Stories from Friday, November 12, 2004

Despite the hesitation of some City Council members, McCook City Manager John Bingham is encouraging the board to move forward with their plans to raise the rates paid by McCook water users. Those increases will be discussed at Monday night's regular meeting, at 7:30 p.m., in the Council Chambers at Memorial Auditorium...

"I pledge allegiance to the flag ... " Four U.S. veterans helped East Ward elementary students recite the Pledge of Allegiance, as the students started their Veterans Day program Thursday. One of the students' paraprofessionals, Melissa Tucker, said she joined the National Guard and served her country just like her grandfather and her great-grandfather did. "I became much more outgoing," she told the students. "You can't rappel down walls and build rafts, and be shy," she said...

Within the next two weeks, MedStar, this area's community-based air medical transport provider, expects to finalize negotiations with a new aviation partner for its McCook-based air ambulance service. The search for a new helicopter company was launched because Med-Trans Corp., the current provider, will end its service in McCook on Sunday, Nov. 21, at midnight...

At the stoplight at Norris and B in McCook, look to the north. You see a street paved with bricks. You see colorful signs extending out from store fronts. You see the Fox theater marquee. And -- at the top of the hill -- you glimpse the large American flag at the start of the Norris Avenue islands...

With endless cornfields whizzing by on both sides of the highway, my uncle somehow pointed out where he had lost control of his car decades ago, spinning round and round, stopping only inches from the speeding cross-traffic. What was remarkable was not that he survived the accident (although I'm certainly glad that he did), but that he could recall the exact spot all these years later...

**Dear Editor, Just a quick note in thanking Gloria for sharing her mother's tribute to Linda. It is hard to believe that it has been seven years since Linda's death, but what a beautiful gift in remembering her. I always look forward in reading the paper on line Monday through Friday and keeping up with all the events that are happening in the southwest corner of Nebraska...

April 6, 1929-Nov. 10, 2004 WAUNETA -- Elnora Mae Kitt, 75, died Wednesday (Nov. 10, 2004) at her home south of Wauneta. She was born April 6, 1929, to Harry and Thelma (Irelan) Cushing in Stratton. She was raised on a farm south of Stratton and graduated from Stratton High School in 1946...

**Dear Editor, Who can find a virtuous woman? They contribute more to society by raising good citizens than anybody else! At a one-room school (Pleasant Hill No. 78) Doin's: A woman slapped her kid on the face! At home, my mother said, "I never abuse nor disrespect my children: The Lord made a place to get their attention!"...

Dec.30, 1953-Nov. 10, 2004 STRATTON -- Gregory A. Downing, 50, died Wednesday (Nov. 10, 2004) at his home in Stratton. He was born Dec. 30, 1953, to Kermit and Mary (Vachuta) Downing in Atwood. He graduated from McDonald High School in 1972. In 1974, he graduated from NW Kansas Area Vo-Tech School after a course of education in farm mechanics...

AURORA -- Lynne and Katie Kinne of Aurora announce the birth of their son, Cooper John, Oct. 12. He weighed 8 pounds and 11 ounces. Grandparents are Bryan and Lois Kinne of McCook. Great-grandparents are Leo and Nellie McConville of McCook.

The second showdown between McCook and Holdrege takes place Saturday at Weiland Field, and a Nebraska Class B state championship berth at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln is the big prize. Kickoff for the state semifinal football game at Weiland Field is 5 p.m. CT...

LINCOLN -- A record-setting season for the Dundy County volleyball team Friday when the Tigers lost to Lawrence-Nelson in the first round of the Nebraska Class D-1 state tournament. The opening rounds of the Class D-1 state tournament were played at Lincoln Southwest High School...

March 10, 1909-Nov. 11, 2004 Carl F. Grill, 95, died Thursday (Nov. 11, 2004) at Hillcrest Nursing Home in McCook. He was born March 10, 1909, in Traer to John H. and Lena (Schissler) Grill. He received degrees from the University of Nebraska and Columbia University...

May 7, 1905-Nov. 11, 2004 OBERLIN -- Amy L. (Rohan) Kincaid, 99, died Thursday (Nov. 11, 2004) in Oberlin. She was born May 7, 1905, to Charles F. and Eva (Salisbury) Wennihan in Altory Township of Decatur County. She was raised in Decatur County. On Jan. 22, 1928, she married Harvey Rohan in Norton...

Jenna Thomas and Jeff Psota, both of Lincoln, were united in marriage June 26, 2004, at the Memorial United Methodist Church in McCook with the Rev. Dr. Jeffery Thurman officiating. Parents of the couple are Ed and Linda Thomas and John and Lynda Psota, all of McCook. Carol Helm of McCook is the grandmother of the bride...

Lindsey Jurjens of Eustis and Dallas Farr of Maywood announce their engagement and upcoming wedding. Parents of the couple are Verl and Monika Jurjens of Eustis and Stan and Ann Farr of Farnam. Grandparents are Roy and Lore Loshonkohl of Cozad, Emma Jurjens of Eustis and the late Amos Jurjens, Albert and Doris Farr of Cambridge and Martha Brooks of Cambridge and the late Bruce Brooks Sr. ...

Stephanie McConville and Jason Neseth announce their engagement and upcoming wedding. Parents of the couple are Bob and Cindy McConville of Indianola and Ron and Cecilia Neseth of Grand Island. Grandparents are LaVera Brooks of McCook and the late Jim Brooks, Robert and Kathy McConville of Indianola and Dorothy Tines of Bartley and the late Shorty Tines. ...

The children of Grace Hanthorn of McCook are hosting a card shower in honor of her 80th birthday Nov. 16. Her children are Mary of Sioux Falls, S.D., Chuck and wife, Nikki of Wellfleet, Tom and wife, Ellen of Lincoln and Jane and husband, Marty of McCook. She has 11 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Cards of congratulations will reach her at 904 East Seventh Street, McCook, NE 69001...

There is a saying that has been around for a long time that "people are just about as happy as they make up their minds to be." It was obviously written by someone who was happy at the time. Because many people aren't happy at all, not because they don't want to be, but because of things that have happened outside them while impacting on them that they have no control over...

Saturday night at Weiland Field, a standing ovation is needed. In as resounding a way as possible, McCook High School fans need to show their appreciation to the senior members of the Bison football team. Just think what these 22 young men have accomplished. ...

After nearly two years of negotiations, the city of McCook will be presented with a settlement plan by Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad regarding the diesel spill under the city's 4 million gallon water storage tank. The agreement between the city of McCook and the railroad company will be presented for approval at the regular meeting of the McCook City Council, Monday, 7:30 p.m., in the Council Chambers of the McCook Auditorium...

LINCOLN -- The Southwest High School Roughriders survived a challenge from a tough Thayer Central squad, as well as the rally-scoring format, to advance to the semifinals of the Nebraska Class C-2 state volleyball tournament. The opening rounds of the Class C-2 state tournament were played at the Lincoln East gymnasium...

The Kugler Co. balloon floats over Weiland Field during the last big football game there, when McCook High School defeated Crete in the opening round of the Class B state playoffs on Nov. 3. The crowd will be flying high at 5 p.m. Saturday, when the Bison host Holdrege in the district finals in an attempt to make a third straight trip to the state championship game...