Stories from Wednesday, December 21, 2005

GRAND ISLAND -- McCook's boys and girls basketball teams will travel to the Greater Nebraska Activities Conference in Grand Island Dec. 28. The Bison boys are the No. 8 seed and play No. 1 seed Kearney at 5:15 p.m. Winners from this round will play either No. 5 Columbus or No. 4 Hastings...

Red Willow County Commissioners reviewed research about the effects of livestock feeding on communities, and heard a review of the county's employee health plan for its employees, at their regular meeting Monday in the Commissioners' room at the courthouse...

Nicole Cribbs adjusts the gingerbread house for her son, Brayden, 6, at McCook Elementary. Approximately 97 kindergartners used graham crackers, gumdrops, candy canes and lots of frosting to construct the houses Tuesday afternoon.

If you travel between Cambridge and Holdrege on U.S. 6-34, get ready for one of the longest and largest highway construction projects in this area's history. In a massive, four-part project starting in mid-February, the Nebraska Department of Roads will spend more than $18.3 million dollars to rebuild 47 miles of highway from Cambridge through Holbrook, Arapahoe, Atlanta and Holdrege...

Sept. 4, 1949--Dec. 19, 2005 LINCOLN -- Larry "Buzz" Wellman, 56, died Monday (Dec. 19, 2005) at his home in Lincoln. He was born Sept. 4, 1949, to Alvin and Gloria (Bock) Wellman in Nebraska City. He married Denise Hightree on March 18, 1994, in Lincoln...

April 5, 1918--Dec. 18, 2005 MAYWOOD -- Rita Cox, 87, died Sunday (Dec. 18, 2005) at Sunset Haven Nursing Home in Curtis. She was born April 5, 1918, to George E. and Cecilia M. (Bendel) Bates in Maywood. She married Richard B. Cox on Nov. 9, 1935, in Stockville. He preceded her in death in 1991...

When I was in fifth grade, my school, Valley View Elementary, conducted a talent show. With the help of my classmate's mother, Mrs. Verna McManus, I diligently practiced "Born Free," even though Mrs. McManus diplomatically suggested several other songs more in "tune," shall we say, with my limited range...