[mccookgazette.com] Mostly Cloudy ~ 71°F  
High: 89°F ~ Low: 64°F
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
New effort helps keep cattle trail days history alive (06/17/13)
Nebraska -- going places. No, that's not a new slogan from the department of tourism, but perhaps it should be. That's because we've always seemed to be a state where everyone seems to be going somewhere else, at least in modern history. From the earliest Spanish explorers to the French fur trappers, 49'ers in search of gold, Mormons on their way to Salt Lake City, Nebraska has been a place to travel through...
Study: Illegals use relatively little U.S. health care (06/14/13)
The debate over immigration reform, combined with the controversial implementation of Obamacare, is raising the prospect of thousands of illegal immigrants obtaining healthcare on the taxpayer's dime. The Unicameral has even dealt with the issue several times, debating a program that offers prenatal care to undocumented immigrants...
Heed warning signs of elder abuse (06/13/13)
We're all urged to report suspected abuse of children -- in fact, it's illegal NOT to tell authorities when we believe a baby, toddler or older is suffering at the hands of an adult or older child. But children are not the only vulnerable people we may have contact with. A high percentage of Southwest Nebraska and Northwest Kansas residents are of retirement age or older, and the proportion is growing as more and more baby boomers age...
Revelations add fuel to suspicions about administration (06/12/13)
The good news is, you're not paranoid. That's how the fake news program the Daily Show put it Monday. The bad news is, the government IS keeping track of your telephone and Internet activities under the guise of national security. The National Security Agency, whose existence wasn't even acknowledged all that many years ago, is so committed to the effort that it's building a giant data center in Utah capable as holding as much as 5 zetabytes of data...
Even our land of bounty, hunger a continuing problem (06/12/13)
Foreign visitors are often amazed when visiting America's heartland, both by the sheer size of the landscape, and by the vast cornfields and amber waves of grain. Foreigners and domestic visitors alike, however, might be surprised that much of that bounty doesn't make it to those who need it...
DUI cases highlight need for better coping mechanisms (06/10/13)
Erin Brockovich, made famous in a movie by the same name, has apologized for drunken boating. The environmental activist was arrested after a game warden noticed she was having trouble docking her boat at Lake Mead near Las Vegas, and she was found to have a blood alcohol level just over twice the legal limit of .08 percent...
Grilling requires special summer food safety steps (06/06/13)
So you've just finished grilling that $5 sirloin steak to perfection when it slips off the barbecue fork and flops onto the deck of the patio. Does the five-second rule apply? Should you slap that hunk of meat back on the grill and convert it from medium rare to medium, just to be safe?...
Food waste effort depends on help of American consumer (06/05/13)
How much do you spend on food in a month? $100? $200? $500? What would you think if we used the figure $390? No, not the amount you spend for food; not even the amount you eat. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, that's the amount of food that was wasted, per U.S. consumer, in the average month in 2008...
Pendulum of twister safety swings both ways (06/04/13)
Time was, we all crouched in the cellar and hoped for the best when we heard of an approaching tornado. After the movie "Twister" popularized the concept of persuing the powerful natural sources of destruction, storm chasing became a popular sport. One of the surest signs of approaching bad weather is seeing a string of vehicles -- some festooned with antenna and armor plate -- speeding along major highways. ...
Americans may wait a long time for a Nigerian smart card (05/31/13)
It's not quite "666" tattooed on your forehead, but an African nation's new national ID card may give pause to believers of prophesy and civil libertarians alike. Nigeria, known more for email scams than legitimate financial advances, has joined forces with a credit card company to create an electronic payment system using MasterCard-branded National Identity Smart Cards...
Climbing costs make college savings more important than ever (05/30/13)
Americans continue to have trillions of dollars in debt, but it might not be where you think it is. The average credit card debt is $15,162 -- a staggering amount, when one considers that the average interest rate being charged on that debt is nearly 15 percent, and that we've amassed $846.2 billion in plastic debt...
Storytelling festival carries on important tradition (05/29/13)
It's all about the story. From the earliest conversations around a cave campfire to a Tweet distributed by fiber optic cable, humans have sought to communicate stories, stories that are true, embellished, completely fictional or a mix of the three, designed to inform, entertain or teach a lesson...
