Stories from Tuesday, December 31, 2002

According to Nebraska Sen. Tom Baker, three major issues will face the Nebraska Legislature when it gets under way with its regular session Wednesday, Jan. 8. They include a possible $680 million deficit in the state budget, casino gambling and the method to be used to carry out the state's death penalty...

Dear Editor, How lucky we are to have the doctors and employees of Community Hospital of McCook and Hillcrest Nursing Home! The care and compassion are excellent! June Bickham McCook

Dear Editor, Dear friends and potential buyers of the McCook Army Air Base. A committee of volunteers is dedicated to preserving the McCook Army Air Base. The society was incorporated in June 1987 and in 1991 received non-profit status. Since that time, we have acquired a highway marker, established the Veterans Memorial Garden, erected a barracks building and listed the Norden Bomb Site Vault on the National Historic Registry. ...

Get ready for an action-packed year in the Golden Plains of America. Because of planned projects and unresolved issues in need of solutions, it's a certainty that 2003 will be filled with newsworthy happenings. Here are some of the assured and expected highlights: 1. ...

WINDSOR, Colo. -- Justin and Michelle (Marr) Vavra of Windsor, Colo., announce the birth of a daughter, Ellison Diane, born Monday (Dec. 23, 2002). She weighed 8 pounds. Grandparents are Steve and Diane Marr of McCook and Jane Schmid of Kearney. Great-grandparents are Marvin and Elaine Frank and Stan and Sharon Marr all of McCook...

Lade' Majic and the Harlem Ambassadors are set to appear at the McCook High School gymnasium at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 25. Tickets are on sale now at the McCook Chamber of Commerce, 107 Norris Ave., for $6 for ages 10 and above, $8 at the door.

WHEATLAND -- A proposed merger between Grant and Wheatland schools is on hold because of a lawsuit filed on behalf of a Wheatland High School football player injured four years ago. If the Wheatland school district is added to the list of defendants and the defendants are found liable, the combined district of Grant and Wheatland would have to pay damages...

Tryouts for Rodgers and Hammerstein's State Fair will be Jan. 5, 2-4 p.m., Jan. 6, 7-8:30 p.m., and Jan. 9, 7-8 p.m., at the McCook High School Auditorium. State Fair is a musical set at the Iowa State Fair and features the Frake family, each attending the fair for a special prize; the father is looking for a blue ribbon for his pet pig, the mother is looking for first place in the pie-baking contest and their son and daughter are on a hunt for true love. ...

Red Willow County Attorney Paul Wood intensified the charges and County Judge Cloyd Clark reviewed the bond Monday morning for five of the seven adults charged on Christmas Eve with the manufacture of methamphetamine. Wood told Judge Clark he could not recommend reducing the bond for one of the seven, after he learned the man pulled a loaded pistol on officers as they entered the home at 808 E. Second in McCook. Wood, in fact, added to the charges filed against Daryl Banzet of Oberlin...

Sunshine breaks through the darkness, just as an old year becomes new. While the calendar may change, the weather shows few signs of bringing much-needed precipitation.

Big news for our world erupted Dec. 27 with the announcement of the live birth of what was purported to be the first cloned human being, a girl child nicknamed Eve. The interesting and scary twist to this thing is that it was allegedly accomplished, not by a scientific entity, but by a religious sect known as the Raelians (pronounced RYE-elians)...

BENKELMAN -- Berniece M. Russell, 89, died Sunday (Dec. 29, 2002) at Sarah Ann Hester Memorial Home in Benkelman. She was born June 7, 1913, on her family's farm north of Benkelman to Earl "Vic" and Mayme (Bond) Ham, and attended country school near her home.  She later attended Benkelman High School and was a member of the graduating class of 1931...

BEAVER CITY -- Eleonora "Ellie" L. (Rathe) Smith, 88, died Saturday (Dec. 28, 2002) at the Beaver City Manor. She was born August 3, 1914, in Matteson, Ill., to Albert H. and Bertha (Braun) Rathe. In May of 1956, she married Eugene L. Smith. She was a member of the Lutheran faith...