Stories from Friday, August 30, 2002

Mike Schoup (above) of McCook performs for a Norris Park audience Thursday night with local group Blackwater Haze, in the final of four installments of Hot Summer Nights, sponsored by McCook National Bank and the McCook Area Chamber of Commerce. Other band members include Terry Petersen of Westerville (below, right), Darren Quick of Hastings and Russ Ankersen of McCook. Homemade chocolate and vanilla ice cream (below, left), served by the chamber, proved popular...

Dear Editor, What is wrong with the City Council and city manager? Why can't they be truthful and tell the public what they need to know, not what they want them to know? This is getting ridiculous. Why are they trying to make people leave town? Keep raising the prices and there won't be a McCook, Neb...

This is in response to questions about my recent decision to resign from the McCook City Council in early November 2002. As I mentioned in my letter dated Aug. 19, I chose the November date primarily to stay engaged in the important task of identifying an action plan to solve McCook's chronic water problems...

Action will have to be taken immediately, but the McCook City Council needs to give the people of McCook the opportunity to vote on a replacement for Chris Overman. Overman announced earlier this month that he will be resigning from the council in November to move to Kearney...

Bill Elliott (from left) and Brian Vrbas of the Red Willow Western Rural Fire Department work to extinguish a fire in a bale of alfalfa as Bill Patras goes for the pump truck. The fire started in an alfalfa field 9 miles south of McCook after the bearing went out in Power Take Off on baling equipment. An area of 6-10 acres of the field, which belongs to Don Klein of McCook, was burned...

Members of the Prairie Statesmen Community Chorus will join barbershoppers from across the state on Saturday to sing the National Anthem before the University of Nebraska takes on Troy State at Memorial Stadium. The Prairie Statesmen will be participating in many activities in the coming months...

A number of September 11 memorial observances are planned in McCook and Southwest Nebraska. Among them are ones planned at Wal-Mart, one at McCook Christian Church, and one in Palisade. Participants in the memorial service at Wal-Mart are asked to arrive at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 11, and a moment of silence will be observed at 8:42 a.m. The McCook High School Concert Band will then perform, and local firefighters, law enforcement officers and military personnel will be honored...

Almost without exception, those who survive a crisis give credit to one person who stood beside them, supported them no matter what, and gave them a sense of hope. Those who are survivors of a tragedy, understand the magnitude of what they've lost. ...

The next public information meeting on water solution issues will take place on Tuesday at 7 p.m., as scheduled. "Come out and and see for yourself the information presented last Tuesday to the Water Advisory Committee," said John Bingham, McCook city manager...

Ten items or less - The time is upon us. Countless hours of hoeing, pulling and digging is being realized. Our gardens are bearing fruit -- at least some of our gardens. My first summer with a full-fledged garden was not everything I had hoped for. Some of the weeds are taller than the rows of corn. ...

LUDELL -- Dale Doren Walker, 86, died Tuesday (Aug. 27, 2002) at the Good Samaritan Center in Atwood. He was born Feb. 16, 1916, to Charles and Mary (Beeby) Walker on a farm in the Union Township of Rawlins County. He attended Pleasant View School in Union Township and graduated from Atwood Community High School in 1935. After graduation, he started farming...

APPLE VALLEY, Minn. -- Gene Colson, formerly of Bartley, died Thursday (Aug. 29, 2002) in Apple Valley, Minn. Funeral services will be Tuesday, 10:30 a.m., at Wyuka Funeral Home, 3600 O Street, Lincoln. Memorials may be left at or sent to the Gene Colson Family, c/o Marvin and Charlene Colson, Box 31, Bartley, NE 69020...