McCook Daily Gazette: Columns: McCook Gazette

March puts spotlight on colon cancer (03/07/14)
With all debate about what the federal and state governments should do through Obamacare and Medicaid, it's easy to forget that we as individuals bear the most responsibility four our own healthcare. The American Cancer Society is using National Colon Cancer Awareness Month to point out that colorectal cancer is one of only a handful of cancers for which screening is proven to save lives, both by finding and removing polyps before they turn cancerous, and by finding cancers early, when treatment is most likely to be successful.. ...

Get children ready for Daylight Saving Time Sunday morning (03/06/14)
We won't roll out the "daylight-saving-time-is-stupid-and-should-be-abolished" speech again this spring, although we believe the same arguments still hold. But since it's inevitable that we'll have to lose an hour of sleep this Sunday morning, here are some tips to make Monday morning a little more tolerable for infants, toddlers and older children...

Man's good deed lands home on list of meth labs (03/05/14)
Big Brother may be watching, but too often, he just isn't paying attention when it counts. That's especially true when Big Brother doesn't watch where he steps, and tramples his little brothers and sisters in the process. The federal Druge Enforcement Agency finally cleaned up after another agency, the National Clandestine Laboratory Register, but not until after the NCLR had falsely declared an Iowa family's house as a drug lab, and after media had publicized the error...

Finding ways to fulfill need for affordable housing (03/04/14)
Ever wonder what happened to all the "Occupy" people? You remember, the "99 percent" who pitched tents and made themselves a nuisance to protest "social and economic inequality"? Some of them have moved on to a new project to help shelter the homeless, but, never fear, they're still annoying some people in the process...

Energy prices put pressure on family budget (03/03/14)
Temperatures promise to climb into the mid-60s later this week, and propane prices are descending from all-time highs, but Nebraskans are paying the price this month for living in a sometimes-frigid climate. Unfortunately, we may pay the price next summer for living in a sometimes-scorching state as cooling demands push up utility demands as well...

Younger farmers needed to keep ag on track (02/27/14)
After years of declining farm numbers, we've come to expect more of the same. It was a pleasant surprise, then, when the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Census of Agriculture showed Nebraska bucking the national trend. The report, released every five years, showed that the number of Nebraska farms increased 4.7 percent to 49,969 from 2007 to 2012...

Pet ownership, exercise pay off for California couple (02/26/14)
We've repeatedly used this space to tout the need for exercise, and even promoted the advantages of responsible pet ownership for one's physical and mental health. Both paid off for a California couple, who made the discovery of a lifetime when they were getting some exercise by walking their dog...

Coffee with a Cop idea taking hold (02/24/14)
There's something special about drinking a hot cup of caffeine. A cold, frothy alcoholic beverage can create social interactions in a similar way, but they too often deteriorate into drunken ramblings or worse, rather than the constructive conversations that are more likely to result from coffee...

Transportation of energy always demands caution (02/21/14)
They Keystone XL Pipeline's future was thrown into further disarray this week with the ruling Wednesday by Lancaster County District Court Judge Stephanie Stacy that LB 1161, which allows the governor and the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality to approve a route for the pipeline, is unconstitutional...

Social media can augment Amber Alerts (02/20/14)
Missouri police are coming under criticism for the length of time it took to issue an Amber Alert in connection with the abduction of a young girl Tuesday. Hailey Owens, 10, was kidnapped by a stranger at about 4:48 p.m. when a 911 call was received, and officers arrived on the scene 12 minutes later...

Tragic reminder of hazards faced by jail workers (02/19/14)
Amanda Baker could brighten up a room just by walking in, her friends and family say. She worked hard at her job, and was taking classes to get her credentials to become a nurse at the Torrington Correctional Facility to try to better provide for herself and her son, 6...

Shows reveal no shortage of talent (02/18/14)
Friday and Saturday night Valentine concerts at the Bieroc Cafe were notable because the "headliners," the Talbott Brothers, fresh from an East Coast tour and with several albums of original music under their belts, were once the "local openers" that are a tradition at the popular listening room...

News flash: World (probably) won't end today (02/17/14)
Good news: The world won't end today, probably. At least it won't end at the hands of EM26, an asteroid the size of three football fields that is whizzing by at about 27,000 mph. The space rock will fly by about 8.8 times the distance from the earth to the moon, and you can watch it live, starting at 8 p.m. CST from the Slooh Space Camera at http://events.slooh.com/...

