Stories from Thursday, May 24, 2018

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. -- Norm Liakos can’t remember a Medicine Valley golf team as unified as this year’s squad...

Things in Lincoln have slowed down considerably since the end of session last month. This week I would like to update you on a major renovation to your state capitol. Over the next eight or more years, the capitol will be under construction. We will be updating the old heating and cooling system with a new HVAC unit, as well as, repairing and fixing the windows. ...

I know I’ve rambled on the last few weeks or so about my daughter graduating and carrying on about how sad I was and all that, but I’m not sure I ever clarified that not once have I ever wanted to start over from the beginning. Although I miss my babies and I can’t believe how fast time has flown, I am totally good with where we’re at in life. ...

It’s hard to fault any action that will potentially reduce the number of nuclear weapons in the world, but North Korea’s destruction of a test site was likely more symbolic than anything else. The hermit kingdom first hedged its bets by calling Vice President Mike Pence a “political dummy,” then invited journalists in to watch it set off a series of explosions over several hours at the Punggye-Ri site in North Korea...

This past winter was different. Why? Because we actually had a winter with snow and sleet and slush. And the wind. With the snow falling and wind blowing outside, people were inside the YMCA peddling away. They were on the stationary bikes in the cardio area and spinning away as part of the rYde indoor class...

COLUMBUS, Neb. — McCook’s Gabe Vielma dropped six strokes off his final-round score and tied for 32nd place at the Class B state golf tournament on Wednesday. Vielma dropped from 88 to 82 and his 170 topped more than 40 other Class B state qualifiers...

KEARNEY, Neb. — Nebraska winds didn’t shake Preston Carbaugh for long as the Cambridge junior finished his second Class C state tournament in a fifth-place tie Wednesday. Carbaugh parred 10 holes, birdied one and dropped a stroke off Tuesday’s score to finish at 151 (76-75)...

McCOOK, Neb. — The City of McCook Water Department is issuing a mandatory water restriction for Wednesday, May 30, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nebraska Public Power will have a planned power outage on May 30 to perform scheduled maintenance on the power lines that supply electricity to an area south of McCook, that includes McCook’s water treatment plant and seven of the nine water wells...

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. — Mid-Plains Community College administrators will receive a 2.33 percent salary package increase following action by the board of governors Wednesday night. The increase was the same as that negotiated for faculty salaries. President Ryan Purdy’s contract is separate and was tabled until the June 27 meeting...

McCOOK, Neb. — The McCook Board of Zoning will consider the request for a variance so a professional building can be located at West Third. The meeting is Tuesday, May 30, 5:30 p.m. at City Council Chambers Carlos and Josiana Dominguez and Edward Jones/Bradley and Sharleen Riemenschneider have submitted a variance request to change the backyard setback requirement from 10 feet to 5 feet and the front yard setback requirement from 20 to 11 feet at 311 W. ...

CULBERTSON, Neb. — A Memorial Day luncheon will be held on Monday, May 28, after the 10 a.m. Culbertson Cemetery service. The luncheon will be at Barger's Tumbleweed in Culbertson and is sponsored by Adam Miller Unit 133 American Legion and Auxiliary...

McCOOK, Neb. — A Nebraska fire marshal and a Red Willow County sheriff’s deputy are investigating fires inside and near a wind-damaged shop on Old Highway 6 west of McCook Sunday evening. Red Willow Western rural firefighters responded to the fire call about 10 p.m., Sunday, to find an SUV burning outside and a small fire inside the building owned by Neal Coyle...

McCOOK — As he prepared to retire, Dr. Mike Owens took time out to write his epitaph. “These are the words I want inscribed on my gravesite,” he said: “Friends, tread this ground with gravity. Dentist Owens is filling his last cavity.” Smiling as he spoke, Dr. Owens was expressing the light-hearted philosophy that has been a hallmark of his 39-year dental practice in McCook...

McCOOK, Neb. — Jessica Bortner, RN, BSN, MBA, was hired as the Community Hospital Health Foundation Executive Director, according to Troy Bruntz, Community Hospital President and CEO. Her duties begin May 29. Bortner is replacing Terri Shipshock, who retires in June...

McCOOK, Nebraska – Terri Shipshock and Adelina Wilcox were recently honored by the McCook Rotary Club with a Paul Harris Fellowship. Shipshock has been a long-time Rotary Club member, past president, chair of the Rotary scholarship committee, and serves on the Rotary board of directors. Wilcox is the president of McCook High School Rotary Interact Club, which has grown significantly under her leadership...