Stories from Thursday, July 6, 2006

By JOHN J. MESH Gazette Sports Editor McCook's Seniors and Juniors American Legion baseball squads both took on teams from North Platte in Wednesday night doubleheaders. Both McCook teams came up with similar end results -- they were swept. The McCook National Bank Seniors lost at North Platte 8-7 and 10-2 and dropped to 19-12...

Requests from the McCook City Council to be hashed out at next week's budget workshops include a proposal to reduce water rates by the use of a city sales tax. Budget submittals from the council included Councilman Phil Lyons suggestion of the use of a sales tax to help pay for sewer and water improvements, and Mayor Dennis Berry's request to reduce sewer/water rates by using general fund dollars...

"Wish List" items requested from the McCook City Council to be included in the 2006-07 budget addressed a variety of issues, including manhole replacement, funding for the McCook Chamber of Commerce and a city Web page where citizens could post concerns...

By LORRI SUGHROUE City Editor A six-member operating council was established for Fitch Public School (District 8) by the McCook Public School board of education Wednesday night, although whether the newly formed council will meet before the new school year remains unclear...

A sprinkler head delivers a cool, wet drink to corn in a field between Bartley and Cambridge. Forecasters are predicting Mother Nature may deliver her own drink of water later Friday through Saturday this week.

The construction company president and architect who made a presentation to Red Willow County commissioners Monday morning offered a different approach to the construction of the proposed city-county public safety center and county jail/sheriff's office...

It was a busy long holiday weekend for law enforcement personnel, and not the kind any of us would have preferred. A McCook woman was killed, her husband seriously injured and two others hospitalized in a tragic accident south of McCook on the Fourth of July...

After my son joined the Army National Guard two weeks ago, I've suggested that the two of us go to the YMCA so he can get ready for basic training. Since this will be his senior year in high school, he won't be leaving until June 30, 2007 -- that gives him a year to buff up...

Red Willow County commissioners will consider extending the start of loan payments for the company that borrowed $300,000 from the county to develop a helicopter kit in a plant in McCook. Commissioners Monday morning authorized Rex Nelson, the executive director of the McCook Economic Development Corp., which oversees the county's revolving loan fund, to visit with County Attorney Paul Wood about an amendment to Pawnee Aviation's loan agreement that would delay the start of payments from December 2005 until October 2006.. ...