No wrongdoing in bison killing (02/14/14)
The investigation into the shooting and killing of a buffalo in North Platte's Cody Park has found no wrongdoing. A 5- or 6-year old bison bull got started breaking through fences and bothering other animals in the park, the parks director arranged to have the animal killed and slaughtered...

Less is more when it comes to city's water (02/14/14)
Congratulations to one of our neighboring towns for having the best-tasting water in the country. The National Rural Water Association, which is having its national convention in Washington, D.C., brought in taste-testers from the U.S Department of Agriculture, the USDA's Rural Develpment office and the White House's Office of Management and Budget to judge water supplies from 36 small communities...

We're learning to live off the land once again (02/13/14)
We live in a political world, where everything seems to come down to a question of left or right. Even the most innocuous of subjects can deteriorate into a liberal vs. conservative debate -- the weather. Mention "climate change," let alone "global warming" in these parts, and you'll likely touch off a heated discussion mentioning people like Obama, Hillary Clinton and Al Gore...

Traditional roles still dominate American homes (02/12/14)
Stuck for a Valentine's Day gift, guys? You might spring for a few hours of house cleaning if your wife works outside the home, and especially if she's the primary breadwinner. There's a good chance she didn't take that role by choice, and a better chance she's not happy with the situation, according to a survey by Working Mother media...

Public positions should be filled in public view (02/11/14)
We once heard some sage advice to women who are tempted to have an affair with married men. If you get involved with a man who cheats on his wife, you'll end up married to a man who cheats on his wife. Yet that same flawed course of action is one that would be facilitated by LB1018, which would exempt from public records law the applications of all finalists, as well as other candidates for the office of president, chancellor or vice president of the University of Nebraska...

Zoo officials' handling of life and death criticized (02/10/14)
We build zoos so city-dwellers can get a first-hand look at wild animals, and that's a good thing. Omaha's Henry Doorly is one of the best, because it does a good job of presenting animals in their native habitat, whether it is a rain forest or desert...

Drought causes unprecedented drop in groundwater levels (02/06/14)
There's no such thing as a free lunch, and that also goes for the glass of water that comes with it. Entities dealing with downstream demands for water have hit on a solution that may not really be a solution at all, judging by the 2013 Nebraska Statewide Groundwater Level Monitoring Report...

Drug chain takes lead in fight against tobacco (02/05/14)
It seems like a no-brainer. Why should a business built on helping people get healthy sell a product that is one of the leading causes of illness in the country? But that's exactly what the second biggest drugstore chain in the nation will continue to do until Oct. 1, when CVS Caremark will finally have pulled all tobacco products from the shelves of its 7,600 pharmacies...

No matter the weather, blood still in demand (02/04/14)
Kids got a day off from school today, and many events have been called off. We're grateful for a warm place to work or at least hole up while the expected blizzard rages outside, and even more grateful for those willing to brave the weather to keep us safe and allow us to do what we have to do...

Does Nebraska really need a mountain lion season? (02/03/14)
We have to wonder why a state senator from Omaha would be concerned about something that goes on the the farthest reaches of the state, but that's before we are reminded that it's Sen. Ernie Chambers, who takes delight in tweaking the nose of the Nebraska establishment...

Sunday snacks are a game of big numbers (01/31/14)
They say a football game is a stadium full of people desperately in need of exercise watching 22 guys desperately in need of rest. If you're still making progress in your effort to get fit, don't let Sunday's festivities derail your New Year's resolution...

Late January, February bring back memories (01/30/14)
We've enjoyed the nice weather this week, although we're looking forward to precipitation in any form if it comes. No, we're not praying for snow, especially, but we'll welcome it if it comes as predicted, since Southwest Nebraska and Northwest Kansas are desperately dry. The National Weather Service has been issuing "Red Flag" warnings when high winds and dry conditions create a perfect recipe for range fires...

Unexpected industries grow from legalization (01/29/14)
We've all heard the arguments about legalizing marijuana and made them ourselves. It will lead to the use of harder drugs, it isn't worth the social consequences. It's not as bad as alcohol -- a view shared by President Obama, who definitely inhaled it during his youth, but tells his daughters now that it's a "waste of time."...

Stay informed, get involved in political process (01/28/14)
President Obama's approval rating is down to 46 percent from 55 percent a year ago, according to an ABC/Washington Post poll, and tonight's State of the Union speech isn't likely to convert many of those who are already critical of his leadership. Frustrated at being unable to push much of his agenda through Congress, the president will report his own steps to raise the minimum wage, at least for government contract workers, and other steps on gun control, job training, climate change, infrastructure development and education.. ...

