Jim L. McMurtry, 82, of Scottsbluff, died Thursday, October 11, 2012, at his home.
His memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, October 16, 2012, at Dugan-Kramer Funeral Chapel in Scottsbluff with Pastor Ron Nuss-Warren officiating. Cremation was at Sunset Memorial Park Crematory. Military Honors will be provided by the Nebraska Army National Guard. The family has requested you wear casual attire in honor of Jim.
A memorial has been established in care of the family for designation to a charity at a later date. Tributes of sympathy may be left at www.dugankramer.com
James L. McMurtry was born March 27, 1930, at Sweetwater, Nebraska to Claude and Ferne (Fellows) McMurtry. He attended Hastings High School. Jim married Bessie Pomplun on January 1, 1950. He served in the United States Army during the Korean Conflict from 1952 to 1954. He worked for Scotts Bluff County as a heavy equipment operator and mechanic and for Cornhusker Tractor and Equipment Company as a mechanic and later as a salesman.
Jim was a member of Presbyterian Church and a life member of the VFW.
Survivors include his wife, Bessie McMurtry; son, Monte (Melody) McMurtry of Madison, North Carolina; daughter, Peggy (Rocky) Robinson of Scottsbluff; grandchildren, Dustin (Elizabeth) McMurtry of Holly Springs, North Carolina, Tobin McMurtry of Summerfield, North Carolina, Clinton McMurtry and Haley McMurtry of Sargent; Elisa (Cody) Garton of Scottsbluff; Kelli (Robert) French of Morrill; and Melinda (John) Macias of North Platte; great-grandchildren, Caden, Caleb and Carter Garton of Scottsbluff, Reegan and Bailee French of Morrill, and Anthony, Alicia and Austin Macias of North Platte; brother, Gary (Judy) McMurtry of Scottsbluff; sisters, Ruth Hauschild of Ravenna and Mellie McKinney of Alliance; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Pete and Barb Pomplun of Oconto; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and son, Howard.
Author: Eagle Communications
JASON’S YOUTUBE FLASHBACK! 10/15/12
On this date in 1971, Rick Nelson was booed when he performed new material at an oldies show in New York. It inspired him to write the song “Garden Party”, a cryptic rock classic and one of the all-time great “story songs”.
https://youtu.be/uAHR7_VZdRw
TODAY’S BEST COUNTRY NEWS: 10/15/12
MILEY CYRUS TRESPASSER SENTENCED TO JAIL
LOS ANGELES (AP) – Jason Luis Rivera is going to jail for trying break into Miley Cyrus’ house. A judge in Los Angeles sentenced him to a year and a half in jail for misdemeanor trespassing and resisting arrest. Authorities say Rivera was at Cyrus’ home with a pair of scissors claiming to be her friend. She wasn’t home at the time of the September arrest.
TAYLOR SWIFT SAYS SHE’S NOT A KIDNAPPER
UNDATED (AP) – Taylor Swift tells Rolling Stone that contrary to rumors she did not kidnap Conor Kennedy from his high school and fly him to Nashville on her private jet. As she puts it, it’s impossible “to kidnap a grown man.” Kennedy is 18. Swift, who is 22, also tells Rolling Stone she did not crash a Kennedy family wedding over the summer. That story she says was “based on the biggest misunderstanding.” She insists in the interview that she would never show up anyplace she wasn’t invited and says she would “never want to upstage anybody.” As for her thoughts on love – Swift says it’s necessary to “forget about what everyone else thinks.
TRACE ADKINS ‘CELEBRITY APPRENTICE’ ALL-STAR
WASHINGTON (AP) – Trace Adkins did pretty well on “Celebrity Apprentice” back in 2008. He came in second after losing to TV host Piers Morgan. Now, thanks to the Donald – Trump, that is – Adkins is getting a second chance to nab the top spot in “All-Star Celebrity Apprentice.” Adkins will compete on behalf of the American Red Cross. He’ll be joined by his former teammate, actor Stephen Baldwin, on the show’s 13th season, which begins in March. Other celebs returning to the reality show include actor Gary Busey, magician Penn Jillette, rapper Lil Jon, basketball player Dennis Rodman, Twisted Sister lead singer Dee Snider, actress Marilu Henner, and singer La Toya Jackson.
