Stories from Tuesday, August 8, 2023

Hop in your car or take a long walk to enjoy a wonderful place to live. Yes, our little area of Southwest Nebraska is at its peak for summer comfort. It is Monday as I write this and the temperature is right at 80 degrees F. with a light breeze of about ten miles per hour. There is a high overcast so the danger of sunburn is minimal. Enjoy it because we know it will soon change...

Bonnie Ilene Rowan Nov. 17, 1940 -Aug. 6, 2023 LAMAR, Colo. - Bonnie Ilene Rowan, age 82, of Lamar, Colo. passed away with her family by her side on Aug. 6, 2023, at her home in Lamar. Bonnie was born Nov. 17, 1940, in Wiley, Colo. to parents Roy W. and Lucy M. (Kennard) Bowles. She was one of eight children...

Kara Elizabeth (Behlke) Ungerman Jan. 18, 1983 - Aug. 4, 2023 URBANDALE, Iowa - Kara Elizabeth (Behlke) Ungerman passed away due to complications after giving birth to her firstborn child, Oliver Nolan Ungerman, on Fri. Aug. 4, 2023. Before she passed, Kara and her loving, devoted husband, Andy Ungerman, were able to share this miraculous moment...

James “Jim” Dean Paxton Dec. 23, 1962 - July 30, 2023 BEAVER CITY, Neb. - James “Jim” Dean Paxton of Beaver City, Neb. passed away in his home surrounded by his loving family on Sun., July 30, 2023 at the age of 60. Memorial services will be held on Sat., Aug. 12, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. in the United Methodist Church in Arapahoe. All funeral arrangements were made by Garey Funeral Home of Arapahoe and Beaver City...

67th anniversary SUN CITY WEST, Ariz. - The family of George and Peggy Pearson, formerly of McCook, Neb. are requesting a card shower in honor of the couple’s 67th wedding anniversary on Sat., Aug. 12, 2023, George and Peggy were married Aug. 12, 1956, in McCook, Neb...

50th anniversary McCOOK, Neb. - Family and friends of Fred and Deb Gleason of McCook, Neb. are requesting a card shower in honor of the couple’s 50th wedding anniversary on Friday, Aug. 11, 2023, Fred and Deb were married Aug. 11, 1973, in Pierce, Neb...

McCOOK, Neb. - Southwest Nebraska Public Health Department’s Walk to Health program is offering the “Walk Your Way to the Top” Challenge starting August 14 through September 11. This free walking program is open to residents of all ages in the SWNPHD nine-county health district...

Paint striping, chip sealing projects announced McCOOK, Neb. — Two chip-sealing projects and district-wide paint striping projects are underway, according to the Nebraska Department of Transportation office in McCook. Weather permitting, chip sealing projects will begin Monday on U.S. 283 from reference post 9 to 21 from the N-89 junction to Arapahoe, and from reference post 42 to 43 in Beaver City. Traffic will be maintained with pilot cars and flaggers...

McCOOK, Neb. - Monday’s Red Willow County Board of Commissioners meeting saw several financial issues discussed throughout the morning. Shortly after a call to order, concerns were expressed during the time allotted for “citizens’ comments” regarding an annual budget request made by the sheriff’s department. ...

McCOOK, Neb. — “Horse whisperer” Paul Daily will bring his Wild Horse Ministry to the Alice Building Arena on the Red Willow County Fairgrounds at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 16. Doors open at 6 p.m.; bring a lawn chair. Sponsored by West First Chapel, a freewill offering will be accepted...

McCOOK, Neb. - Under the shade of the historic George Norris home, youth from the McCook YMCA children’s program learned the history of the Lakota tribe and played Native American games Friday morning. Steve Tamayo, who is of Lakota Indian heritage, was brought to McCook to help lead the event, and taught the children about certain customs while leading them in activities...

There is a petition being circulated gathering signatures from Nebraskans to repeal LB 753. This is a bill we passed in the last session creating a modest school choice program for parents. I urge registered voters not to sign it. The Nebraska State Education Association, the state teacher’s union, is strongly opposed to this bill. ...

Dear Editor, Enough petition signatures by Aug. 30 will allow voters to decide to keep or repeal LB753 in Nov 2024. Religious (parochial) schools are “private” schools. 85% of our private schools are religious schools, most of only two church doctrines...

Dear Editor, An article in the Gazette on Aug. 4 said the Opportunity Scholarships Act (LB 753) warrants voter “scrutiny.” However scrutiny - or analysis - is NOT what was being promulgated by paid canvassers collecting signatures in our small towns last weekend...

KEARNEY, Neb. — Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol, with assistance from the Buffalo County Sheriff’s Office, have arrested one person after a road rage incident Monday evening on Interstate 80 near Kearney. At approximately 6:20 p.m., NSP received a report of a hit-and-run crash on Interstate 80 near mile marker 266. ...

90th birthday The family of Twila Johnson is hosting an open house celebrating her 90th birthday. The open house will be held from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. at the Stockville Fairgrounds on Sunday, August 13. No gifts please.

McCOOK, Neb. – The McCook City Council meeting turned up the heat in the closing minutes when the topic turned to “Is it a grant or is it a loan” for the NDED Rural Workforce Housing award that was earmarked for the Saint Catherine’s Project. The historic yet rotting building is owned by Adam Mac Investments LLC, and according to Phil Lyons of McCook, they are not authorized to do business in Nebraska. ...