Stories from Tuesday, December 14, 2004

The first home meet of the season took place Friday at the McCook YMCA. Hastings, North Platte, Scottsbluff and McCook competed in this mini-invite. The McCook girls and boys placed third and fourth respectively. "Swimmers are improving their times, and that is what we want," said McCook head swimming coach Lori Jumps...

Austin Bishop to compete in PP&K Sunday at Kansas City McCook's Austin Bishop placed first in the 11-year-old boys division at the Optimist Club sponsored Punt, Pass & Kick sectional competition at Lincoln Oct. 3. Bishop qualified to compete at the team championships Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo...

Aug. 19, 1915-Dec. 11, 2004 John Francis Helm, 89, died Dec. 11, 2004, in Citizen Medical Center in Colby, Kan. John was born Aug. 19, 1915, to Walter H. Helm and Susie M. Malleck Helm at Red Willow Station, Red Willow County. They moved to a farm near Bartley in 1920. John attended Bartley schools and graduated with the class of 1933...

March 3, 1936-Dec. 10, 2004 NORTH PLATTE -- Glen Buker, 68, died Friday (Dec. 10, 2004) at his home in North Platte. He was born March 3, 1936, to Guy S. and Della Castor Buker in Freedom. He graduated from Stockville High School in 1953. On Aug. 18, 1957, he married Marilyn Roggensees in Curtis. ...

Sounds of the season are ringing out throughout town this week as students from kindergarten through college age entertain families, friends and music fans with a wide range of traditional and contemporary Christmas songs. All together during the event-filled holiday season, more than 450 school performers will be taking to the stage for Christmas programs for East Ward, North Ward, Central Elementary, St. Patrick's School, McCook Junior High, McCook Senior High and McCook Community College...

**Dear Editor, I believe the community needs to know how well the McCook schools responded to the death of Ron Coleman. First of all is the need to give thanks for inviting the Ministerial Association to assist in working with students and staff. But most of all notice should be given to Dennis Berry and the School Crisis Response Committee. ...

They say Christmas is a time for giving, and that's true. Nothing makes us feel better than seeing the surprise and joy of a friend or family member who enjoys our gift. But if you really want to be touched, try receiving. Some Gazette folks took shifts Sunday afternoon, ringing the bell at Wal-Mart for the Salvation Army...

By CONNIE JO DISCOE Regional Editor In the ongoing saga of the bleachers in the Kiplinger Arena on the Red Willow County fairgrounds in McCook, the county's fair board has given the manufacturer of the bleachers 15 days to prove to McCook City Manager John Bingham and City Building Inspector Doyle Wineland that the bleachers comply with Nebraska building codes...

Red Willow County Commission Chairman Earl McNutt told consultants Monday morning that he's ready for a "yes" or a "no" when it comes to the question of the county building a jail. McNutt, fellow commissioners Leigh Hoyt and Steve Downer and members of the county's jail task force listened as Gary Bowker of Lakewood, Colo., and Mark Martin of Lincoln outlined the "jail needs assessment study" they are proposing to conduct for the county...

Members of Brownie Troop No. 531 show off the holiday baskets they have prepared for hospice patients. The Brownies, using the money earned during their annual nut sales, vote each year on a community service project. This year they earned 50 cents per can of nuts for a total of $360. ...

Nebraska Sen. Tom Baker of Trenton told McCook Public Schools board of education members Monday evening, "There's just enough change (in Lincoln) to go around this year, and next year too." Baker said the state doesn't have a governor as such, since President Bush selected Gov. Mike Johanns to be the nation's agriculture secretary. "We felt something was happening," Baker said. "It's just an awkward bit of timing."...