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Saturday, Feb. 11, 2012
CDC: Sodium comes from surprising source (02/08/12)
Nine out of 10 of us consume more sodium than we should, that's no surprise. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, most of us take in about 3,300 milligrams of sodium per day, about twice the recommenced 1,500 milligrams per day for people 51 and older, before we even reach for the salt shaker...
Essential Air, new slogan, web page good combination (02/07/12)
McCook has dodged a bullet in its battle to stay competitive in the economic development battle. On Monday, the Senate gave final congressional approval to the Federal Aviation Administration Air Transportation Modernization and Safety Improvement Act, which includes continued funding for Essential Air Service subsidies for McCook...
Too many drivers still unbuckled (02/06/12)
Seatbelts have been standard equipment in cars for nearly 50 years, but too many of us leave them unbuckled. It took a combination of nagging and tough law enforcement, but an estimated 85 percent of Nebraska drivers wore safety belts in 2010, according to the Nebraska Department of Roads...
Few arguments on need to cut deer population (02/03/12)
Hunting is getting a lot of attention in the Legislature this session, with committees considering a bill to allow hunting of mountain lions, one to allow farmers to kill one antlerless deer for every $1,000 in crop damage caused by deer and another bill to create a deer donation program to help feed low-income Nebraskans and prison inmates...
Groundhog, National Weather Service both make dire predictions (02/02/12)
Punxsutawney Phil emerged from his den in Pennsylvania to see his shadow, predicting six more weeks of winter. He won't get much of an argument around Southwest Nebraska. If predictions come true, it might be six weeks before we see the ground again, never mind our shadows...
Yes, it really is still winter (02/01/12)
With the shirt-sleeve weather -- we tied the record high temperature, 70º on Monday -- it's been easy to forget we're in the middle of winter. Mother Nature is promising to give us a good reminder on Groundhog Day, no matter what Punxsutawney Phil says Thursday, with the arrival of a winter storm...
Extending limit to three terms a good idea (02/01/12)
It's not as good as an outright repeal of term limits, but Sen. Tom Carlson's proposed constitutional amendment to limit lawmakers to three back-to-back terms is a step in the right direction. Nebraska voters approved term limits of two consecutive terms in 2000, which went into effect in 2006. Senators can run again if they sit out one term...
Bedbugs make unfortunate comeback (01/31/12)
"Good night, sleep tight, don't ..." well, you know the rest. Unfortunately, what used to be a fun bedtime rhyme for kids has turned back into real advice, thanks to the resurgence in bedbugs. The problem, which came into the spotlight with discoveries of the parasitic insects in hotels and motels, came closer to home this week with news that bedbug-sniffing dogs were being called into University of Nebraska dorms and a fraternity to deal with the critters...
No sign of recession in local construction (01/30/12)
If there's a recession in the construction industry, somebody forgot to tell McCook. The latest sign came this weekend with the demolition of a small house next to the McCook Public Library, purchased for possible future expansion by the Library Foundation. For now, it will serve as much-needed parking, and the library plans to add an elevator to allow better use of the existing basement...
Take a hike! -- Walking is hard to beat as a basic exercise (01/27/12)
Greg Anderson, in his book"The 22 {Non-Negotiable} Laws of Wellness, announced something that could: "If the pharmaceutical industry could bottle and sell a compound that would do all these things, the product would be hailed as the greatest wonder drug of the century," wrote Anderson, a noted cancer survivor, author of several books, speaker and consultant...
Gardeners get permission to push the seasons just a little (01/26/12)
New USDA hardiness map seems to confirm global warming.
Things are not as good, not as bad as they say (01/25/12)
Things are definitely not as good as President Obama made them sound in Tuesday night's State of the Union address. Nor are they as bad as the gloom-and-doom Republican response made them sound. For instance, Republicans blasted the president for the denial of the Keystone XL pipeline permit -- an issue he didn't address directly -- despite their own culpability in boxing the administration into a corner that left it few other choices...
Economic growth needs to target prime wage earners (01/23/12)
We've seen some economic development efforts for attracting and retaining young people in our area, and initiatives for bringing retirees here as well. A new Census study by the Center for Rural Affairs advocacy group points out the need for increase the number between those two groups, however...
