Stories from Tuesday, May 27, 2003

LEBANON -- Bernard H. Haag, 81, died Sunday (May 25, 2003) at the Cambridge Memorial Hospital in Cambridge. He was born Aug. 27, 1921, on a farm north of Lebanon, to Francis A. and Grace M. (Warner) Haag. He graduated from Lebanon High School in 1938. He attended Barns School of Commerce in Denver, Colo., in 1939 and farmed from 1940 to 1942...

West Ward kids ... since 1925 that has meant the lucky kids who attended the brick building on West 4th Street. I was a West Ward kid, as were most of my best friends. I can hardly believe that this is the end of the road as a schoolhouse for one of my favorite buildings...

ALMA -- Craig and Michelle Cole of Alma announce the birth of twin daughters, Emilee Dawn and Corinne Elisabeth, born Wednesday (May 21, 2003). Emilee weighed 6 pounds, 1 ounce and Corinne weighed 4 pounds 13 ounces. They have a brother, Tanner and a sister, Ashlyn...

The family of Willis and Lucille (Overfield) Jones is hosting a card shower in honor of the couple's 60th wedding anniversary. They were married May 29, 1943, in Altus, Okla. The couple's family includes Diane and husband, Larry Radcliffe of Imperial and Warren Jones and wife, Cathy of McCook; five grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. Cards of congratulations will reach the couple at 910 West I Street, McCook, NE 69001...

The children of Elmer and Tally Case are hosting a reception in honor of their parents' 25th wedding anniversary on June 1, from 2-4:30 p.m., at the Christian Union Church in Stratton. There will be a short musical program at 3 p.m. The Cases were married on June 3, 1978, and have three daughters, Heather, Christina and Annette. Cards of congratulations will reach them at 34802 Highway 34, Max, NE 69037...

The family of Bill and Anita Conroy are hosting an open house in honor of the couple's 50th wedding anniversary on May 31, from 2-4 p.m., at the Knights of Columbus Hall at 308 East 9th Street in McCook. The couple were married on June 2, 1953, at St. ...

Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Blackburn of Bel Aire, Kan., and Mr. and Mrs. Steve Perea of Ozark, Ark., formerly of McCook, announce the engagement of their children, Megan Nicole Blackburn and Andrew James Perea. Grandparents of the couple are Erma Cornett of Scandia, Kan., and the late Glen Cornett, Mr. ...

The children of Dan and Christy Stevens are hosting a card shower in honor of the couple's 30th anniversary, May 25. Cards of congratulations will reach the couple at 1409 West First, McCook, NE 69001.

The family of Loran Wright is hosting a card shower in honor of his 80th birthday on May 31. Cards of congratulations will reach him at P.O. Box 333, Palisade, NE 69040.

With apologies to John Mesh, sports editor of the Gazette, I'm going to venture into the sports arena this week because a pretty significant event is taking place. At least, significant in the minds of some. Annika Sorenstam, the premiere golfer on the "ladies" tour is playing with the men this week at the Colonial in Fort Worth, Texas. ...

It was a touching ceremony, even for someone who had never attended school at West Ward. I have to admit being partial to Western music, and the "Happy Trails" performance by Charles Coleman and Edna Brush surprised me with a lump in the throat. And, yes, it was possible for U.S. Sen. Ben Nelson to spend seven years at West Ward -- students Kindergarten through sixth grade attended the school in those days...

Dear Editor, I have read your editorial in your May 22 paper about the high costs to put a new water field in for the village of Bartley. I totally disagree with Mr. Marv Colson. He is totally wrong. From the meetings that I have attended, it is true that the well field will cost $2.6 million, but according to Miller & Associates, this will be a cost of 25 percent us and 75 percent grant money...

CEDAR CREEK, Texas -- Jeffrey Eugene Myers, 43, of Cedar Creek, Texas died Thursday (May 22, 2003) at Smithville Regional Hospital in Smithville, Texas. He was born Feb. 6, 1960, in Denver, Colo., to Richard Arvene and Jolene Kay (Sinner) Myers. He graduated from Niwot High School in Niwot, Colo., in 1980. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, and was very good at art, especially pencil drawings...

