General News

Oberlin family showing gratitude by gardening in Greensburg (05/05/08)
OBERLIN -- Members of an Oberlin family who know first-hand what it's like to lose their home and all their belongings want to pass on the spirit of generosity that their friends and neighbors exhibited after a fire destroyed everything they owned and left them homeless...

Fond memories from the old downtown YMCA (04/28/08)
Since we did not come to McCook until 1957, the memories I have of the YMCA, on the corner of Norris Avenue & E Street are those of an adult. I have some good memories of the Y, but nothing like those of fellows who grew up in McCook. For instance, Dr. ...

Injection well finally gets approval from state (04/23/08)
The drinking water treatment plant in McCook has been on-line for nearly two years, but the process to dispose of the waste from the plant wasn't resolved until April 8. That's when the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality approved the permit for McCook to operate a Class I non-hazardous waste injection well at the sewer treatment plant...

Council turns down cell phone tax (04/22/08)
After hearing from the public and discussing it among themselves, McCook City Council members unanimously shot down a proposal to impose a 3 percent occupation tax on cell phones usage in the city. City staff had recommended the cell phone tax, as landline telephones are taxed as a utility and cell phones should be treated the same way. It was also suggested as a way to boost declining utility revenue in the General Fund budget, which pays for city salaries and services...

Will a killer go free because a lawyer cheated? (03/27/08)
An old Norfolk murder case is a good lesson on how the judicial system works. Friends and relatives of the victim, as well as the community at large would be outraged -- appropriately -- but a convicted murderer will be released by Thursday unless the state successfully prosecutes him again for a 1984 killing...

Crossing arms considered for site of fatal crash (03/26/08)
By CONNIE JO DISCOE Regional Editor Red Willow County commissioners will forward the results of a railroad crossing traffic count to the Nebraska Department of Roads, as they investigate the possibility of installing automatic gates at a rural crossing between McCook and Indianola, the site of a fatality accident Feb. 19...

State offering $500 reward for information on hoop net fishing (03/25/08)
LINCOLN -- Nebraska Wildlife Crimestoppers is offering a reward of up to $500 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person using a hoop net to catch fish from the Republican River near Orleans. Nebraska Game and Parks Commission Conservation Officer Rich Routh said it is unlawful for anyone to possess or use a hoop net in Nebraska except licensed commercial fishermen may use them in the Missouri River. ...

Harry Howard Eiler (03/25/08)
March 2, 1925 - March 24, 2008 Harry Howard Eiler died Monday, March 24, 2008, at his home in McCook. He was 83 years old. Harry was born to Harry Howard and Lena (Reasnor) Eiler on March 2, 1925, on the family farm near Oberlin. He graduated from Decatur County High School in 1943. On Sept. 8, 1944, he entered the U.S. Army and served during World War II. He was honorably discharged on Nov. 15, 1946, and was awarded the Purple Heart...

Farm-rancher accused of animal neglect (03/25/08)
INDIANOLA -- An Indianola-area farmer-rancher was complying Monday afternoon with an order from the Red Willow County Sheriff's Office that he dispose of the bodies of 111 cattle that died on his mother's farm southwest of Indianola. The farmer/rancher, whose name has not been released, could face charges of animal cruelty in the death of those cattle and for the poor health of 143 head of cattle sold in January, all of which he owned and held in pens and pastures at his mother's farm, which is south and east of his farmhouse.. ...