Stories from Tuesday, November 23, 2004

CURTIS -- The Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture Aggies men's team split a pair of contest over the weekend as they were "pretty well" blown out at Barclay College in Haviland, Kan., Friday 100-68. The Aggies came back on Monday night at home to defeat the University of Nebraska-Kearney Club Team 106-92 in overtime...

HASTINGS -- Saturday, the YMCA Devil Rays Swim Team traveled to Hastings to swim against Kearney, Columbus, Grand Island, and Hastings. Competition was fierce, as over 100 swimmers were present. The meet was originally scheduled for Nov. 6, but due to conflicts was moved to Saturday...

A McCook Public Schools' elementary principal who draped a painting in a traveling art exhibit on display at the museum in McCook has received both criticism and praise for her action. But, K-3 principal Kathy Latta said this morning "I would do the same thing again. It's not the school's place to show eight-year-olds a woman's partially-naked body."...

A "big bang" mid-morning today sent J.C. Penney's employees and customers scurrying to call 911 and head for the exits. Long-time Penney's em-ployee Dorene Gordine said she heard and felt a "big bang ... hard enough to vibrate the floors." She said store officials called the police department, and everyone evacuated the building as fire and law enforcement officials arrived on scene...

June 11, 1926-Nov. 20, 2004 Bonnie June Lafferty, 78, died Saturday (Nov. 20, 2004) at Community Hospital of McCook. She was born June 11, 1926, to Herbie and Clara (Wyatt) Watkins in Decatur County, Kan. She grew up in Decatur County and graduated from Oberlin High School in 1944...

Nov. 17, 1919-Nov. 20, 2004 PAXTON -- Hubert Bernard Kildare, 85, of Paxton, died Saturday (Nov. 20, 2004) at Centennial Park Retirement Village of North Platte. He was born Nov. 17, 1919, to Hubert L. and Christine (Meyer) Kildare in Paxton. He attended Paxton school and graduated from Regis College with honors. He later received a degree from Harvard University...

The family of Esther Sinner is hosting an open house in honor of her 90th birthday Nov. 27, 2-4 p.m., at Highland Park in McCook. She was born Dec. 8, 1914. Her family includes her son, Steve and wife, Ann Sinner of Bettendorf, Iowa; one grandchild; and two great-grandchildren. Cards of congratulations will reach her at Highland Park Retirement Community, 610 East 14th Street, Room D2, McCook, NE 69001...

**Dear Editor, Some 75 years ago, I was a child of 10-12 years living in Danbury, Neb. Your newspaper provided a great deal of entertainment for this small town boy, watching your Curtiss-Robin airplane deliver your paper via air mail. Your pilot was fearless and reckless, too, as he flew at treetop levels in zero-zero conditions. I've often wondered who he was and if he survived long enough to be a casualty of World War II?...

**Dear Editor, As a Pius football parent, I want to commend the McCook football program and fans for displaying the highest level of sportsmanship after the championship game. While the Pius players were receiving their medals, I noticed your players, coaches and fans were still on the sidelines, respecting the medal presentation...

**Dear Editor, The McCook Daily Gazette has gained approval in our opinion in recent months with the fine stands taken against gambling and the inclusion of a special Religion section each week. The publishing of the horoscopes pages is in direct opposition to all these good things. Belief in Horoscopes is a belief in a power greater than God in our lives.  Please consider eliminating this feature...

Susan Ladenburger of Stratton joined 108 other shoppers from throughout the United States last week to check the price of Thanksgiving dinner items for 2004. What Susan -- and the other shoppers -- found is that traditional Thanksgiving food items are priced less this year than they were a year ago...

If you had to lose a football game, that was the way to do it. We all knew McCook's winning streak had to end sometime, but seeing two great teams battle it out to the end in Memorial Stadium must have been a thrill, even if the trophy said "runner up."...