Bipartisan spirit key to future action in Congress (01/27/14)
Sen. Tim Johnson of South Dakota voted against the Unborn Victims of Violence Act, a measure strongly supported by pro-life groups. Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota voted for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act -- Obamacare -- in December 2009...

Color-coded diet can be good for only so far (01/24/14)
Do you eat by color? You should, according to health and diet experts. For one thing, that keeps you away from highly-processed white foods like flour and sugar, and high-carb foods like potatoes. For another, it steers you toward colorful foods that are more healthy, like fruits and vegetables...

'Grandchild in trouble' is latest in phone scams (01/23/14)
It seems plausible enough; the phone rings, and it's a grandson on the line. "Grandma, I'm in trouble!" Grandma isn't surprised, perhaps her daughter's son has had brushes with the law before, or perhaps his story -- "The marijuana belonged to the guy who was with us!" -- is true...

New gambling revenue not worth the cost (01/22/14)
State Sen. Russ Karpisek of Wilber wants Nebraska voters to again decide whether the state should allow casino gambling. His proposal would use 50 percent of any gambling-tax revenue to reduce property taxes. Another 25 percent would go to public schools, 12 percent to the Game and Parks Commission, 12 percent to state water projects and 1 percent to a state program for problem gamblers...

Disadvantages of owning dogs are also best advantages (01/21/14)
We're always amazed at the amount of time and effort, not to mention dollars, people are willing to devote to their pets. A recent study determined that cats think of humans as just big cats, which explains a lot about their attitude toward their owners...

Dr. King's achievements taken for granted today (01/20/14)
Martin Luther King Day is given only passing acknowledgement in racially homogeneous Southwest Nebraska and Northwest Kansas, but it shouldn't be that way. The late civil rights leader risked his life in an effort to achieve changes that people of all ethnic backgrounds take for granted today...

Nebraska on right track; still room for improvement (01/17/14)
The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. No, we're not talking about legalized marijuana, although Colorado does figure into today's discussion. Instead, we're talking about taxes. We've all heard anecdotal evidence about the state of Nebraska's taxes being higher than that of adjoining states -- whether it comes to registering a car, buying gasoline or paying property taxes on our home...

Personal integrity starts early, has dire consequences (01/16/14)
It may start as a lark in elementary school, copying test answers from your neighbor because you played video games instead of studying for the test the night before. Then maybe you find a way to cut corners when taking your driving test, or passing a college class you don't really care about, anyway...

More ammunition for the pro-coffee crowd (01/15/14)
One of the great things about the Internet is that you can find information about any subject. One of the terrible things about the Internet is that you can find information to support whatever opinion or prejudice you have about any subject. A subject as mundane as a morning beverage becomes the topic of spirited debate in industries like the news business that operate on caffeine as much as on electricity...

Seatbelts, texting should become primary offenses (01/14/14)
If a tree falls in the forest and no one is around, does it make a sound? If I text while driving without a seatbelt on, and don't get a ticket, am I breaking the law? Questions for Philosophy 101 become moot if you're in the path of that falling tree or you're thrown from your car in a wreck because someone was checking Facebook instead of watching the road...

Dangerous criminals should be prison priority (01/13/14)
Gov. Dave Heineman is probably right when he says that many Nebraskans don't understand the state's "good time" laws. "They believe that when a judge sentences someone to 20 years that means the person would serve 20 years, not 10 years, which is the reality under current law," he said in a joint release with Nebraska Attorney General Jon Bruning. "It's time to change the 'good time' to 'earned time' law."...

Be someone who matters to someone who matters (01/10/14)
Tom Osborne is one of the most successful and highly regarded college football coaches in history, but he's also one of the most humble. One of the things he should be proudest of has nothing to do with the gridiron. It does, however, reflect the formula that helped Osborne find success on and off the field and in Congress...

Texas library has everything but books (01/09/14)
You may have noticed an interesting trend if you shop many garage sales or listen to the local call-in radio show. The supply of certain items, it seems, is outstripping the demand, and you can thank technology for the change. Entertainment centers, computer desks and even book cases seem to be in abundance...