Are textbooks really ready to go paperless? (01/20/12)
Most of us have a lot of good memories associated with our education -- gaining knowledge, learning skills, making good friends, picking the brains of wise teachers -- but dealing with textbooks isn't one of them. Perhaps the quality has improved today, but we remember when it seemed like writers went out of their way to make the content dry and boring...
Research indicates our attitude key to others' performance (01/19/12)
We've used the story before about the old man, sitting on a porch, who was approached by a newcomer to his town. "What are the people like around here?" the stranger asked. "Well, what were the people like where you came from?" the old timer responded...
Self-regulation better choice than PIPA, SOPA (01/18/12)
The modern highway system is a wonderful thing. Hop in your car, pump a dozen gallons of (high-priced) gasoline into the tank and drive anywhere you want. As you travel, you'll meet all sorts of other vehicles; trucks loaded with hay headed for Oklahoma and Texas, cars full of families, buses of high school athletic teams...
Radon, lung cancer related as leading causes of death (01/17/12)
It's been 48 years since U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Luther L. Terry issued the first warning about smoking being linked to lung cancer, but the message still needs to be heard. Lung cancer now surpasses breast cancer as the number one cause of death among women, probably because while advances have been made in breast cancer detection and treatment, lung cancer has one of the lowest survival rates of any cancer...
Texting ban only a start in fighting distracted driving (01/16/12)
We've already been convinced enough of the danger of texting while driving to outlaw the practice in Nebraska, and there is good reason. According to information gathered by Nationwide insurance: Fortunately, some teens are taking the lead in persuading their peers to shut up, put down the cell phone and pay attention to their driving...
Heineman's plan to cut taxes a worthy goal (01/13/12)
The governor has an uphill battle in achieving his goal of $326 million in tax cuts over the next three years, especially in light of the need to deal with the mess left with the attempt to privatize Nebraska's child welfare system. Still, we wish him luck...
Higher legislative salaries would be worth investment (01/12/12)
How much should a lawmaker be paid? The answer, of course, depends on whom you ask, and which lawmaker they're talking about. But is $12,000 a year adequate compensation for a member of the Nebraska Legislature? Sen. Scott Lautenbaugh of Omaha doesn't think so. He's introduced LR373CA to give Nebraska voters a chance to decide whether to give their state representatives a raise to $32,000 a year...
Community owes much to departing officials (01/11/12)
The Gazette staff is gearing up for one of the biggest projects of the year, the annual Progress edition that will be out in a few weeks. There will be no shortage of progress to report in McCook, from the completion of Community Hospital's latest construction and remodeling project, to McCook's new municipal building, a new McDonald's and at least two church construction projects...
Studies show 'broken hearts' really happen (01/10/12)
We've all seen it from time to time, long-time couples where one passes away shortly after another. "She died of a broken heart," we'll say, or "he didn't want to go on without her." Now there's growing scientific evidence that one can, indeed, die of a broken heart...
Unicameral idea didn't catch on; still just as valid (01/09/12)
Those of us who grew up in McCook think nothing of driving down Norris Avenue, enjoying a summertime concert in Norris Park or, for the past few years, walking by the statue of George W. Norris, gazing across the street, seated in the bronze park bench in front of his home, copies of a couple of newspapers in his lap...
Tax soda, but let's skip new state programs (01/06/12)
Remove sales tax-exempt status from soda and power drinks? Nothing wrong with that idea. Use the $20-30 million in tax revenue to set up a new government program? Maybe not so much a great idea. Sen. Bill Avery's LB753 would begin levying the sales tax and divert 90 percent of it into a new state Department of Education Obesity Prevention Fund and 10 percent to a state Health and Human Services Obesity Prevention fund...
Holidays too often result in violence (01/05/12)
The holidays are a great time of the year, but too many times they are marred by violence. A scan of the news indicates this year included some especially tragic cases. In Oklahoma, a teenage widow -- her 58-year-old husband had just died of lung cancer -- shot and killed an intruder who took half an hour to break into the home where she was caring for her 3-month-old son. ...
Casino gambling costs outweigh benefits (01/04/12)
The Legislature cut spending enough to erase a $1 billion budget deficit last year without raising taxes. Things are looking better this year, thanks to strong farm income and relatively low unemployment, but as usual, lawmakers are looking for ways to bring in more money in relatively painless ways...
