Stories from Tuesday, July 13, 2004

The McCook National Bank American Legion Seniors baseball team got tripped up by Imperial 9-7 in the team's home finale Monday at Jaycees Sports Complex. Imperial scored five runs in the top of the second inning, one in the third and tree in the sixth on nine hits...

IMPERIAL -- The McCook First Central Bank Juniors swept a doubleheader from the Imperial Juniors Monday night at Imperial. The Juniors, now 24-11, blasted Imperial 17-3 in the first game and fought off a rally in the nightcap for a 14-11 win. FCB led 10-2...

CAMBRIDGE -- The Alma Juniors got a little revenge as they came from behind to defeat the Furnas County Junior Baseball team 10-7. FC led 6-3 going into the bottom of the fourth, but allowed Alma to cross the plate four times and change the momentum, which led to the three-run defeat...

LINCOLN -- U.S. Kids sponsored its state qualifying tournament at Wilderness Ridge Golf Course in Lincoln last Wednesday (July 7). Mitchell Klooz, age 8, fired a 38 and captured first place in the 9-year-old age division, which plays from tee boxes adjusted for age...

April 22, 1919-July 11, 2004 OMAHA -- Mary T. Spickelmier, 85, died Sunday (July 11, 2004) at Betty's House in Omaha. She was born April 22, 1919, to August and Concetta (Marsiglia) Serio in Columbus, Ohio. She graduated from high school in Columbus, Ohio...

April 18, 1922-July 10, 2004 CHEYENNE, Wyo. -- Billy E. Green, 82, died Saturday (July 10, 2004) at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Cheyenne, Wyo. He was born April 18, 1922, in Hamlet. He served in the Navy during World War II. On Dec. 16, 1978, he married Linda Perry. The couple resided in Kimball where he was an accountant...

Feb. 27, 1910-July 11, 2004 Kathleen Whitaker, 94, of North Platte, died Sunday, July 11, 2004, in Linden Court. She was born Feb. 27, 1910, in Fairmont to William and Katherine Hofferber Kennedy. The family lived in Cozad and Lexington. Kathleen graduated from Lexington High School with the class of 1927. She attended Kearney State Teachers College and taught for five years in Dawson County rural schools...

Elected officials in Red Willow County now have the go-ahead to set employee raises based on performance. Prior to Monday's regular meeting of the Red Willow County Commissioners had determined a flat-rate salary increase each budget year. The topic of raises came up during a budget workshop between commissioners and elected officials. ...

McCook Public Schools' board of education Monday approved the contract with Bahr Vermeer Haecker of Lincoln to design the renovation and new construction of McCook's voter-approved single-site elementary school. Superintendent Dr. Don Marchant told board members during their regular board meeting that the district's legal counsel has reviewed the contract, and he recommends signing...

It's Saturday afternoon at 1 o'clock, and normally, on a day off, there would be a gravity field drawing me to the recliner for a nap. But my wife knows better. After 26 years of marriage (this Thursday) she knows what I'm going to say. "I'm going down to my secret clubhouse," I recite, checking her knowing eyes for a response. Approval? Not quite. Resignation? Maybe. Tolerance? I'll take that as a "yes."...

Southwest Nebraska is once again in the spotlight for its artistic accomplishments. The latest recognition comes in the form of a front page article in Monday's issue of the Omaha World-Herald. The excellent writeup features full-color photos of Sculptor Gary Ginther and the 10-foot tall Bison he is crafting for Ted Turner, the owner of the largest bison herd in America...

**Dear Editor, Connie Jo Discoe did an excellent job distilling a difficult technical talk into something that is understandable, accurate and meaningful. **Ann Bleed, via e-mail

**Dear Editor, The quote from Justice David Brewer from the 1892 Trinity court case was purely dictum. Dictum: A judicial opinion expressed by judges on points that do not necessarily arise in the case, and are not involved in it. If you read this court case, you will see that it has nothing to do with whether or not this is a Christian nation...

**Dear Editor, Well, I for one won't be voting for Peter Arnett in the upcoming election. Mrs. Fitz-gerald talks about the liberal, left-wing bias the media has. Is she talking about the Fox News channel, or perhaps Rush Limbaugh. No wait, it could be the New York Post, which, along with the Fox News channel, TV Guide, the Weekley Standard and Harper Collins Publishing are all owned by Rupert Murdoch...

**Dear Editor, Mr. Mike Hendricks, please be advised your "No Singin' in the Rain" is an absolute classic of what can happen to us mortals. The recent years of drought and the beautiful rains of recent days are sort of a replay of the Herndon area -- year 1923 to this 90-year-old retiree...

**Dear Editor, I was very disappointed there wasn't a larger turnout at the free barbecue in Barnett Park on Saturday, July 10. They had lots of food left over, including a lot of delicious cake, four kinds. The Med Star group was very friendly and answered all your questions. They also gave rides in the helicopter...

**Dear Editor, Hats off to Lila and her committee for a job well done on the plans for the alumni banquet. it took months of planning, which paid off in a big way. To the parade committee for another successful year and a bigger, better parade. Can't forget the firemen on the beautiful firework displays, even if it had to be postponed. I'm sure it outdid any display in the surrounding area...

At a popular site during these 100-degree days, Cherri Putz of McCook plays with Madison Barrere, 1 1/2, in the McCook kiddie pool Monday. Madison is the daughter of Angela and Joel Barrere of McCook. Temperatures promised to stay in the 90s for the next few days. (Ronda Graff/McCook Daily Gazette)...

I think that Mr. Ryan should mind his own business. A lot of overweight can't help being overweight but some can. It can be hereditary, as mine was. I had to have a gastric bypass surgery in order to save my life. I never ate junk foods or candy, etc...