Stories from Thursday, April 21, 2016

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...

Montana is the "Big Sky Country," but Nebraskans enjoy a big sky of their own, uncluttered by mountains or clouded by city lights over much of the state. That's one of the reasons we've enjoyed bringing you Vernon Whetstone's "What's Up?" column every Wednesday, pointing out the beautiful and interesting details of the night sky...

I know I often nominate myself for Worst Mom of the Year Award, but so far there's no trophy sittin' on my mantle so I obviously get beat out each year. Well, this year is no different than any other year, and I'm building up some reasons to list on my 2016 Worst Mom nomination form. Some of those on the list are purely accidental but then there are those that I have chosen to do despite how poorly it makes me look as a parent...

Crookston, Minn. -- The Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture took 21 students to a national contest in Minnesota last week and garnered awards for their two-year college in Curtis. Aggie teams won national titles in crops judging and agricultural computers, with second place in the always competitive livestock judging contest. NCTA teams earned third places in agribusiness management and dairy judging, with fourth-place teams in ag sales, horse judging and livestock management...

McCOOK, Neb. -- A traffic stop for improper passing on Highway 6 in Hitchcock County led to the seizure of 240.5 lbs. of marijuana and one arrest. Just before 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 20, a trooper stopped an eastbound 2007 Saturn Outlook for improper passing just west of Culbertson in Hitchcock County. ...

McCOOK, Neb. -- Officials lauded the U.S. Senate's passing of the Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization bill earlier this week as a boon for essential air service throughout the state. "This is great news for the Essential Air Service program and the City of McCook. This will allow for commercial air service to continue in McCook," said McCook Public Works Director Kyle Potthoff Wednesday...

McCOOK, Neb. -- McCook area construction project costs for the first quarter of 2016 came in just shy of $3 million and slightly ahead of the annual average posted over the last six years. January, February and March 2016 combined for $2,891,826 in construction activity, according to building permit information released by city staff earlier this week...

McCOOK, Neb -- After 14 years, Kerri Unger is finally graduating preschool. Working at Peace Lutheran Church's preschool for the past 14 years, the last 12 as director, Unger will be handing out preschool diplomas for the last time this year. "It's my favorite age, their outlook on everything is so positive and they still want to please you," Unger said of the three- and four-year-olds she's taught through the years. ...

McCook Community College Theater Department's production of Neil Simon's "Rumors" opens tonight at 7 p.m. with performances Friday, Saturday night at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. All performances are at the Weeth Theater in Tipton Hall on the MCC campus. ...

McCOOK, Neb. -- A new greenhouse -- featuring both usual and unusual plants -- will open Friday, April 22, at 111 West Third Street in McCook. Known as "The Front Yard" and "The Back Yard," the greenhouse will feature a wide variety of plants, including bedding plants, vegetables, herbs, hanging baskets, succulent planters and perennials...