Ignition interlock, one more expense, opportunity (01/03/12)
If you celebrated a little too much the other night, we hope you found a safe ride home -- perhaps with the local car dealer who was offering just such a New Year's service. If you were a little over the limit and made it home without incident, thank your lucky stars...
First Night great time to enjoy talent, reconnect (12/30/11)
The weather promises to be relatively mild for this year's First Night activities in downtown McCook, but if you've ever been to one of the events, you know that it's a great time even if it's frigid. Started by the McCook Young Leaders Group three years ago as an alcohol-free showcase for local talent, First Night is a great tradition now being carried on by the McCook Rotary Club...
Friends, foes find much to admire in Sen. Ben Nelson (12/28/11)
Say what you will about Sen. Ben Nelson; he never forgot his home town. Nelson, 70, announced Tuesday that he has decided "it is time to move on." We believe him when he says he plans to "look for new ways to serve our state and nation." As it turned out, Nelson, the Senate's most conservative Democrat, may have sealed his decision back in 2009, when he cast the deciding vote to pass the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, now usually derided as "Obamacare." In doing so, he drew the ire of pro-life forces such as Nebraska Right to Life, which had held out for specific language not included in the final version. ...
Website traffic reveals unfortunate truth about news (12/27/11)
Most media outlets would like to run more positive news, really, they would. Especially during the holidays, this newspaper and most other media outlets look for feel-good stories to make the season brighter. Unfortunately, it's the darker side of the news that gets all the attention...
Extension Clubs rare, services still needed (12/22/11)
Do you know how to fold a fitted sheet? Nita Malleck does; she learned it at the first meeting of the Merry Mrs. extension club, 57 years ago. If you missed Lorri Sughroue's feature story Tuesday about the club folding, you should dig out a copy of the paper or read it here: http://www.mccookgazette.com/story/17972......
First Christmas gifts carry same message today (12/21/11)
If Christmas seems expensive this year, we shouldn't be surprised. In fact, the gifts at the first Christmas would be out of reach for most of us today. The Bible indicates that the Wise Men from the East brought gold, frankincense and myrrh, among the most precious trade commodities of the day...
Councilman should resign so city can get on with business (12/20/11)
One councilman, convicted of harboring a "potentially" vicious dog, has stepped down and another, convicted of disturbing the peace, hasn't done so yet. An outside attorney brought in to advise the city said that a 1920s law was worded such that the two councilmen forfeited their seats at the time of their convictions. What does that mean?...
Population decline slowing, but jobs effort must continue (12/19/11)
The bad news, people continue to leave Red Willow County. The good news is, the loss is slowed and it's better than the many other parts of the state. As you may have suspected, Lancaster County showed the most gains, according to 2000-2009 IRS data analyzed by the Center for Public Affairs Research at the University of Nebraska Omaha. ...
State has chance for real CWS reform (12/16/11)
Privatizing government services may be a good idea in some instances -- garbage collection and the space program are two functions that come to mind -- but others haven't worked out so well. We're seeing the results of making the postal service an independent agency -- service to rural, less "profitable" areas is being eliminated or delayed...
Time is short for Christmas holiday mailings (12/15/11)
Don't look now, but Christmas is only 10 days away. That means, if you're going to mail a present Parcel Post to Grandma in Michigan or nephew Joey in Texas, it had better be on its way. If you want to spring for first-class, you have until Tuesday. Priority Mail should get there in time if sent by Wednesday and if you're really a procrastinator, Express Mail sent a week from now, Dec. 22, still has a good chance of getting there by Christmas...
Nebraska influence extends far beyond borders of the state (12/14/11)
Note to Nebraska chambers of commerce: How about a new slogan -- "In the middle of everywhere"? We're sure we've heard that tagline in use somewhere, but recent events reconfirm Nebraska's national importance, despite our small population and rural location...
Electricity still a bargain for Nebraskans (12/13/11)
Drive around McCook neighborhoods these days, and you'll see how much we all take electricity for granted. We think nothing of stringing hundreds of Christmas lights inside and outside our houses, for nothing more than celebrating the season. And that's good; we all need a lift during the cold months of the year...
