Stories from Friday, July 5, 2002

Patriotic Golden Plains residents turned out in droves to enjoy moderate summer weather and celebrate the birthday of the United States. McCook's 92 degrees and partly cloudy skies seemed very comfortable compared to the 100-plus temperatures of weeks past...

I'm a Fundamentalist Christian and I was outraged by the Speak Out letter saying that God is a "silly notion." Jesus told me personally that He is going to put on a U.S. Flag suit and beat the tar out of the person who wrote that letter. He also mentioned that the End is Near and He is guessing about 3 a.m. Central Time July 15, give or take a minute...

Dear Friend, As I mentioned last week, there are a whole host of signs in Bible prophecy that tell us Jesus is coming to take back control of the earth from Satan and to rule and reign for 1,000 years. The Devil wrenched away control of the earth from Adam, whom God had given its sovereignty to. ...

Thanks, Anna Egle. Thanks, Sue Chipman. But, most of all, thanks to the Senior Citizens of McCook and their generous supporters. Because of their continuing efforts, the Heritage Senior Center has surpassed the 80 percent level in the drive to double the size of the center at 1312 West Fifth street...

David Ortiz of McCook is among 20 finalists who have been selected so far in the Nebraska Lottery Summer Fun contest. They will be among a total of 50 contestants competing for cash and prizes at the Nebraska State Fair on September 1. Entering the Summer Fun contest requires submission of five (5) non-winning tickets ($10 worth) from any active Nebraska Lottery $2 scratch game...

BENKELMAN -- The administrator of the Dundy County Health System in Benkelman has resigned to take a position in Missouri. The last day for Michael A. Anaya will be Aug. 7. Anaya has worked at DCHS since December 2000. An interim administrator will be selected during this month's board of directors meeting...

Marty Fattig, Community Hospital's Director of Ancillary Services, has resigned his position to become the CEO of Nemaha County Hospital in Auburn, Nebr. Marty's last day at Community Hospital is July 12. He begins his new position in Auburn on July 22...

A 21-year-old Trenton man died in an accident early this morning in the 1000 block of West J in McCook. Three others were injured; two were flown to Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney. Two other injury accidents happened within minutes of the J Street fatality, which was reported around 1:05 a.m...

The 10th birthday is significant because you have finally reached double digits, but the teen-age years usually draw more excitement. The 20th birthday is barely acknowledged except as a starting date to begin counting down to the 21st year. What about the marking of the third decade of life? For me, the next week will tell how the 30th birthday will come to pass. ...

A few years ago when former Major League Baseball pitcher Johnny VanderMeer died, I wrote a column on him. VanderMeer, who pitched in the 1930s and 1940s, authored back-to-back no-hitters in 1938 for the Cincinnati Reds. He is the only pitcher ever to accomplish the feat...

Benjamin E. Gottschalk, 87, died Tuesday (July 2, 2002) at Community Hospital in McCook. He was born Oct. 17, 1914, to Herbert and Elizabeth (Deyle) Gottschalk at the family home seven miles south of Max, in Dundy County.  As a child, he attended country school - District #52, near his home through the eighth grade. He was a 1933 graduate of Benkelman High School...