Stories from Wednesday, August 14, 2002

Red Willow County commissioners awarded the bid for the Kiplinger Equestrian Arena to a local contractor, and decided to create a separate budget fund for the arena that will be built this fall on the fairgrounds in McCook. During budget hearings during its regular meeting Tuesday, the board approved budget requests from 13 county department heads...

Dear Editor, Whenever sirens go off, I wonder who it is that's having a bad day. One thing is for sure, it's not just the victim. It's all of the rescue workers as well. I can only imagine the sights they see as they arrive on the scenes of accidents...

Despite the economic uncertainty gripping the nation, the state and this area, construction activity remains at a brisk pace in McCook. The Gazette's editor, Bruce Crosby, provided photographic proof of the building surge in Tuesday's Gazette, showing four major projects that are arising in the community...

Dear Editor, Sunday afternoon my husband, 31/2 month old son and I were traveling home to Scottsbluff from McCook when our car died 12 miles outside of North Platte. After waiting in the 100-degree weather for an hour and a half, finally a very nice lady pulled over to help us. She had a cell phone that she let us borrow and took my entire family into North Platte...

Deb Goodenberger of McCook is the featured artist for August and September at Lincoln Federal Savings Bank, 211 Norris Avenue. Goodenberger has five pastel paintings on display throughout the bank that depict scenes from Nebraska fields and structures. The bank invites McCook Art Guild members to show their paintings on a bimonthly basis...

Jan Kalinski has seen a lot of people helped in the Pioneer Clubhouse program over the past 11 years and she's likely to be around to see many more realize the benefits. The program is only one of many offered through Region II Human Services at Heartland Clinic. It began 11 years ago in McCook with only 10 clients. Enrollment today stands at 50 and many more dozens have progressed through and beyond the program's scope in the intervening years...

Sexual assault charges against a McCook man were amended Monday in Red Willow County District Court. Trevor M. Gray, 21, will face sentencing Oct. 1, 2002, after his charges were amended to attempted first degree sexual assault. Gray pleaded not guilty to the original charges of first degree sexual assault, a Class II felony when he was arraigned in April 2002...

Platte River Jazz of Kearney will perform on the Hot Summer Nights concert stage Thursday in Norris Park. The show will start at 7:30 p.m., McCook National Bank will give away door prizes and the McCook Chamber of Commerce will serve watermelon to concert-goers...

DENVER (AP) -- Retail giant Wal-Mart must pay $464,280 to a Nebraska company for patent infringement, a federal judge said in a ruling issued Tuesday. U.S. District Judge Zita Weinshienk said Wal-Mart infringed on a patent held by Golight Inc. of Culbertson, for a revolving, portable searchlight. Golight was issued patents in 1996 and 1997 for the light, according to court records...

This year's Relay For Life was better than anyone could have ever expected. Those who helped with the 2002 Southwest Nebraska Relay For Life Friday and Saturday are celebrating the most successful event ever, exceeding last year's total and this year's goal. Proceeds this year totaled $25,163. Ten thousand dollars more than last year and $8,000 above this year's goal...

The Mid-Plains Community College Area has unveiled its redesigned Web site at the same address: www.mpcca.cc.ne.us Using the latest in Internet technology, the site includes class schedules, course descriptions, extended campus offerings and registration process. ...

I am not in the least athletically inclined. I never have been. I was always the last little girl picked to play on a team. With good reason. If it was softball, I was sure to strike out. If it was volleyball I had a perfect aim, hitting the wrong side of the net dead center on every serve...

Kevin Ross Karre, 25, of Aurora, Colo., died Saturday, Aug. 10, 2002, as a result of an automobile accident. He was born Feb. 14, 1977, in Grand Island to Lonnie and Lora (Koker) Karre. He was baptized as an infant and received Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior in his preteens. His passions including living in Colorado and wearing his Husker gear faithfully among the Colorado fans. He also enjoyed numerous outdoor sports such as hunting, snowmobiling and dirt bike riding in the mountains...