Council question must be answered as quickly as possible (12/12/11)
It's hard to see how hiring an outside lawyer will provide the final word in an interpretation of state law that calls for the removal of City Council members convicted of a crime. In case you've missed it, council members Aaron Kircher, who was convicted of disturbing the peace, and Shane Hilker, who was convicted of harboring a potentially vicious dog, haven't been voting while the matter is under review...
Get a flu shot for the holidays (12/09/11)
The great thing about the holidays is getting together with family and friends. The bad thing about the holidays is getting together with family and friends -- and passing around the flu. Some researchers say that's why influenza -- the "real" flu, not stomach flu -- is more prevalent in winter; more of us are indoors, in close contact with each other...
Freedom of speech must extend to electronic means (12/08/11)
It's distressing to read, hear or see what we feel is false, misleading, biased or inflammatory "news," and there's no shortage of it when everyone has access to an unlimited electronic audience. But before we "do" something about it, consider the alternative...
Buffett purchase shows real value of newspapers (12/07/11)
There has been a great deal of doom and gloom spread over the past five years about the future of newspapers. The obituary of the entire print industry has been written numerous times, but the latest round of the end of the print world during the Great Recession seemed to gain some traction...
'Remember Pearl Harbor' important slogan for those of us who don't (12/06/11)
It's easy to criticize war movies, and with good reason. For the most part, they're produced through the filter of current events, each generation of filmmakers adding the prejudices and distortions it feels will attract the most viewers. For the most part, World War II movies have given way to films about Korea, Vietnam, Gulf Wars I and II and other conflicts, but films and documentaries about "The Good War" still provide an important service for those of us who don't remember the events they portrayed.. ...
Keep your home safe, cozy for the rest of the winter (12/05/11)
"Heater fires." Those two words come to mind when firefighters hear that temperatures are going to drop to the single digits for the first time each year. Just like cars that won't start, falls on icy sidewalks and frozen water pipes, heater fires are one of the hazards winter's first real cold snap -- probably one of the most dangerous and disruptive hazards facing residents in our area...
Proposed rules should reflect real condition (12/02/11)
You've probably heard the one about the guy in a suit who drives up in his fancy car and issues a challenge to a rancher. "If I tell you exactly how many cattle you have in that pasture, will you give me one?" Sure, says the rancher. The dude whips out his smart phone, uses GPS to pinpoint his exact location, logs onto a secret satellite and feeds the real-time image into a program which prints out the answer:...
Drop in childhood immunization results from misinformation (12/01/11)
A report that more and more kindergarten students aren't getting the required vaccinations is alarming, but we feel there may be more to the story. According to an analysis of state health department student vaccination data by The Associated Press, more than one in 20 public school kindergartners do not get all the shots schools require...
Hay truck mishaps keep emergency crews on the job (11/30/11)
Nebraska was a "fly over" state long before airliners were invented, but most of the traffic ran east and west, rather than north and south. That's not the situation now, when Highway 83 has become a major "hay corridor" for huge semi trucks hauling big round bales of fodder to drought-ravaged Texas...
Tweet flap gives Kansas team great opportunity (11/29/11)
Oh, my gosh! A high school girl tweeted the word "sucked" and in reference to a governor! Call out the national guard! Emma Smith, 18, who lives in a Kansas City suburb, found herself in the principal's office, being ordered to apologize to the governor's office in writing, after a flippant Twitter message to her friends: "Just made mean comments at gov. brownback and told him he sucked, in person. #heblowsalot."...
Success of family movies should send a message (11/28/11)
The vampires took the lead in pulling in moviegoers over the long Thanksgiving weekend, but far more money was made by studios catering to families, according to box office receipts. The latest "Twilight" saga sold enough tickets to raise $42 million this weekend ($221 million for the last two weeks) to lead, but families filled seats for the next four slots, The Muppets with $29.5 million, Happy Feet Two with $13.4 million, Arthur Christmas with $12.7 million and Hugo, with $11.4 million. ...
Have a safe, sane shopping experience (11/25/11)
We haven't heard any incidents in Southwest Nebraska to match the one in Los Angeles, where a woman described as a "competitive shopper" pepper sprayed her rivals as soon as the wraps were taken off the specials at a Walmart. The chain's local store parking lot was full for the 10 p.m. specials, literally, with spouses circling to find cars leaving while their partners headed for the crowded aisles inside...
