Stories from Wednesday, August 27, 2003

What a difference one player can make.That's the thinking of McCook High School girls golf coach Randy Ryser, whose team opens the season Friday by hosting the McCook Invitational at Heritage Hills.The tournament starts at 9 a.m.Last season, the Bison girls golf squad featured just four players, including graduate Karmon Nelson, who placed sixth at the Class B state tournament.This season, the Bison squad features five players, which means that the team should score points in each of the nine regular-season tournaments on its schedule."I'm absolutely tickled that we have five kids out," Ryser said.The Bison feature junior Katherine Morell, who finished 11th at the Class B state tournament during the fall of 2002.Also returning for the Bison are sophomores Lesley Nelson and Minda Haas. ...

New York readerSo enjoyed Diane Lyons 8/07 article on acts of kindness. How nice to hear of so many special people in McCook. Your weekly articles are great.-- Avid reader from Canton, New York!Comic book GospelBelieve it or not, there is a grown man in Southwest Nebraska, who is gambling his eternity on a few sentences that he read in a comic book when he was a youth.Why would anyone believe a few sentences in a comic book, and not believe what God's word said? This great country was founded by Christians whose focus was Jesus Christ. ...

Planning a trip by air? Whether it's for business or pleasure, be sure to consider starting your journey in McCook rather than Denver, North Platte or Grand Island.It just makes sense ... from the standpoint of time, money and peace of mind.To understand why, let's listen to Doug Vap, a McCook resident who is a member of the Nebraska Aeronautics Commission."You are way, way ahead by starting your trip in McCook rather than going to Denver," Vap said. ...

Now that I've achieved my goal of writing a column for a major newspaper, I thought I could cross it off my "to do" list and start on the next item: learning to Rollerblade without causing bodily injury to myself. But thanks to the nice comments and positive feedback from that first column, I've been asked to do more articles shining the spotlight on the outstanding citizens that live in our area. ...

This year's Gazette football contest has a new twist, but the "goal" (pun intended) is the same -- have fun and win money! This year, the winners will be paid in Sacagawea gold-colored dollars (yes, they are American tender).Twenty-five dollar coins to to each week's winner, and each winner becomes eligible for the Grand Guess-Off for a $100 prize.The "Pigskins Pig" entry box can be found at the following sponsors -- Samway Floor Covering & Furniture, McCook Auto Mart, J&L Construction, Budke Motors, Glass Express, Knowlen & Yates, Highlander Center, peterson Jewelry, Kildare Lumber Co., Frenchman Valley Co-op, Howard Kool Honda, Runza Restaurant, Clearwater Construction, mcCook Eye Clinic, Wagner Ford-mercury, Century 21, Coyote Country/The Prairie and at the McCook Daily Gazette, West First and E Streets.. ...

Colby Ellis refers to her notes in thanking the Southwest Nebraska Habitat for Humanity board and numerous volunteers Tuesday evening during the official dedication of her new Habitat home at 805 West K Street. "I've learned so much," she said, and, referring to the sweat equity she contributed to the project, added "I'm stronger now, too." Ellis is surrounded by her children (from left) Monica, Amanda, JoAnn and Jimmy. ...

The McCook Public Schools Board of Education will discuss cooperating with Culbertson Public Schools on a swimming program during a special meeting scheduled today, at 5:30 p.m., in the junior high conference room.The Nebraska School Activities Association recognizes the value of cooperative sponsorship of programs because of declining school enrollments and the inability of schools to provide financing, facilities, equipment and staff for all athletic and non-athletic programs desired for students. ...

OMAHA -- A U.S. district judge sentenced two McCook men to prison on charges of conspiracy to deliver and possession of methamphetamine. A third will be sentenced Sept. 8.In federal court Monday, Judge Laurie Smith Camp sentenced Joshua L. Harvey, 29, to 11 years and 3 months in prison and five years supervised release.Harvey was arrested in McCook March 18 and charged for drug activities in McCook and Red Willow County between September 1999 and the time of his arrest.Harvey's co-conspirator, Joshua O'Neil, also of McCook, will be charged Sept. ...

A crew from Paulson Inc. works to pour and spread the concrete at the intersection of Norris and B Street. After the concrete has cured, traffic will be switched from the east side of Norris to the west side in order to complete the paving process to East Second Street. Kurt Vosburg of the Nebraska Department of Roads said crews are working to complete the intersection at West First and West Third Streets...

OBERLIN -- Lenore Carlisle, 76, died Monday (Aug. 25, 2003) at Via Christi-Saint Joseph Hospital in Wichita, Kan.She was born July 27, 1927, to Leonard and Anna Fern (Messuer) Hochmeister in rural Danbury. She was raised in Danbury and graduated from Danbury High School.On Sept. ...

A new baby, by necessity, becomes the center of the universe to the new mom and dad...