Stories from Tuesday, February 24, 2004

The Southern Valley boys basketball team handed Sutherland a 50-39 loss Monday night in the first round of the Nebraska Class C2-11 sub-district tournament. The Eagles will play Cambridge (19-1) in the 6 p.m. semifinal game Tuesday at the McCook High School gymnasium...

McCook voters will decide in May whether to spend $5.8 million to improve local schools. McCook School Board members passed a resolution calling for an election on May 11 to issue that much in bonds to pay for the proposed expansion and renovation of North Ward Elementary into the district's single-site elementary facility got the go-ahead Monday afternoon...

Red Willow County can expect to spend more than a third of a million dollars a year to operate a jail, commissioners learned Monday. The board also heard that the county's score on noxious weed control has improved for the third year in a row. A report from ACI Boland Inc., of Leawood, Kan., and Rock Port, Mo., indicates it would take 10 employees to staff a proposed 40-bed jail facility. Staffing expenses are estimated at $263,130 yearly...

Encouraged by an "amazing response" to an introductory letter, a group of women from Southwest Nebraska is working together to start a women's clothing store in McCook. Called Southwest Women's Venture LLC, the project has received support from more than 40 women and the group is now planning community meetings in several area towns...

Sept. 21, 1923-Feb. 20, 2004 Boyd MacDonald Mead, 80, was born Sept. 21, 1923, at Champion, to Russell June and Anna Elizabeth Hall Mead and died Feb. 20, 2004, in Fort Collins, Colo., after a short illness. Mr. Mead lived most of his adult life near Tulsa, Okla. ...

Word has been received of the death of Margaret (Anderson) Olson of Colorado Springs, Colo., on Feb. 23, 2004. "Miggs" as her friends knew her, was a member of the McCook High School class of 1949. Cards of condolence may be sent to her husband George Olson and family, 1912 Eastlake Blvd., No. 601, Colorado Springs, CO 80910. She is survived by her husband, two sons, one daughter, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. "Miggs" was a good friend to all and will be greatly missed...

March 5, 1931-Feb. 22, 2004 GOTHENBURG -- Paul Sweeney Sulc, 72, of Gothenburg, died Sunday (Feb. 22, 2004) at his home in Gothenburg. He was born on March 5, 1931 to Joseph G. and Bergetta A. Tirrill Sulc at Gothenburg. He graduated from Gothenburg High School in 1948. He served in the National Guard then enlisted into the Navy as a Seaman First Class...

Dian Trail presents Frank Morrison the cake she baked for his early surprise birthday party at the Don Harpst residence in McCook on Saturday. His son, Frank, Jr., "Biff" (left) and grandson John Morrison were also on hand. John is state auditor for Montana, and was named one of the "100 to Watch" by the Democratic Leadership Council last May. Former governor Frank Morrison will turn 99 this May...

Within the next four days, a dedicated citizen in Southwest Nebraska needs to step forward to file for election to the Mid-Plains Community College Area Board of Governors. This area -- including Red Willow and Hitchcock counties and major portions of Hayes and Frontier counties -- has been served with distinction for the past seven years by Harold Bennett. But, Bennett has chosen not to file for re-election, leaving an opening in what is known as District I...