Much is wrong, still much to be thankful for (11/23/11)
Watching the protests around the world, from the Tea Party demonstrations that started a few years ago, to the "Arab Spring" that is continuing through the winter, to the "Occupy" protesters who are shivering after having the good fortune of being thrown out of parks at night, it's obvious that discontent is widespread...
'Small Business Saturday' benefits local communities (11/22/11)
Too many of us look like the "Target" lady in her red sweat suit, hyperventilating over advertising and getting in shape to take on the crowd on "Black Friday," the day after Thanksgiving when big retail stores hope to meet their sales projections for the year...
Leadership unwilling to make spending cuts (11/21/11)
"How much are we willing to sacrifice," we asked a year ago, Nov. 11, 2010. We now have the answer. Not much. The result is likely to be business as usual, except that the business is more likely to be further decline in the U.S. credit rating and, as a result, influence around the world...
License plate dispute accomplishes goal of spotlighting marijuana petition (11/18/11)
Holbrook attorney Frank Shoemaker's attempt to place "NE 420" on the license plates of his van, and the Nebraska Department of Motor Vehicle's rejection, has brought on a lawsuit by the American Civil Liberties Union and a slew of comments on our website...
Stopping smoking has long, short-term benefits (11/17/11)
Today's the 36th annual Great American Smokeout, a day you would probably expect to hear a litany of ills caused by tobacco. If you're one of the 47 million Americans who still smoke, you probably know some of them by heart: And, while many of us, especially young people, don't worry about long-term effects like those listed above, consider the short-term benefits of quitting smoking:...
Higher prices, yet plenty to be thankful for (11/16/11)
You can expect to shell out a sawbuck more for Thanksgiving dinner this year than last. But don't blame the grocery; they've apparently absorbed costs like shipping, processing and storing food as long as they can, at least in Nebraska. The Nebraska Farm Bureau Federation has been sending out volunteers to fill the same shopping list, taking advantage of specials and discounts, since 1986. ...
TransCanada surprise move has predictable results (11/15/11)
Monday's surprise announcement that TransCanada will voluntarily shift the route of the Keystone XL pipeline was an early Christmas present for Nebraska legislators who are spending Thanksgiving week attempting to craft legislation to do just that. While TransCanada doesn't expect to spend a lot of money rerouting the pipeline, which it expects will be only a 30-40-mile shift, it will lose a lot of money because of the delay in time. ...
Farm, Ranch Expo continues to grow (11/14/11)
The success of the McCook Farm & Ranch Expo should be no surprise, given the importance of agriculture in Southwest Nebraska and Northwest Kansas, but the fact the event continues to grow by leaps and bounds is evidence of good management, vendor and public support and the availability of the right venue in the form of the Kiplinger Arena on the Red Willow County Fairgrounds...
Not every day with memorable date is memorable (11/11/11)
Schools and organizations are busy honoring American veterans today in ceremonies that have been going on since the end of World War I, with an armistice that took place in the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. That's an easy date to remember and with good reason -- their sacrifice should never be forgotten...
Veterans deserve chance to share American dream (11/10/11)
We ask them to leave their homes and loved ones, teach them to kill fellow human beings and send them to an environment and culture that are as alien to them as is possible on Planet Earth. We ask them to risk loss of life and limb, and, too often, when they come home damaged in mind or body, make it difficult for them to get the help they need...
Scandal points out need for fast action on abuse (11/09/11)
School officials were expecting a lot of attention when Penn State came to Lincoln on Saturday, but not for the reason it turned out to be. It's a sad end to the career of a great football coach, whether he continues for the rest of the year or not, and a black mark on an otherwise great college football program...
Wealth study leaves out one important asset (11/07/11)
If you've wondered where the impetus behind the "occupy" movement originates, a new Pew Study may offer some insight. According to an analysis of census data, the net worth of a household headed by a person 65 or older has a net worth 47 times greater than a household headed by someone under 35...
Air service plays vital role in community's life (11/02/11)
Airline service has always been an expensive and rarely profitable business, so there were high hopes when industry was deregulated in 1978, given the freedom to decide which cities to serve and how much to charge. With sparse population, places like Alaska, Wyoming and even Southwest Nebraska were likely to be overlooked by airlines no longer forced to use more profitable routes to subsidize routes that were losing money...