SCOTTY MCCREERY MATH WHIZ
UNDATED (AP) – Scotty McCreery has lots of things to celebrate but lately he’s most excited about doing well on his first college math test. McCreery says he scored a 98 and says he “was pumped about that” because math is not one of his strong suits. McCreery also says being a freshman at North Carolina State is giving him a chance to have a little bit of normalcy.
KRISTY LEE COOK TURNS TO HER FATHER FOR NEW SINGLE
UNDATED (AP) – Former “American Idol” contestant Kristy Lee Cook will release a new album, produced by Jason Aldean, next year. The first single off Cook’s sophomore release is called “Airborne Ranger Infantry” and in an interview with The Boot, Lee explains the genesis of the song. Her father wrote poems about his experiences in Vietnam and Cook says she took lines directly from those poems. Cook tells The Boot that her father loves the song, but it makes him very emotional. She says “it’s healing but it hurts as well because it takes him back.”
HOLLY WILLIAMS TO RELEASE NEW ALBUM IN FEBRUARY
UNDATED (AP) – Holly Williams, granddaughter of Hank, will be releasing her new album “The Highway” in February. Charlie Peacock co-produced the new release which is Williams’ third album. It features a number of guest appearances including Jackson Browne, Jakob Dylan, Dierks Bentley, and actress Gwyneth Paltrow. Williams tells American Songwriter that her new song “Drinkin”‘ is what her grandfather, Hank Senior, used to call a “10 minute song.” After a bit of a writing lull in 2011 she says she woke up one morning and the song “poured out.”
SWEETHEARTS OF THE RODEO GET ‘RESTLESS’
UNDATED (AP) – Sweethearts of the Rodeo are back after a 15-year hiatus. Their new album is called “Restless.” Sisters Janis Oliver and Kristine Arnold say they talked about doing a reunion record for years but “life always seemed to get in the way.” Oliver focused on raising her daughter with Vince Gill, after they divorced and Arnold also focused on her family and “paying the bills.” But the two say the timing was finally right to focus on music again. They started recording new material in 2008 and the result “Restless” will be released October 23. The sisters are planning a nationwide tour in support of the new album.
THE BEATLES REISSUE “LOVE ME DO” AS A SINGLE
LONDON (AP) – The Beatles are marking the 50th anniversary of the release of “Love Me Do” by putting that song out again. A limited edition seven-inch single replica will be reissued next Monday, with “P.S. I Love You” on the flip side. It will have the original Parlophone sleeve art. “Love Me Do” originally was released on October 5, 1962, but didn’t hit number one in the U.S. until 1964.
WHITNEY HOUSTON SPECIAL TAPES IN LOS ANGELES
LOS ANGELES (AP) – Jennifer Hudson says Whitney Houston has been a blueprint for her. Britney Spears calls Houston’s voice “better than God.” LL Cool J says they needed a whole show to honor Houston, not just the quick prayer he did at the Grammys. The show “We Will Always Love You: A Grammy Salute to Whitney Houston” taped in Los Angeles, featuring Hudson, Spears, LL Cool J, Halle Berry, Usher, CeCe Winans and Yolanda Adams.
The tribute will air on CBS November 13.
ELVIS ESTATE ON THE MARKET
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) – The house where Elvis and Priscilla Presley lived in Beverly Hills, California, is for sale. Real estate website Trulia says the home hit the market last week. Asking price: $12.9 million. It’s a four-bedroom, five bathroom French Regency estate on 1.18 acres overlooking Los Angeles. Presley rented the house in 1967, then bought it. It was sold in 1973 as the Presleys divorced.