Guns are poor insurance policy for schools (01/08/14)
Imagine, if you will, a car insurance policy that would cover you, your passengers and those in other vehicles in case of an accident. So far, so good? Now suppose that same insurance policy had a rider that allowed a computer to run an algorithm, on a rare, random basis, to take control of your car and cause it to swerve into the ditch, or allow a wheel to fall off, or let the engine seize up...

Marijuana issue generates feedback (01/06/14)
Few topics are more controversial than the legalization of marijuana, and few recent editorials have generated more feedback than ours on Dec. 31: "Colorado pot laws likely to affect Nebraska (http://bit.ly/19F3JZH)." One questioned our statement "Why would a state legalize a drug seen as a gateway to other more dangerous substances?"...

This resolution is life-or-death for your identity (01/02/14)
How are you doing with your New Year's resolutions? Don't give up, we're only two days into 2014, and New Years Day doesn't count. We all joke about resolutions and the difficulty of keeping them, but plans like losing weight, stopping smoking and getting more exercise are life-or-death matters...

Get home safely, sleep soundly tonight (12/31/13)
If you're not among the crowd that likes to stay up long enough to welcome in the New Year, there's a good chance you'll be able to get a good night's sleep tonight. That's because the fireworks boom, made possible by a 2010 law that allows local government to allow fireworks sales for New Years, seems to have turned out to be a dud...

Colorado pot laws likely to affect Nebraska (12/30/13)
Starting Wednesday, don't expect to visit a tanning salon if you're under 18 in Illinois. Plan to show a photo ID when you vote in Arkansas, and expect to be able to play whatever high school sport and use whatever bathroom fits your "gender identity" in California...

Underage drinking campaign facing an uphill battle (12/27/13)
The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services will get $7.5 million from the federal government to try to get underage kids to stop drinking. It will be targeted at 11 Nebraska counties that are considered higher-risk areas -- Adams, Boyd, Dawes, Dawson, Douglas, Hall, Lancaster, Madison, Platte, Scotts Bluff and Thurston counties...

Good employment news no reason to relax ongoing effort (12/26/13)
We mentioned a national real estate survey (http://bit.ly/1dapvFO) last month that found McCook to be one of the top towns for affordable housing. We expressed the opinion that creating jobs to support the families who needed that housing was the next most important piece to the puzzle for our community's success...

Dumping dogs a tragic tradition (12/24/13)
While most of us were doing last-minute shopping or baking, local law enforcement and McCook Humane Society officials and volunteers were dealing with a tragic Southwest Nebraska event that's unfortunately turning into a tradition. In a repeat of an incident that occurred a year ago, someone has abandoned more than a dozen small dogs in rural Southwest Nebraska...

Volunteering still alive and well in Nebraska (12/23/13)
Volunteers are becoming a precious commodity. Small volunteer fire departments are having a tough time finding personnel who don't have work or family obligations, or physical limitations that prevent them from taking part. Simple demographics -- an aging and declining rural population -- are taking their toll...

Think you're a drinking pro? Better think again (12/20/13)
People who drink on a regular basis like to joke about "amateur night," before upcoming holidays like Christmas and New Years, times when those who imbibe less frequently may be out and about. We're headed into one today, the weekend before Christmas when many of us will be celebrating at family or office parties...

Free speech lessons learned from Duck Dynasty (12/19/13)
The A&E network has a real dilemma on its hands. On one, it has made tons of money by airing a show about a Louisiana family that is anything but politically correct. On the other, it's got a show about a Louisiana family that is anything but politically correct...

'Penny Plan' would be possible to accomplish (12/18/13)
Conservative commentator Sean Hannity has proposed a plan for balancing the federal budget that has naturally been criticized as overly simplistic and unrealistic. His "penny plan" would require the government to cut one penny from every dollar it spends every year for five years...

Dream if you will, play if you must, but do so responsibly (12/17/13)
Admit it, you've dreamed of winning millions of dollars, maybe even dropped down a few bucks for a lottery ticket from time to time. Local outlets didn't seem to be overly crowded this morning with people buying tickets in hopes of winning today's Mega Millions lottery drawing, which hit $586 million on its way to a possible billion-dollar payoff if no one wins in the next couple of weeks...

Newly repaired dam ready, waiting (12/16/13)
A major facility is now back in operation, but will it be allowed to operate? Congratulations to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and its contractors for completing major repairs to the Red Willow Dam, which impounds water to create Hugh Butler Lake. Reclamation announced that repairs were "substantially complete" and the road over the crest of the dam was reopened Saturday...