Finding ways to truly honor those who gave their all (05/28/13)
If you haven't taken time to reflect on the sacrifices our military personnel have made, you probably didn't take in either the visit by the traveling Vietnam Memorial Wall or the Memorial Day service closest to your home. It's a shame if American citizens don't take time to honor those who have made their way of life possible, but truly paying tribute goes far beyond a visit to a display or a trip to the cemetery...
Census stats show changing makeup of vets (05/24/13)
We knew that a visit to the traveling Vietnam Wall would be a moving experience, but we were surprised at just how much it was, for those who remember the tumult of that era, for those who served there and especially for those who lost friends or loved ones...
Oklahoma storm reminds residents of need for shelter (05/23/13)
The need for emergency preparedness has been a hot topic since the September 11 attacks, and before that, baby boomers remember "duck and cover" atomic attack drills. Today's children will recall exercises designed to help them deal with armed intruder in their schools...
Irrigation makes difference between farm profit and loss (05/22/13)
Everyone knows irrigation is important to Nebraska agriculture, but a look a last year's numbers leaves little doubt. "Crop farm with access to sufficient irrigation water were able to take advantage of excellent prices along with excellent yields," said Tina Barrett, executive director for Nebraska Farm Business at the University of Nebraska...
EMS on front line when disaster strikes (05/21/13)
Unbelievable devastation. Bloody survivors looking for family and friends. Rescuers search through debris in hopes of finding someone alive. We take those rescuers for granted, the EMS responders who were first on the scene in Moore, Oklahoma, many, we're sure, climbing from the debris of their own homes or offices on their way to help others...
Never leave kids in cars when the weather gets warm (05/20/13)
We enjoy the changing of the seasons, but sometimes it takes a while to remember the lessons we learned the previous year. It's annoying when we can't find our windshield scraper after the first frost, or discover we should have had the air conditioner serviced before the first heatwave...
War Memorial Wall offers time to remember, reflect (05/17/13)
Jack Rogers, the late Gazette editor, told poignant stories about receiving word of a local serviceman killed in Vietnam, then knocking on the doors of survivors to obtain a picture of the deceased. It was a difficult but necessary job, part of a newspaper's duty to tell the truth as well as honor those who gave their lives in service to their country...
Saturday great day to get outdoors (05/16/13)
The tone is usually negative when the subject of area lakes comes up, such as how water is being released to comply with the Republican River Compact and how Hugh Butler Lake had to be drained to repair Red Willow Dam. But there are still plenty of recreational opportunities at area lakes, and it would be a shame not to make plans to take advantage of them this summer...
Drunk drivers have only selves to blame for tougher laws (05/15/13)
You'll still be able to have a glass of wine with dinner or a beer with your pizza, but you'd better monitor your drinking a little closer if the National Transportation Safety Board has its way. The federal safety board recommended that states cut the drunken driving threshold from .08 to .05, a move that has cut drunken driving by half in the decade since it was enacted in Europe...
State airplane issue worthy of legislative study (05/14/13)
After four hours of debate Thursday and Friday, the Legislature pulled $2.5 million from the state budget which had been designated to buy a 2001 turboprop airplane from a University of Nebraska foundation, and instead do a study to determine what kind of plane would serve the governor best...
Remembering those who gave their lives for us (05/13/13)
McCook has a special honor this week with the arrival of the American Veterans Traveling Vietnam Memorial Wall, an 80 percent replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington D.C., which will open to the public at noon Thursday at Weiland Field in McCook...
Don't look the other way on graduation day (05/09/13)
Prom season is over and celebration season continues with this weekend's graduation ceremonies. It's a time of accomplishment and certainly worth marking with get-togethers with families and friends. Alcohol is a traditional part of celebrations, but for teenagers, or anyone under 21, it's not just a bad idea, it's against the law, both for the person who consumes it, and those who provide it...
Cancer center reflects generosity, new source of hope (05/08/13)
A cancer diagnosis is a shock, whether it's ourselves, a loved one or friend who receives the news. Add to that the uncertainties of the availability of treatment, and the prognosis almost becomes secondary. Thanks to advances in diagnosis and treatment, the prognosis is good for the majority of cancer patients, and now, thanks to a new project at Community Hospital, so is the availability of treatment...
