Stories from Tuesday, January 25, 2005

Our gutless City Council's at it again. A few people show up with the "poor me" speech and dollar signs in their eyes and our community college, which is a large employer of the city and a vital part of McCook's future get shut down by our council on creating extra parking for our expansion, already done in the past few years, which definitely, definitely needed. ...

MAYWOOD -- The Golden Plains Athletic Conference girls Tournament tipped off Monday in Maywood. No. 6 seed Hitchcock County faced off against No. 3 seed Hayes Center. Hitchcock County has had a rough season this year with a young squad. The Falcons were 1-11 going into the tournament and played a 8-5 Hayes Center team...

Bison sophomore boys rip NP The McCook High School sophomore boys basketball team handed North Platte a 56-43 loss at the MHS gym Monday night. John Swanhorst led the Bison with 15 points and 10 rebounds. Josh Cherry had 14 points, 8 assists, 3 steals, 3 rebounds; Brett Burton 6 points, 5 assists, 4 rebounds; Brock Hubert 6 points, 6 rebounds. David Swisher 5 points, 2 rebounds; Andy Lambing 4 points, 3 rebounds, 3 steals; and Nate Berry 4 points, 4 rebounds, 2 steals, 2 assists...

Oct. 10, 1915-Jan. 20, 2005 Ella L. Porter, 89, died Thursday (Jan. 20, 2005) at the home of her niece in Sterling, Colo. She was born Oct. 10, 1915, to Lonnie and Pearl Jennie (Schroeder) Porter in Huntley. She grew up in Huntley and graduated from Huntley High School in 1933...

OMAHA -- Mona G. Phelps, 84, died Saturday (Jan. 22, 2005) at her home in Omaha. Mona obtained her psychiatric social work masters degree in 1957, from the University of Nebraska at Omaha and University of Nebraska at Lincoln combined. She worked 9 years at the Nebraska Psychiatric Institute in Omaha, leaving there in 1966. ...

Robert L. "Bob" Laird, 71, of Bartley, died Sunday (Jan. 23, 2005) at the Cambridge Memorial Hospital. He was born in Rocky Ford, Colo., to Edward and Velma (Sheets) Ritthaller. He was adopted by Chester "Chet" Laird on July 26 after his birth father died while he was still an infant...

Red Willow County will offer to pay up to $6,000 for drawings, plans and calculations designed to ensure that bleachers at the Kiplinger Arena on the fairgrounds in McCook meet building codes. Commissioners on Monday morning authorized County Attorney Paul Wood to write a contract with D.G.J.D. Bleacher Co., of Jefferson, Colo., requiring that D.G.J.D. provide the necessary calculations and drawings sufficient for the bleachers to meet building codes by March 1...

Katrina Scott, 9, makes the most of Monday's balmy January weather by using Central Elementary's playground equipment. McCook, with an official high of 69, missed the record high by one degree.

Nebraska's new governor, Dave Heineman, is being criticized for his selection of a Third District resident, Rick Sheehy of Hastings, as lieutenant governor "for political reasons." The selection of the former Hastings mayor as Nebraska's second-in-command could very well be a politically astute move, but -- even if it weren't -- the choice is in the best interests of Nebraska...

**Dear Editor, It has been a long time since I was last in McCook, but if my memory serves me right, is there not land available east of the community swimming pool north of the college for parking? If used, and growth continues, couldn't a parking garage be erected with a properly controlled crosswalk?...

**Dear Editor, We're writing in response to your editorial last week regarding Regent Dave Hergert. Your article asked the question, "Was Dave hergert ignorant of the law or did he deliberately cheat?" We have to admit that we don't know the answer to that question, but sincerely hope that he didn't deliberately break the law. ...

Oct. 13, 1910-Jan. 24, 2005 CAMBRIDGE -- Lucile Williamson, 94, died Monday (Jan. 24, 2005) at the Cambridge Manor. She was born Oct. 13, 1910, in Furnas County to Alfred and Hilma (Olson) Johnson. She attended Blacktop School and Cambridge High School, graduating in 1928. While in high school she was the captain of the basketball team...