Washington's debates on Social Security can have real local impact (11/01/11)
Despite its reputation as the political "third rail," there's a good chance Social Security will have to be changed if there's any hope of bringing the federal deficit under control. Why? Because, as bank robber Willie Sutton was supposed to have said, "that's where the money is."...
Keep kids safe this Halloween (10/31/11)
Send the kids out in strange clothes so they can take buckets full of teeth rotting candy from strangers? What could possibly go wrong? Thankfully, even in small town Southwest Nebraska, parents are cautious when it comes to Halloween, escorting small children to homes they know and keeping track of what they eat before they eat it...
Southwest Nebraska at advantage for pheasant season (10/28/11)
The pheasant season opener is always a big event in Southwest Nebraska, but don't be surprised if you see more out-of-town vehicles in town than usual. That's because man and Mother Nature have joined forces to make it that way. For one, the last couple of winters have been rough in eastern Nebraska, followed by wet springs, which makes it harder for baby pheasant and quail to be produced and to survive...
Volunteering very much in the cards for local residents (10/27/11)
Publishing a daily newspaper in a small town is a fun and challenging enterprise, and sometime's we're as surprised as anyone about what finally winds up on the front page. We often compare the task to playing pitch. You lead with the best card you have; but sometimes it's an ace, sometimes a deuce...
Rental shortage real problem, but what's the solution (10/26/11)
Barb Ostrum can see the problem first hand. As local community service coordinator for Community Action Partnership of Mid-Nebraska, she's often the first to get the call when someone has nowhere else to go. As she told regional editor Connie Jo Discoe, she's helped a mother with two children, living in a car, young men with jobs but no place to live, and many others...
Special session spreads around any future blame (10/25/11)
First, Gov. Dave Heineman was opposed to a special session to deal with the Keystone XL pipeline. Then, Sen. Mike Flood of Norfolk said he would not support a special session. Now, the governor has called for a special session beginning a week from today, to determine whether the state can force TransCanada to reroute the pipeline...
Despite warm day, winter weather approaching fast (10/24/11)
The first frost arrived right on time, and despite today's predicted 80-degree highs, late October weather will return by mid-week. Can snow and cold be far behind? With family budgets continuing to feel the effects of recession, and energy prices continuing to climb, a small investment of time and money can pay off over the coming months of winter...
Real power rests not with the mob, but the ballot box (10/21/11)
If the grainy cell-phone video of a dazed, bleeding Muammar Gaddafi being manhandled by mob just before his death doesn't cause one to feel pity for even a brutal despot, we've lost too much of our humanity somewhere along the line. Compare Gaddafi's end to the relatively dignified dispatch of Osama bin Laden, and it's tempting to make comparisons of those involved in both incidents...
No Carhenge here, but area has many other attractions (10/20/11)
Want to buy a Nebraska icon? It can be yours, for only $300,000, but it's located in Alliance. Radio station KCOW said that the Friends of Carhenge board of directors voted to put up for sale the 24-year-old tourist attraction, consisting of a circle of 38 cars approximating England's Stonhenge...
British soldier's bravery provides inspiration to all (10/19/11)
"Better to die than live a coward" is the motto of the Royal Gurkha Rifles, a storied regiment of the British Army, recruited from the people of Nepal. They do not take their motto lightly. Consider Cpl. Dipprasad Pun, who was an acting sergeant, halfway through his tour in Afghanistan, when he found himself on sentry duty when he thought he heard a donkey or cow, making a clinking noise just outside his base...
Coaches competing on a different field to benefit students (10/18/11)
Some of the old rivalries may be gone, but that doesn't keep football coaches from Nebraska, Iowa and Kansas from competing every chance they can. The National Mentoring Partnership has enlisted Bo Pelini of Nebraska, Bill Snyder of Kansas State, Turner Gill of Kansas, Paul Rhoads of Iowa State and Kirk Ferentz of Iowa in a friendly challenge to see which state can recruit the most new mentors...
Drug Take-Back event provides important service (10/17/11)
One of the biggest drug dangers to kids isn't the dealer on the corner, it's mom's medicine cabinet or the pill bottle beside grandpa's recliner. According to the 2010 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, the non-medical use of prescription drugs ranks second only to marijuana as the most prevalent category of drug abuse in the United States...