Report points out vital role bees play in U.S. food supply (05/07/13)
Bring up "global warming" in a small town coffee shop and you'll experience everything from sudden silence to looks of disbelief to your friends suddenly remembering a need to pick up a few things at the hardware store. Mention the EPA and you'll probably hear everything from a list of examples of unreasonable federal intervention to a profanity-laced diatribe unprintable in a family newspaper...
PSA tests falling out of favor (05/06/13)
One-size-fits-all medicine suffered another blow with the announcement Friday that a routine blood test prostate cancer should no longer be routine. PSA -- prostate -specific antigen tests, once recommended routinely for men after a certain age -- should never be done without consulting with a doctor first, said the American Urological Association...
Paying for the death of the family (05/03/13)
There's no reason to worry about the demise of the traditional family; it's already dead. According to a report released by the U.S. Census Bureau, 62 percent of women age 20 to 24 who gave birth in the previous 12 months were unmarried. In 2011, 4.1 million women reported that they had given birth in the last year. Of these women, 36 percent were unmarried at the time of the survey, an increase from 2005 when an estimated 31 percent of recent births were to unmarried women...
Pipeline security only beginning if, when it is built (05/02/13)
The Nebraska State Patrol invited county sheriffs and prosecutors along the path of the proposed Keystone XL pipeline to a meeting to discuss security. The pipeline hasn't been given final federal approval -- the Environmental Protection Agency is questioning the State Department's environmental impact statement...
Cool, wet weather no reason to complain (05/01/13)
North Platte is dryer than Moab, Utah, according to a story in the Lincoln Journal Star, but McCook isn't far behind. While Moab averages 9 inches of precipitation a year, North Platte received only 7.87 inches since April 28, 2012. A check of Gazette records shows McCook has received 9.72 inches since the same date. McCook finished the year 2012 with 9.36 inches of rain, 13.17 inches below normal...
Bike to School Day spotlights versatile device (04/30/13)
If you live near a school, you know what mornings are like. If it's possible to have a traffic jam in a town like McCook, that's what areas around the elementary, junior high and high schools are like as parents drop off younger students and older students drive themselves to class...
New hazards as smartphones reach new horizons (04/29/13)
Ground stations are receiving signals from three new NASA satellites that were launched over the weekend. They have 100 times the computing power of previous satellites, high-resolution cameras, multiple sensors, GPS receivers and radios, and are expected to remain in orbit for about two weeks...
Tree-planting tradition continues with Arbor Day (04/26/13)
Nebraskans are familiar with the old photographs, by Solomon Butcher, of the sod houses in Custer County. The homesteaders usually are seated in the front yard of their homes, where there was plenty of light for the wet glass plate photography of the time, with their prized possessions, such as a piano, an organ -- even one famous photograph of a cow standing on the roof of their dugout home...
Wind incentive late, but valuable resource should be exploited (04/25/13)
Too little, too late, or needed forward-looking action? Was the horse already out of the barn, or is Nebraska playing catch-up with the rest of the herd? It's probably a little bit of each. Despite having agreed to delay all major tax-cut bills for a study of the state's overall tax climate, the Legislature went ahead and advanced just such a bill, LB 104, which would extend tax cuts to wind and alternative energy companies...
Texting, regardless method of input, is dangerous while driving (04/24/13)
How did we ever survive the '70s? In case you don't remember those days, ask your parents or watch a copy of "Smokey and the Bandit." Yes, the driving was dangerous, but if a study by the Texas Transportation Institute at Texas A&M University can be applied to 40-year-old technology, the talking on the two-ways made it even worse...
Our community isn't afraid to think big (04/23/13)
Any doubt that McCook likes to think big should be a thing of the past. The city police, administration and fire departments are still settling in to their new facilities, and the McCook Community College Events Center is just completing its first year of service...
Disasters bring out best, worst of human nature (04/19/13)
High-profile tragedies like the Boston bombings and the West, Texas, explosions often bring out the best in people. We heard stories of runners who had just completed the 26-mile run who immediately stopped to help the injured, or even ran a couple more miles to offer to donate blood...