Plan now for a smoke-free New Year (12/13/13)
We all joke about New Year's resolutions and our varying success -- usually, unvarying failure -- in keeping them over the course of a year. When Jan. 1, 2014, comes around in a couple of weeks, however, there's one resolution we should take seriously if we haven't yet kicked the smoking habit...

Basement gamer may qualify for tomorrow's jobs (12/12/13)
It's every parent's dilemma. Yes, Johnny has been good this year, but if we give him a new Xbox One, will he wind up playing videogames in the basement until he's in his 30s? Maybe, Santa, but maybe not. It turns out that gamers are in demand for an industry projected to create 70,000 jobs as soon as Congress and the FAA loosen up rules to allow the nascent civilian drone business to take off -- literally...

GED deadline doesn't mean giving up future (12/11/13)
How did you do on your New Year's resolution's last year? Don't be too discouraged, you'll have a chance to make them again in a couple of weeks. If one of them was finishing your GED, however, you may be in for disappointment. That's because you may have to start all over again after the first of the year...

Staying safe requires special care during bitterly cold weather (12/10/13)
People who live in our region pride themselves in being hardy souls, unlike their cousins in warmer climes who shiver the first time they experience temperatures in the 50s. But we're not immune to ignoring home or vehicle maintenance until it's too late and sub-zero weather exposes our shortcomings...

New memorial would be fitting tribute to veterans (12/09/13)
First of all, we want to express our thanks to Pat Redfern, president of the Danbury American Legion Auxiliary, for the wonderful "Remembering Pearl Harbor" letter she contributed to the McCook Gazette's Open Forum column. We are so very fortunate that a person lives within our midst who possesses vivid recollections of that horrible day 72 years ago when the Empire of Japan attacked Pearl Harbor to pull the United States of America into World War II...

Film features Nebraska's unique culture, atmosphere (12/06/13)
Garrison Keillor's fictional hometown is described as "the little town that time forgot and the decades cannot improve." We're sure even Lake Wobegon has a community improvement committee to make it a better place to live, but preservation is high on their list of priorities as well...

Bitter cold snap results in black ice (12/05/13)
Winter has sure-enough, no-foolin' arrived with a negative 1-degree temperature recorded at McCook Ben Nelson Regional Airport just before 6 a.m. today. That's cold enough to be dangerous, as drivers on Interstate 80 were reminded early today, when the temperature combined with precipitation in just the right proportions to create "black ice" near Maxwell...

A reminder to be a good neighbor (12/04/13)
It appears most of the snow will miss Southwest Nebraska, but we're in for some cold weather, with highs in the teen through the weekend. The City of McCook has put out a reminder that it is the responsibility of property owners to remove snow and sleet from sidewalks within 24 hours of the time the snow stops...

An outstanding citizen celebrates his 90th (12/04/13)
One of McCook's most outstanding citizens, Pete Graff, celebrated his 90th birthday Sunday, Nov. 24, 2013. Please join us in extending best wishes to Pete and his family for many years of dedicated service to our community. Since coming to McCook to join the staff of McCook National Bank, Pete has guided the home-owned bank from a capital position of $592,401 in 1957 to the place today where MNB has $ 41.762 million in net Tier 1 capital as of Sept. ...

Rejuvenating night life? (12/04/13)
McCook seems to be on the brink of exciting developments in its night life, with at least two -- and maybe more -- new clubs about to make their debut. We know for sure that Club Paradise, under development by Blaine Budke, is close to opening in the Ten Hundred block of West B Street in the former Tri-State Spas location, and we also know that Adam Siegfried and Tyler Loop, two of McCook's most successful club operators, have another night spot in the works for west McCook...

Delivery man or Big Brother: Which drone is it? (12/03/13)
We have a feeling Gazette founder Harry Strunk would have been interested in one of the latest developments. As readers are reminded each day at the top of page one, the Gazette was the first newspaper, as far as we know. to make daily deliveries by air...

So you survived Black Friday? Here are some tips to help survive the rest of the season (12/02/13)
We trust you survived your Black Friday and Small Business Saturday shopping experiences OK, and may be thinking about making a few online purchases to take advantage of today's Cyber Monday specials. Before you get too comfortable, however, consider the results of a study that determined the 10 germiest places in your home...

