Stories from Wednesday, January 13, 2016

Happy day. The Nebraska Legislature is in session. Watch your pocketbook. Governor Pete Ricketts was noising about the need for property tax relief. Always a popular theme for those we elect to be charge of spending our tax money. "Vote for me and I'll reduce taxes." Easily done but it rarely happens...

McCOOK, Neb. -- McCook Public Schools will join six other district members of the Nebraska School Activities Association today in Holdrege, to vote on one of two policies concerning transgender student athletes. The two bylaw proposals up for consideration by district members are to allow student participation in NSAA activities based on the gender of their original birth certificate, or to allow participation based on an amended birth certificate following sex re-assignment surgery...

McCOOK, Neb. -- McCook School Board members will be attending training on protocol for eMeetings. The training is provided by the Nebraska Association of School Board, which sells the software for eMeetings and conducts workshops. There is a $1,500 cost annually, along with $500 fee for training...

The McCook Humane Society plans its 10th annual "Shoot for the Shelter" pool tournament Saturday, Jan. 30, at TJ's Family Fun Center, 1511 N. Highway 83, McCook. The entry fee is $25 for those who register by Monday, Jan. 18; they will receive T-shirts and gifts. Coordinators plan on-site registration and packet pick-up from 9 a.m. until 9:45 a.m.; the calcutta begins at 10 a.m., followed immediately by the tournament. All proceeds will benefit the McCook Humane Society and animal shelter...

The Rotary Club's inaugural Soup-R-Bowl event Friday sounds like a perfect storm to us. Combine a little exercise, a chance to socialize with our friends and make some new acquaintances, enjoy some delicious soup, visit local businesses and contribute to a worthy cause, and you've got a great way to spend a few hours...

A Penn Township, Pa., constable was serving an eviction notice when the man in the apartment closed the door, and opened it again, aiming a .223-caliber rifle at the officer. Constable Steele, who was in uniform, pulled his .40 caliber duty weapon and fired a single round, striking the subject in his upper left arm...

Did you ever sing the little ditty that goes, "Twinkle, twinkle, little star. How I wonder what you are. Up above the world so high. Like a diamond in the sky? Did you ever wonder why stars twinkle? What makes the starry host as viewed from a dark-sky place seem to look like so many blinking Christmas lights against a dark background?...

McCOOK, Neb. -- A Trenton man was sentenced to up to three years in state prison last week in Red Willow County District Court stemming from his arrest on multiple charges, including his fourth drunk driving offense. The offender, 34-year-old Jeremy D. ...

Elias Solarzano of JL Construction, McCook, secures a roof beam for the new Schamel's NAPA Auto Supply building in the 200 block of West B in McCook Tuesday afternoon. Balancing on the west end of the same beam -- only his left leg is visible -- is Joel Gutierrez. ...

LaVonne L. Clapp Jan. 21, 1931 - Jan. 13, 2016 McCOOK, Neb. -- LaVonne L. Clapp, age 84, of McCook, passed away at Community Hospital of McCook on Jan. 13, 2016. She was born in Hampton, Nebraska, on Jan. 21, 1931, to William and Christina (Schaffert) Orman. LaVonne grew up on a farm in Hayes County and later moved to McCook when she was eight. LaVonne graduated from McCook High School in 1948...

McCOOK, Neb. -- Prairie Gold Homes graduated its third McCook-based class recently and is nearly completed with its first contribution to the local housing market. McCook Work Ethic Camp and Nebraska Department of Corrections representatives joined Prairie Gold Homes staff for a graduation ceremony at the Public Safety Center Monday afternoon. ...