Stories from Friday, April 14, 2006

Feb. 26, 1919 - April 13, 2006 OBERLiN -- Odene E. Koehler, 87, died Tuesday (March 4, 2006) at Decatur County Hospital. She was born Feb. 26, 1919, in Oberlin, to Verny R. and Jennie (Nitcher) Bradley. She attended Oberlin shcools and graduated from Oberlin High School in 1936...

Aug.30, 2006 - April 12, 2006 BERTRAND -- Kieth Dale Pierce, 64, of Bertrand, Nebraska, died Wednesday (April 12, 2006) at home in Bertrand. He was born August 30, 1941, at Eddyvilleto Ernest W. and Georgianne A. (Byrom) Pierce. He grew up and attended school at Eddyville, graduating from Eddyville High School with the class of 1958...

May 9, 1919-April 13, 2006 Clarence Brenning died Thursday, April 13, 2006, at Community Hospital of McCook at the age of 86. He was born May 9, 1919, in McCook, the son of the late Jacob and Elizabeth (Miller) Brenning. He grew up in McCook and graduated from McCook High School in 1939...

By LORRI SUGHROUE City Editor Local restaurant owners whose businesses were raided and gambling devices seized by the Nebraska State Patrol in August were each fined $200 plus costs, and had a second charge of promoting gambling dismissed, under a plea agreement approved Thursday in Red Willow County Court...

By CONNIE JO DISCOE Regional Editor Rumors of a "snack period" at McCook Senior High have taken on a life of their own, and like a bad recipe, are all out of proportion. MHS Principal Jerry Smith said Thursday morning that school officials are in the very, very early stages of talking about the possibility of creating a period, mid-morning, to concentrate on reading skills...

A shift in the wind sends smoke and flames billowing over Hugh Butler Lake on Thursday afternoon. The fire was actually part of a planned burn by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, with Red Willow Western Rural Fire Department responding to the scene to assist in the burn. ...

With Lent coming to a end this weekend, a sacrifice shared by my family will also come to an end -- living without the TV. Although a person is not supposed to announce what they gave up for Lent, the six weeks will nearly be over by the time this hits the newsstands and the debate will have begun on whether to return the TV to its designated spot in the living room...

Springtime traditions are wonderful -- the first robin, the first tulip, track meets and soccer. The senior prom and graduation. Unfortunately, too many springtimes are marked by the tragedy of young people, just starting to live, who are killed in alcohol-related car crashes. Even if it doesn't lead to death, alcohol and its effects can be devastating for young brains still under development and young lives just beginning to bloom...

GOTHENBURG -- McCook's girls team won in overall team scores with Chase County second. The Lady Bison took home four individual first place medals. Kim Miller's shot put distance was a new MHS school record. Miller took first in the shot put for the Bison, with teammate Kayla Wilson following in second...

GOTHENBURG -- The McCook boys turned in 153 points to win the 2006 Dutch Zorn Invitational on Thursday in Gothenburg. Chase County boys placed fourth with first place in the mile medley relay and Matthew May's first place in the 200 meter dash. Ogallala was second with 138, Gothenburg third with 131, Chase County fourth with 89, Lexington fifth with 24, Kearney Catholic sixth with 16 and the Kearney JVs seventh with 12 points...

HASTINGS -- Brandon Crick shot a steady round to finish in third place to help McCook place sixth at the Hastings Invitational golf tournament Thursday at Lochland Country Club. "Brandon had another very consistent round, shooting 38 on the front and coming in with a 35 on the back for his 73 to finish in 3rd place," Coach Dan Hilton said...

LEXINGTON -- McCook picked up second place doubles and singles medals to tie with Alliance for fourth place at the Lexington girls tennis invitational Thursday. Jen Chmiel was 5-1 and took home a second place medal, and Melissa Lyster and Amy Lester were 5-1 for second place in the doubles competition...