Stories from Tuesday, July 16, 2002

In response to a letter from McCook resident and City Council candidate Jerry Reitz, the McCook City Council tabled discussion on enforcing a city ordinance which requires a permit for "peddlers and hawkers" to operate within the city limits. In the letter, Reitz voiced his concern regarding the number of sidewalk and parking lot vendors that are setting up around the city...

Dear Editor, Just a few thoughts and facts about the racing in McCook. First of all there have been comments on the cost to the taxpayers; Donnie Sailors pays the county $650 for use of the track for every race. This is $8,450 for 13 races a year paid to the county. Sales tax is paid on every ticket that is sold. He keeps track of every tank of water that is used on the track and pays the city for that...

It's already the best attended event of the year... and it's growing even bigger and more entertaining. We're talking about the Red Willow County Fair, which each year brings more than 25,000 people to the spacious fairgrounds in northwest McCook. The already overflow crowds are expected to get even larger this year as more attractions have been added in the past few days...

Josh Clayson (left), Gary Hartwell and Marty Lashley survey B Street near West Fourth in preparation for the second phase of the B Street Project which is slated to begin this fall.

Bicycle and casting contest results: Dept: F Personal Development & Leadership Div: F500 Judging Contests Class: F500958 Bicycle, 12 & over Awards... Division Champion Hayes, Tyler Placings... Purple -- Hayes, Tyler Class: F500959 Bicycle 10-11 Awards.....

New electronically-controlled L.E.D. stoplights at Norris and C were expected to be activated today, replacing old mechanically-controlled models from the late 1950s or early '60s. The replacement, planned for three or four years, was paid for with remaining street light repair funding, according to a city official...

Nebraska gubernatorial candidate Stormy Dean believes the state's financial problems can be addressed through zero-based budgeting. A group of 12 area residents met with Dean today at Country Kitchen as part of his "Stormin' with Stormy" Tour of Southern Nebraska. Dean outlined his plan to bring Nebraska government spending back in line with the economy...

One school board member hopes it doesn't come down to pay-to-play; another doesn't think it's necessary in McCook. But in any case, the activities committee of the McCook Public Schools board of education will research activities fees and report back in December...

ATWOOD -- Nyla J. (Brown) Beall, 51, died Friday (July 12, 2002) at the Kansas University Medical Center in Kansas City, Kan. She was born Feb. 23, 1951, to Joseph T. and Wilma L. (Wederski) Brown at Atwood. On Aug. 17, 1970, she married Herman L. Beall at Atwood. She worked as a certified nurse's aide and medication aide. She was also an emergency medical technician and a homemaker...

ATWOOD -- Grace (Birrer) Vap, 93, died Monday (July 15, 2002) at the Cedar Living Center in Oberlin. She was born Oct. 31, 1908, to William and Agnes (Beck) Birrer in Atwood. She graduated from Atwood Community High School in 1926. She attended Fort Hays State College the summer of 1926 and 1927 and Colorado State Teachers' College the summer of 1929. She received her teachers certificate and Elementary Emergency Certificate from 1943-44. She taught in Rawlins County for seven years...

GARDNER, Kan. -- Ella May Handley, 61, died Tuesday (June 25, 2002) at Olathe Medical Center in Olathe, Kan. She was born May 27, 1941, to Harry and Mattie (Redden) North in Imperial. She was employed by Honeywell. She also drove a bus for Laidlaw in Olathe...

CARPINTERIA, Calif. -- John Leo "Jack" Dambach, 74, died Monday (June 17, 2002) following a severe stroke. He was born Dec. 6, 1928, in Palisade. He was paralyzed as a result of polio in 1947, and spent a year at the Children's Hospital in Denver. ...

AMERICAN FORK, Utah -- John M. Wendel, 44, died Friday (July 12, 2002). He was born Dec. 17, 1957, to Clarence J. and Florence Hurst Wendel. He graduated from Spanish Fork High School in Spanish Fork, Utah and served in the Portland Oregon Mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...

It was my first set of wheels. Two, to be exact. The body was painted blue, the handlebars silver and sleek. I think the seat was white, but I don"t remember for sure. What I do remember is how it felt, riding that bicycle around the farm. On my blue bike, I could fly. Considering that my tires probably weighed 10 pounds each, packed full of puncture-proofing goop to ward off sandburs, that was no small feat...

PARKS - Inez Neomi (Teachman) Tecker, 97, died Sunday (July 14, 2002) at Hillcrest Care Center in Wray, Colo. She was born Nov. 19, 1904, on a farm home near Ceresco, to James Henry and Ruth Miller Teachman. She attended country school until the sixth grade when her family moved to University Place, a suburb of Lincoln. ...