Stories from Tuesday, January 31, 2017

It's a tired old adage, but as true as ever: If it seems too good to be true, it probably is. The latest to learn the hard way are customers of Creative Creations, which got a little too creative with travel packages back in 2014 and 2015. PatriciaUrbanovsky of Omaha, 31, was sentenced to 63 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release and ordered to pay $4.7 million in restitution...

In January of 2009, Barack Obama -- the soon-to-be president -- famously boasted: "Elections have consequences -- and at the end of the day, I won." Yes, elections sure do have consequences and the democrats in congress don't like what the election of President Donald Trump has meant for today's world. ...

Sen. Bill Kintner of Papillion held a morning press conference on Jan. 25 to announce that he has resigned from the Legislature. He specified that he had handed in his letter of resignation to Speaker Jim Scheer stating that his resignation would be effective at 12:01 a.m. on Jan. 30. This has been a pressing issue in the Legislature this session and I am glad that we are now able to put this issue behind us. I and many others had been encouraging Kintner to resign since this last summer...

Robert E. Hinz May 23, 1928 - Jan. 28, 2017 McCOOK, Neb. -- Robert E. Hinz, age 88, passed away, Saturday, Jan. 28, 2017, at Community Hospital of McCook. Robert was born May 23, 1928, to Emil H. and Charette (Kunkee) Hinz in McCook. Robert was a member of St. John's Lutheran Church...

Hilda Anna Magdalena (Dunker) Holste Dec. 3, 1918 - Jan. 26, 2017 LUDELL, KAN. -- Hilda Anna Magdalena (Dunker) Holste, 98, of Ludell, died Thursday, Jan. 26, 2017, at Kearney (Nebraska) Regional Medical Center. She was born Dec. 3, 1918, at the family farm near Ludell, the eldest child of Herman C. and Marie (Domsch) Dunker, Jr. and was baptized at home on Dec. 9, 1918, by the Reverend Otto Moellmer. On March 20, 1932, she was confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church north of Ludell...

LINCOLN, Neb. --Wayne C. Lafferty, 80, passed away Friday (Jan. 27, 2017) in Lincoln, Nebraska. Visitation will be held at Lincoln Memorial Funeral Home from 6-8 p.m. on Monday (Jan. 30, 2017). A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday (Jan. 31, 2017) at North American Martyr's Catholic Church, 1101 Isaac Drive in Lincoln, with a Rosary at 10 a.m. Interment will be at Lincoln Memorial Park at 1:30 p.m...

Iris Florence Laura Upward Oct. 15, 1926 - Jan. 26, 2017 ARAPAHOE, Neb. -- Iris Florence Laura Upward, 90, of Arapahoe, died Thursday (Jan. 26, 2017), at Good Samaritan Society Care Home in Arapahoe. She was born Oct. 15, 1926, to William A. and Evelyn (Crouch) Fudge in Leicester, England. ...

Lyle G. Stroup Aug. 3, 1944 - Jan. 27, 2017 BENKELMAN, Neb. -- Lyle G. Stroup would like to let you know that his work here is done. He received a call, a sort of an offer you can't refuse, for an appointment from which he will not be returning. This assignment comes with a huge sign-on bonus, a reunion with family and friends he has not seen in a long time. ...

McCOOK, Neb. -- A single engine airplane had a mishap while landing at McCook Ben Nelson Regional Airport Saturday afternoon. Airport officials said the small aircraft came in with "wind issues" and pushed off to the left of the runway shortly after touching down, making contact with a taxiing sign and two runway lights. No one was injured as a result...

McCOOK, Neb. -- A bettin' man would put his money on the weeds, and feel pretty confident doing it. But don't discount the landowners; they're putting up a good fight. "I think we're gaining," Bill Elliott, Red Willow County's weed control superintendent, told county commissioners Monday morning. "People seem to be trying harder," Elliott said. "Unfortunately, there's job security in the weed business."...

OBERLIN, Kan. -- Freshman Alyssa Van Vleet's 13 points highlighted a 44-29 defeat for the Decatur Community Red Devils against visiting Oakley, Kan., Monday evening. Anna Carter -- another freshman -- added eight points for the young squad which dropped to 1-13 this season...

LIBERAL, Kan. -- The McCook Community College baseball team opened the 2017 campaign against Seward County for the fifth straight year. The Indians aimed on continuing their recent success against the Saints, winning the last two matchups, but the fifth inning doomed the Indians, as they drop the doubleheader, 7-4 and 16-4...

