Stories from Friday, August 8, 2003

Fifteen individuals were "injured" during an explosion Thursday at the McCook Wastewater Treatment Plant. A mock disaster at the water treatment facility brought together several agencies including the Local Emergency Planning Commission, Community Hospital of McCook, the Red Willow County Sheriff's Department, Red Willow Western Rural Fire Department, the Nebraska State Patrol, McCook, Bartley, and Indianola ambulance services and Boy Scout Troop No. 132...

Air Base memories Dear Editor, Bob Hope, Francis Langford and Jerry Colona entertained the GI's and the civilian workers at the McCook Army Air Base in January 1945. They flew in from Denver on a C-47. This was remembered as a wonderful experience for the soldiers as well as the civilian workers...

Throughout the night, hundreds of walkers will make the trek around Norris Park, doing their part in the worldwide fight against cancer by participating in McCook's "Relay For Life." Sparked by the all-out support of the staff at Community Hospital, the fund-raising event for the American Cancer Society has soared to new heights in the past three years. Gifts surged above the $15,000 mark two years ago, then climbed above $25,000 last year...

Members of Memorial United Methodist Church join other Southwest Nebraska Habitat for Humanity volunteers for a well-deserved lunch break Saturday. McCook National Bank furnished the meal. Approximately 15 members of MUMC contributed painting skills to the interior of the Habitat House at 807 West K Street. ...

Kelsey Vincent (center) and Jordan Vincent (far left) help The New Old Timers perform at Hot Summer Nights Thursday. Kelsey sang "Long Time Gone" a song popularized by the Dixie Chicks. Her brother, Jordan, played the fiddle. The New Old Timers, of the Northwest Kansas area, played many songs in the bluegrass, gospel, folk and traditional genres. ...

CULBERTSON -- The 4-H archery club in Hitchcock County celebrated its fifth anniversary with an official name and a competition at the county fair Wednesday. Merlin Shaffer, the group's co-leader with Russ Weidner, said the club's target range has grown from 11 targets to 38, and the group is now known as the "Southwest Shooting Sports 4-H Club."...

CULBERTSON --  He's a high-performance, high-energy artist who, using his collection of standard-issue chain saws, can turn a stump of red cedar into a "Welcome Bear" yard sign in 35 minutes. Kevin Von Schroth's last name means, "worker with wood or metal." So it's fitting, maybe predetermined, that Kevin is a sculptor in wood...

With the Christian flag flying at half-staff this week, parishioners at St. Alban's Episcopal Church received permission to leave the church in the wake of a controversy over ordination of a practicing homosexual. In a letter to parishioners, the Rev. ...

While the Vietnam war ended nearly 30 years ago, the painful memory of it still affects millions of people. A memorial has been erected in Washington D.C. to honor those who gave their lives during the controversial war. For those unable to travel half-way across the country to view "The Wall That Heals," a replica of the national monument will be on display in North Platte through Sunday...

CAMBRIDGE -- Wilma Rose Seybold, 70, died Wednesday (Aug. 6, 2003) at Cambridge Memorial Hospital in Cambridge. She was born July 17, 1933, to Charlie and Minervie (Lewis) Seymour in Hayes County. She attended school at White Eagle District Six, Alma High School, Hayes Center High School and Culbertson High School. She graduated from Culbertson High School in 1951. After graduation she attended McCook Junior College and graduated from Kearney State College in 1968...