Education plays important part in economic future (05/08/08)
The Gazette's education pages get pretty full this time of year, with scholarships, honors and graduation lists filling the columns. U.S. Rep. Adrian Smith will speak at Friday's commencement ceremonies at McCook Community College, and Mike Johanns, candidate for U.S. ...

Cleaning up our property just part of being a good neighbor (05/07/08)
Kudos to city officials for forming the new Problem Resolution Team to deal with properties that aren't up to snuff. Trashy or deteriorating properties are an eyesore or even health hazard any time of year, but never more than the outdoor season. The new city team takes a look at properties that are falling into disrepair, uninhabitable or hazardous under state and city ordinances...

Our penchant for evil (05/07/08)
Witnessing or reading about some despicable act -- a horror committed against an innocent child or a cruelty against a dumb animal -- the cry inevitably goes out, "I could never do something like that!" This is perhaps our culture's most dangerous deception. Because, given the right set of circumstances, yes, you could. Any of us could...

Mercury's ready to put on a show (05/06/08)
Welcome to Tuesday. Your editor asked for a volunteer to move the column from Saturday to Tuesday and evidently I won. This will give me a chance to make my observations of the machinations of the City Council a little more current. Then too, in my busy "retired" schedule, it will be easier to crank out the weekly column on Sunday afternoon followed by a little tuning up after the council meeting on Monday night...

Beautiful Nebraska (05/06/08)
Welcome to Tuesday. Your editor asked for a volunteer to move the column from Saturday to Tuesday and evidently I won. This will give me a chance to make my observations of the machinations of the City Council a little more current. Then too, in my busy "retired" schedule, it will be easier to crank out the weekly column on Sunday afternoon followed by a little tuning up after the council meeting on Monday night...

State continues to be a bargain (05/06/08)
Nebraska State Historical Society director Mike Smith pointed out during a recent visit that history brings about $170 million to the Nebraska economy, much of it from history-related tourism. Now new AAA figures show that those tourists are getting a bargain...

Sally Cunningham, attorney at law (05/05/08)
In 2008 the United States has a black woman as Secretary of State, one of the highest offices in the land. There is a chance that our next president will be a woman. No longer is it unusual to see women business owners, entrepreneurs, and politicians in our country. ...

Mom: Take good care of yourself first (05/05/08)
It's that time of year when many of us are trying to figure out what to do for our mothers on Mother's Day. Whether it's taking her out to dinner or doing something special, we hope all of us will make a special effort to honor mom this Sunday -- and every other day of the year...

The end of another era (05/03/08)
I taught my last class of the semester today (Friday) and next Friday, many of my students who came to campus two years ago not really knowing what to expect will be walking across the stage at True Hall to receive their diplomas and move on to either a career or the second stage of the higher education process. ...

Used bargains galore when times are hard (05/03/08)
Garage sale-ing is one of the most popular Saturday activities in McCook this time of the year. If you don't believe it, just check out the lines at events like the annual Humane Society sale at the Red Willow County Fairgrounds a few weeks ago, or be among the early birds at any of Saturday's sales listed on the radio or in the Gazette's classified section...

Let's not lower the drinking age (05/02/08)
An old argument is resurfacing around the country with curious results. According to Fox News, seven states are considering a lower drinking age, and it's often advanced with an argument some of us can remember from 40 years ago. If a man's old enough to fight and die for his country, he should be old enough to buy a drink, the reasoning goes. The only updating the Vietnam-era axiom needs is including women...

Biofuels not as simple as food vs. fuel (05/01/08)
In case you haven't noticed, it not only takes more dollars to fill the gas tank to go to the grocery store, it takes more dollars at the checkout stand. According to federal information, home food prices have gone up 6 percent since 2005, and are expected to be up another 4-5 percent this year...

No cookie cutters allowed (04/30/08)
I don't remember a time when my folks had an opportunity to attend Back to School night. Mom didn't drive and Dad frequently worked late hours. Fortunately, I knew how to drive and so, even if Danny wasn't available, I always made it to Back to School night. I wanted to know who my children would be spending their days with and I wanted their teachers to know that I knew...

Local history good investment of time and money (04/30/08)
"Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it." (1863-1952) That sentiment is usually quoted in connection with national or international events, but a McCook visitor Tuesday is in the practical business of seeing local history is not forgotten...

Gardening by the 'threes' (04/29/08)
If you want a wagon full of produce in the fall, you need to plant now. Your over-taxed yard is going to grow weeds or it can grow a garden. It is up to you. It will take 15 minutes a day on average to grow $1,000 worth of crops in your yard with free water, free fertilizer and without tilling...

And now, for something completely different (04/29/08)
Tired of watching Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, and the other same old ordinary star stuff? How about something new and exciting, something seen rarely and briefly? How about grabbing a glance at the first planet out from the Sun -- the swift, elusive planet Mercury?...

Will Nebraska's primary make any difference? (04/29/08)
Nebraska's choice for the Democratic nominee for president was already determined in the caucuses in February, but with Hillary Clinton still giving Barack Obama a run for the money, it will be interesting to see what, if any, effect the May 13 primary might have...

Just do something (04/28/08)
The price of gasoline is outrageous. Just the other day, I filled up the tank and it cost more than the truck was worth! And, it keeps getting worse. Write your congressman. Vote. Read your Bible. But do something. Our American capitalistic imperialism economy will be ruined if nothing is done!...

Money for nothing (04/28/08)
I am so tired of listening to the propaganda about ethanol, everything from "it will cause global warming" to "It will use up all our food." Yes, I agree that if we were to use corn for the total ethanol production, (that) is not a very good idea. Corn would be something you would want to make alcohol to drink, not to fuel a nation. First of all, you must understand what making ethanol is; you are breaking down sugar chains...