Stories from Wednesday, October 19, 2016

I have delayed discussing the "Celestial Sea" until now, to give time for all five of the constellations involved to be above the horizon at a decent time. Now that Cetus, the Whale (or sea monster, if you will) has cleared the horizon, we can begin wading in the celestial water...

Journalists often hear charges that their stories are biased, but if they're doing their job, what the critics are more likely saying is that the story isn't slanted in the direction they would like it to be. Occasionally, they hear complaints from both sides of an issue, which many writers wear as a badge of honor...

Kim Gleason, McCook Walmart assistant manager, presents a $2,500 check to Pat and Henry Potter, founders of L2 for Kids, in early September. The organization helps purchase back-to-school clothing for families that can't afford them. In the past four weeks, it helped more than 200 families in McCook, North Platte, Kearney and Lexington, including just shy of 40 students in McCook, said Pastor Alisa Parde, of the Culbertson/Trenton United Methodist Church and president of the L2 Kids in the Hitchcock and Red Willow county areas. ...

Donald Lee Lucas Nov. 12, 1951 - Oct. 16, 2016 PARADISE, Calif. -- Don was born nearly 65 years ago on Nov. 12, 1951, in Culver City, Calif., the first child of Paul V. Lucas and Marie Esther (Rocha) Lucas. He grew up in Southern California amongst a loving family and graduated from Magnolia High School in Anaheim...

Mary Nell Linnemeyer Oct. 10, 1931 - Oct. 17, 2016 GRAND ISLAND, Neb. -- Mary Nell Linnemeyer, 85, of Dannebrog, went to be with the Lord on Monday, Oct. 17. She was a resident at the Grand Island Veteran's home at the time of her passing. Funeral services will be 10 a.m., Friday, Oct. ...

McCOOK, Neb. -- This one felt good for Dundy County-Stratton...

McCook, Neb. -- Cambridge didn't get the matchup they wanted, but the Trojans still took care of business...

McCOOK, Neb. -- Like their cheering football classmates, McCook's volleyball players battled and battled until Tuesday's contest came down to one final block along the front lines...

McCOOK, Neb. -- McCook Public School students scored higher on the writing test given last year than the state average. State writing assessments are given in grades 4, 8 and 11 in the spring and measure student proficiency. The Nebraska Department of Education released the Nebraska State Accountability (NeSA) writing scores Oct 14, that showed the state average of all students meeting / exceeding state standards has dropped, from 72 percent in 2015 to 70 percent in 2016...

CULBERTSON, Neb. -- The Culbertson Women's Club plans an election forum Sunday with Hitchcock County assessor Marlene Bedore and with candidates for the Hitchcock County Schools Board of Education and the Village of Culbertson Board of Trustees. The public is invited to meet the candidates and ask questions at the forum scheduled at 2 p.m., at the Ambulance Barn in Culbertson...

McCOOK, Neb. -- The McCook City Council unanimously approved a $1 increase to monthly sewer rates for residential and commercial customers earlier this week. The higher sewer rate will go into effect on Oct. 1, 2016, along with similar increases to city trash collection fees...

The flag person at bridge construction east of Trenton seems to rear back at the big truck coming through her traffic stop recently. Construction on Highway 34 near Trenton continues through the fall, with flaggers and pilot cars guiding traffic.

Kathy Smith waves at a passing motorist who has honked in response to her homemade sign in support of the Republican presidential ticket. Smith, who says she's lived here four years and cleans houses for a living, sometimes feels like she's the only Trump supporter around. ...

McCOOK, Neb. -- Just a week or so left before McCook's annual "Coat Closet and Winter Clothing Giveaway." The weather's changing, and with the cold comes the need for warm winter clothes. Collection dates for the Coat Closet at the city's Memorial Auditorium will be Monday, Oct 31, Tuesday, Nov. 1, and Wednesday, Nov. 2, from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m...

SAVANNAH, Ga. -- On Sept. 23, 2016, on a prominent corner of historic downtown Savannah, Ga., a bronze monument by Cambridge artist Sondra L. Jonson, was dedicated. The monument, called, "God's Mercy Endures Forever," is a life-size portrait of the foundress of the Sisters of Mercy teaching a teenage girl. The sculpture, just shy of 6 ft. tall, weighing 440 pounds, is a variation of a sculpture Jonson first created for Mercy High in Omaha, Neb...