Government And Politics

Buffalo Commons set May 30-31 (04/30/08)
The 2008 Buffalo Commons Storytelling Festival will take place on May 30 and 31 at various locations throughout the City of McCook. The festival is made possible, in part, by Nebraska Humanities Council grant funds. This year's event will feature Barbara McBride-Smith, who will be making her third appearance in the festival's 11-year history. ...

Groups make pitch to board of education (04/30/08)
Three groups made their pleas for changes -- or enhancement -- before members of the McCook Public Schools board of education during a special board meeting Tuesday evening. Superintendent Dave Schley told members of the public that the board has "lots of things on their plate," but that they'll look at everything. The board is faced with, he said, requests that would require "way more money" than is available...

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...

Christensen: Override doubtful (04/03/08)
There may not be enough votes to override Gov. Dave Heineman's veto of a increased gas tax that lawmakers approved in the state budget, said Sen. Mark Christensen of Imperial. Christensen said he voted in the increase, that would raise fuel prices about a penny per gallon, because he believed in a self-funding system -- where those who use the roads pay for the costs -- and that the increase would help fund roads in western Nebraska...

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...

Online testing won't be part of statewide system (03/27/08)
An online testing system used by students in Southwest Nebraska would be the ideal way to achieve statewide student assessments, according to Dist. 44 Sen. Mark Christensen. Unfortunately, there are enough votes in the Legislature for LB1157 to go through without it, he said...

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.. ...

Official: LB1157 could change entire system (03/21/08)
Nebraska lawmakers' passage of LB 1157 would change everything about the way Nebraska schools assess how well their students are learning and progressing. Gayle Sharkey, McCook Public Schools' curriculum director, told school board members at their monthly meeting March 10 that LB 1157's passage in its final form and approval by Gov. Dave Heineman would require state tests of students' achievement...