CAMBRIDGE -- Laura Maxine Price, 82, died Friday (May 23, 2003) at the Cambridge Memorial Hospital in Cambridge. She was born Oct. 19, 1920, in rural Lincoln County, to Louie and Agnes (Frimel) Broeder. She graduated from O'Fallons High School in 1937. She graduated from West Nebraska Methodist School of Nursing in 1942...

Harriet R. Vandervort, 80, of McCook, died Friday (May 23, 2003) at Community Hospital in McCook. She was born April 5, 1923, at Scranton, Pa., to John David and Harriet (McCullock) James. The family moved to Camden, N.J. where she grew up and attended school. In 1945, she moved to McCook...

It was no surprise Monday when Gov. Mike Johanns vetoed the main budget bill, the tax package to support it and the school aid bill. From the time he made his original budget proposal, until the time the Legislature passed its budget last week, Johanns had insisted on spending cuts instead of tax increases...

Thursday night in Trenton -- just before the start of the Memorial Day weekend -- 34 people from 10 different Nebraska towns turned out to talk about community foundations. The discussion started at 7:40 p.m. and was supposed to wrap up by 9 p.m., but it was close to 10 before the session adjourned. Unlike so many meetings of this kind, the lateness of the hour wasn't because the speakers were long-winded, or because the content was dry and boring...

Why would anyone in his right mind want to shoot a polar bear?

Since many have graduated and received monetary or other gifts, please see that "thank you" notes are sent to the sender, or giver, in appreciation.

Dear Editor, I was so happy to see the article in the paper about District 8 school. Formerly of McCook, our family moved to North Platte just before 9th grade. The best times of my life can be remembered from my days at District 8. From first grade through eighth, we had only 5-6 students in my grade and hardly over 40 students in the school...

Casey Mendez of Kearney and Brian Symington of McCook announce their engagement and upcoming wedding. Parents of the couple are Robert and Patricia Mendez of Kearney, John Symington of Vinton, Iowa, and Kerrilyn Symington of McCook. The bride-to-be is a 1998 graduate of Kearney High School in Kearney. ...

James and Yanis Helm of Danbury announce the engagement of their daughter, Maria Yanis Helm, to Derek Stephen Downer, the son of Stephen and Patricia Downer of Bartley. Grandparents of the couple are John and Helen Helm of Norcatur, Kan., Efreen B. Rojas of David, Panama, the late Rosa Santiago de Rojas, Maxine Downer of Bartley; the late Kenneth Downer and Alice Rummel of Huntington Beach, Calif., and the late Julian Rummel. ...

The McCook American Legion Juniors Baseball team captured the Memorial Day tournament championship Sunday at the Jaycees Complex in McCook. In the championship game of the tournament McCook faced the Ogallala Juniors. Coach Jade Muehlenkamp sent Jeff Klug to the mound. Klug pitched a complete game in the 5-4 win...

AURORA -- The McCook National Bank Seniors split a pair of games with the Aurora baseball team Saturday. MNB lost the first game of the doubleheader 5-2. Matt Beckenhauer took the mound for MNB. Beckenhauer recorded seven strike outs and no walks in five innings pitched...

The McCook National Bank Seniors captured the Memorial Day Tournament championship Monday night with a 6-0 win over the Ogallala Seniors at the Jaycees Sports Complex in McCook. Jeff Holthus started the game for MNB. Holthus (2-0) pitched for five innings, holding Ogallala scoreless on three hits and struck out two batters...

WAKEENEY, Kan. -- Decatur Community High School-Oberlin won the boys team title at the Kansas Class 2A Regional track meet Friday at Trego Community High School, led by David Eldridge who qualifed for three individual events. He won a gold medal in the 1,600 meter run with a time of 4 minutes, 50.4 seconds and second in both the 3,200 meter run at 11 minutes, 1 second and the 800 meter run 2 minutes, 4.8 seconds...

Christina Houghtelling kept up her winning ways at the Nebraska State Track Meet on Friday and Saturday, earning two all-class gold medals, while Culbertson's Ben Eisenhart successfully defended his Class D state title in the long jump. Houghtelling placed first in Class C and earned all-class gold in both the high jump with a mark of 5 feet, 8 inches and the triple jump with a total of 37 feet, 1.5 inches...

