Stories from Tuesday, October 9, 2001

It happens every year. My English students type essays on their computers. I read their work and circle any misspelled words that I see. I hand the papers back. Within minutes, I have a line of students at my desk, demanding an explanation. How could they have spelling errors in their papers? They ran spell check. They fixed every word that was highlighted for review. I must be mistaken...

Even though passage of a farm bill is not likely this year, it was good to see the U.S. House of Representatives advance a plan to replace the well-intentioned, but largely unsuccessful, Freedom to Farm Law of 1996. By a vote of 291 to 120, the House gave approval Friday to a plan which would provide $170 billion over the next 10 years for farm programs...

Edgar S. Johnson DENVER, Colo. -- Edgar S. Johnson, 63, died Sunday (Oct. 7, 2001) at Presbyterian St. Luke's Hospital in Denver. He was born Sept. 29, 1938, at Denver to Edgar C. and Marie C. (Miller) Johnson. He was a U.S. Army veteran, and had worked for 7-UP Bottling Company, Sears, and was a self-employed manuscript typist...

Lillian J. Best Lillian J. Best, 76, died Saturday (Oct. 6, 2001) at Hillcrest Nursing Home in McCook. She was born Aug. 25, 1925, at McCook, to Henry and Catherine (Sak) Hoff. She grew up in McCook and graduated from McCook High School. On June 16, 1946, she married Ellwood Robert Best at McCook. They spent their married lives in McCook. She was employed as a receptionist at First National Bank in McCook from 1962 until her retirement in 1987...