JUDGE RULES ON WEAPONS CHARGE IN MADONNA FAN CASE
NEW YORK (AP) – A New York City judge has dismissed weapons charges against a former firefighter arrested outside Madonna’s apartment building two years ago. The New York Post reports a judge ruled police improperly seized a gravity knife and an ice pick from Robert Linhart when they arrested him. Police say Linhart parked his SUV outside the building, laid out a tarp and spray-painted poster boards that said, “Madonna, I need you,” and “Tell me yes or no. If it’s yes, my dream will come true. If it’s no, I will go.” Linhart still faces a charge of resisting arrest.
ROLLING STONES ANNOUNCE CONCERTS
LONDON (AP) - You can't always get what you want - but if your desire is to attend a Rolling Stones concert this might be your lucky day.
The legendary band says it will return to the stage later this year, with four concerts in Newark, New Jersey, and London.
The band members, who celebrated the 50th anniversary of their first gig at a bash earlier this year, revealed their plans in a video message Monday.
The Stones have sold more than 200 million records, with hits including "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction," ''Street Fighting Man" and "You Can't Always Get What You Want."
But in recent years much of their income has come from touring. Their last global tour, "A Bigger Bang," earned more than $500 million between 2005 and 2007.
AGATE FOSSIL BEDS N.M. THROWING VISITOR CENTER A BIRTHDAY PARTY
Agate Fossil Beds National Monument is throwing a 20th birthday party for its Visitor Center-Museum tomorrow, tying the event in with next week’s 3rd annual National Fossil Day.
Starting the celebration will be a talk at 1:30 by National Park Service Curator and Colorado State University instructor Greg McDonald titled “the Equus Files” Fossil Horses and the National Parks.”
That will be followed at 3:00 by the birthday party with birthday cake. Visitors being encouraged to share their memories of the park…especially those from before or just after the opening of the Visitor Center-Museum.
Before its construction, Agate’s visitor center was a couple mobile homes that housed a small seasonal museum.
The late retired U-S Senate Roman Hruska was the featured speaker for the building’s ribbon-cutting on November 22, 1992, and told the crowd the building culminated some 30 years of supporters trying to get a permanent facility.
Those efforts had taken a big leap forward in 1987 when Joanne Kyral was named superintendent of Scotts Bluff National Monument…which also included being superintendent of Agate.
She supported a permanent center, and soon the Friends of Agate Fossil Beds group was formed and began raising seed money for the project.
The group raised more than $350,000…which gave then-Congresswoman Virginia Smith the leverage to secure a $1-1/2-million dollar appropriation for the visitor center. Kyral, now retired and living in Colorado, says it was true community effort.
The Agate Fossil Beds visitor center-museum had no permanent exhibits when it opened…those were still a few years down the road…but Kyral says the strong community support led her boss to push hard for going ahead with just temporary exhibits.
Kyral says other improvements that quickly followed at Agate…including its paved roads and new staff housing…would not have been possible without the Visitor Center and the strong community support it received.
Ironically, Kyral didn’t get to enjoy the new building for long; it was announced at the ribbon-cutting that she had accepted an NPS promotion and soon transferred to the newly-established Mississippi National River and Recreation Area in Minnesota.
The 1992 ribbon-cutting saw the entire building wrapped with a red ribbon and the more than 200 people in attendance all share the cutting honors simultaneously.
The day also included Native American blessing ceremonies inside and outside the building led by Lakota spiritual leader John Around Him.
Listen:
CHADRON POLICE NAB LOOMIS, NE SEXUAL ASSAULT SUSPECT
Chadron police last night arrested a man sought on sexual assault charges from southwestern Nebraska. 19 year-old Alexander Walton of Loomis…who is living in Chadron…was taken into custody at his residence without incident about 9:00 pm.
Walton is in the Dawes County Jail with bail set at $100,000 on a Harlan County arrest warrant for one felony – 1st degree sexual assault of a minor and 2 misdemeanors – debauching a minor and contributing to the delinquency of a child.
Chadron Police Chief Tim Lordino says Harlan County authorities contacted his office about Loomis, said he was living in Chadron, and provided Chadron police with a cell phone number.
Lordino says officers called Loomis on a pretext and made arrangements to talk to him in person, then arrested him after they arrived at his residence.