Stories from Thursday, August 21, 2003

Fans can get their first glance at the McCook High School girls fastpitch softball team on Saturday morning at the Jaycees Sports Complex. The Bison will scrimmage at 11:30 a.m. The public is invited to attend free of charge. The Bison return all but two starters from the team that posted a 28-7 record last year, including a 2-2 mark at the Class B state tournament...

CULBERTSON -- Marvin Glen Schleeman, 69, died Tuesday (August 19, 2003) at his home in Culbertson after a long battle with cancer. He was born Jan. 22, 1934, to Richard C. and Bessie Marie (Robinson) Schleeman in Frontier County. He graduated from UNSA at Curtis in 1952, attended Fairbury Jr. College graduating in 1954, then attended Kansas State in Manhattan, Kan...

BEAVER CITY -- Eunice E. Skinner, 88, died Sunday (Aug. 17, 2003) at Community Hospital of McCook. She was born July 26, 1915, to Perly and Clara (Bishop) Maybon in rural Beaver City. She attended country school at District 86. She graduated from Beaver City High School in 1933. She attended Kearney State Teachers College for two years...

LOVELAND, Colo. -- Max Gordon Lienemann, 69, died Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2003, at the Hospice Care Center in Loveland, Colo., of lung cancer. He was born June 11, 1934, to Fred and Charlotte (Ruhs) Lienemann in Leoti, Kan. He graduated from Wilsonville High School in 1951...

Brilliant strategy Regardless of your opinion of President Bush, you've got to admit that his brilliant barroom-style "Bring 'em on!" challenge to the Middle East fanatics has been the most successful military strategy since Custer invaded the Sioux...

EPA vacuum Dear Editor, Re: Gloria Masoner's last column on arsenic: Well put. The EPA continues to work in a vacuum, disregarding the financial burden of affected parties. With the recent blackout and subsequent water and wastewater problems, maybe Washington will finally fund infrastructure, whose shortfalls are estimated in the billions, at appropriate levels. I think it is important to reduce arsenic in drinking water, but we must also keep in mind it comes with a price tag...

In a vast number of ways, the Arsenic and the Old West conference in McCook Wednesday was about much more than EPA's safe water standards and the highly costly impact they are having on small towns in Kansas, Nebraska and other western states. Most important of all -- and this applies to many more things than water -- is the hugely unfair power of agencies within the federal government. ...

Anyone who has ever put in a full day, whether at the office or taking care of hearth and home, understands the dilemma of cooking a decent meal come suppertime. You've spent the day doing what needs to be done and by bewitching hour -- whether it's 5 o'clock or 8 o'clock -- the idea of spending an hour in the kitchen preparing a meal is the last thing on your list of favorite things to do...

The family of Bernice (Humphreys) Crook, formerly of Benkelman and McCook, is hosting a card shower in honor of her 90th birthday, Aug. 28. Cards of congratulations will reach her at PO Box 133, Shelby, NE 68663.

The family of Eleanor Perkins is hosting a card shower in honor of her 88th birthday Aug. 26. Her children include Roberta Krauss of Denver, Colo., John Perkins of Las Vegas, Nev., Frances Bucik of Bel Fouche, S.D., and Tom Perkins of Omaha. Cards of congratulations will reach her at 506 West Second, McCook, NE 69001...

The children of Tami and Kevin Potthoff are hosting a card shower in honor of the couple's 25th anniversary Aug. 26. Their children are Morgan and Kaylee. Cards of congratulations will reach the couple at RR1 Box 129, McCook, NE 69001.

The children of Jerry and Ramona Kotschwar are hosting a card shower in honor of the couple's 40th anniversary Aug. 25. Their children are Joe Kotschwar of Bartley and Julie Kotschwar-Carfield of Culbertson. They have six grandchildren. Cards of congratulation will reach them at RR3 Box 51, Culbertson, NE 69024...

The sunflower growing at Ardie and Fred Pinkal's home in McCook measures 13 feet 2 inches, reaching toward the sun and the power lines that crisscross their backyard. Fred's secret: lots and lots of water and a little Epsom salts.

This sign north of Rock Creek Lake very politely asks visitors to stay out of the neighbor's pasture -- the pasture inhabited by a big hulking bull.

OMAHA -- U.S. Attorney Mike Heavican has announced that the federal Grand Jury for the District of Nebraska has returned several unsealed original indictments, including one against a Holbrook man. Scott W. Graning, age 41, of 413 Benson Street, Holbrook, is charged with possessing a firearm on or about April 18, 2003, after having previously been convicted of a felony...

Logan Cochran shows his dad, Brian, the way to first grade for the first day of school at North Ward this morning. McCook Public Schools are on a heat schedule through the Labor Day holiday, dismissing at 1 p.m.

Officials questioned the science used by the Environmental Protection Agency as a group of communities from Southwest Nebraska and Northwest Kansas came together Wednesday to discuss problems and possible solutions to the agency's arsenic compliance regulations...

Season starts on Sept. 5 Coyote Country 105.3 (KIOD) and 93.9, the Prairie (KSWN) will again provide extensive fall sports coverage for the 2003 season. Game of the week coverage begins Sept. 5. "It's an inexact science trying to pick the best match ups in August," said Sports Director Steve Stein...

CULBERTSON -- Paul R. "Butch" Ross, 65, died Tuesday (August 19, 2003) at his home in Culbertson as a result of cancer. He was born Jan. 11, 1938, to Daniel and Vesper (Roberts) Ross at the St. Catherine's Hospital in McCook. He attended country school until the 5th grade and finished his elementary and high school education at Culbertson Public School in 1955. He attended the University of Kearney for a semester...