Stories from Tuesday, March 14, 2006

NORTON, Kan. -- More than 80 race teams invaded Elmwood Park Speedway in Norton on Sunday for the annual Frost Fest race event. Dave Trauernicht of Beatrice passed early leader Brice Riley on lap 3 of the 25-lap IMCA Modified feature to pick up the $900 winner's check...

A local Internet service provider has apologized for an e-mail sent through its servers accusing the City Council of improprieties related to the rehiring of a city manager. The "Citizens of McCook" sent out mass e-mails to McCook Net customers Monday that asked McCook residents to call council members and the city administration to protest the contract and request reconsideration...

By CONNIE JO DISCOE Regional Editor McCook school board members rejected two bids for a new roof on the school district's special education building during their regular monthly meeting Monday evening. Board members also discussed Monday how the building, on North Highway 83, will be used once special education preschoolers move into their classrooms at the new McCook Elementary this spring...

McCook Daily Gazette Another cell tower may be going up in McCook, this time on property at East 13th and C streets. The McCook Planning Commission voted Monday night to recommend a special exemption for Viaero Wireless Monday night to construct a cellular tower on Block 2, Lots 3, 4 and 5 of Willow Grove Addition, zoned Highway Commercial...

Everything from horses to carrier pigeons have been used to deliver the mail, but never a meadowlark, as far as we know. Nebraska's state bird took a short rest on this mailbox near Max.

It's Severe Weather Awareness Week in Kansas this week, and Nebraska's observance isn't until the last week of the month. But we bet it won't be hard for officials to get people's attention when it comes to giving storm survival tips. A record number of tornadoes, perhaps as many as 113, were spawned by a powerful low-pressure system that stretched from Oklahoma to Illinois. They killed 10 people, including nine in Missouri...

There's a Seinfeld episode for everything, and one of my favorites is the one where J. Peterman pays Kramer $750 for his stories. At that rate, our cat is worth a couple of thousand. "Whiskers" was called "Honey" by his previous owner before he turned out to be a male, but like most cats, he answers to neither...

April 12, 1941 - Feb. 27, 2006 OBERLIN -- Charlotte Hart, 64, died Monday (Feb. 27. 2006) in Hays, Kan.. She was born April 12, 1941, to William and Florence (Starr) Cooper in Waukesha, Wis.. She was raised in Waukesha and Milwaukee, Wis. She attended high school in Milwaukee and respiratory school in Pueblo, Colo...

Oct. 7, 1930 - March 11, 2006 HERNDON -- Stella Frances (Lippold) Leitner, 97, died Saturday (March 11, 2006) at Harlan County Hospital in Alma. She was born Oct. 10, 1908 in St Mary's, Iowa to Ferdinand B. and Anna (Leitner) Lippold. In 1917, the family moved from Iowa to Herndon. She attended school at St. Mary's Grade School and Herndon High Schooll...

Eduarda O. Wilson, 78, formerly of Bartley, died at Community Hospital of McCook, Sunday (March 12, 2006). She was born in Cananea, Senora, Mexico to Rafael and Josephena (Rios) Verdugo, the middle of 13 children. She moved to the California where she took U.S. citizenship while in her early 20s...

Frontenac, Kan. -- Joan Lee Haller, 75 died Sunday (March 12, 2006) at Sunset Manor in Frontenac, Kan.. She was 75 years old. She was born in McCook on Sept. 21, 1930, to Jake and Marie (Reinek) Frick, Jr. She was raised on a farm east of Culbertson and later graduated from Culbertson High School in 1948. She worked for Safeway Grocery Store until her retirement in 1986...

Feb. 12, 1919 - March 12, 2006 Raymond Louis Grafel died Sunday, March 12, 2006 at the Community Hospital in McCook at the age of 87. He was born Feb. 12, 1919 in Rawlins County, Kan., the son of the late August Paul and Mary (Wolfrom) Grafel. He grew up on the family farm and attended Herndon High School. He began farming due to the death of his father. In 1942, he entered the U.S. Army, serving in the African, Sicilian, Italian and European Campaigns during World War II...

We call your attention to Nebraska Statute 84-1410 concerning the Nebraska Open Meetings law. There is a statement, mid-page, which states: "Nothing in this section shall permit a closed meeting for discussion of the appointment or election of a new member to any public body."...