OMAHA -- Chase County-Imperial's Ed Kaiser topped off his storied high school career in "grand" fashion. In addition to repeating as Class B state champion, Kaiser's effort of 6-foot-8 enabled to bring home a second straight gold medal as the "grand state" all-class champion...

The McCook Central Elementary School track meet took place Thursday at the McCook High School track. Central Elementary School boys and girls in grades 5-6 competed. Results from the Central Elementary Track Meet Thursday, May 22 Fifth Grade Results...

The McCook High School girls tennis team competed at the Nebraska Class B state tournament Thursday in Lincoln. The Bison scored 6 points on first-round wins by Kelsey Lyster and Moriah Gull at No. 1 doubles and Tausha Escher and Kim Serbousek at No. 2 doubles. Front from left: Natalie Brooks, Angela Abercrombie. Second row: Moria Gull, Kelsey Lyster, Kim Serbousek, Tausha Escher. Back: McCook tennis coach Matt Wiemers...

OMAHA -- Athletes from the McCook Daily Gazette coverage area made a strong showing Friday at the Nebraska State Track and Field Championships at Omaha Burke High School Stadium. The state track meet continues today with finals. Complete results will be published in Tuesday's Gazette sports section...

NORTH PLATTE -- A new organizational structure, searches for administration, faculty and staff positions, and purchases of equipment will top Wednesday night's Mid-Plains Community College Board of Governors meeting. This month, the meeting will be held in Room 145 on NPCC's McDonald-Belton Campus in North Platte, beginning at approximately 6:30 p.m. ...

Maywood celebrates "Old Glory Days" with a parade, a picnic and a polka band. Hundreds of people took advantage of the sunshine and nice weather Saturday, and organizers were thrilled with the turn-out at all events. Lynne Wilson said, "We had a great day. ...

Austin Lambing (middle photo) reads a paragraph about what he liked about West Ward Elementary on Friday, at the Wild West Ward Roundup, a farewell party that commemorated the school and 78 years of education within its walls. Behind him is his older brother, Adam, who served as master of ceremonies for the event. ...

A new leader has taken the reins at Mid-Plains Community College Area and people can expect to see some positive changes. But, said Dr. Michael Chipps, who took over as president of MPCCA earlier this month, "we can't turn this around on a dime."...

An air of celebration surrounded the McCook Work Ethic Camp's open house, Friday as state dignitaries and local community leaders gathered to observe the facility's second year of operation. Former Gov. Frank Morrison made an impromptu speech during the ceremonies, telling the group that in his role as a prosecutor, public defender and the chief law enforcement officer of the state, he has seen all sides of the issue...

Tom Gonzales of Inland Marine, Denver, begins the process of hauling equipment to the top of McCook's water tower to begin the cleaning process on the city's storage tank. Once he reached the top, John Paul Devers and Dean Brooks were on the ground hoisting up tubes and diving gear for the procedure...

Terry and Tammie Hilker's 1939 Ford coupe won the 2003 "Ray Moffitt Memorial Trophy" during the annual "Ray Moffitt Memorial Car Show" Saturday in Barnett Park in McCook. Car show organizer Terry Sitzman said the event attracted 81 cars, which he said was terrific for a rescheduled event. The first car show, scheduled May 10, was rained out...

The honor guard and audience stand attention for the playing of "Taps" on Monday at Memorial Park Cemetery in McCook. "America can never fully repay her veterans, but if there is a crown in heaven, they are the stars," said Dan Stramel, commander of the American Legion. "This great nation was not established by cowards, nor will it be preserved by them. America will remain the land of the free only as long as it is the home of the brave," he said...

The city of McCook's water emergency has ended following a loss of power at a high service booster station Sunday. Chlorination of the city's water will continue through Wednesday. McCook water users are reminded that because of a nitrate administrative order from the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, children under the age of 6 months, pregnant women and nursing mothers should drink only bottled water. Coupons may be picked up at the city offices...

Harold W. Clarke, Director of the Department of Correctional Services, has announced that the Nebraska State Penitentiary will be recommended for reaccreditation by the American Correctional Association Commission on Accreditation for Corrections in August 2003...

The 12th annual Sertoma All-Star Volleyball Classic is Saturday, June 14, at 7 p.m. at the McCook High School and includes 24 of the area's recently-graduated volleyball stars. The East team is coached by Judy Newcomb of Cambridge and Krystal Weber of McCook...