No amount of training can prepare for every possible eventuality (04/18/13)
"Let's be careful out there," Sgt. Esterhaus used to tell officers on the old "Hill Street Blues" television series. That was good advice then and it continues to be good advice, whether you're a police officer, paramedic or civilian. The problem is, sometimes it isn't good enough...
Property owners must maintain first line of defense (04/17/13)
Local law enforcement agencies are working to solve the latest rash of break-ins, and we certainly encourage the public to call with any information anyone may have. Burglaries have been relatively rare around McCook, and it's sad that we have to think about security in a town where many of us aren't in the habit of locking our doors...
Balanced response needed to Boston tragedy (04/16/13)
It's always been a small world, but an event like the Boston Marathon bombings draws us all closer in this time of social media and instantaneous, personal communication. So far, we've been grateful to hear that Boston marathon runners we know -- and there are a surprising number of them -- all came through the tragic event safely, but that doesn't make the three deaths and 145 injuries of the innocent onlookers any less shocking...
Fuel prices lower, but be careful when filling up (04/15/13)
Winter seems to be hanging on in Southwest Nebraska, but a look at the calendar -- and noting the time of day when it gets light -- proves that, yes, it is spring. Thus it's a surprise to note that the average price of gasoline -- $3.53 per gallon in McCook today -- decreased in March for the first time in 10 years...
Even if you file late, you can still do it right (04/12/13)
If you have a refund coming, you probably already have it spent. If you think you will owe money, that may be the reason you've waited this long to file. Or, perhaps you're just a procrastinator, waiting until the last minute to do the work. Regardless the reason, filing at the last minute doesn't mean you have to make errors and and can't take every legal deduction you have coming before filing Monday...
Politics, not growing population, main cause of starvation (04/11/13)
Hear that the world population will grow from 7 billion to 9 billion by 2050, and visions of Indian slums and African children with swollen bellies come to mind, along with the need to control population growth. The reality is, however, there is already enough extra food to feed the additional 2 billion people -- but it's going to waste...
For now, wait-and-see posture proper one for Legislature (04/10/13)
Many legislative bodies have been derided as "do-nothing" groups, but sometimes doing nothing is the best course of action. Such is the case, for now, with gun legislation in the Nebraska Unicameral. Nebraska has had more than its share of tragic gun violence, the mall shooting in Omaha and the Norfolk bank robbery the most recent, and we're far from immune from news of the killings in Aurora and Connecticut...
Son's death shows limits of leaders' personal influence (04/08/13)
Pastor Rick Warren delivered the invocation at President Obama's first inauguration in 2009, oversees a church of 20,000 attendance in California, is a best-selling author and has drawn criticism for his views on controversial subjects like same-sex marriage and abortion, as well as some of his methods of ministry...
First candidate for Legislature sets the bar high (04/05/13)
It's too early for an endorsement, but it is encouraging to see someone like Dennis Berry throw his hat into the ring to run for Legislature. We have come out in opposition to term limits several times in the past, saying we feel that arbitrarily forcing capable, experienced lawmakers to leave office robs the state of valuable institutional memory...
Republic River Compact signers would be amazed (04/04/13)
Many of the first European settlers who came to Southwest Nebraska were forced to leave after finding it wasn't true that "the rain follows the plow" and rainfall wasn't reliable enough to be able to count on field crops every year. Then came the advent of large-scale irrigation, first from dams built in response to the Republican River flood of 1935, then from pumping groundwater from the Ogallala Aquifer into ditches, pipes and center-pivot irrigation systems -- dozens of which are produced at McCook's Valmont plant each week.. ...
Is airline's link of passengers' weight to fare fair? (04/03/13)
There's been an ongoing debate since the Wright Brothers over what actually makes an airplane fly. The traditional textbook view is that Bernoulli's principle causes lift because the air that is forced to move faster over the curved top of the wing has less pressure than the slower air passing under the flat bottom of the wing...
Hurry-up spending fiasco offers lesson for many agencies (04/02/13)
The late Jack Rogers, one of our predecessors in this position, used to tell a story about his time in Alaska during the Korean War years. It seemed Air Force auditors were on their way and the local command had a problem -- one extra bulldozer unaccounted for on the official inventory...
Improved website good start toward more open government (04/01/13)
Announcements by perennial candidates like Don Stenberg are always suspect, but the state treasurer's release touting Nebraska's top 10 ranking for providing online access to government spending data could be a game changer, provided taxpayer advocates and proponents of responsible government use it correctly...