Mixed feelings on Black Friday shopping results (11/29/13)
We have mixed feelings about today's "Black Friday" sales. On one hand, they seem to be a lot more orderly than in years past, when near-riots broken out as the supply of bargains didn't keep up with the supply of shoppers. On the other, that orderliness came at the expense of time shoppers and clerks had to spend with their families Thanksgiving evening...

Waste and fraud robs taxpayers, state's most needy (11/27/13)
Apply to be a legal guardian for a disabled person in Nebraska, and you'll have to sit through a long training session with one message: It's not your money, it's theirs. A Scottsbluff woman is in jail because she apparently didn't get the message. Judith Widener operated a Gering business called "Safe Haven," which acted as guardian for more than 600 Nebraskans, including four in Red Willow County and many others in Southwest Nebraska...

Firearms not desirable part of public education (11/26/13)
Is the teacher packin'? She might be, if Sen. Mark Christensen is successful with bill to allow teachers to carry concealed weapons on the job. The idea didn't make it out of committee back in 2011, when the Imperial senator offered the idea following an Omaha incident in which a student shot and killed a vice principal and then himself...

Thanksgiving travel woes get an early start (11/25/13)
Anyone who's lived in the high plains has a story -- their own version of "Plains, Trains and Automobiles" and the struggle to try to make it home for Thanksgiving. Icy roads and blowing snow combined with the tight schedule usually surrounding Christmas's warmup holiday make for some high-stress travel...

Assassination anniversary stirs old memories (11/22/13)
Where were you 50 years ago today? Democrat or Republican, admirer or detractor of one of our most charismatic presidents, we were all shocked and saddened by the events in Dealey Plaza that sunny day. Somehow it set the tone for the decade to come, from the cynicism that surrounded Vietnam to worship of youth in the form of the Beatles to the sense of longing for the days of Camelot...

Studies confirm kids need to get more exercise (11/20/13)
What's the matter with kids today? It's a common question, asked about our children and grandchildren. Our parents asked it about us, and their parents asked it about them. But there is more to the story than traditional generational despair, according to a new study led by Grant Tomkinson, an exercise physiologist at the University of South Australia, and reported by The Associated Press...

Festival of Trees offers chance to support charity (11/19/13)
November is flying by and it will soon be time to deck the halls with boughs of holly -- falala la, la la la la la. Next week's Thanksgiving, the traditional time for trimming the Christmas tree, if you've been able to resist the temptation so far. If you're like many of us, you may dread the supposedly joyful chore of decorating the Yuletide tree. At the same time, you don't want to be distracted from giving to worthy causes, one of Christmas's finer traditions...

Good news on Republican River, for now (11/18/13)
There are still unanswered questions and Nebraska is far from off the hook, but a special master's finding is good news for those of us who live along the Republican River in Southwest Nebraska. Maine attorney William Kayatta Jr. recommended to the U.S. Supreme Court that Nebraska pay Kansas $5.5 million for using more water than it was entitled to, under the 1943 Republican River Compact, during the 2005-06 years...

McCook ranks high in supply of affordable homes (11/15/13)
Affordable housing has been an issue in McCook, but at least we're not Malibu! Business and government have been working together to improve the housing situation in McCook, and they're making progress. But we're already in pretty good shape when it comes to being able to buy the average four-bedroom, two-bathroom home, according to a survey by Coldwell Banker Real Estate...

'Green Club' lets NPPD customers vote with checkbook (11/14/13)
Are Nebraska "tree huggers" getting a chance to put their money where their mouth is, or did NPPD make a meaningless gesture when it announced that that customers could voluntarily pay a "green" surcharge? Nebraska Public Power District directors approved a "Retail Green Club" which allows retail customers who believe in the use of renewable energy to specify the amount of their monthly energy usage they want to come from renewable sources...

Real horse power attractive farm activity (11/13/13)
What do horse-drawn farming and the Internet have in common? For a young couple operating a Martell, Nebraska, vegetable farm, a lot. The Columbus Telegram published a story about Alex McKiernan and his wife, Chloe Diegel, who launched a crowd-funding campaign to raise $22,000 to convert their 40-acre truck patch from tractor to horse power -- make that two 13-year-old Belgian workhorse power, that is...

Nebraska hits milestone, has room to improve (11/12/13)
You won't find a more generous people than those in Southwest Nebraska and Northwest Kansas. There is evidence nearly every day on the pages of the McCook Gazette, fund drives and food collections, benefit dinners and special events all designed to help make life better for someone in need, whether a hungry family, someone facing overwhelming medical bills -- even innocent animals looking for a forever home...

