Stories from Friday, April 1, 2016

Richard Harrison 'Bud' Bearley Feb. 23, 1919 - March 31, 2016 ATWOOD, Kan. -- Richard Harrison 'Bud' Bearley, 97, died Thursday (March 31, 2016) at Atwood Good Samaritan Center. He was born Feb. 23, 1919, to Harry A. 'Gus' and Effie Palmer Bearley Sr. north of Atwood. He graduated from Atwood High School. He married Harriet Haskell in McCleary in Washington state. He served in World War II and was discharged Dec. 3, 1945...

McCook Community College McCOOK, Neb. -- McCook Community College dished out more than $20,000 in scholarships Wednesday and 80 academic medals as part of the college's Inter-High Day academic competition. More than 400 students representing 19 area high schools from Nebraska and Kansas tested in 26 academic areas this year on the MCC campus. ...

80th birthday The family of Arlan E. Rathe of Culbertson is requesting a card shower in honor of his 80th birthday Thursday, April 7. His family includes his wife, Beverly; children, Robin Haynes of Culbertson, Ryan and Deb Rathe of Palisade, Ronda and Tracy Refior of McCook, Rachelle Steinhour of Minden and Randal and Erin Rathe of Ainsworth: 15 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. Cards of congratulations will reach him at 71805 Road 380, Culbertson, NE 69024...

40th anniversary The family of Ron and Doris Friehe of McCook is requesting a card shower in honor of their 40th wedding anniversary Sunday April 3. Their family includes Valerie and Brionn Tonkin, Minneapolis, Minn., Sam and Kayla Friehe and Brian and Tiffany Friehe, all of Omaha, Neb.; and grandchildren, Kasen, Linden and Lucy Tonkin of Minneapolis, Brantley Friehe of Omaha and Connor Friehe of Omaha. Cards of congratulations will reach them at #1 Spyglass, McCook, NE 69001...

94th birthday The family of Dareld Neal Callan of Alliance, Neb., formerly of McCook, is requesting a card shower in honor of his 94th birthday Thursday, April 7th. His family includes children, Ron (Cindy) Callan of Kearney and Sandy (Mark) Hissam of Alliance; along with grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Cards of congratulations will reach him at 416 Lane 2, Alliance, NE 69301...

90th birthday The family of Dale McNutt of McCook is requesting a card shower in honor of his 90th birthday that was Wednesday, March 30. Cards of congratulations will reach him at 719 W. 14th, McCook, NE 69001.

60th anniversary The children of Kenneth and Dorinda Polly of McCook are requesting a card shower in honor of the couple's 60th wedding anniversary Thursday, April 7. They were married in 1956 at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Wauneta. Cards of congratulations will reach them at 1207 Norris Ave., McCook, NE 69001...

50th anniversary The family of Arvene and Judy Schultz of Maywood, Neb., is requesting a card shower in honor of the couple's 50th wedding anniversary on Saturday, April 9, 2016. They have four grandchildren. Best wishes may be sent to them at Box 21, Maywood, NE 69038...

Dictionary.com defines lazy as being disinclined to work, activity or exertion. Generally speaking, Americans like people who get things done; not people who are constantly trying to get out of work. In fact, in the sociology classes I teach, we go over the top ten values of Americans every year and activity and work are always right at the top of the list. So being lazy is seen as a character flaw and is to be avoided...

The people at the Southwest Nebraska Public Health Department are enlisting the entertainment professionals in Hollywood to get its message across. They still have a Website, news releases and brochures, but nobody beats Julia Roberts or Dustin Hoffman for keeping people's attention...

Lee H. Hamilton We have a secrecy problem. This may seem odd to say during an era in which the most intimate details of individuals' lives are on display. Yet government is moving behind closed doors, and this is definitely the wrong direction. In fact, I'm dismayed by how often public officials fight not to do the public's business in public...

TRENTON, Neb. -- The attorney for the Nebraska Department of Revenue has asked for a hearing and preliminary conference before the Nebraska tax commissioner considers allegations that the Hitchcock County assessor played favorites as she raised and lowered property valuations...

McCOOK, Neb. -- City leaders will receive an introduction to the annexation process next week after postponing the discussion previously. They hope it serves as a starting point in achieving a long-standing goal, growing McCook. Professional planners Craig Bennett and Brenda Jensen of Miller and Associates will present information relating to the annexation process, including a review of state law, during Monday's meeting of the McCook City Council...

Health providers and school officials check out "the swath of damage" caused by a "tornado" in a table-top exercise at Community Hospital in McCook Thursday afternoon. Prompted by Dari Olson (the hospital's safety director), first responders, city officials, church and school representatives plus city, county and state law enforcement officers worked their way through a tornado watch, warning and touch-down, and the importance of family preparedness at home. ...

McCOOK, Neb. -- A collection of photographs of the exalted rulers of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks Lodge No. 1434, McCook, has been donated by the Elks to the Museum of the High Plains in McCook. The collection is preserved now in a notebook, starting with W.C. ...

McCOOK, Neb. -- The McCook Area Chamber of Commerce will present the second quarter Honor Business Award to Sehnert's Bakery and Bieroc Cafe at 10 a.m. Friday, April 8. The public is invited to the event, at 312 Norris Ave.

Judith Ann 'Judy' Dow Dec. 28, 1940 - April 1, 2016 McCOOK, Neb. -- Judith Ann "Judy" Dow of McCook passed away Friday, April 1, 2016, at Community Hospital. She was 75 years old. Judy was born on Dec. 28, 1940, at Dobbins, Calif. to parents, John Mike and Lenore (Goekler) Musholt...

Frank David Redden May 21, 1935 - April 1, 2016 INDIANOLA, Neb. -- Frank David Redden of Indianola passed away Friday, April 1, 2016, at Community Hospital in McCook. He was 80 years old. Frank was born May 31, 1935, at Haigler, Neb., to parents, George Elmer and Jane Emma (Underhill) Redden. He attended Haigler Schools...