Stories from Wednesday, July 14, 2004

BEEMER -- University of Nebraska recruit Chris Bruening of Norfolk holds the 36-hole lead at the 2004 Nebraska Junior Amateur Championship after posting a one-under par 70 Tuesday in second round action at Indian Trails Country Club in Beemer. Bruening's score of one over par 143 is one stroke better than McCook's Tyler Lawson, who jumped up the leaderboard after carding a three-under par 68 Tuesday...

McCook High School graduate Tyler Lawson captured the Men's Club Championship at Heritage Hills Golf Course with a 147 score. The tournament was played last weekend. Lawson also claimed the championship flight. The zero handicapper fired a 73 in the first round and a 74 in the second round...

OVERTON -- The McCook American Legion baseball teams tuned up for Area 6 district action by sweeping the Overton Seniors and Juniors teams at Overton Tuesday night. The McCook National Bank Seniors (23-18) routed Overton 25-11, scoring 21 of their 25 runs in the final three innings...

April 17, 1926-July 12, 2004 Alvin G. Barlow, of Culbertson, died Monday, July 12, 2004, at Community Hospital of McCook at the age of 78. He was born in a sod house near Palisade to Jesse Louis and Phebe Irene (Harry) Barlow on April 17, 1926. He lived all of his life in Hitchcock County. He attended the Prairie Union School near his home...

The family of Frank and Letha Redden is hosting a card shower in honor of the couple's 50th anniversary July 17, 2004. Their children are Geary, Tim, Terry and the late Glenn Redden. Cards will reach the couple at PO Box 215, Indianola, NE 69034.

"McCook -- Nebraska's Hot Spot" is the winner of the slogan and logo contest, submitted by Harold Clapp of McCook. Clapp won both the slogan and logo contest, conducted last winter by the Red Willow County Visitors Committee. The slogan and the logo, a child-like drawing of the sun, will be used on all marketing done by the committee, as well as on billboards on the highways coming into McCook...

CURTIS -- Curtis residents have turned down a 1 percent sales tax that would have been used to build a new community center. Voters, however, agreed to an economic development plan and a .5 percent sales tax to fund economic development projects. The questions were asked during a special election Tuesday...

During the past half-century, those of us living in the Great Plains of America have become acutely aware of the problems faced by small towns and villages. With the shift of population to large cities, it has become harder and harder for rural communities to survive...

Supervisors and employees alike dread the annual performance review. How well I remember my first one. It was my first serious job and I had no idea what to expect. I had the lowest position possible, reading and printing credit card receipts stored on microfilm...

**Dear Editor, If any these soldiers or families ("More reservists activated," Gazette, Monday, July 12, 2004) ever need any assistance please have them contact me at calvin.wineland@ocar.army.pentagon.mil, or our work number is (703) 601-4760. I work for the Chief of Army Reserves, Pentagon...

July 9, 1948-July 7, 2004 COLORADO -- Cheryl Ann Wilkens, 55, died Wednesday (July 7, 2004) in Colorado. She was born July 9, 1948, in Stratton. She lived in Northwest Kansas and moved in 1981 to Colorado Springs, Colo. She graduated from Central Business College in 1967...