Stories from Wednesday, July 17, 2002

Red Willow County commissioners denied one and approved two real estate tax exemption applications from St. Patrick's Catholic Church in McCook during the weekly commission meeting Tuesday. Commissioners also reappointed Joseph Bruckler of McCook to the county's Veterans Service Committee and adopted amendments in a life insurance deferred compensation plan. ...

Dan Dueland and Mary Pate, members of the McCcok Tree Advisory Board spoke to the McCook City Council in regards to a proposal to cut $10,000 from the city budget for the Tree Rebate program. Monday night, at the first of possibly three budget workshops for the Council, Dueland told the city leaders "trees are important to our city."...

In the minds of many Red Willow County irrigators, the value of irrigated farm land is being diminished by a stingy Mother Nature holding back on rainfall. Many of the landowners protesting new real estate valuations, at hearings with county commissioners this month, are anticipating greatly reduced amounts of irrigation canal water this summer because water levels are so low at Swanson Lake and Enders Reservoir...

A fire that started late Tuesday afternoon along U.S. Highway 83, 21 miles north of McCook, burned about 20 acres of highway right-of-way and pasture belonging to Tim Teel. Maywood Fire Chief Gene Eisenhauer said firefighters were fortunate, with a gusty wind out of the south, that a county road helped stop the blaze on the north end. ...

HAYES CENTER -- A McCook physician assistant charged with possession of drug paraphernalia pleaded guilty and paid a $100 fine in Hayes County court Tuesday morning. Mary Haller of McCook was charged June 4 following a routine traffic stop by Nebraska State Patrol Trooper Jamie Balthazor in Hayes County. Haller was a passenger in the car driven by Jeff Whitaker of McCook, who was stopped for no license plates and no taillights on a trailer...

Residents of Highland Park show off their silent auction contribution to the community-wide Relay for Life fund raiser for the American Cancer Society along with Wells Fargo staff members. The doll furniture, manufactured and donated by Highland Park staff and residents, is on display through Thursday in the lobby at Wells Farge. ...

Right now ... this very minute ... step to your nearest calendar and mark "GOVERNOR'S DEBATE" on the slot set aside for Saturday, Sept. 14. McCook is hosting the debate and we would be honored to have you there! With your attendance, you will be helping show Nebraska that this region is committed to responsible citizenship and participation in the political process...

Dear Editor, This a very good article. (Open Forum "Race payoff, "Tuesday). If this does not wake up the nay-sayers, then I don't know what will. Just think, we could be at war and that is a lot worse than any race track noise. As I have said before some people will never be happy. But that does not mean the nay-sayers can spoil it for the other people...

"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."...