Tense situation turned out well for all involved (10/14/11)
Reporter Connie Jo Discoe was on the scene for seven hours, taking photos and videos, missing lunch and supper, afraid to leave lest she be unable to get back in. It was not like she had anywhere to go; Connie's home was on the same block as the house involved in a daylong standoff after a shot was fired at officers and an ambulance crew...
Safe exit illustrates value of working detectors (10/13/11)
A McCook family didn't set out to be an illustration for National Fire Prevention Week, but that's what happened. The Stanley Cox family of 1201 West 12th will have to find other housing for a while as a result of a smoky fire late Monday evening, but thanks to working smoke detectors, they are alive. And, thanks to quick response for the McCook Fire and Rescue Squad, even their two dogs and a cat were brought out in time...
Oct. 31 continues to be increasingly popular holiday (10/12/11)
A hardware chain in the Omaha area is getting national exposure for its marketing plan exploiting the increasingly popular holiday of Halloween. And, it's reading the public pulse accurately, marketing home security equipment as a defense against the zombie apocalypse...
Interim hearings on DUI programs are appropriate (10/11/11)
Nebraska is ready to change its drunk driving laws once again come Jan. 1, tightening them up in some instances, while offering driving privileges to those who waive their rights to a preliminary hearing for DUI while agreeing to use an ignition interlock device...
State recognition of mentally ill is long overdue (10/10/11)
Bureaucracies move slowly, but it's heartening when they do the right thing. In this case, it's too bad it took two years of legal battles to bring the agency around, but the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services is doing the right thing today...
Factory loss points out need for effort (10/07/11)
While Southwest Nebraska has a relatively low unemployment rate, it was sad and alarming to learn that a local manufacturer, the Springer Magrath Co., was relocating to Minnesota, taking about 15 local jobs with it. Springer Magrath was the kind of company that provides most of the job growth in the American economy, small local companies founded by entrepreneurs with a vision for creating products and services that meet a need...
Dropping three reading rule is bad idea (10/05/11)
We have to admit, attending meetings is not at the top of our list of favorite things to do. For one, they're usually boring. Many are unnecessary; we suspect some are called out more out of habit than necessity. We understand, therefore, the attractiveness of abandoning the three-reading rule in the interest of efficiency. Most of the time, taking an item up at three separate meetings is a mere formality and, indeed, a waste of time...
More Lincoln, Omaha residents turning out for state fair (10/03/11)
Residents of "greater" Nebraska like to complain about the attitude of our friends in Lincoln and Omaha, who seem to think of Grand Island as "out west." We can only image what they think about traveling to a meeting or hearing in McCook, Scottsbluff or Chadron...
Don't count on Keystone for big employment boost (09/30/11)
You can argue that we need the oil the Keystone XL pipeline will provide. You can contend that the pipeline endangers the Ogallala Aquifer, Nebraska's most important resource. But it's hard to make a legitimate case that TransCanada's project will provide meaningful, long-term employment for many Nebraskans...
Cornhuskers ready for a new beginning (09/30/11)
It's hard to believe anything can beat the Big Red fever that surrounds a normal football Saturday, but it's been a long time since we've experienced the anticipation surrounding Nebraska's Big 10 debut in Madison, Wisconsin. Some 20,000 to 30,000 Nebraskans are expected to pour into the cheese state, pushing Internet bidding for a $49 ticket as high as $1,500...
Citizenship test: Do you know enough to pass? (09/29/11)
There are only three months to go until 2012, the presidential election year, the year we exercise our most important right, according to a sample U.S. citizenship test. While immigration is shaping up to be one of the big issues in the election -- it has derailed the campaign of leading Republican Rick Perry -- we're often impressed with those who jump through all the hoops necessary to become a citizen...
Too many drivers are too distracted around school buses (09/28/11)
They say things come in threes -- but officials can only wish there would have been that many accidents involving school buses this year. There have been at least five accidents involving school buses so far this month, the latest Tuesday morning when a man from Ponca, Nebraska, was killed when his vehicle hit a bus on Highway 12 about two miles south of that town...
Big Weekend gets off to a good start (09/23/11)
If the turnout for Thursday night's reception for Mickey Stubblefield is any indication, participation will be high in this weekend's "Back in the Day" Heritage Days celebration. While we knew Stubblefield helped bridge the gap between the Negro Leagues and the majors, Aggie Roberts recalled how he helped give women their first chance to show their skills on the softball diamond...
