Stories from Thursday, September 9, 2004

York looks for payback after two losses to McCook last season The York Dukes more than likely circled Friday, Sept. 10 on the schedule -- that's when the two-time Nebraska Class B state champion McCook Bison come to town. The Bison handed the Dukes a 16-13 overtime loss in the regular season last year and then ended their season with a 9-0 win in the playoffs...

Several area teams are 1-0 In addition to that little Class B game down in York between McCook and York, several key football games will be played involving area teams. Cambridge (1-0), ranked No. 4 in Class C-2 by the Omaha World Herald, should walk to win No. 2 against Shelton...

TRENTON -- Using a slow start by the Falcons, Chase County defeated Hitchcock County in three sets, 25-6, 25-14, 25-16. The Longhorns' Becky Way provided three ace serves in the first set alone, while Celeste Pankonin chipped in one for herself. Laci Brennan led the Falcons with eight kills followed by seven from Kate Voss...

The McCook Untouchables girls 14 and under fastpitch softball team is having tryouts Sunday at the practice field south of the underpass behind Country Kitchen. Tryouts will be from 2-4:30 p.m. Players are encouraged to bring their gloves. For any further information, call Wayne Doak at 345-5298 or 350-1336...

Following all the fairs and Fourth of July celebrations during the summer months, you would think that the communities of Southwest Nebraska and Northwest Kansas would be ready to kick back and relax. No way. In fact, the way things are going, September is going to be just as busy a time for celebrations as were July and August...

Brad and I decided we wanted to spend the Labor Day weekend playing in the water -- after all, the warmth of summer will soon be replaced by cool autumn days. Since we live only a half-mile from the Republican River, we were thinking how nice it might be to pack a picnic lunch and hike south for a day of water sports...

**Dear Editor, Last Tuesday (Aug. 31), the McCook Rotary Club organized a reception for me in Norris Park because I had been a Rotarian for over 50 years and had just turned 90 years of age. It was great to see some of my old patients, and some of the residual of my disappearing friends...

The recent hostage situation in an elementary school in Russia demonstrates the foresight of the team planning a hostage-situation drill at Central Elementary in McCook. The drill will be Thursday, Sept. 23, from 1 p.m. until about 5 p.m., and streets in a two-block radius of the school will be closed...

One McCook resident has stepped up to the challenge of running for a two-year seat on the McCook City Council. Dennis Berry, McCook Junior High principal, filed Wednesday for the seat left open by the resignation of Jerry Reitz. Berry was appointed to fill an interim position on the council through Dec. 6 at Monday night's council meeting...

CULBERTSON -- Look for the little blue pickup, or the garden tractor. Or try to spot the wide-brimmed straw sun hat bobbing between the roses of zinnias and vines. If Deb Lau's at home-- and she's almost always home -- her produce shed is open for business and she'll sell vegetables fresh-picked in "Nana's Garden."...

For hunting enthusiasts, there is nothing more fun than going out, setting up the proper camp and having the opportunity to take aim and fire. For some, there's nothing funnier. Take for example the experience Russell Banzhaf of McCook had with a group of squirrels, a rust colored stocking camp and a hawk...

March 22, 1928-Sept. 7, 2004 Mary C. Sanders Jaques Walker, 76, died Tuesday (Sept.7, 2004) at Hillcrest Nursing Home in McCook. She was born on March 22, 1928, on a farm near Denton, Texas to John Clay and Mamie Ellen (Karre) Beeler. She attended rural Mayhill Elementary School and graduated from North Texas State High School in 1944...

Sept. 10, 1908-Aug. 29, 2004 CURTIS -- Grace Evelyn Merritt, 95, died Sunday (Aug. 29, 2004) at Sunset Haven in Curtis. She was born Sept. 10, 1908, in Jefferson County, to Marvin Leroy and Effie May Phelps Evans. She moved with her parents to Hayes Center in 1912 where she spent her childhood. She graduated form Nebraska School of Agriculture in 1927...