Stories from Thursday, April 24, 2003

While the budget debate rages in the Nebraska Legislature, State Sen. Tom Baker of Trenton is deciding whether to push for an across-the-board sales tax on food. In this morning's telephone conference with the legislative committee of the McCook Chamber of Commerce, Baker said up to 35 of Nebraska's 49 senators have indicated to him they support the sales tax on food, but the Trenton lawmaker said he is not certain the support will hold up during intensive filibustering...

Dear Editor, I would like to thank all area residents who donated blood recently during the height of the current Iraqi conflict. It was a terrific display of support for our troops and allowed the Red Cross to meet the military's request for blood, and provide an adequate supply to meet our local patient needs...

Cuts, tax hikes, or a combination of the above? The Legislature will provide that answer soon, and, as is the case with every political process, a combination compromise is the smart bet. But it won't be easy. One example was illustrated Wednesday during a debate on Omaha Sen. Kermit Brashear's LB759, which would, among other things, add soft drinks and candy to the state sales tax...

KEARNEY -- McCook Senior High Math Club members will demonstrate "Math Magic" on the NTV television program "Good Morning, Nebraska," early Friday morning. MHS math teacher Karen Miller said the students will appear at 6:20 a.m., 6:25 a.m. and 6:50 a.m...

A McCook City Firefighter watches for more signs of fire in a plastic bucket that caught fire in the basement at Memorial United Methodist Church, 105 East E, on Wednesday. Fire Chief Marc Harpham said a mop head caught fire in the process of an old furnace being removed at the church. ...

IMPERIAL -- A Wauneta-Palisade graduate and University of Nebraska-Kearney football standout died Wednesday at the Imperial hospital. Theron Kitt, 24, had suffered from asthma, but the cause of his death was not clear. A 1997 graduate of Wauneta-Palisade High School, Kitt attended Chadron State College before transferring to UNK, where he was a member of the football team for the past four years...

HAYES CENTER -- Authorities discovered evidence of a meth lab after responding to the scene where a man was electrocuted while attempting to restore power to the rural residence. Daniel Joe Jussel, 29, died just before 2:30 p.m. CDT Tuesday, Nebraska State Patrol Sgt. Mark Larson said...

Flowers like these lilacs are enjoying the rainy weather in Southwest Nebraska and Northwest Kansas. McCook has received 2.21 inches of moisture so far this month and 3.83 this year, but is still more than a third of an inch below normal for 2003.

The Mid-Plains Community College Board of Governors unanimously approved the $94,600 purchase of distance learning equipment to implement a "hotline" for interactive classes between McCook and North Platte Community Colleges. The purchase includes production and routing equipment for dedicated classrooms to deliver interactive television classes...

I've never had a very good sense of direction. When I lived in Denver, I had to have the mountains in sight to know exactly where I was. If they were in front of me I knew I was going west. If they were on my right, I knew I was going south. If they were on my left, I knew I was going north...

LITTLETON, Colo. -- Theron W. Rehn, 88, died Sunday (April 20, 2003) at Porter Hospice at the Johnson Center in Littleton, Colo. He was born July 10, 1914, in Campbell, to Fred and Maria (Koch) Rehn. He grew up at Campbell where he received his education...

WAUNETA -- Theron Kitt, 24, died Tuesday (April 22, 2003) at the Chase County Community Hospital in Imperial. Survivors include his fiancee, Brittany DeVall of Bassett; a daughter, Bailey DeVall also of Bassett; his father, Kirby Kitt and wife, Mary of Wauneta; his mother, Polly and husband, Al Gunther of Bloomfield; sisters, Kristi and husband, Alex McNair of Imperial and Beth Kitt of Kearney; brothers, Kallan Kitt of Kearney and Will Engell of Bloomfield; and grandmothers, Donnaline Kitt of Wauneta and Shirley Rothwell of Arthur.. ...