Stories from Wednesday, February 16, 2005

NORTH PLATTE -- The Southern Valley girls basketball team advanced to the Nebraska Class C2-11 sub-district finals by defeating Southwest 48-38 Tuesday. The sub-district is being played at North Platte High School. Southern Valley was led by Janae Perkins with 14 points followed by Macenzie Quinn with 11...

Bison 8th boys 2-1 vs. Lexington The McCook Junior High School eighth grade boys basketball A, B and C teams hosted Lexington Monday. The A and B teams won 52-16 and 24-16, while the C team lost 15-23. Seth Schaeffer led the A team with 20 points and 8 rebounds...

The benefactor of Red Willow County's fairgrounds arena plans to pay off the remainder of his gift to the county in October. Rancher and roper Tom Kiplinger of rural McCook told Red Willow County commissioners that he plans to pay off this fall the remaining $190,000 he owes the county for the construction of the Kiplinger Arena...

Red Willow County's clerk will obtain county records on computer disks in an agreement approved Monday morning by Red Willow County commissioners. County Clerk Pauletta Gerver told commissioners that Title Services of the Plains, North Platte, has scanned county mortgage and deed records onto CD's for their records, and will provide, at no cost to the county, copies of those CD's for the clerk's office...

Red Willow County commissioners approved an application Monday morning that, if successful, will create a new, expansive radio system for law enforcement, fire and EMS throughout Central and Southwest Nebraska. Red Willow County Sheriff Gene Mahon, who is also the county's emergency management coordinator, told commissioners that the "CNRI" (Central Nebraska Radio Interoperability) Group is applying for federal Homeland Security funds to build, operate and maintain a radio system that will allow officials in each of the counties to communicate with each other, as well as with any other emergency services in the state.. ...

By CONNIE JO DISCOE Regional Editor Two McCook Junior High teachers discussed the value -- if any -- of giving a student a zero grade, during a regular school board meeting Monday evening. MJHS media specialist Linda Swanson told board members that teachers question whether a zero grade really indicates what learning has happened. ...

Cold morning temperatures reveal escaping heat from a chimney in McCook. In spite of the sprinkling of precipitation Tuesday, temperatures should reach the mid-40s through the rest of the week, with no further snow or rainfall in the forecast until Saturday...

Community action results from varied discussions.

Each of us one day discovers the inherent frailty of life and how quickly tragedy can change or even end our lives. Growing up, I was spared that lesson. The only deaths I encountered, other than on the evening news, were of aged, infirm, long-distance relatives. I lost no one from my immediate family until my mother's death when I was 30...

Oct. 25, 1932-Feb. 14, 2005 Don Lee McDonald died Monday (Feb. 14, 2005) at the McCook Community Hospital in McCook at the age of 72. He was born Oct. 25, 1932, at McCook, Neb., the son of the late Alexander and Elizabeth (Yost) McDonald. Don was a lifelong resident of McCook and graduated from McCook High School in 1951 and later graduated from McCook Community College in 1959...

Jan. 24, 1918-Feb. 14, 2005 Virginia M. Lyle died Monday, Feb. 14, 2005, at the McCook Community Hospital in McCook at the age of 87. She was born Jan. 24, 1918, in Omaha, the daughter of the late Earl and Anna C. (Christensen) Brown. She grew up in Omaha and graduated from South High School and attended Omaha Business School...

Oct. 11, 1981-Feb. 14, 2005 Brett L. Fraker died Monday, Feb. 14, 2005, in McCook. He was 23 years old. Brett was born Oct. 11, 1981, in Oberlin to Mark L. and Pam R. (Myers) Fraker. In 1995, he moved with his mom to McCook. He graduated from McCook High School in 2000 where he was a wrestler...

The family of Wayne and Betty Grafel of Culbertson is hosting a card shower in honor of the couple's 50th anniversary Feb. 21, 2005. The family will be hosting a celebration for them this summer. Cards of congratulations will reach the couple at RR3, Box 76k, Culbertson, NE 69024...

April 23, 1914-Feb. 13, 2005 Delmere Franklin Thomas died Sunday, Feb. 13, 2005, at the Cambridge Manor Home in Cambridge at the age of 90. He was born April 23, 1914, in Red Willow County, the son of the late Frank and Julia Elizabeth (Halsey) Thomas. He grew up on the family farm southwest of Lebanon and graduated from rural school. He attended high school in Danbury until the illness and death of his father...