Stories from Friday, June 23, 2006

COZAD -- The McCook National Bank Seniors American Legion baseball team scored two runs in the top of the seventh inning to defeat Cozad 7-6 Thursday night at Cozad. The victory pushed the Seniors' record to 14-8. The McCook First Central Bank Juniors blasted the Cozad Juniors 10-6 in a five-inning game and improved to 9-11...

LINCOLN -- Four track and field athletes from Nebraska Wesleyan University have been named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America® Team as selected by the College Sports Information Directors Association (CoSIDA). Erin Powell (Sr., Beaver City, Neb., Southern Valley High School) was a repeat selection to the College Division's Academic All-America First Team for Women's Track & Field/Cross Country and became just the second student-athlete in NWU history to also be named Academic All-American of the Year, joining former Nebraska Wesleyan baseball player Matt Kechely (1995).. ...

It's a long way from McCook to Oakland, Calif. But you don't have to take the same route to get there. Eric Chavez and Kirk Saarloos could attest to both. The two spent eight days in McCook - a year apart. Now they are teammates on the Oakland Athletics major league baseball team...

The McCook Football League program will again be run for boys entering grades 5-8 this summer. Due to large enrollment expected, we are asking for parents to enroll their athletes as soon as possible to address equipment needs. Once again, registrations are limited to no more than 75 participants per age division...

Mesa Air group Inc. will be the new essential air service carrier at McCook Regional Airport, it was announced Thursday. Mesa's subsidiary, Air Midwest Inc., will replace the current carrier Great Lakes and was the first choice of McCook airport officials, Acting City Manager Kyle Potthoff said...

A rural Culbertson man remembers flirting with a young female barnstorming pilot when she flew into McCook in 1938. "I hinted at asking her out for the evening," 90-year-old Willard Hoyt said, with a grin and a chuckle, during the Nebraska State Fly-In in McCook Friday and Saturday. But, he remembers well, Evelyn Sharp's dad said "no."...

The state's foster care system got its marching orders Wednesday from Gov. Dave Heineman, and none too soon. Heineman is correct in focusing on the youngest and most vulnerable children, who are caught up too long in the system, and he's also right in his assessment that "government is not the best parent, nor did we ever intend it to be."...

It seems that there is much confusion on the closing of the Class I (Rural elementary) schools. Red Willow County stands alone with one Class I school left in Southwest Nebraska. This is not entirely bad, since all the other schools were closed by a VOTE of the taxpayers of that district...

It is time to start thinking about fresh produce that gardeners and farmers are growing this year. McCook Main Street Farmers Market is a social event where you meet friends and neighbors while you shop the vendors. This event is not only a growers market but open to baked products such as breads, cookies, cakes, rolls, fruit pies and more...

I offer my apologies to those readers who are sick and tired of the religious nuts who take advantage of the kind folks who put out the Gazette. I offered some humor attached to and derived from the Bible. I hope most of you got a chuckle out of what I sent...

I have already spoken on a 150-foot microwave tower put on our block of West 11th and B street. I need not repeat what sin was done to the homeowners, and trailer court. But add this to the list, with a picture as proof of the corporation's disrespect of our dead heros in the cemetery, 10 feet from the tower...

I would like to express my thanks to K. Matson, C. Cappel, and R. Yost for submitting their most recent opinion letters to the Gazette. It was also very refreshing that the Gazette Editor voiced an opinion in questioning the City Council's wisdom in denying the placement of the towers...

Just wanted to correct your story on this "School accepts tennis court bid" (http://www.mccookgazette.com/story/1157712.html). The $75,000 grant referred to in this story was from the "United States Tennis Association," not the USDA. USTA! FYI, you might want to run a correction. Otherwise, that would be a lot of milk and cheese!...

Ten items or less For the past month, I've been making excuses and explaining the reasons regarding the seasons to my children, especially the area's absence of spring. Yes, school was out for "summer vacation" but summer doesn't really start until three weeks after the final school bell...

SELDEN -- Frederick "Fritz" Mumm, 70, died Thursday (June 22, 2006) at the family farm in rural Selden. Services are Monday, 10:30 a.m., at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Selden with the Rev. Dana Clark officiating. Interment will follow at the Selden Cemetery...

Aug. 1, 1917-June 22, 2006 BEAVER?CITY -- Gladys Keesler, 88 died Thursday (June 22, 2006) at Phelps Memorial Hospital in Holdrege. She was born Aug. 1, 1917, at Tryon to Everett and Cora (Heldenbrand) Kyne. She grew up in the Nebraska Sand Hills and graduated from Tryon High School...

Oct. 20, 1919-June 22, 2006 Ruth C. Deveny passed away peacefully in Hastings, Neb., on June 22, 2006, at the age of 86. She was born in Omaha, Neb., on Oct. 20, 1919, to Nicholas & Bessie (Farach) Bonahoom. Rosary will be Sunday, June 25, 2006; 7:30 p.m., at Butler-Volland Chapel. Mass of Christian Burial will be Monday, June 26, 2006- 10:30 a.m., at St. Cecilia Catholic Church with Father Larry Gyhra and Father James Meysenburg officiating. Burial will be in Parkview Cemetery, all in Hastings...