Stories from Thursday, August 19, 2004

The 2004 McCook High School softball team will scrimmage at 11:30 a.m. Saturday at the Jaycees Sports Complex. There is no admission, but free will donations to the McCook Pantry are accepted.

Dr. Don Marchant says parents and students are keeping a "positive" attitude about the mess around North Ward related to the building and remodeling project. The superintendent of McCook Public Schools heard comments like "boy, won't this be great next year when it's done," as parents escorted kindergartners to their first day of school, stepping around the temporary classrooms in modular homes temporarily located on the lawn...

Sept. 29, 1910-Aug. 17, 2004 HOLDREGE -- Robert E. Harman, 93, died Tuesday (Aug. 17, 2004) at Phelps Memorial Hospital in Holdrege. He was born Sept. 29, 1910, to John and Florence (Clark) Harman in Edison. He grew up on a farm north of Edison and attended rural Gosper County School District No. 12...

Lakeside Central and Culbertson are now "Hitchcock County Public Schools." Republican Valley and Twin Valley are "Southwest Public Schools." And Atwood and Herndon have become "Rawlins County USD (Unified School District) No. 105." Superintendents at each school look forward to a good year of combining school programs and welcoming students...

Jan. 31,1925-Aug.18, 2004 ORD -- Lois Arlene Zapp, 79, died Wednesday (Aug. 18, 2004) at Valley Hospital in Ord. She was born Jan. 31, 1925, to Charles and Winona (Ruby) Boyer in Danbury. She was raised in Danbury and graduated from Danbury High School in 1942. She attended Kearney State Teacher College where she received her teaching certificate. She taught in rural schools in the McCook area...

The family of Merwin and Virginia Grafton is hosting an open house in honor of the couple's 50th anniversary Aug. 22, 1-4 p.m., at the Lebanon American Legion Hall on Main Street, Lebanon. Cards will reach the couple at 40687 Drive 706, Wilsonville, NE 69046...

McCook High School Principal Jerry Smith wants more MHS students to take the more challenging core academic classes and more students to take the ACT college prep test, because ... "Students who take core classes score higher on ACT tests, and are better prepared for classes in college," Smith said Wednesday morning, after releasing the scores for MHS's ACT-tested 2004 graduates...

When you look at the many millions of dollars being offered by Rabobank for Farm Credit Services of America, you can't help wondering what the real deal is. Why would an international organization -- started as a cooperative in the Netherlands -- be willing to pay upwards of $1.4 billion to acquire the four-state farm credit institution; and why would the stockholder-members of Farm Credit Services of America be willing to sell what is apparently a very valuable, federally-connected lending system?. ...

Seven years ago, when my first husband and I separated, I was forced to make the hardest decision I've ever had to make. Should my son Jeremy live with me or with Ed? I struggled with that decision for months before finally realizing, they were two peas in a pod and it would be heartless to separate them...

A mortar round strikes our firm base. Thankfully the training we are receiving is not only relevant, but realistic. Training and rehearsals are invaluable. Al Qeada planned and rehearsed for September 11th for a year and a half prior. They understood the value of practice and so do we. ...