Should the U.S. require mandatory national service? (11/11/13)
Most of us have no trouble celebrating the major holidays of Thanksgiving, Christmas (Hanakkah, Kwanzaa), Memorial Day or the Fourth of July. We might be a little neglegent in celebrating Arbor Day or President's Day, but it's not unusual to take in a Memorial Day service on our way to the lake or golf course...

Water treatment plant reaches 5-billion-gallon milestone (11/08/13)
It started with the nitrates. Over-fertilization of corn crops in the Republican River polluted our groundwater to the point that water from some private wells was unsafe to bathe in. The City of McCook was out of compliance for water quality, and forced to provide bottled water for pregnant or nursing mothers and others with health concerns...

Trans fat ban extends outgoing mayor's influence (11/07/13)
Outgoing New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg has earned the moniker "The Nanny" for his many efforts to force Big Apple residents to adopt healthier lifestyles. You've probably heard comedians poking fun of his ban of the "Big Gulp," although the regulation actually limits sugary soda sizes when served with meals, not when purchased from convenience stores...

Technology gives community new meaning (11/06/13)
Remember draggin' main? For a lot of us, it was a Saturday night summertime tradition, something out of American Graffiti, flirting and fighting the way teens have done since the days of the chariot. Pity the young person who lived in a town so small there WAS no main street, envious of city cousins with extensive, though overimagined, social lives...

Time to give our circadian rhythms a break (11/04/13)
If you're feeling a little out of sorts today, it might be the letdown from your celebration of Nebraska's Immaculate Reception.2 on Saturday, or it might be just because your body is adjusting to the changing clock. You may also notice that kids are grumpy, waking up in the middle of the night, because of the new schedule, and is your dog asking to go outside at odd times of day?...

Big Brother is on the job (11/01/13)
It took almost 30 years beyond 1984, but Big Brother is on the job. Revelations about NSA spying on U.S. citizens and foreign leaders, drone attacks and the Obamacare debacle haven't done much to cultivate trust in our government. And it's not just in Washington...

Last-minute safety advice for ghouls and ghosties (10/31/13)
There's little danger -- we think -- of the zombie apocalypse, discussed in today's Preview edition, occurring in time for tonight's trick-or-treat activities. But there is shure to be plenty of spooky traffic along Norris Avenue and other prime sweet-spots in McCook...

Help available for buttoning up homes for winter (10/30/13)
Food, clothing and shelter are three of life's most important necessities. The McCook Pantry and the community suppers at Memorial United Methodist both do a yoeman's job helping meet the first must-have, this week's Coat Closet event helps meet the second, and several public and private systems, such as Habitat for Humanity, are in place to meet the third...

Practice vital part of EMS training (10/29/13)
Coaches will tell you a team plays like it practices. The same goes for any crew, from a group of employees trying to bring a new product to market, to fast-food workers striving to deliver a warm, tasty breakfast. It's especially true when it comes to emergency response crews, like those from the city, schools and hospital who conducted a surprise drill, involving a mock bus/SUV collision Sunday with mass casualties...

Incompetence galore at the Obamacare site (10/28/13)
Edward Klein's best-selling book, "The Amateur" skewered President Obama as an out-of-touch, arrogant incompetent who wouldn't admit what he didn't know. Implementation of the Affordable Care Act, unfortunately, hasn't done the president's reputation any favors. Critics are calling for the resignation of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, former Kansas governor, but she would only be a convenient scapegoat...

Are smartphones classroom distraction or opportunity? (10/23/13)
A study of 777 students at six universities in five states didn't yield a lot of surprises when it comes to smart phones, tablets and laptops in the classroom. Barney McCoy, an associate professor of broadcasting at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, lead a study that found 35 percent of students used their digital devices for non-classroom purposes 1-3 times a day, 27 percent did so 4-10 times, 16 percent 11-30 times and 15 percent more than 30 times a day. ...

Shutdown masks losses from early October blizzard (10/22/13)
Tens of thousands of lives were lost in early October, but we bet you didn't hear much about it, thanks to the closed-down government and standoff over the national debt limit. Figures just came in confirming more than 2,200 cattle in Nebraska and tens of thousands in western South Dakota were killed after a record 19 inches of snow was dumped on Rapid City on Friday, Oct. 4, and other areas got enough snow to make snow drifts 5 feet deep...