Regardless provider, need remains for public health agencies (03/29/13)
The question of how best to provide health care services has been controversial for years, all the way from "Obamacare" on the national level to the question of the role of local and regional health departments, which fills a good portion of the rest of this page today...
Simple 'solutions' probably too simple (03/28/13)
Spend any time on Facebook or at the coffee shop and you're likely to run across a couple of controversial topics. One is gun control -- that's what it's called by Second Amendment proponents -- or gun violence, which is what it's called by those attempting to impose new laws...
Health department issue illustrates difficulty of making changes (03/27/13)
Representative democracy is a messy process from top to bottom, but usually has satisfactory results. The crowd at Monday night's public hearing on the future of the Red Willow County Health Department was definitely satisfied with the board of commissioners' 2-1 vote to keep the department open, rather than close it and expect the regional Southwest Nebraska Public Health Department to pick up the slack...
Severe Weather Week links winter, springtime storms (03/22/13)
Children, teachers and farmers enjoyed relatively mild weather on their way to school Jan. 11, 1888, but by the end of the day, thousands of children and teachers were stranded, and of those caught outside, 235 died in what came to be known the School Children's Blizzard...
Gardening season ready to spring on Southwest Nebraska (03/21/13)
It's expected to snow and blow over the next couple of days, but once the snow melts there will be no doubt spring has arrived. Early-spring flowere are already arriving and lawn and garden products are already sprouting in the stores. But if last year is any indication, it's possible precipitation will be short again this year and now is a good time to prepare for the continuing drought if it arrives...
Health department part of larger issue of better efficiency (03/20/13)
Besides other for-profit and officially non-profit agencies, Red Willow County residents are served by two public health departments. One, the Red Willow County Health Department, has a budget of $283,759 this year, funded from county taxes, a Vaccines for Children Grant and fees from services provided...
Injury, death by poison happens all too many times (03/19/13)
They say you are what you eat, and that's true to one extent or another. Unfortunately, for 87 people every day in the United States, what they are is dead as a result of poison they have eaten or otherwise ingested. We don't want to be alarmist and most of us are generally safe for most of the time, but it pays to be careful concerning ourselves and our children, when it comes to the potential for being poisoned. That's the point of National Poison Prevention Week, March 17-23...
Ag Week pays tribute to state's most vital industry (03/18/13)
Money doesn't grow on trees, but most of Nebraska doesn't have all that many trees, anyway. What it does have is a lot of open land suitable for growing a variety of crops, from grass to wheat to corn and other grains, plus the sunshine that can be combined with precious water to produce crops that do, indeed, grow into money...
Ohio tragedy reminder of teenage dangers (03/11/13)
It's an all-too-common story, but few fatal accidents involving teens are as horrific as the one Sunday morning in a small town near Youngstown, Ohio. A 19-year-old woman was driving an SUV -- taken without permission -- at a "high rate of speed" when it struck a guardrail and flipped over into a swampy pond...
Reasonable voter ID law will help legitimize elections (03/08/13)
Americans are used to showing identification for everything from writing a check -- remember those? -- to working out in the gym. Why, then, is it too much to ask that voters prove they are who they say they are before exercising the most basic American right, casting a vote?...
Solar garden great idea, but hits reality snag (03/07/13)
Sen. Amanda McGill has a great idea that she picked up in Colorado. The Lincoln legislator would like to allow Nebraska individuals, businesses or nonprofits set up solar panels in spare spaces, such as on a vacant lot, on the roof of a church or school, then sell shares of their project to the neighbors, who would get a credit on their electric bills...
Employers shouldn't close door on option for workers to telecommute (03/06/13)
We aren't whisked to work in flying cars like George Jetson, and we've long given up on strapping on our jetpacks, but some of us -- 4.3 percent do work from home via a computer, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That trend is no certain thing, with news this week that struggling companies Yahoo and Best Buy have forbidden it, requiring employees to physically show up at their workplaces, even if the work could have been accomplished at home...
Municipal Center more than just a source of pride (03/05/13)
Wags have described it as everything from the scene of a derailment to a World War II German bomber, but we think McCook's new Municipal Center will grow to be a source of pride for the community. We know it's already a source of pride for the people who work there...
