that flexibility to marijuana...

I was recently asked to prepare a story about something that held a special Christmas memory for me. The choice was easy. In 1972, Bruce and I were stationed at McCord Air Force Base in Washington State, miles from our families in Wisconsin. Although sad to be alone during the holidays we decided it was time to establish our own family traditions...

Merlin J. James Aug.20, 1951 - Dec. 13, 2015 ARAPAHOE, Neb. -- Merlin J. James, 64, of Arapahoe, died Sunday (Dec.13, 2015), at his home. He was born on Aug. 20, 1951, to Glen and Norma (McConnell) James at Norton, Kansas. He attended Holbrook Public Schools in Holbrook, Nebraska. He lived for a short time in Idaho, working at a window and storm door manufacturer. He came back to the Arapahoe area and work for different farmers. In later years he delivered the Kearney Hub in the Arapahoe area...

Bradford Bochow Nov. 24, 1936 - Dec. 15, 2015 McCOOK, Neb. -- Bradford Bochow, 79, of Trenton, Nebraska, died Tuesday Dec. 15, 2015, at Community Hospital of McCook. Services are pending with Herrmann-Jones Funeral Chapel in McCook.

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...

McCOOK GAZETTE McCOOK, Neb. -- A picture taken on an impulse has landed a spot as one of the top pics in a national photography magazine. Photographer Larisa O'Brien of McCook was shooting senior pics of Madi Garcia, 17, when she spied a broken tree trunk in a nearby field. O'Brien said she's used the tree trunk before in other photographs and asked Garcia if she wanted to try it in a few shots...

McCOOK, Neb. -- City of McCook Water Department personnel are connecting customer water services to a new main on Centennial Drive. Water can be turned off from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. Friday for the connection to be completed. this will affect water service for all Centennial Driver water customers. Other persons in this area may also be affected by disruption of service or discolored water. Thanks for your patience and cooperation in this matter and we apologize for the inconvenience...

KEARNEY, Neb. -- Early McNutt and Vesta Dack, both Red Willow County Commissioners, attended a 2 1/2-day conference in Kearney Dec. 9 for county officials. The annual conference, attended by approximately 800 county officials and employees, is part of a continuing education and leadership development series sponsored by the Nebraska Association of County Officials...