Stories from Thursday, February 13, 2003

State Sen. Tom Baker broke the news today that he hasn't seen much support for raising the tax levy limits for municipalities, schools or counties. The news was delivered to a group of 11 Chamber of Commerce Governmental Affairs Committee members this morning...

I'm not sure who is the worst, the Concerned Citizens of McCook on the water issue or the Concerned School Patrons on the school issue. If these people would bother to gather a few facts they wouldn't be taking up time at meetings. And who is (a frequent Open Forum writer) anyway? Free speech is great but he's making me tired .....

Dear Editor, I would like to respond to Mike Hendricks article from Feb. 25. Clearly Mike has no idea about the madman the world is dealing with. It seems to me that Mike wants another thousand or so innocent people to die before we do something about Saddam Hussein. After all, he hasn't done much yet except, invade Kuwait without provocation, break every pledge to the terms of the cease-fire from the Gulf War...

Dear Editor, To the citizens of the Republican Valley and Twin Valley school district: As a result of almost two years of debate, research and contemplation, Twin Valley and Republican Valley Schools are taking a bond issue vote to you citizens on March 25, 2003. ...

Are you one of those people who make lists? Jot down the things you need to do, and then check them off once they are completed? There's something satisfying about checking off the intermediate steps necessary to complete as we make progress toward our original goal...

The Republican Valley Renaissance Project's premier event will feature an organ recital of liturgical music by J. Gordon Christensen of Imperial Sunday, 4:30 p.m., at St. Catherine's Catholic Church in Indianola. Christensen is widely known in Nebraska, Colorado and other midwestern states as a music educator and church musician. ...

Friends of the late Carl V. Smock are hosting a tribute to him today and Friday, by asking McCookites to donate money that will be given to his family. A fish tank will be displayed at the McCook High School girls basketball game today, 6:30-7 p.m., to collect money and the fish tank will be at the corner of East First and B Street by Howard Kool Motors during the work day Friday, with KICX broadcasting the event from 8-10 a.m., and Sehnert's Bakery donating 72 dozen donut holes to the first 72 people who come to Howard Kool to donate. ...

CURTIS -- A Curtis woman accused of stealing money from the community's Easter Pageant treasury has been charged with Class III felony theft. The Hi-Line Enterprise newspaper reported that Daidrea Donelson was arrested Feb. 5. She posted bond, 10 percent of $3,000, and was released. ...

Jacob Fahrenbruch enjoys a pizza party, the reward his third grade class earned for raising the most money at North Ward in a "Pennies for the Playground" project sponsored by McCook schools PTO's. Jake and his classmates in Nancy Buresh's class raised $176.12 in change to help the PTO's purchase new playground equipment for the elementary schools. ...

Violette M. "Jackie" Burgoon, 86, died Tuesday (Feb. 11, 2003) at Hillcrest Nursing Home in McCook. She was born June 12, 1916, in Prairie City, Iowa, to Elmer Richard and Vera Edna (Garrison) Barter. She graduated from McCook High School in 1934...

FARNAM -- Harold Bick, 75, died Tuesday (Feb. 11, 2003) at Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney. He was born Aug. 29, 1927, to Arthur Henry and Edna Marie (Gaibler) Bick in Farnam. He graduated from Farnam High School in 1945. He served in the Army in Korea from 1951 to 1953...

LONGMONT, COLO. -- Ronald W. "Ron" Glanzer, 67, died Tuesday (Feb. 11, 2003) at Longmont United Hospital in Longmont, Colo. He was born March 15, 1935, to George and Bertha (Riepe) Glanzer in Waterville, Kan. He was a graduate of Arapahoe High School...

OAK LAWN, ILL. -- Frank C. Hejl, 81, died Saturday (Feb. 1, 2003) at his home in Oak Lawn, Ill. He was born April 24, 1921, to Frank John and Lillian (Ondock) Hejl in Chicago, Ill. He was in World War II from 1942 to 1946. He was a military policeman stationed at the Indianola Prisoner of War camp from 1943-44...

The headline on this weeks "Unicameral Update" declares "Smoking ban bill ignites debate." All you need to do is talk to local restaurateurs to find out just how much debate it's generating. One local restaurant owner I talked to made a point of explaining (with emphasis) that if the state of Nebraska wants to pay for the $50,000 of improvements he's put into his business, he'll be happy to let it dictate what's going to happen in his building. ...

TRENTON -- Lauri Lou Dore, 45, died Tuesday (Feb. 11, 2003) at her home in Trenton. She was born June 12, 1957, to Louis and Mary (Moore) Hrouda in Golden, Colo. She grew up in Golden and graduated from high school in Lakewood, Colo. On Nov. 8, 1975, she married Kevin S. ...