Stories from Friday, September 26, 2003

The McCook High School boys tennis team won 7-of-9 varsity matches at the Bison Courts Thursday against Holdrege. The Bison improved their duel record to 7-2. Winning varsity singles matches were Jordan Bass, No. 1, 8-2 over Sam Goodwin; Brandon Crick, No. 4, over Jarvis Johnson; Brett Burton, No. 5, 8-3 over Jon McClymont; and Harrison Ford, No. 6, over Jesse Grimm. Dropping singles matches were Joel Putz, No. 2, 8-4 to Chris Oerter; and Brad Potthoff, 8-4 to Travis Johnson...

BENKELMAN -- Cambridge's Kyle Custer took the top honors at the Dundy County cross country meet on Thursday. He finished in 16 minutes, 28 seconds for first place. Scott Ohlson of Chase County was first runner-up at 16:43 and helped his team secure the team title with 19 points, edging out Cambridge at 20 points...

For opposing teams thinking they will get a break when McCook senior pitcher Lisa Friehe finally graduates, there is some bad news. McCook Bison softball coach Dale Lortz has Stephanie Douglas, Natalie Brooks and Taryn Placzek waiting in the wings. The Bison, ranked third in Class B in the latest rankings by the Omaha World Herald, improved to 19-1 with a pair of shutouts over Chase County-Imperial Thursday night at the Jaycees Sports Complex. ...

George W. Norris, benefactor to rural America, was the subject of the annual George W. Norris Foundation's Heritage Days Prayer Breakfast today at Memorial Auditorium. Linda Hein, site supervisor at the George Norris Historic Site, described how the early years of hard work and the deprivation of a father at a young age helped form Norris' leadership abilities...

An open house is planned for Monday for Odyssey Research Services' new expansion of its national clinical research programs into the McCook area. The newest office is located at 1401 East H Street. Suite A, next to the McCook Clinic in the old medical specialty clinic...

Community Hospital ended fiscal year 2003 with a net loss. For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2003, the hospital posted an "excess of expenses over revenue (net loss)" of $661,186, according to hospital officials. The hospital's auditors issued a clean and unqualified opinion on the financial statements noting that they "present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Community Hospital…" Even with these financial results, however, the hospital remains very optimistic for the future. ...

Spring calving. Whooping crane migration. Elk hunting season. Rifle deer season. American burying beetle season. Reluctant landowners. That eclectic list includes some of the reasons the Nebraska Army National Guard won't conduct helicopter training in a corridor in Frontier, Dawson and Lincoln counties...