The Dundy County-Stratton boys are now Class D-1 No. 4 in this week's Lincoln Journal-Star state rankings after dominating last week's RPAC basketball tournament. DC-S trounced 14-1 Paxton, 60-42, and neve trailed through a 62-37 championship game win over 15-2 Alma Saturday evening...

ARAPAHOE, Neb. -- Arapahoe placed third among 12 teams at the Warrior Wrestling Invitational on Saturday. Elm Creek took the team title (154 points) just ahead of reigning Kansas 3A-2A-1A state champion Norton (149). Arapahoe totaled 128 points to finish four better than Axtell (124) while Pleasanton placed fifth overall (90 points)...

Steve Towery/McCook Gazette Just a reminder the McCook High swim team will make its final home appearance this season with Friday's 4 p.m. triangular at the McCook YMCA. Candace Coleman (above) and the Bison have been setting relay records while two divers qualified for state during last week's North Platte Invirtational. The Gazette hopes to include more results from that most recent meet this week...

McCOOK, Neb. -- The McCook Community College regained their shooting touch with a 93-80 non-conference win over Sunrise Prep Academy Monday evening. McCook hit nearly 54 percent of its two-point shots including a sizzling 20 for 34 (58.8) after intermission...

McCOOK, Neb. -- It was tough to tell who won between McCook Community College fast-break points and coach Kellen Fernetti dashes along the sideline Monday night. Both were clearly entertaining as the Indians ran to another win, 87-69, over Northwest Kansas Tech's JV squad...

McCOOK, Neb. -- Red Willow County commissioners took no action Monday morning following a closed session during their weekly meeting on the courthouse third floor. The closed session was called at 10:15 a.m., in conjunction with a meeting with Randy Dean, a member of the board of trustees of the county-owned Hillcrest Nursing Home, The purpose of the meeting was to discuss professional review activities and potential litigation, both of which can be legally discussed in a session excluding the public and press.. ...

It may still be January, but it was a windy March kite-flying day over on West 12th Street in McCook, Neb., where Head Start students took turns holding on to the string. Teachers Assistant Bethany McKillip helps Sequoia Anderson, 4, avoid a kite-eating tree. It was a balmy 65 degrees Tuesday, but more seasonable weather was predicted to return by Wednesday...

McCOOK, Neb. -- The Sinners Sanctified Motorcycle Ministry plans a chili feed and gun raffle to benefit the Dennis Shannon family. Shannon fought a long battle with cancer and proceeds of the benefit will go to help the family pay for funeral and medical expenses...

McCOOK, Neb. -- A McCook man sentenced to prison time in 2014 for leading police on a high speed chase in a stolen vehicle was back in Red Willow County District Court earlier this month facing sentencing on similar charges. The man, 25-year-old Nicholas R. ...

Harvey D. Herbert Nov. 22, 1928 - Jan. 28, 2017 ARAPAHOE, Neb. -- Harvey D. Herbert, 88, of Arapahoe, died Saturday (Jan. 28, 2017), at Elwood Care Center, Elwood, Neb. He was born Nov. 22, 1928, to Elmer Ivan and Martha Mae (Crapson) Herbert on a farm in Hayes County, Neb., near Palisade, Neb. He grew up in McCook, Neb., where he attended school to the sixth grade and quit to go to work for a construction company digging basements...

George Charles Wetzel March 20, 1935 - Jan. 26, 2017 CORVALLIS, Ore. -- George Charles Wetzel, 81, of Corvallis, died Thursday, Jan. 26, 2017, at Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center. George was born March 20, 1935, in McCook, Neb., to Leon Seaver and Freda Bell Scharf Wetzel. He grew up in Curtis, Neb., where he attended the University of Nebraska School of Agriculture and met his future wife, Joan Hathaway. George and Joan were married on Sept. 15, 1956, in Lincoln, Neb...

Allan M. Bishop May 30, 1945 - Jan. 30, 2017 MCCOOK, Neb. -- Allan M. Bishop, age 71, passed away Monday, Jan. 30, 2017, at his home in McCook. Allan was born to Archie M. and Regina "Maxine" (Carpenter) Bishop on May 30, 1945, in Flint, Mich. He graduated from McCook High School in 1961...