Stories from Tuesday, August 2, 2016

Larry D. Cass, DVM March 20, 1943 - July 29, 2016 SHAKOPEE, Minn. -- Larry Dean Cass , DVM, passed away peacefully July 29, 2016, at Friendship Manor in Shakopee, Minn., with his wife and daughter by his side. Larry was born March 20, 1943, in Oxford, Neb., to Dean and Mary (Warner) Cass, the eldest of five children. ...

Geraldine "Gerry" Mae Ford Aug. 15, 1929 - July 10, 2016 WESTMINSTER, Calif. -- Geraldine "Gerry" Mae Ford passed away July 10, 2016, in Wesminster. Geraldine Mae Abbuhl was born on Aug. 15, 1929, in Beverly, Neb., to Mac and Marea Abbuhl. Her parents were farmers in Beverly and Geraldine, known as Gerry, grew up there. She had two younger brothers - Jim Abbuhl, who has passed away, and Billy Abbuhl, who lives in Rockford, Ill...

Milo Burton Darling Oct. 2, 1920 -Aug. 1, 2016 NORTH PLATTTE, Neb.-- Milo Burton Darling, 95, passed away Aug. 1, 2016, at Linden Court in North Platte. Milo was born Oct. 2, 1920, to Floyd and Cora Tompkins Darling at the family farm home west of Danbury, Neb. He was the ninth child of 10. Milo grew up on the family farm and graduated from Danbury High School in 1938. There were no jobs, so he moved to Los Angeles in 1941 and worked for a bakery selling bread door to door...

Edward Glen Warren July 11, 1932 - August 1, 2016 "To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die." ~Thomas Campbell BENKELMAN, Neb. -- Edward Glen Warren, 84, passed away Monday, Aug. 1, 2016, in Benkelman. He was in the US Navy, Retired. He served in the Pacific Fleet San Diego/ Korea and VietNam/ USS Shields...

McCOOK, Neb. -- The start of school is still a few weeks away, but that didn't keep Pat Sitzman and Carmen Goodwin from shopping for several hours Monday as they prepare for the annual Southwest Nebraska backpack giveaway. The annual giveaway will be Wednesday from 3-5:30 p.m. ...

McCOOK, Neb. -- City leaders are busy crunching numbers ahead of next week's public review of the proposed 2016-17 City of McCook budget. Citizens with priority items or ideas they believe warrant budget consideration should contact city department heads this week, City Manager Nate Schneider advised this morning. "It's a good time to come in and discuss those things," he said during a visit with the Gazette...

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. -- The 2016 North Platte Community College raffle car, a fully restored and modified 1968 Ford Mustang Coupe, will make appearances in Arapahoe and Trenton this weekend. It will be part of the "Cruise-In by the Lake" car show at the Good Life Marina on the south side of Swanson Reservoir near Trenton. The show begins at 5 p.m. on Friday...

The Nebraska State Fair is expecting its 2 millionth visitor this year in the Grand Island site it has called home for the past seven years. Fairboard member Bob Haag of Indianola joined Executive Director Joseph McDermott and Marketing and Sponsorship Director Shaun Schleif on their annual promotional swing through Southwest Nebraska, but they had no trouble finding something new to talk about for Nebraska's big party...

In contemplating responding to Dick Trails column about the concern expressed by a prominent agri-business cheerleader in Southwest Nebraska I asked myself why and can I present a message of relevance. I feel confident I can answer the first question of why to an appreciable degree. The second question will only be answered by those who read further...

Okay, guys (gals? I hate unsigned criticisms) you took this old boy to the woodshed for last week's column. Had you read a little closer you might have noticed that I was only relaying the opinion of longtime friend Don. Then I noted that Dr. Wayne had the correct response. We need to honor and advertise all our assets the agriculture related and the tourist attractions. Yes, we are all in this together...

McCOOK, Neb. -- McCook Junior High School plans an orientation program for students who will attend the junior high for the first time in the fall of 2016. The scheduled: Wednesday, Aug. 10 -- 9 a.m. - All 6th graders with last names A through G; 10:30 a.m. - All 6th graders with last names H through L...

McCOOK, Neb. -- Red Willow County commissioners worked with the county attorney and the county's budget clerk Monday morning to figure out how to ask voters to help Hillcrest Nursing Home with its budget problems. Commissioners decided to ask voters to allow the county to increase its restricted funds (its "spending limit") of $4.2 million by 6 percent, thereby raising about $254,000 in taxes a year that commissioners could earmark for Hillcrest...

Clerk of the County Court Gretchen Wiebe administers the oath of office to Red Willow County's new county treasurer, Sue Wesch. Following a 10-minutes closed session during their meeting Monday morning, county commissioners announced Wesch's appointment to complete the remainder of Treasurer Marleen Garcia's term through the end of 2018. ...

GRAND ISLAND -- A number of local performers are among the winners of the 2016 Galaxy of Stars Talent Search Video Contest and local Participating Partner Searches, according to Nebraska State Fair and Vision Productions Inc. The have qualified to advance to the Galaxy of Stars® Talent Search Semi-Finals at the Nebraska State Fair on Saturday, Sept. 3 from 6-- 9 p.m...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Community Hospital in conjunction with Safe Kids Platte Valley will host a Buckle up Baby! Car seat event Saturday, August 6 in the McCook fire station, 505 West C Street from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Community Hospital has certified car seat technicians who will conduct the event...

Deloris A. Myers Sept. 13, 1928 - July 29, 2016 SIDNEY, Neb. -- Deloris A. Myers, age 87, of Sidney amd formerly of Indianola, Neb., passed away at the Sidney Regional Medical Center, Friday, July 29, 2016. Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m., Friday, Aug. ...

Waverly's 23-run attack in two previous state tournament games was struggling to reach two or three against McCook Monday night. Trae Heathers' tantalizing array of pitches were simply too tough for Class B title favorites to hit...

Mason Michaelis, front, attended Mike Trader's Mid-America Basketball Camp in Hastings on July 21-24. Michaelis stood out among his fellow campers and won awards. Also pictured is, from left, Coach Bill Gavers, Coach Larry Ribble, and Coach Trader.