Stories from Thursday, January 16, 2003

If you missed your chance for a tour of the McCook Work Ethic Camp when it was completed two years ago, another opportunity is in the planning stages. April 30 will mark the two year anniversary for the corrections facility and Raleigh Haas, Director of the camp, brought into focus some of the negative perceptions still plaguing the McCook Work Ethic Camp Wednesday during the Community Involvement Committee meeting...

Those of us who live in or have lived in trailer houses, modular homes, "whatever you want to call them," are profoundly offended by comments that they are "tin shanties," "ridiculous" "awful," "worse than garden sheds," and that "they shame the community."...

Dear Editor, January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, with the goal of educating and empowering women across America to visit their clinician for an annual Pap smear test. Although all women should come in for their annual pap smear, many do not receive regular screenings. Vigilance on the part of women about early detection through cervical cancer screening is crucial because cervical cancer, caught early, is nearly 100 percent treatable...

Dear Editor, Just maybe if the school board would have moved the meetings to Tuesdays years ago, just maybe they would not be having this current problem. The meetings always interfered with the city meetings and no one seemed to care. The people were not given a fair chance to go to the school board meetings because they had to choose which one was more important...

Dear Editor, The McCook United Way fund drive met its goal of $81,000 for 2002. Despite our current drought, difficult economic times and local financial needs, our citizens and busineesses found a way to make the donations necessary to meet this goal. ...

Whether it comes early -- or late -- elected officials should not ignore public dissent. That doesn't mean the decision-makers should always go along with their critics; but it does mean they should give the dissenters ample opportunity to explain their opposition...

Members of the McCook Police Department and the McCook Fire and Rescue Squad work to release Gertrude M. Geseling of Palisade from her vehicle following a collision with the McCook Beauty Academy. John Monderro of Oberlin (right), owner of the building, inspects the damages. The vehicle struck the building at around 12:45 p.m. Tuesday...

KEARNEY -- A McCook man has been hospitalized following an accident about 11 miles west of Kearney on Interstate 80. Max Abercrombie, owner of Brown's Shoe Fit Co., was listed in stable condition at Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney today. According to the Nebraska State Patrol, Abercrombie's Chevy S-10 pickup collided with a semi truck at about 2:30 p.m., Wednesday afternoon at mile marker 261 west of Kearney. The State Patrol reported icy roads at that time because of freezing drizzle...

This year's bridal couple, featured in the Guide for Spring Weddings in today's edition, are Lesa Miller and Mike Tines of Culbertson. Lesa is the daughter of Lee and Barb Miller of Culbertson and Mike is the son of William "Dude" and Alice Tines of Venango. Mike is a teacher and coach at Culbertson Schools and Lesa is employed at JC Penney in McCook. The couple are planning a June 20 wedding...

Red Willow County commissioners reappointed Earl McNutt their chairman and OKd the county's survey of and plan for juvenile services during the new board's first meeting Tuesday afternoon. This was new commissioner Leigh Hoyt's first meeting. An independent auditor also gave commissioners a good report on 2001-2002 records...

McCook Clinic P.C. will be open for business in its new medical office building on Monday, according to Brian Rokusek, practice manager. Patients may park in the clinic's new parking lot by turning left off H Street just past the hospital entryway...

CLINTON, Utah -- Omalea Gwen McCormick, 72, died Sunday (Jan. 12, 2003) at her home. She was born Jan. 17, 1930, in Hayes County, to Delbert L. and Ilah M. Fornoff. She grew up on the family farm and attended school in a one-room schoolhouse to eighth grade, then moved into town to complete her high school. ...

SYRACUSE, Kan. -- Thomas Roger Malleck, 64, died Tuesday (Jan. 14, 2003) at the Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha. He was born Sept. 30, 1938, at Indianola, to James John and Genevieve Elizabeth (Powers) Malleck. He attended school at Indianola Public Schools where he graduated from high school in 1957...

SALINA, Kan. -- Dr. Katharine Virginia Bickford Smith, 71, died Tuesday (Jan. 14, 2003) at the Salina Regional Health Center in Salina, Kan. She was born Feb. 24, 1931, in Kansas City, Mo., to Donnel and Catherine (Kenney) Pearson. She was raised in Tonganoxie, Kan. ...

Evelyn P. Norris, 90, died Tuesday (Jan. 14, 2003) at Community Hospital of McCook. She was born Nov. 3, 1912, in McCook, to Milo and Cordelia (McGuire) Harbaugh. She graduated from McCook High School in 1930. She trained as a telegrapher and worked for the McCook Telegraph Office during World War II...

There's some good news and bad news out of Lincoln this week. The bad news is -- at least one legislator thinks it's time for a raise --  a 67 percent raise, to be exact. Sen. DiAnna Schimek wants to raise Nebraska lawmakers' salary from $12,000 to $20,000 a year...

Lyle Eugene Springer died Tuesday (Jan. 14, 2003). He was 56 years old. Lyle was born Jan. 18, 1946, on the family farm north of Danbury, to Cloyce and Bertha (Goltl) Springer. He attended grade school in Danbury and graduated from Beaver Valley High School in 1964. He also attended McCook Community College and Kearney State College, receiving a degree as an Industrial Arts Teacher...