Stories from Wednesday, September 18, 2002

Red Willow County commissioners approved another business loan from its revolving loan fund Tuesday and agreed to help with plans to rehabilitate the corner of Norris and B streets. McCook Economic Development director Kay Lavene told commissioners Silverstone Inc. ...

Dear Editor: I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of those who held special activities for the one-year anniversary of the 9/11 Terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center. I would like to thank Barbie Long and the Wal-Mart staff, and all of the others who participated in the ceremony. ...

Three decades after the origination of Heritage Days, the annual McCook celebration continues to create excitement and pride for past and present residents and their friends and neighbors. The 2002 extravaganza -- which will take place next week -- will be one of the most action-packed programs ever, combining popular annual events with a series of new activities...

WHEELER-- One Sunday afternoon 30 years ago, Wheeler-area farmer Lloyd Harden had some time on his hands, and he built a little tractor from bits and pieces of used iron on his farm. Harden's "junk art" -- or "Art from Used Parts" -- occupied any free time from then on. But, through the years, the used parts have become harder to find. "It's too hard to find the horse-drawn equipment I like to use," Harden said. "It's too rusty ... too hard to clean up. It takes too much time."...

The cover of the September issue of Nebraska Cattleman's Magazine will feature the gentle colors and exquisite detail of a Norma Stevens watercolor. Stevens, of McCook, painted the watercolor from a picture she took while with Don Dernovich on a painting on location class through McCook Community College...

An exciting way to raise awareness of the benefits of spaying and neutering companion animals is right around the corner. On Sept. 20, the U.S. Postal Service will issue a series of two new 37-cent first-class Spay/Neuter Stamps that feature Kirby the puppy and Samantha the kitten, both homeless shelter animals that were adopted into loving homes. The stamps will be available for sale in post offices nationwide...

Nebraska Secretary of State John Gale made a stop in McCook, Tuesday to promote his plan to get young people involved in the process of voting. Gale said he was disappointed by the turnout for the Nebraska primary in May. "Not only was it the lowest percentage of voter turnout ever, it was the lowest number recorded since the 1950s."...

Someone will be duct-taped to the wall in St. Patrick's School gym on Sunday. Who that will be depends on the person who receives the most votes or more specifically -- the most money. The duct-tape derby is part of St. Pat's annual Fall Festival, which begins Saturday with a dinner in the church basement and concludes with the drawing for the raffle. The candidates for the derby are Father Harlan Waskowiak, Steve Stein, Jerry Calvin, Paul Wood, Don Loecker and Rich Barnett...

Jamie Helm of Danbury won the tie-breaker with 35 points to beat two other Power Points entries with 94 points to win $25 in the local contest and a chance to win $100 in the Grand Bowl Guess Off at the end of the year. We're only two weeks into the new football season and already the surprises are mounting up. ...

This year's speaker at the annual Heritage Days Prayer Breakfast, sponsored by the George W. Norris Foundation, will be the Rev. R. Samuel Williams. Williams grew up in Sainte Geneveive, Mo., a town of 4,000 people, located 65 miles south of St. Louis. ...

I love a free and open discussion, the exchange of ideas, ideals, opinions and dreams. Even a good, healthy debate is stimulating in the interaction between two thinking people. (Note I said debate, not argument. There is a difference, laid out in the ground rules.)...