Stories from Tuesday, August 12, 2003

The McCook Community College Indians Boosters are initiating a new program for the 2003-2004 school year -- the Adopt-an-Athlete Program. The Boosters are currently looking for families to adopt student-athletes and give these students a family away from home while at college in McCook...

Pretty darn soon Dear Editor, Read the Bible. The world is going to end pretty darn soon! Are you prepared? Notify the post office and give them your forwarding address. Have you paid your life insurance premiums? If not, why not? Your insurance will be canceled if you do not pay soon...

On farms and in towns and villages of the Golden Plains, this is a time of transition. As summer fades and early signs of autumn begin to emerge, those young, old and in between are symbolically shifting gears. Summer baseball and softball play has come to a close ... fairs are winding down ... and lake outings are on their last legs...

While I didn't stay out all night for the annual Relay For Life fund raiser, the parts of it I did witness were impressive. Norris Park was as crowded as it ever gets, with possible exception of the hours just following the Heritage Days Parade, or the biggest of the Hot Summer Nights concerts...

Jim and Traci Stevens of McCook announce the birth of their son, Layne Michael, July 24, 2003, at Community Hospital of McCook. He weighed 9 pounds and 4.6 ounces and was 22 inches long. He has one sister, Jadie, who is 3 years old. Grandparents are Jim and Cheryl Stevens of McCook and Bradley and Sherri Wiese of Benkelman. Great-grandparents are Thelma Lueders of Beatrice, Pat Stevens of Holbrook, Frankie and Marilyn Lutz of Benkelman and Lyle and Esther Wiese of Benkelman...

McCook's blood drive is still planned as scheduled next week, despite positive tests for West Nile virus in Perkins and Chase counties. Blood drives in those two counties were canceled after the virus turned up in donated blood. The blood shortage is "very serious," according to Red Cross officials, with only 1.9 days of supply on hand. The optimum supply is seven days, and two days is considered "critical," according to officials...

A full moon hangs over grain bins southeast of the new Republican/Twin Valley High School between McCook and Indianola on Monday evening. Overnight temperatures in the 50s and 60s make for better sleeping weather in the Golden Plains.

Southwest Nebraska Habitat for Humanity volunteers spread straw Saturday morning across a bed of newly sown tall fescue at the Habitat for Humanity House at 807 West K Street in McCook. Kitchen cabinets were installed inside and other landscaping projects were done. ...

As he approached the memorial honoring his fallen comrades, Steve Votaw of Welfleet removed his well worn hat from his neatly cropped head in deference to the fallen soldiers honored there. "I saw the wall in Washington when it was first built," he said. "It finally helped me begin the healing process."...

Southwest Nebraska is better able today to sustain basic human services than it was a mere month ago. In fact, the entire western part of the state is now better equipped to deal with the aftermath of natural disasters and man-made catastrophes thanks to the efforts of the Oregon Trail Baptist Association, a handful of volunteers from Southwest Nebraska and the generous donations of churches and community members...

Only one person stepped forward during the public hearing Monday on McCook's 2003-04 budget. Greg Wolford, representing the McCook Economic Development Corp., asked the council to restore the $10,000 it had removed from the city's contribution during its budget workshops in July...

The Red Willow County commissioners fielded complaints about the county's control of noxious weed infestations and conducted hearings for seven budgets during their regular meeting Monday morning. Jim Wesch of rural McCook told commissioners he sees no worse musk thistle growth between McCook and Fairbury than in Red Willow County. "Don't let the musk thistle become the official flower of Red Willow County," Wesch said...

INDIANOLA -- A brand new district ... a brand new day ... Members of the new board of education of the new Republican/Twin Valley Public Schools District 73-0179 took the oath of office during the first board meeting of the new district, Monday evening in Indianola...

An organizational meeting for the McCook High School girls golf team is scheduled for 7 p.m. Wednesday in the school's commons area.

Boys who plan to participate in tennis this fall at McCook High School beed to attend a meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Bison Tennis Courts. If you cannot attend the meeting, but are planning to participate in tennis, contact coach Matt Wiemers at 345-5204...

McCook Community College basketball players Jeremy Escher and Michael Kuhlen were honored for their academic efforts for the 2002-03 school year. Both players are from McCook. Escher earned Distinguished Academic All-American status with a 3.80 grade point average. The honor is the highest honor awarded by NJCAA...

CULBERTSON -- Darold Willard Schlegel, 75, died Sunday (August 10, 2003) at his home in rural Hitchcock County after a lengthy battle with cancer. He was born June 6, 1928, to Willard Clinton and Helen Irene (Nelson) Schlegel in Red Willow County, and was known as "Dutch" to many of his friends. He attended school at District No. 29 and then McCook Senior High School. He graduated in 1946...