Fleeting fame shines spotlight on local students (03/01/13)
Andy Warhol almost got it right. In 1968, he observed that "in the future, everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes." If he could have forseen the Internet, he might have more correctly trimmed that to "15 seconds." This week, three McCook Community College freshmen enjoyed their time in the spotlight on the Tosh.0 Comedy Central "Sports or Consequences" feature, which broadcast a video of one of them forced to ride through a carwash on a windshield after losing a "spin-around-a-bat" challenge.. ...
Study links childhood conditions to adult chronic pain, depression (02/28/13)
Food banks like the McCook Pantry are finding themselves more and more strapped to keep up with demand, and if Washington is unsuccessful in reaching a compromise, they'll be under even more pressure. The United States has far more than enough food to feed itself and many other countries, but economic conditions leave too many families without food at the end of the day...
Work Ethic Camp inmates losers as Chambers wins (02/27/13)
The debate over Sen. Mark Christensen's bill to allow work-camp inmates to work for non-profit groups has been a good introduction of Sen. Ernie Chambers to those who may be new to the state, or those who became politically aware during his term-limited absence from the Unicameral...
Bill reinforces fact public records are public property (02/27/13)
Public records are public property under the care of public entities. It's something everyone needs to remember, from the citizen on a first encounter with the system to the clerk who deals with public records every day to the elected official in charge of a particular office to the highest offices in the land...
Giffords, Clinton spotlight range of traumatic brain injury (02/22/13)
Slippery conditions like we are experiencing now call for taking extra precautions against injuries of all types, but none are more important to avoid than traumatic brain injury. The issue has been in the news as it relates to football at all levels, from junior high to professional, with the NFL taking steps to address the problem...
Storm brings out (mostly) best in area residents (02/21/13)
It's a good day to find out how people really are. One resident helped a dig out a couple of neighbors' cars only to find them gone when his own car got stuck. Others are suggesting the city get more aggressive about towing cars off of snow routes -- did anyone really know it wasn't going to snow? When drivers do get out on the treacherous street, is it really too much to ask to put down the cell phone?...
Mother Nature brings reminder it's still winter (02/20/13)
If you've had a bad case of spring fever over the past few days, Mother Nature has a reminder on the way: It's still winter. The National Weather Service office in Goodland, Kansas, is calling for 100 percent chance of precipitation today and Thursday, with as much as 17 inches of snow possible by Thursday night...
Study shows Dust Bowl threat not yet thing of the past (02/19/13)
If you caught the Ken Burns series "The Dust Bowl," you learned how economic and weather conditions can combine to produce an ecological disaster. High wheat prices during World War I prodded farmers, some of them absentee landowners, to break up fragile prairie land which was then left to blow away once the next period of drought set in...
Progress Edition theme 'Embracing Change' this week (02/18/13)
Tip your newspaper carrier a little extra this week if you're in that habit, or at least show a little sympathy. That's because he or she will be carrying a lot of extra newspaper to your doorstep with this year's Progress Edition, themed "Embracing Change."...
Russian asteroid takes space geeks by surprise (02/15/13)
Space geeks were caught by surprise this morning when they heard an asteroid had struck Russia hours ahead of another one they were already expecting to zip past Earth at a safe distance, yet closer than many communications satellites, later today. An asteroid about 150 feet in diameter, 2012 DA14, was to pass by our planet later today. ...
Restrict drones, yes; ban completely? No (02/14/13)
We once were criticized for describing the appearance of street-level viewing on Google Earth as "unsettling." Somehow, we weren't supposed to be concerned that someone in Kazakhstan could log on and find out what color our bedroom windows are, or who's sitting on our porch smoking a cigarette...
Safety Center has great idea for Valentine's Day (02/13/13)
A card? A box of chocolates? A night out at a nice restaurant? Those are all great ways to show someone you love them on Valentine's Day, but they're by no means the only way. We think the Nebraska Safety Center at Kearney has another great idea, one that works both for ourselves and those we love...
