Stories from Tuesday, January 6, 2004

HUTCHINSON, Kan. -- George W. Pyle, 76, of Hutchinson, Kan., died Thursday (Jan. 1, 2004) at Hospice House in Hutchinson. He was born March 20, 1927, to George V. and Nellie (Bundy) Pyle in Sabetha, Kan. He is a graduate of Morrill, Kan., High School and the University of Kansas...

The family of Francis Kircher is hosting a card shower in honor of his 80th birthday, Jan. 8. Cards of congratulations will reach him at Route 1 Box 67, Indianola, NE 69034.

The family of Myrth Norman of McCook is hosting an open house in honor of her 95th birthday, Jan. 13. She was born in 1909 in Madrid. The open house is Jan. 10, 2-4 p.m., at Highland Park Retirement Community in McCook. Cards of congratulations will reach her at 610 East 14th Apt. B7, McCook, NE 69001...

Tom Ridge may be in charge of homeland security for the nation, but no one knows how to deal with potential terror targets better than local authorities. "No, I don't think that Southwest Nebraska is a prime target," Lt. Gov. Dave Heineman told the Gazette on Monday...

Despite the pleas and demands of Frontier County landowners, the McCook City Council has moved ahead with its plans to investigate the possibility of developing a new well field north of McCook. About 50 landowners attended the regular meeting of the McCook City Council Monday night to voice their concerns over the city's plans. The main worry for the rural landowners was depletion of the underground source the city plans to use to furnish McCook residents with water...

Nathan Michael Renner was born just in time.

It's time to quit arguing about water. It's time for everyone involved -- McCook council members, engineers and concerned citizens -- to come together, with cooperative attitudes, in search of a solution. What we, as a community, need to do is move ahead on the water issue, looking objectively at all the information, fairly weighing the merits of (1) Going north to drill new wells; (2) Going south to expand the present field by drilling additional wells in the Republican River Valley; and/or (3) Formulating a long-range plan to determine if and when treatment will be necessary.. ...

I think I have the solution to the lack of attendance at the state fair. Let Johanns and the Legislature allow slot machines to be put on the grounds at fair time. These so-called conservatives would flock there, willing to give away their money at a chance to win a jackpot. They could even have bussing. This way the gamblers wouldn't have to go to Iowa, Kansas or South Dakota to lose their money, and could save the fair...

Howard Dean the Democrat, says that bad things happen to good people. He just needs to read the Bible again, and then he can find out there are no good people. Everybody falls short of the glory of God, everybody is imperfect. The only thing anybody deserves is to go to hell...

If there ever were a time to curl up with a good book, now is it. Any excuse to stay home is a good one, when the weather drops below zero. Besides, how many episodes of Average Joe or Fear Factor can you watch? For some reason, I have always been interested in the workings of the human brain, even before becoming the parent of a special needs child...

REXFORD, Kan. -- The Herndon High School boys basketball team opened the 2004 portion of their schedule with a 58-52 victory over Brewster. The game was played Monday night at the Golden Plains High School gymnasium at Rexford, Kan. The Herndon boys improved to 6-0. Despite the mark, the Beavers are not ranked in Kansas Class 1A in any polls, said head coach Ryan Becker...

Red Willow County commissioners, E911 coordinators and homeowners discussed addresses for homes on Spyglass Lane, Sugarloaf Circle, Ravenswood Road and in several rural areas in the county during a commissioners' meeting Monday morning. The discussion will continue at an E911 technical committee meeting later this month...