Heritage Days honorees, royalty especially fitting (09/22/11)
We have to admit a little bias, but it was great to see the honorees named at Wednesday night's Heritage Days kickoff mixer at the McCook National Bank. You will have to go a long way to find a nicer couple than Jack and Norma Stevens, the 2011 Honor Family...
No 'win-win' in jail dilemma (09/21/11)
"There's no win-win about any of this," said Earl McNutt, chairman of the Red Willow County Commissioners during Monday's meeting about a major county undertaking. What he was talking about was the legal requirement for the county to house prisoners, a duty that has been performed in a temporary way since 1983, when it was deemed impractical for the county to remodel the old county jail to bring it up to modern standards...
'Back in the Day' in abundance for Heritage Days (09/20/11)
The weather promises to be great and so is the schedule for this year's edition of the McCook Area Chamber of Commerce's annual Heritage Days celebration, "Back In The Day ..." But the weather is only one of the factors that promise to make this one of the best Heritage Days in years, kicking off with honor family royalty, grand marshal and parade marshal revelations at the Heritage Days mixer, 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at McCook National Bank, 215 W. First...
For better mileage, adjust the nut behind the wheel (09/19/11)
The price of gasoline has dropped 7.4 cents in the last week, to an average of $3.66 a gallon, but most of us aren't feeling much richer, especially when we rely on our cars to get to work or as part of our work. People who study gas mileage know one of the easiest ways to improve it is to adjust the nut behind the steering wheel...
Good weekend for fall home improvement (09/15/11)
Special editions editor Jeremy Blomstedt has been busy putting together today's Fall Home Improvement edition, and we think you'll get some great tips to help plan your next project. There's a personal touch in the edition; Jeremy uses photos of his father's decades-long improvement of the family home in Palisade as the centerpiece of the edition...
Budgets continue growing, despite hard times for families (09/14/11)
Nebraskans, generally, are fiscally conservative by nature. That's served the state well in this economic downturn, although balancing the budget promises to be challenging for the foreseeable future as the state adjusts to federal cutbacks. Local governments are keeping in step, judging by news stories Tuesday and today, but face challenges as well. ...
Protecting groundwater not just about Keystone XL (09/13/11)
Politicians and activists debate the route of the Keystone XL and its potential threat to the Ogallala Aquifer, and the Republican River and the wells around it are a source of contention between Colorado, Kansas and Nebraska as well as the Natural Resources Districts involved...
No memories more valuable than first-hand accounts (09/12/11)
We spent a lot of time thinking about the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks this weekend, some of it with young people who had faint or no memory of the event. It was up to the adults with solid memory of the events to remember how it felt, what we did and what lessons we have learned from the event...
Obvious problems with Obama plan (09/09/11)
President Obama's American Jobs Act proposal will be hashed and rehashed to shreds, but we can see a few obvious problems from our perspective. Workers would certainly appreciate seeing less money withheld from their payroll tax -- he proposes to cut it by half for most businesses -- but many workers, still stinging from the recession, are likely to put any extra money toward paying down debt or building up savings. Not much stimulus there...
Remember, reflect, get involved to defeat terrorism (09/08/11)
One family was at Disney World, watching Good Morning America while waiting to board their plane. "We saw the second plane hit live on TV," the Facebook post continued. The writer doesn't explain how she and her family eventually got home. We asked readers on our Facebook page, "Where were you on September 11, 2001? How did you hear about the attacks? How has your life changed since then?"...
Kansas town wins recognition for 'Green tea' effort (09/07/11)
If the expression about making lemonade when life hands you lemons is too shop-worn, then making Green Tea is appropriate in the case of one Kansas town We still remember a television reporter's first words back to the station in Wichita when she arrived on the scene. "Greensburg is gone."...
Personal lessons from Sept. 11 (09/06/11)
Special projects editor Jeremy Blomstedt is putting the finishing touches on a special edition to be published Thursday, "Why We Remember," in advance of Sunday's 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks. As an afternoon paper, we were able to publish the news of the day as it happened, and the special edition includes a reproduction of our front page as well as personal recollections attempting to put the last 10 years into perspective...
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