Work Ethic Camp in danger of becoming just another prison? (02/12/13)
The editorial board of the McCook Daily Gazette at the time was unanimous in its support of the programs at McCook's Work Ethic Camp, and that opinion hasn't changed. Our communities accepted the workers with glad hands and they responded in kind, and throughout those early years, crews could be seen working on a variety of projects in McCook and the surrounding communities...
Drought, ethanol interaction offers economic lesson (02/11/13)
Ethanol has been a bright spot for Nebraskans, both in providing an alternative fuel for our cars, and as a source of income for those involved with corn -- growing it, providing fuel, fertilizer and chemicals to make it grow, transporting it to market, turning it into fuel and hauling that fuel to market...
Legislation takes different tack (02/08/13)
If first you don't succeed, try, try again. Or, maybe you should try something entirely different. That's probably the point of several pieces of legislation, proposed at the state and national level. One, passed in the U.S. House of Representatives and pending in the Senate, would deny members of Congress their paychecks if they don't pass a budget...
Workers facing new competition from electronics (02/07/13)
Nebraska got its start thanks to the railroad, and transportation continues to be a key industry, whether its rail, highway, air, or, along the state's eastern border, even river. And, it's a bright spot in the current economy, with the American Association of Railroads announcing Wednesday that major freight railroads expect to hire 11,000 people and invest $13 billion in their rail networks and equipment this year...
Web makes lost property search easier (02/06/13)
Having trouble paying off that last credit card bill from Christmas? Like to get a start on the savings account for next year's holiday? You might check with the government. You may as well; the state or federal government is earning interest on money that is rightfully yours, or holding property that you should enjoy...
Should older drivers be required to prove their ability? (02/05/13)
None of us favor undue government interference in our lives, but there are occasions when it's a useful thing. Case in point: Grandpa's getting too old to drive, but no one wants to hurt his feelings by telling him. If the state steps in as "the bad guy," grandpa and the other drivers he encounters will be safer and family harmony preserved...
Tax reform needed, but now without thorough review (02/01/13)
We said the governor's plan to eliminate individual and corporate income taxes and replace the revenue by removing most sales tax exemption was an idea worth exploring, and that remains to be true. It's also true, however, that there's no reason to try to change an entire tax system in one session of the Legislature, as Jim Ulrich, Community Hospital president, told the Gazette this week...
Local building boom just part of regional trend (01/31/13)
If you've put off visiting the McCook Community College Events Center, you'll be running out of excuses this weekend. The McCook Area Chamber of Commerce's Home & Leisure Show is taking place this Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the MCC venue, a wide-0pen space that promises to provide a good atmosphere for visitors to explore the latest household goods and services and for businesses to display their offerings...
Study finds domestic cats spend much time killing small animals (01/30/13)
Fluffy may not be such a sweetheart after all. If you let her outside, your house cat spends about a third of her time killing smaller animals like mice, voles, chipmunks and birds, according to a study published in the journal Nature Communications...
Real change unlikely under immigration reform (01/29/13)
Now that the election is over, some of the first signs of bipartisanship are making themselves apparent in Washington with immigration reform ideas presented by both a group of senators and President Obama. Like most bipartisan plans, there's something for everyone to dislike in any legislation that's likely to result...
Big game can be big problem for gambling addicts (01/28/13)
At last check, the Baltimore Ravens are picked to lose by 41⁄2-points to the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XLVII. For those with a gambling problem, however, the game is a guaranteed loss. According to ESPN, last year's Super Bowl drew $10 billion in wagers worldwide, the vast majority of it, in the United States, at least, illegal...
Healthcare bills will come due, best paid early (01/24/13)
Healthcare is back on the front burner in Lincoln this session of the Legislature, with lawmakers set to consider expanding Medicaid coverage to as many as 159,000 Nebraskans by fiscal 2016. The move would bring the state into line with the federal health care law, even though the U.S. Supreme Court has struck down the provision that would allow Washington to withhold funding from states that chose not to expand Medicaid programs...
Lifetime goals real reason for entering college essay contest (01/23/13)
State Treasurer Don Stenberg is sponsoring the 11th annual "Why I Want to Go to College" essay contest, with a chance to win a $3,500 contribution to a Nebraska college saving plan, a one-night stay in an Omaha hotel and tickets to an Omaha Storm Chasers baseball game...
