Stories from Tuesday, December 16, 2003

ST. FRANCIS -- An Oberlin man died Sunday at the hospital in St. Francis after he allegedly fled from police and Kansas Bureau of Investigation officers. Cheyenne County Attorney Kevin N. Berens said this morning William Joseph Schwab, 43, was shot accidentally when he attempted to avoid arrest...

Red Willow County commissioners and Hillcrest Nursing Home officials discussed in closed session Monday morning an incident at the county-owned nursing home that has resulted in disciplinary action taken by Nebraska Health and Human Services Systems against the nursing home...

A decision by the McCook City Council to ask a judge to verify the validity of a petition signed by 1,326 McCook residents brought heated debate during Monday night's meeting. In the end, the council voted, 3-2, to ask a judge to rule against the petition...

If you combined all the 9th, 10th and 11th grade students in the high schools of Southwest Nebraska, there still would be seven school districts in Nebraska with more enrollment. That numerical comparison followed the release last week of enrollment figures by the Nebraska School Activities Association. ...

Saddam Hussein has been captured. The stock market is back up over 10,000 -- or at least it was at closing yesterday. But something's missing. Make that someone. One thing about the late Roger Schmidt, he was never at a loss for an opinion. "You screwed up the stock market again," he used to tell associated editor Dawn Cribbs...

**Dear Editor, I'm writing in response to the article on the dog in the trap. Your article seems to be one-sided. Now how long has it been since the guy checked his trap? Did he ever return to check the trap? There is no trapper out there that just sets traps and leaves them and doesn't check them!...

**Dear Editor, The story concerning the dog being held in a trap for 5 days reeks of a set up and a disregard for follow up on your reporters part. It is obvious that she did not talk to any knowledgeable trappers concerning this story, and instead chose to paint a picture of gross negligence...

**Dear Editor, I am writing in regard to an article that was recently published in your paper about the dog caught in a trap. I have trapped for many years and find some inconsistencies in the article. How does anyone know how long the dog was in the trap unless they seen the dog there everyday, and if so, why not release him?...

**Dear Editor, Looking at the photo of the dog, I cannot help but think this is a "staged event." Five days in a foot hold trap would have caused the eventual loss of blood flow to the lower extremity of the paw, thus the paw would not be almost "normal" in the photo. True, it appears to have some type of abrasion on the lower leg above the foot. but, five days? I doubt it very seriously...

**Dear Editor, I am compelled to write another response to Tim Butz, the Nebraska Executive Director of the ACLU concerning his letter to the editor of 12-3 A.D. 2003. Mr. Butz, as I reread your letter, I am reminded of the moment in the early '60s when Nikita Khrushchev, in the U.N. building, removed his shoe and began pounding it on the desk. He also uttered these infamous words, "We will bury you."...

Korus is 2nd; McCook grapplers finish 8th

SCOTTSBLUFF -- McCook Boys and Girls Swimming and Diving Teams competed in a double dual against North Platte and Scottsbluff at North Platte on Friday. Jessica Hall placed first in diving for the Bison against both teams. Brady Fawver placed first in diving against Scottsbluff...

TORRINGTON, Wyo. -- The McCook Community College men's basketball team dropped a pair of games at the Region IX Shootout in Torrington, Wyo. Friday, Western Nebraska built a 22-point second half lead and downed the Indians 104-88. Shuan Wisdom scored 22. Sean Anderson, and Brandon Butler each scored 17. Rodrick Carter added 12 and Maarten Esveldt 10...

If Mother Nature doesn't provide a white Christmas, Deb and Jim Friend will make their own -- with hundreds of white lights on their home at 1410 W. Second in McCook.

Ida Mae Sitzman, 80, died Thursday (Dec. 11, 2003) at her home in McCook. She was born June 11, 1923, at Indianola, to Floyd Elmer and Anna (Reiter) Peters. She attended Red Willow Public School. On June 15, 1941, she married Carl Sitzman in Oberlin. She was employed as a clerk for Prest Drug and Alco Pharmacy for many years as well as a homemaker...

Dan and Anita Mumm of Selden are the parents of a son, Collin Ashby Mumm, born Nov. 11, 2003, at Hays Medical Center. He weighed 6 pounds, 5 1/2 ounces, and was 201/2 inches long. He has two older brothers, Mason and Jack. Grandparents are Jack and Donna Fortin, Oberlin, and Fritz and Gail Mumm, Selden. His great-grandmother is June Fortin of Oberlin, and his great-grandfather is Donald Fulk, Cave Junction, Ore...

Derek and Allison Sandman of Wauneta announce the birth of their daughter, Alexa Leigh, Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2003, at Community Hospital of McCook. She weighed 6 pounds and 8 3/4 ounces and was 19 1/2 inches long. She has one sister, Haylee. Grandparents are Larry and Anita Kitt of Parks and Kirk and Cindy Sandman of Wauneta. Great-grandparents are Sarah Druliner of Aurora, Donnaline Kitt of Wauneta, Ruth Madron of McCook and Virgil and Edie Sandman of Wauneta...

STRATTON -- Joseph M. Brennan, 53, died Monday (Dec. 15, 2003) at Dundy County Hospital in Benkelman. He was born April 10, 1950, in Akron, Colo., to John E. and Anna May (Randall) Brennan. He later moved with his family to Stratton where he lived until his passing...