Stories from Friday, February 7, 2003

ELWOOD -- The good news is ... a drought is a normal part of the climate in the United States, and especially the western half. The bad news is ... this one isn't over. Michael Hayes, a climate impact specialist with the National Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, is cautiously optimistic about precipitation this spring. "The drought is ongoing," Hayes told those at the annual Elwood water conference Thursday, "with some improvement in moisture through April."...

Dear Editor, I live in Scottsbluff and graduated from McCook High School in 1997. Over the past few weeks, I have been reading about all of the individuals who are being called to active duty. I have been enjoying the personal stories that you have chosen to share with us, and today I stumbled upon the story of Coach Reicks...

Dear Editor, To the registered voters of the Twin Valley and Republican Valley districts: I just finished reading Mr. Charles Quigley' s open letter to the 10 board members. At first I thought maybe they (those pesky board members) had already approved the T.V./R.V. ...

A group calling itself the Concerned School Patrons of the McCook School District is circulating a petition calling for an alternative to the board of education's current plans to close West Ward and combine attendance centers elsewhere. The group is urging patrons who agree with its proposal to attend the upcoming school board meeting, 5:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Junior High conference room...

In a town of 8,000, how many folks do you think would need the services of a food pantry in a year. A thousand? Fifteen hundred? Five thousand? Keep going. Yes, some 5,055 individuals received food from the McCook Pantry, but the year was 2000. That number climbed to 6,192 last year and 6,428 in 2002. In addition, 69 Christmas baskets were given out in 2002, 73 in 2001 and 81 in 2000...

Dear Editor, Mr. (Dick) TraiI, I would like you to understand that a Union is no better than the people that belong to it, just as the people who operate the government whether it be city, state or federal government. The government has to deal with the unions. The main reason a union is formed is because the workers are not treated fairly or being paid a fair wage. Example -- the exhaust fumes at the police and fire station...

Dear Editor, What can our state legislators be thinking of? Here we are with an immense deficit hanging over our heads, they are busy cutting funds away from important programs, and they want us to add another house? With double all the expenses, senator's salaries, their staffs, housing, mileage, pensions, etc. etc...

One of the hurdles each Habitat for Humanity affiliate has to overcome in a community are widely-circulated myths about the program. Over the next several weeks, the Southwest Nebraska Habitat for Humanity affiliate will seek to debunk some these myths and increase awareness within the community of the benefits of the program...

Renee Lamoureux and Keith Macpherson of Easily Amused perform during lunch at McCook Community College's Wigwam Thursday. The duo shared their talents in vocals, guitar and Renee on the harmonica, and entertained with songs like "The Cat Song." The Canadian duo will move on to play in Seward and Omaha and then to Colorado and Oregon. The concert was sponsored by the Student Senate and is part of this week's homecoming activities. Easily Amused is on the web at easilyamused.ca...

Everyone benefits from the third annual Dick Driml Memorial Chili Cookoff -- the chili chefs get to show off their recipes, the college gets a little funding for projects, and the spectators get supper. The chili competition will follow McCook Community College women's and men's basketball games Saturday in True Hall. The women play at 2 p.m., the men at 4 p.m...

Snow, at least in measurable quantities, doesn't seem to come to our parts very often. So when the white stuff does arrive, many people don't know whether to be elated with the precipitation or perturbed by the hassle. Those most obviously elated are the 18-and-under crowd. ...

James Raymond Trupp, 58, of Imperial, died Wednesday (Feb. 5, 2003) at his home following a short but courageous battle with cancer. Jim was born March 22, 1944 in McCook, to Raymond and Elsie (Foster) Trupp. He attended country school at District 8 through eighth grade, graduating from McCook High School in 1962 and McCook Community College in 1964. He then attended Chadron State College...