Stories from Tuesday, August 26, 2003

CULBERTSON -- There was quite a bit of activity going during the final night of racing at Culbertson Speedway Friday. Important to the drivers at the front of the points chase was the last opportunity to earn points and a possible track championship.David Murray of Oberlin, Richie Wickizer of Palisade and Larry Pollmann of McCook doubled up on the Feature wins and championship for their classes.Bruce Hagan Sr. ...

Early Alzheimer'sDear Editor,Dawn Cribbs' front page article on the Memory Walk for Alzheimer's was important. However, I feel there is a whole new issue that was not, at least, mentioned in all of the material from the Alzheimer's Association.The approximate count of 4 million Americans who have Alzheimer's today does not include, possibly, many more people who are suffering from some early stages of Alzheimer's. ...

News from McCook is spreading across the nation. Sparking the interest is last week's transportation task force meeting at McCook Community College. During that session, the governor's study group was told "U.S. Highway 83 could one day stretch all the way to Asia."The dramatic declaration was deemed worthy of being the top Nebraska item in Monday's edition of USA Today, America's most circulated newspaper. ...

The children of Jim and Connie Meixner are hosting a card shower in honor of the couple's 25th anniversary Sept. 2. Children of the couple are Lindsey and Kayla. Cards of congratulations will reach the couple at RR3 Box 171A, McCook, NE 69001.

Jackie Patterson and Kelly Hoehner, both of Lincoln, announce their engagement and upcoming wedding. Parents of the couple are Ron and Carol Seymour, Marge and Ed Shriver of Lincoln, Patricia Hoehner of Kearney and the late LeRoy Hoehner. The bride-to-be graduated with a bachelor of science degree in dental hygiene from the University of Nebraska Medical Center. ...

A sunflower bows its seed-laden head in front of the setting sun west of McDonald, Kan. Temperatures are expected to moderate in time for the long Labor Day Weekend, traditionally time for the last big outing of the summer.

Nebraska Gov. Mike Johanns stands in the unfinished kitchen/dining room of a Timber Creek Home bound for Kearney. Gov. Johanns toured the Timber Creek factory in Stratton on Monday morning during a swing through Southwest Nebraska. He told owners Charles Pelkey and Carl Rasmussen and their employees he was impressed with the two-year-old facility. ...

The board of trustees at Memorial United Methodist Church approved a $14,000 renovation of the church's massive 1,502 pipes pipe organ this summer, employing the expertise of Dan Vaughan, a master organ builder and renovator.Originally installed in 1927 at a cost of $5,000 the organ consisted of 16 ranks of pipes. ...

More than 51 tons of old tires were delivered to the McCook Transfer Station during the first day of collections.Rick Province, waste superintendent at the transfer station, said people from around Southwest Nebraska have brought tires to the station.Province said the tire clean-up can accept up to 500 tons of tires and tires are being accepted on a first-come first-serve basis.While people delivering tires to the site are responsible for picking them up and delivering them, there are volunteers and city staff available most of the day to help unload them.The tire pickup can also help in controlling mosquitoes that carry the West Nile Virus, since tires are known for holding stagnant water -- breeding grounds for mosquitoes.The tire pickup will continue through Saturday at 3 p.m., or until the maximum amount is reached, whichever comes first. Only tires from residents of Dundy, Hitchcock, Red Willow, Furnas, Chase, Hayes and Frontier counties are being accepted. ...

Red Willow County commissioners bought a 2002 Dodge pickup for the sheriff's department during their regular meeting Monday morning. They spent just a little more than they had budgeted, but selected the pickup that came closest to the $14,000 they had planned to spend.Commissioners OK'd the purchase of a 2002 Dodge 1500 Quad-Cab 4x4 pickup from Republican Valley Motors in McCook after reviewing two bids they received for a new vehicle for a sheriff's deputy. ...

The final step in returning the individual identity to the two colleges in the Mid Plains Community College Area will be looked at by the Board of Governors during its regular meeting Wednesday, 6:30 p.m., in the Technical Campus conference room in North Platte.Bozell and Jacobs LLC, a marketing and advertising firm from Omaha has worked with faculty, staff, students and the public to develop a series of logos to reflect both college and location. ...

OBERLIN -- Lester L. Chambers, 88, died Monday (Aug. 25, 2003) at Decatur County Good Samaritan Center.He was born March 20, 1915, to Arthur and Mary (Warner) Chambers in Decatur County, Kan. He attended Lyle school and graduated from Norcatur High School in 1932.He served in the Army during World War II.On Oct. ...

Think of the hazards of golf, and you're likely to think of sand traps, water, trees and weeds -- and that's just for the players...