Marketplace of ideas only works if citizens maintain open minds (01/22/13)
President Obama has his work cut out for him if he hopes to move the nation toward "collective" action on the problems the nation faces during his second term. From his position in a polarized nation, it will take exceptional skill to achieve any goals in his lame duck term as president...
The more we look, the more radon we find (01/18/13)
It's a good news, bad news, good news situation. First, the first good news. More and more Nebraska homes are being tested for radon. Which brings us to the bad news -- more and more radon is being found, 59 percent of the 48,000-plus homes tested since 1990 have radon levels of 4 picocuries per liter of air, the acceptable health level set by the Environmental Protection Agency...
Gun action, if any, needs to come down in the middle (01/17/13)
Don't just do something, sit there. That's the best advice when it comes to some situations, but one Washington is unlikely to take regarding the shootings in Newtown, Connecticut, and elsewhere, and the resulting call for action. Unfortunately, any action President Obama and Congress is likely to take can only impose tighter restrictions on sane, responsible gun owners and create more lucrative markets for dealers in illegal guns and ammunition...
Scramble begins to preserve sales tax exemptions (01/16/13)
Let the games begin! The contest has begun to see which lobbying groups and "special interests" are strong enough to preserve their sales tax exemptions in Nebraska against Gov. Dave Heineman's proposal that some or all exemptions be eliminated as part of a major restructuring of the state's tax system with an eye toward improving Nebraska's business climate -- ranked 31st by the Tax Foundation...
Dr. Batty a lover of life who won't soon be forgotten (01/15/13)
Dr. John Batty, 98, passed away Friday at Community Hospital in McCook, Nebraska. After serving in the U.S. Navy from 1942 to 1946, Dr. Batty accepted a position at the McCook Clinic, where he was a general practice physician. He continued to practice medicine in McCook until his retirement in 1984...
Protecting your child from another dangerous 'intruder' (01/14/13)
The McCook Public Schools recently conducted a drill covering the possibility of a school intruder and the most effective responses. Yes, a dangerous school intruder incident could occur here, and officials are wise to play through possible scenarios with students and staff. Fortunately, such incidents are rare...
Fox latest piece of puzzle for attracting events (01/11/13)
A late professional friend of ours once looked into the possibility of McCook hosting a large state convention, but found to her chagrin that facilities were not judged to be adequate. McCook's been working hard to rectify that situation, and we have a feeling more of those events will be landing here soon...
'Paperless' trend not without its own environmental impact (01/10/13)
Google and a number of other online businesses are pushing a "Paperless 2013" initiative to encourage less use of paper, and they do make some good points. Despite decades of efforts by computer and software companies to move fingers away from the "print" button, the average office worker still uses 10,000 sheets of copy paper each year, according to the EPA...
Warming climate only complicates ongoing conflict (01/09/13)
No, it wasn't your imagination: 2012 was a hot, dry year. Nebraska and Wyoming broke state records last year, according to the State of the Climate Report issued Tuesday. Nebraska had an average temperature of 58.4 degrees January-November, breaking the old record of 57.9 degrees set in 1934...
Will 'toxic intolerance' deprive Hagel of a cabinet post? (01/08/13)
Chuck Hagel wasn't the most popular choice for Secretary of Defense, from either the right or the left. First, he had to disavow some of his remarks in opposition to the nomination of gay-rights advocate James Hormel, heir to the Hormel Foods fortune, as an ambassador, to gain grudging approval from the left...
Time is short for real change in Washington (01/04/13)
With Vice President Joe Biden administering the oath of office, Deb Fischer was officially sworn in Thursday for her six-year term as U.S. Senator, with Sen. Mike Johanns and former Sen. David Karnes at her side. Sen. Fischer pledged to work with Republicans and Democrats to "restore America's fidelity to her constitutional principles" by limiting the size of government, revitalizing the economy and respecting "the liberties and hard-earned money of American taxpayers...
Obesity rivals smoking as risk to health (01/03/13)
We hope you haven't given up on your New Year's resolutions yet -- in fact, it's never too late to make one. Giving up smoking is a "popular," yet difficult resolution to keep, and it's a worthy goal. But before non-smokers put too much effort into patting themselves on the back, consider the following information, pointed out by the St. Francis Medical Center in Grand Island...
McCook Daily Gazette
Our opinion