Stories from Friday, May 13, 2016

Gordon 'Buzz' Matson May 24, 1944 - May 6, 2016 TULSA, Okla. -- Gordon "Buzz" Matson was born May 24, 1944, in Storm Lake, Iowa, to Gordon and Audell Matson. He passed away May 6, 2016, in Tulsa, Okla. Buzz attended school in Iowa, Wyoming and Minnesota, graduating from Harmony High School in Minnesota. He married his high school sweetheart, Cynthia Broadwater, and to this union two sons were born...

OMAHA, Neb. -- Hannah Hays of McCook, a student at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, was one of 27 students from five undergraduate institutions across the state that gathered at the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Public Health for a week-long public health workshop, May 9-13, learning about career opportunities in public health...

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...

Mildred Stute BENKELMAN, Neb. -- Mildred Stute, 95, longtime resident of Haigler, Neb., died Wednesday (May 11, 2016), at the Sarah Ann Hester Home in Benkelman. Survivors include children, Kenneth Stute and wife, Sheryl of Sidney, Neb., LeRoy Stute and wife, Irene of Westminster, Colo., and Ray Stute and wife, Debra of Haigler; numerous grandchildren and brothers and sisters...

In 1926, the McCook Public Schools had an enrollment of 1,750 students: 1,182 in grade school, 318 in junior high and 250 in high school. Based on those numbers, Mr. True, county superintendent of schools, predicted that in 1940 there would be 681 students in high school and 2,560 students overall. ...

60th anniversary The family of Wayne and Rachel Hidy of McCook is requesting a card shower in honor of the couple's 60th wedding anniversary on Monday, May 16. They were married in the Church of God in Trenton, Neb. Wayne was born to Connie and Leah Hidy north of Trenton on the family farm. ...

92nd birthday The family of Edward "Eddie" Watt of Park Hill, Okla., is requesting a card shower in honor of his 92nd birthday on Tuesday, May 17. He served as Chief of Police in Benkelman, Neb., for 33 years, following his service in the U.S. Army in World War II. His family includes his wife, Vaulene Watt; and children, the late Charlie Watt, and Melodye Fann and husband Rex of Park Hill. Cards of congratulations will reach him at 29300 Highway 82, Lot 48, Park Hill, OK 74451...

Amelia Jude Carson Wyatt and Ranie Carson of Lakewood, Colo., announce the birth of their daughter, Amelia Jude Carson, born April 24, 2016, in Aurora, Colo. She weighed 7 pounds, 12 ounces and measured 19 1/4 inches long. She has three sisters, Zoe Carson, 10, Riliegh Carson, 8, and Emerson Carson, 2. ...

Berry season means colors, tastes and aromas that are sure to please. With a variety of gorgeous fresh fruits at your fingertips, why not whip up a fabulous fruit pie or tart to surprise family or share with friends? From family dinners to spur-of-the-moment picnics, pies are easy to make and easy for family and friends to appreciate...

McCOOK, Neb. -- Nebraska Public Service Commissioner and McCook native Gerald Vap won Red Willow County handily during Tuesday's Primary Election but lost the statewide vote to challenger Mary Ridder of Callaway. Ridder is leading Vap by 57 votes as the race turns to remaining provisional and absentee ballots that have yet to be counted...

McCook, Neb. -- Postal Service carriers will hold their annual food drive on Saturday, May 14. McCook area residents are encouraged to participate by placing non-perishable food items in bags, and leaving them by their mailbox before mail delivery on May 14. All the food collected will go to local community food banks and pantries...


GRAND ISLAND -- A McCook police officer, who died in 1961 as the result of an acute heart attack while performing jail duties, has been inducted into the Nebraska Law Enforcement Memorial in Grand Island. Police Officer David Martin had just completed feeding prisoners when he suffered the massive heart attack. He died instantly. Officer Martin, who was 44 years old at the time of his passing, joined the McCook Police Department in July of 1950.
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The 2015 "Remember Our Vets" car and bike show in conjunction with "Bartley Days" attracted collectible cars and bikes to downtown Bartley. This year's show, the third annual show, on Saturday, June 4, will see cars and bikes circle Bartley's city park from 11 a.m. ...

McCOOK, Neb. -- The McCook Area Chamber of Commerce is moving forward in the process of hiring a new executive director, as well as setting a budget for the upcoming fiscal year according the Chamber President Jamie Mockry. Mockry will be serving as chamber president for one more month, and then Matt Sehnert of Sehnert's Bakery will take the lead position on the board...

McCOOK, Neb. -- McCook Water Department crews fixed a water line leak and replaced a residential meter on West 13th Street earlier this week. The task provided an opportunity to utilize the city's recently purchased hydro excavator trailer, a welcome addition for city crews historically limited to hand-digging similar projects...

McCOOK, Neb. -- A McCook woman received jail time earlier this week in Red Willow County District Court on a felony drug charge and for violating her probation in a previous drug case. The woman, 41-year-old Kristie A. Marquardt of 1110 West 13th Street, was sentenced to 120 days in jail, with credit given for 2 days already served, and ordered to serve 9 months post-release supervision...

Four-year-old Liam Townsley tries hard to make dull scissors work, after the official ribbon cutting at businesses owned by his dad Joe Townsley, left, and Gary Parks, right, Thursday morning. Townsley has moved "Trenton Insurance" from downtown McCook and Parks has moved "McCook Hearing Aid Center" from his home north of McCook, into newly-renovated offices at 1505 N. ...

"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." We have all heard a variation of that phrase since it was written by George Santayana in Life of Reason in 1905. There are several meanings and interpretations attached to it but the most enduring and popular one is that we need to learn from our mistakes. In fact, one interpretation says that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different outcome...

Ann Romney's determination Dear Editor, In 1998 when Ann Romney was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis she thought she was at the end of her rope However, she was determined to deal with her situation in a positive way. "In This Together," published by St. Martin's Press in 2015, is a book she wrote about her dealing with M.S. and other challenges...

Nuclear power was hailed as a miracle when it was first implemented back in the 1950s, and still shows promise in the form of nuclear fusion, which has been "just a few years away" for many decades. We agree with the view that the most practical course is a cocktail of energy sources -- coal, oil, wind, solar, hydro and nuclear -- but in the end, simple economics will be the deciding factor...