Stories from Wednesday, May 5, 2004

LEXINGTON -- The McCook High School girls tennis team were clipped by Lexington 5-4 in varsity action Tuesday afternoon at Lexington. Kim Serbousek and Regina Rawlings won their matches at Nos. 1 and 2 singles. Serbousek teamed up with Tausha Escher to win at No. 1 doubles...

SUTHERLAND -- McCook High School swept both the boys and girls' 4x100 relay events at the Best in the Midwest track invite Tuesday in Sutherland -- including setting a meet record in the boys' event. The relay team of Brandon Liess, Trent Lyons, Derek Ruppert and Kyle Bedore combined for a time of 43.2 seconds to win the 4x100 and, once again, set a new record...

OBERLIN -- Atwood's Emily Wolters swept the hurdles events at the Decatur Community High track meet Tuesday, winning both the 100 and 300 meter hurdles. She finished with times of 16.76 and 48.07, respectively. She also added a third-place finished in the 200 meter dash...

Each voter in Red Willow County will be given just one paper ballot on election day next Tuesday, and will then be asked to mark the candidates or issues of his or her choice by filling in ovals rather than X-ing the squares. Those changes are the result of the implementation of the county's new M100 automated voting system...

INDIANOLA -- A candidate for the Southwest Public Schools board of education is proposing a three-way vote that he says may be able to stop the construction of a new middle school in Bartley. Brad Randel of rural Indianola is circulating a letter to supporters of the "Common Sense Committee," encouraging them to vote for Brian Holtze, Dennis Wasson and himself, three candidates who Randel says share the committee's opinion that the construction project should be stopped...

Could it be, finally, after all these years, that McCook is getting close to solving two of its biggest problems: water quality and school facilities? It's beginning to look that way. Hope comes in the form of action taken Monday night by the McCook City Council, and the vote taking place next Tuesday on the $5.8 million elementary school bond issue...

**Dear Editor, Bravo to Anne Kennedy! Her letter about the need for an updated elementary is right on target. I have a first grader at East Ward and I have always been concerned about the safety of the building as well as its other needs. Some people may say, "It was good enough for me, so it is good enough for them."...

**Dear Editor, When consider the bond issue that will be voted on Tuesday, May 11, vote yes with me! n Not only is this the best plan to take advantage of interest rates at record lows; we have the opportunity to purchase the bonds and keep the tax-free interest right here in McCook!...

Jan. 8, 1933-May 3, 2004 Ethel Ellen Peterson, 71, died Monday (May 3, 2004) in hospice care in McCook. She was born Jan. 8, 1933, to Homer and Mabel (Dack) Vaughn in McCook. She grew up in McCook and graduated from McCook High School in 1950. She graduated from McCook Junior College and Kearney State College in Kearney with a bachelors degree in business...

**Dear Editor, The National Day of Prayer is an annual event established by an act of Congress in 1952. This event encourages Americans to pray for our nation, its people and its leaders. The theme this year is "Let Freedom Ring, the freedom to gather, the freedom to worship, the freedom to pray."...

July 28, 1939-May 3, 2004 TOPEKA, Kan. -- Honorable Robert J. Lewis, Jr., 64, died Monday (May 3, 2004) in Topeka, Kan. He was born July 28, 1939, in Atwood to Robert J. and Marvel (Hotchkiss) Lewis. He graduated from Atwood Community High School in 1957...

July 28, 1913-May 2, 2004 Earl W. Bruening, 90, died Sunday (May 2, 2004) at Community Hospital of McCook. He was born July 28, 1913, to Richard and Mary Ann (Martin) Bruening in Hendley. He grew up in Hendley and graduated from Hendley High School in 1933...

Fourteen candidates were given the opportunity to speak out about their position on various issues Tuesday night during the Decision '04 forum. Candidates for two seats on the McCook City Council, two seats on the Mid Plains Community College Area Board of Governors, three seats on the McCook School Board of Education and one seat for Red Willow County Commissioner attended the forum, organized by Mike O'Dell of Swnebr.net and sponsored by Swnebr.net and other local media groups. ...

Oct. 13, 1931-May 5, 2004 HITCHCOCK COUNTY -- Donald Edward Vrbas, 72, died Monday (May 5, 2004) east of Trenton due to a motor vehicle and train accident. He was born Oct. 13, 1931, to Stanley M. and Alby (Chvatal) Vrbas in Stratton. He grew up in Stratton and attended Stratton High School...

The best laid plans of mice and men is how the saying goes -- I think. (I looked it up and it's a bit more complicated than that, but for the record, it was first penned by Robert Burns.) The phrase sprang to mind frequently during my week-long vacation, as my best laid plans went somehow awry from day one...

DENVER -- Rita Conner, 72, died Friday (April 30, 2004) at Presbyterian St. Luke's Hospital in Denver, Colo. Survivors include her step-mother, Lois Kanost of Wauneta; three sons, David Boyd and wife, Barbara of Colorado Springs, Colo., Dan Boyd of New Orleans, La., and Bill Worske of Florida; aunt, Neva Kanost of Arapahoe; two grandsons; one granddaughter; and several great-grandchildren...