Special needs program offers lessons for all (10/21/13)
A cooperative program between Nebraska hospitals and a state agency is giving kids who struggled in high school a chance to excel in the workforce. Spotlighted as part of October's National Disability Awareness Month, Project Search offers training and opportunities that seem to us to be good ideas regardless the young person's abilities. Funded through Nebraska Vocational Rehab, a division of the Department of Education, Project Search originated at Cincinnati Children's Hospital in 1996, and has been established in Grand Island, Kearney and Hastings. The Hastings program gives students who struggled at Hastings and Adams Central high schools a chance to build confidence and experience through individualized one-on-one on-the-job training in tasks that mirror actual jobs at Mary Lanning Hospital in Hastings and other medical facilities, such as materials management, pre-op surgery, housekeeping, cardiopulmonary, sub-acute; in-patient nursing, human resources and switchboard. In addition to job skills, the program helps students with basic life skills such as how to budged and other independent living skills. In the first year at Hastings, all five students were placed in jobs upon completion and continue to hold those jobs today. Last year, three of four completed the program and are now employed in medical field positions, and the director is optimistic all six students from this year's class will be placed in jobs by the end of the school year. It's not an easy course -- students must express a desire to be competitively employed, be in their last year of school eligibility and have an individualized educational program in place and be actively working in the Nebraska Vocational Rehab program. While Project Search is aimed at students with disabilities, many students, even those who might normally be channeled into college-track academics, could benefit from hands-on training -- apprentiships, if you will -- and life-skills education to help them be successful whatever their occupation. With traditional four-year college costs and student debt skyrocketing, and with new opportunities in technology and other trades that don't require liberal arts educations, we can all learn something from students involved with Project Search.

New aspect to importance of sleep (10/18/13)
The bears probably have the right idea. With one of the first snows of the season overnight, it's tempting to crawl into our caves and stay there until spring, especially for the winter-averse among us. It's important to get plenty of fresh air, sunlight and exercise, even in the winter, of course, but it's also important to take advantage of the chance to get a good night's sleep...

Surprising good news about the price of gasoline (10/17/13)
The federal government was set to go back to work this morning after the borrowing limit on the national credit card was extended once again, at least temporarily. Obamacare opponents went back to the drawing board after pushing the deadline to the limit in an effort to dismantle changes to the national healthcare system...

Staying ahead of hackers a constant struggle (10/15/13)
With more and more of our transactions taking place online, it's no surprise that criminals are becoming more and more adepts of following the money -- and seeing that it finds its way into their hands. The latest example is Duncan Aviation in Lincoln, which reported that someone hacked into the banking account of a shareholder -- no explanation as to why the shareholder had Duncan Aviation money in his personal banking account -- and stole $135,000...

Past federal defaults offer lessons for present (10/14/13)
The government is shut down, and the U.S. is on the verge of defaulting on its debt obligations, but what difference would that make? One needs look no farther than your credit card statement to find out. Miss a payment or two, and you may find yourself paying a higher rate of interest, and required make a larger minimum payment...

Mental issues last great hurdle in medical care (10/04/13)
Modern medicine can perform many miracles, from heart transplant to artificial joints, vision-restoring eye surgery and electronic implants. On the horizon are extraordinary developments such as artificially grown organs, exoskeletons to help the wheelchair bound to walk again and a wide range of developing technologies...

Analysts rank McCook high for young families (10/03/13)
Is McCook a good place for young families to live? Yes, according to NerdWallet, a consumer advocacy website, which listed McCook among the top 10 towns in Nebraska when it comes to three basic questions: 1. Does the town have good public schools? 2. Can you afford to live there?...

No quick answer to government shutdown likely (10/01/13)
The sun came up this morning and the electricity still works, but that doesn't mean the overnight shutdown of the federal government won't be felt in McCook and Southwest Nebraska. We don't have any federal parks nearby, like the Scottsbluff National Monument, Niobrara Scenic River or Homestead National Monument -- those will be shut down -- but we do have the Nebraska National Guard, which planned to furlough about 560 full-time technicians, including vehicle and aircraft maintenance workers, and about 70 state employees whose salaries are partially or entirely paid by the federal government.. ...

New, special events are helping keep Heritage Days fresh (09/30/13)
A celebration like Heritage Days is always a balancing act between carrying on cherished traditions and keeping the festivities fresh. Congratulations to the McCook Area of Chamber of Commerce and the thousands of other volunteers who accomplished those two goals this weekend...

McCook Gazette
Our opinion

Home