Stories from Monday, February 11, 2002

Dear Editor, Thursday, Jan. 31, brought some very welcomed moisture. The snow also brought a challenge when it was time to deliver Meals-On-Wheels. It was not possible to get the 50-plus hot meals delivered without the help of four-wheel drive vehicles due to the heavy snow and drifts. ...

MAYWOOD -- Delbert L. Oswalt, 68, died Saturday (Feb. 9, 2002) at his home in Maywood. He was born Dec. 12, 1933, at White to Floyd and Grace Mae (Palmer) Oswalt. On Dec. 20, 1952, he married Helen May Leininger at Cour d'lene, Idaho. He entered the Army April 28, 1953, and served until March 17, 1955. Following his discharge from the service, the family lived in Kennewick and Finley, Wash. before moving to Maywood in 1995. He worked as a general contractor...

OBERLIN -- Paige L. Dutt, 63, died Thursday (Feb. 7, 2002) at Decatur County Hospital in Oberlin. He was born Dec. 30, 1938, to Charles Nathan and Elsie Clair (Brown) Dutt in Concordia, Kan. He joined the U. S. Army on March 21, 1961, and was honorably discharged on March 20, 1963. He then entered into the restaurant business as a cook, manager and owner. He was preceded in death by his parents...

ATWOOD -- Marie Margaret (Stash) Green, 76, died Friday (Feb. 8, 2002) at the Good Samaritan Center in Atwood. She was born June 2, 1925, to Martin and Mary (Bilsky) Stash in Carbondale, Pa. She grew up in Carbondale where she graduated from high school before moving to Bridgeport, Conn., where she worked as a telephone operator...

CAMBRIDGE -- Henry Noel Blake, 93, died Saturday (Feb. 9, 2002) at the Cambridge Manor in Cambridge. He was born Sept. 22, 1908, to Edward and Nancy (Warner) Blake near Stockville. He attended Stockville High School and Grand Island Business College...

One of the questions asked often in today's society is "What's wrong with the kids of today?" Well, it's the same thing that has always been wrong with kids, there are just more of them now. They've had poor socialization, improper role modeling by parents and significant others, low expectations, too much freedom and many other things I'm going to address in today's column...

John E. Kelley, who was to become one of McCook's leading citizens, was also one of McCook's first settlers. In 1883 Congress established a new Land District, which included all of Chase, Dundy, Hayes, Hitchcock, and Red Willow Counties, and a large part of Frontier County, and located the Land Office at McCook. Gilbert Laws of Harlan County and Charles Babcock of McCook were appointed Register and Receiver for the Land Office. In 1885 John E. Kelley took a position as their Law Clerk...

In 1942, graduation of eighth grade rural and church school students in Red Willow County involved 36 graduates. There were almost as many teachers as students listed in the McCook Gazette article. Here is a list of the teachers of these 8th graders: Marion: Audrey Hoyt; District 8: Dorothy Ventling; District 11: Minnie Story; District 14: Grace Story; District 16: Helen Hatcher; District 20: Alyce Carmichael; District 21: Frances Sughroue; District 23: Mareta Warner; District 26: Pauline Sorensen; District 33: Rosemary Finch; District 47: Ruth Winters; District 49: Doris Carter; District 58: Alice Ray; District 62: Helen Snyder; District 63: Alice Carter; District 64: Lois McNeill; District 67: Elsie Nelson, District 68: Elma Teter; District 74: Dorothy Klooz; District 80: Marjorie Schmidt; St. ...

Right or wrong, whether we like it or not, the citizens of McCook will become the owners of 1,970 acres of land, hangars, irrigation equipment and a rentable house on Jan. 7, 2003. The property -- which most in this area know as the old Army air base -- will become city property at that time upon the payment of $2,878,365 by the city to Kim Swearingen...

Dear Editor, The question has been raised about two of the 25 Messianic signs being true? Todd (McCarty) e-mailed me new information by a seminary professor that says, "The budding of the fig tree has nothing to do with Israel becoming a nation again on May 14, 1948, but is one of the signs in the tribulation period." I am always glad for modern day scholarship because it proves the Bible IS true. ...

The Red Willow County Commissioners gave the go-ahead for the county to explore the formation of a seven-county regional health department. We commend Margie Swanda, director of the Red Willow County Health Department, for taking this proactive step...

Dear Editor, It seems ironic that some members of the McCook city council have chosen to climb back into bed with the same man ... Why prolong our relationship with Mr. Swearingen any longer than necessary? This city seems to have a fetish for conducting business with some individuals whose intentions are questionable. ...

PALISADE -- Jessie Emma Crampton, 100, died Friday (February 8, 2002) at Community Hospital in McCook. She was born July 24, 1901, in a sod house south of Wauneta, to Melton and Emma Wisdom Crosson. She attended rural school in Dundy County. On April 17, 1918, she married Guy F. Petsch. They farmed south of Wauneta until Guy 's death. She moved to the Palisade area in 1938. On June 13, 1940, she married Wesley Crampton...