Stories from Wednesday, March 23, 2016

John William O'Brien Dec. 10, 1936 - March 20, 2016 OMAHA, Neb. -- John William O'Brien, age 79, of Osceola, Neb., (formerly of Shelby) passed away March 20, 2016, at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha. Memorial mass will be Wednesday, March 23, 2016, at 10 a.m. ...

McCOOK, Neb. -- With one voting against it, the Hillcrest Board of Trustees reluctantly approved an additional payment to a software company for the training and set up of electronic records. Board member Mike Eklund cast the lone dissenting vote against the payment to Carevoyant, saying he was happy to be "the fly in the ointment."...

McCOOK, Neb. -- Helping the image of Hillcrest Nursing Home was discussed by Hillcrest Board of Trustees Tuesday. At their regular meeting, the board addressed recent talk about the facility and dismissed rumors that it would close. Administrator Colina Nappa told the board that a North Platte television station recently interviewed Hillcrest staff and residents about the possibility of it closing...

Red Willow Western rural firefighters struggle against flames creeping through dry grass in a farmstead and a windbreak south of McCook Tuesday evening. Fire chief Bill Elliott said earlier in the day that dry conditions and high winds are creating scary levels of wildfire hazards; he's banning open burning until his fire district receives significant moisture -- snow or rain...

Nebraska Sen. George W. Norris sits with Easter visitors to his home across the street from Norris Park in McCook. The scantily-clad bunnies may regret their choice of attire -- or lack of it -- when mild spring weather reverts to a cold winter snow storm packing winds up to 70 mph today...

Giving food stamps to drug dealers only enables them to keep on breaking the law. Keeping food stamps from people convicted of drug felonies is only kicking them when they're down, and putting more pressure on local food pantries. For now, the Nebraska Legislature is taking the first position...

Now that the equinox is past, I can share my attempt at spring poetry: "Spring has sprung, the grass is rizz, I wonder where the flowers is." Well, make of it what you will. Folks today don't pay as much attention to the sky as they did say 100 years ago. For them the stars and their movement gave directions as to when to plant, when to harvest, care of animals, and when the seasons were changing...

McCOOK, Neb. -- A convicted felon was sentenced to probation earlier this month in Red Willow County District Court on a felony offense for attempting to possess a deadly weapon. The man, 39-year-old Eric Jason Pierce of 401 1/2 West J Street, was sentenced to 24 months probation on a Class IV felony offense for attempted possession of a deadly weapon by a convicted felon...

McCOOK, Neb. -- A convicted felon was sentenced to jail time earlier this month in Red Willow County District Court on a felony offense for attempting to possess a deadly weapon. The man, 34-year-old Daryl Joseph Banzet of 902 East E Street, was sentenced to 90 days in jail, and given credit for 103 days already served, on a Class IV felony offense for attempted possession of a deadly weapon by a convicted felon...