Stories from Tuesday, July 23, 2002

Residents of McCook and members of the McCook Water Advisory Committee will be given an opportunity to help the City Council make a decision on where to place a new water field for the city, should the city council decide on that plan of action. In an ongoing effort to address the continuing problems faced by the city, the water advisory committee and residents attending a water advisory meeting will be given a report tonight on six locations where Olsson Associates have conducted tests on existing wells. ...

Hello. My name is Renae and I'm a house plant killer. It has been two weeks since my last leafy-green casualty. Until then, I had gone nearly 10 years without murdering a plant. Considering my earlier failures in the field of horticulture, that's quite an accomplishment...

It's always a good idea to keep a sharp eye open driving this time of year. While summertime may be the busiest travel time of the year, it's also the only time of year when state workers and construction contractors can do extensive work on our streets and highways...

The Gazette inadvertently misidentified U.S. Army Staff Sergeant David McConnell in the July 19 edition of the McCook Daily Gazette on page three. He was part of an honor presentation to W Design in McCook for its efforts to make its employees available for training and service to their country through the armed forces...

Farm program payment limitations weren't changed in the 2002 Farm Bill, but because of other changes in the law some producers may hit the $40,000 payment limit for the first time this year. The changes--higher direct payment rates and the addition of soybeans as a contract commodity--may lead producers to add their spouses as joint operators when describing their operations to their County Farm Service Agency. ...

LINCOLN -- State Executive Director Brian Wolford asked Nebraska producers to review their planted and prevented planted acreage records for 1998 through 2001 crop years for each applicable 2002 farm. The 1998 through 2001 crop acreage history will be used by Farm Services Agency to calculate the 2002 crop acreage bases for use under the 2002 Farm Bill. ...

Cancer survivors are invited to a special ceremony to honor them at the American Cancer Society's Southwest Nebraska Relay For Life on Friday, Aug. 9 at 7 p.m. in Norris Park, McCook. The cancer survivors will kick off the Relay For Life with a balloon release and the first official lap of the Relay-a Lap of Hope for survivors; then the rest of the participants will join them to continue walking throughout the night...

Frank and Jesse, Belgian-cross draft horses owned by Jim Gartrell of Wallace, make a "full pull" in the draft horse competition during the Red Willow County fair Sunday afternoon. Gartrell's team won second place, beaten by Lynn Meyers' team of Belgians named Jim and Jack...

TRENTON -- Contracts for the 2002-2003 school year were approved at the regular business meeting of ESU 15. The Treasurer's report showed collections totaling $325,096.73. The total amount of checks approved was $202,197.64. Barb Hidy of the Southwest Nebraska Distance Learning Consortium began the meeting with a presentation of the program and background of the Consortium...

KEARNEY -- The University of Nebraska at Kearney will offer courses for undergraduate degrees in criminal justice and business management in McCook beginning this fall. An informational meeting is set for 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at McCook Community College, Barnett Hall, Room 24. Information regarding the criminal justice degree and business management courses will be discussed, and there will be a question-and-answer period...

The Mid-Plains Community College Area Board of Governors will be asked to accept the resignation and authorize the search for a new dean of student services at its regular meeting at Walsh Brady Hall at McCook Community College, Wednesday, 6:30 p.m...

Culbertson High School cheerleaders (from left) Alyssa Cook, Colby Eisenhart and Michelle Jankovits compete in McCook Senior High's first-ever cheerleader contest during the Red Willow County fair Sunday afternoon. Despite triple-digit temperatures that always seem hotter on slabs of concrete, four teams smiled, laughed, cheered, chanted and competed for trophies, medals and honors. ...

TACOMA, Wash. -- Harold E. Brehm,77, died Sunday (June 23, 2002) at Federal Way, Wash. He was born Sept. 20, 1924, to Sam and Katie Brehm in McCook. He spent his youth in McCook and graduated from the University of Nebraska in 1951. He served in the Europeon Theatre as a Surgical Technician in the U. ...

BEAVER CITY -- Annabelle R. Linner, 74, died Sunday (July 21, 2002) at St. Francis Medical Center in Grand Island. She was a former resident of McCook and Beaver City. She was born July 5, 1928, to Floyd and Cora (Thayer) Maret at Moorefield. She attended school in Frontier County. In 1941, the family moved to Hendley where she completed her education...