Stories from Tuesday, August 5, 2003

BLAIR -- A top four finish at the American Legion State Baseball Tournament is how the McCook National Bank Seniors end their 2003 summer campaign. MNB dropped a 7-1 decision to Omaha Skutt on Monday night at Veterans Memorial Field in Blair. Jeff Holthus was the starting hurler for MNB. Holthus threw for three and two-thirds innings before being relieved by Matt Serbousek...

I am mystified by the admonishment that we should support our country and our troops. Does this mean that we should blindly follow Bush and never doubt or criticize him or his advisers, no matter what?

Dear Editor, This is a slow time of year at the park and so when I noticed shade in my hot van, I got out. I saw a large cloud with way too much blue sky around it to hope for much rain. I yelled at a bunch of kids near the van. I said, "if anyone can do a rain dance, and fill my rain barrels I'll give a free sno kone." A little guy came running and started doing the best rain dance a white kid could come up with. ...

When the history of McCook sports is written, the Western National championship of the Rebels 18-and-under softball team will rank among the community's all-time best Cinderella stories. After a solid but unspectacular season, the Rebels surprised the softball world by winning six straight tournament games to emerge victorious...

You know you've been together a long time when you remember that you've forgotten lessons you learned early in your marriage. I relearned one such message again during a long weekend in Denver, which we took to celebrate our 25th anniversary. (Yes, I know, we must have gotten married when we were in grade school. ...

Ribbon cutting and grand opening ceremonies for new facilities on the McCook Community College campus are set for 10 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 11, according to college officials. The event will include the ribbon cutting and rededication of McMillen Hall and the Welcome and Student Success Center, the grand opening of the Ben F. Hormel Center for Business and Technology, and the grand opening of the Center for Advanced Studies...

While the average unemployment rate for seven Southwest Nebraska counties has increased just over .40 percent in June compared to the same time one year ago, Red Willow County has seen an increase of almost four times that amount. According to a report released by Nebraska Work Force Development - Department of Labor, the number of people unemployed in the Red Willow Labor Market Area, which includes Red Willow and Hitchcock Counties, was 337 in June, up form 258 in June 2002 and 238 in May2003...

Trenton celebrates the end of wheat harvest and the 50th anniversary of the completion of the Trenton Dam, during Harvest Fest activities Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Montana West of Trenton was selected "Miss Trenton Dam 2003," and was accompanied in the parade by the first "Miss Trenton Dam," Shirley Carter Fanning. ...

Kali Lyons dances in the rain in her flooded front yard late Monday afternoon. Storm-tracking maps indicate the rain cloud hovered right over McCook, dumping 1.40 inches of rain on the McCook Airport and flooding city streets and curbs. The rain gutter in front of the Lyons' house couldn't keep up with the deluge. ...

Doug Shadley and John Chisholm of Indianola "practiced" for Indianola's Old Settlers Days and car show by entering Doug's 75-year-old modified Salt Flats racer and John's restored 1954 Chevy pickup in Trenton's Harvest Festival parade Saturday. Old Settlers' second annual classic and custom car show is scheduled Saturday, from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m. on Main Street in downtown Indianola. Riding with Shadley is his nine-year-old daughter, Adrianne...

Sparks fill the evening sky as a Nichols and Shepard 20-70 steam engine competes in the antique tractor pull at the Tri-State Threshers Show Friday in Bird City. Antique tractors competed in "Good," "Better" and "Best" classes. Four steam engines -- competing in "The Ultimate" class -- belched sparks and cinders toward the threatening rain clouds...

A former McCook man worked at the rodeo during the Red Willow County Fair, but it's possible not too many people recognized him behind the grease paint, floppy hat and baggy pants. Terry Tinney, now of North Platte, played the funny man between events and the barrel-man during the bull-riding...

Red Willow County's assessor and commissioners learned Friday they cannot make changes in farm land descriptions or valuations for the 2003 tax year after July 25. Commissioners were compelled Monday to rescind changes in irrigated acres they accepted (as "omitted property") on July 28, and took no action on more changes that Assessor Sandra Kotschwar had planned to submit at Monday's meeting...

The city of McCook will begin what looks to be a long process of recovering damages caused by a million-gallon diesel spill in south McCook. The McCook City Council voted unanimously Monday night to hire William J. Delmore of Kelsch, Kelsch, Ruff & Kranda law firm of Mandan, N.D., to begin evaluating the damage caused by the diesel spill which originally was discovered in 1995...

Bill Sitzman, McCook, shot a hole-in-one Thursday at McCook's Heritage Hills Golf Course, Sitzman aced the 135-yard 16th hole with a nine-iron. Witnesses were Jim Corder, Mel Holsten, Bob Backer and Ed Herzog.

BARTLEY -- Indianola's Margaret Noyes and Cambridge's Kyle Custer capured the women's and men's overall titles at Saturday's Bartley 5K run. Noyes won the women's 5K with a time of 22 minutes, 50 seconds and Custer claimed the men's 5K in 17:50...

HASTINGS -- The McCook Rebels 18 and under girls fastpitch softball team captured the Western National Championship at Hastings with a 7-1 record. The Rebels lost their first game and won seven straight to bring a national title home to McCook. Opening ceremonies took place on Monday evening. Pool play started on Tuesday...

OXFORD -- Delbert E. "Shine" Riepe of Oxford, 65, died Sunday (Aug. 3, 2003) at Veteran's Administration Hospital in Omaha. He was born July 12, 1938, to Harry and Ella M. (Fletcher) Riepe in Arapahoe. He grew up in Arapahoe and attended school there...