Stories from Thursday, February 6, 2003

McCook could lose commercial air service or be forced to come up with more than $132,000 a year in funding from other than federal sources, in a budget proposal released by President Bush on Monday. According to Sen. Ben Nelson's office, the Bush budget reduces federal Essential Air Service funding from $113 million to no more than $50 million in the 2004 budget...

The stock market's fall in 2001 and the terrorist attacks of that September 11 are, in many ways, just beginning to make themselves felt. National Guard and Army Reserve call-ups are leaving holes in our communities, such as the example of McCook's head wrestling coach, detailed on page one today...

Dear Editor, I did not know that the Midwest had seceded from the Union 'til the president gave his state of the Union address. Not once was the word farm or farmer, ranch or rancher, drought or shortage of water mentioned in 45 minutes of supposedly a state of the Union address...

HAYSVILLE, Kan. -- Ed and Jenifer Light of Haysville, Kan., announce the birth of twin boys, Karson Alyx and Karter Hayden, born Saturday (Dec. 21, 2002). Karson weighed 5 pounds, 11 ounces and Karter weighed 5 pounds 9 ounces. They have three sisters: Madison, 12, Teighlor, 9, and Chandler, 4...

OMAHA -- Wade and Traci Wilkinson of Omaha announce the birth of a son, Connor Riley, born Monday (Jan. 13, 2003). He weighed 7 pounds, 3 1/2 ounces. Grandparents are Leonard and Penny Gonzales of McCook and Bill and Connie Wilkinson of Culbertson. Great-grandparents are Charles and Freda Clapp and Raymond Gonzales all of McCook, and Ken and Marianne Cole of Indianola...

Kristie Phinney and Travis Winters of McCook, announce the birth of a son, Baylor James Winters, born Monday (Jan. 20, 2003). He weighed 8 pounds, 1 ounce. Grandparents are Jim and Patty Phinney of McCook, Larry and Pat Hall of Agra, Kan., Dan and Vicky Ground of Juniata and Ken Winters of Indianola...

A McCook man pleaded not guilty in Red Willow County District Court to passing a counterfeit one-hundred dollar bill at the Spirit Shop in McCook. Toby J. Hamilton, 22, was charged with first degree forgery, a Class III felony, when he was identified by a cashier at the Bottle Shop, also in McCook...

LINCOLN -- Nebraska's premiere collector of Husker memorabilia, Bob Ihrig, has realized a long-held dream with the opening of a grille and pub filled with 12,000 selections from his sports collection. Called Bob's Gridiron Grille and the Pigskin Pub, the 8,000 square- foot eating and drinking establishment is located near the corner of 27th Street and Highway 2 in Lincoln...

HAYES CENTER -- The people of Hayes Center are joining together to host a Valentine's Day benefit for David Gigax, Randy Hawn and their families. The two men were seriously injured Jan. 21 in an automobile crash in Frontier County near Maywood. Alan Harms, a 43-year-old resident of Culbertson, was killed in the accident, which happened when a car driven by Hawn spun out of control and plunged into a ditch, where it struck a guard rail...

TRENTON -- Hitchcock County Judge Bert Leffler complimented a Trenton man for caring about his daughter, but told him there is no justification for his means of discipline. Leffler sentenced 39-year-old William Adams to one year of probation and ordered him to complete parenting classes, after finding Adams guilty of misdemeanor child abuse. Adams had pleaded guilty to the charge in January, and Leffler ordered a presentence investigation...

A sales tax on food and gambling bill appear to be gaining support in Lincoln, Sen. Tom Baker told a group of 10 Chamber of Commerce Legislative Committee members this morning. Baker said legislators are beginning to understand that if the state does not implement some tax increases, some of their pet projects are going to be eliminated and "sales tax on food is one of the broadest based taxes I can think of," Baker told the group. "Everybody buys food."...

NORTH PLATTE -- McCook Senior High teacher and head wrestling coach Dean Reicks joined the leadership of the 1074th Transportation Co. in North Platte today, preparing for the unit's mobilization over the weekend. 1st Sgt. Reicks said the soldiers report Friday and a send-off ceremony is scheduled Sunday (details will be released later)...

Yesterday afternoon, after running several errands and spending a good share of my husband's paycheck, I felt an overwhelming need for a few minutes of rest and relaxation -- I went shopping. When I reached the clothing section of a local discount store, I broke out into a cold sweat, fearing I was suffering from a drug-induced flashback -- knowing I had never taken any drugs that would cause a drug-induced flashback...

Beverly Arlene J. Smith, 77, of McCook, died Wednesday (Feb. 5, 2003) at the Littleton Adventist Hospital in Littleton, Colo. She was born June 27, 1925, to Harley and Ina (Eggers) Jones in Spencer, Iowa. She attended school in Spencer and received nurse's training in Chicago, ill...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Ruth E. Price, 88, died Monday (Feb. 3, 2003) at St. Joseph Hospital in Kansas City, Mo. She was born Oct. 2, 1914, in McCook to Adam and Mary Baker. In 1937, she married A.L. Price of St. Francis. They then moved to Kansas City...

BEAVER CITY -- Alfred Thomas Bly, known as Al Bly, 77, died Saturday (Feb. 1, 2003) at his home in Beaver City. He was born Dec. 21, 1925, at Beaver City to Guy and Retta (Thomas) Bly. He was a lifelong resident of Beaver City. He graduated from Beaver City High School with the class of 1943. He worked for Everett Gentry Farms for a while...