Stories from Tuesday, August 1, 2006

Cambridge coach Del Schoenfish coaches winning Blue boys squad LINCOLN -- University of Nebraska-Kearney signees Waid Vontz and Megan Becker helped contribute to their team's victories at Monday night's Nebraska Coaches Association basketball games...

A college students' quest to see the historic pipe organs of Europe led him to became the youngest person to play the oldest working organ in the world. His passion for pipe organs drove 20-year old Chris Lyons of McCook to scrimp and save for two years, determined to visit Europe and see in person some of the world's most renowned pipe organs. Better yet, he was hoping he could play a few himself...

Following a 15-minute closed session Monday morning, Red Willow County commissioners authorized the county's jail task force coordinator to negotiate the purchase of the former West Ward Elementary building. Commissioners and joint county and City of McCook jail committee members look at the West Ward site, in the 300 block of West Fifth, as the most favorable location for a proposed city-county public safety center, county jail and sheriff's office. ...

City manager applicant Kurt R. Fritsch told the McCook City Council that although McCook would be significantly smaller than what he was used to, "Bigger is not always better." Fritsch, formerly city manager of North Las Vegas, a city of 145,000, was grilled by City Council members Monday night in their on-going search for a new city manager...

The Senate campaign would be fun to watch if the issues weren't so important. As a well-bankrolled underdog, it was politically expedient for Pete Ricketts to go negative early because, sadly, negative campaigning works. Unfortunately, Ben Nelson's campaign has been pulled in a negative direction as well, despite what we in McCook know to be the candidate's natural reluctance...

By CONNIE JO DISCOE Regional Editor Red Willow County commissioners will ask every county official to re-evaluate their proposed budgets and justify all expenses over-and-above those of last year. Following a budget workshop during their regular meeting Monday morning, commissioners agreed to return proposed budgets to elected officials and ask them to make enough cuts to ensure that the county does not exceed a growth lid mandated by the state...

Red Willow County commissioners Monday morning approved a $70,000 loan from the county's revolving loan fund to assist an existing business in downtown McCook. During the commissioners' regular weekly meeting, Chairman Earl McNutt congratulated Betty Kenner, doing business as Accents Etc., for her successful loan application. "It's important to keep businesses going," McNutt said, as well as helping to start new ones...

July 18, 1927 - July 28, 2006 SIDNEY -- Matt Treinen, 79, a longtime Sidney resident, died Friday evening, July 28 at Memorial Health Center in Sidney. Services will be today at 1 p.m. at Saint Patrick's Church in Sidney with Fr. Jim Novakowski officiating. Burial will follow in Greenwood Cemetery with military graveside honors...

Dec. 19, 1934-July 30, 2006 BENKELMAN - Wilmer Wendell "Bill" Seybold, 71, of Benkelman, Neb., passed away July 30, 2006, at his home with his family by his side. He passes on having given a legacy of hope, strength and compassion to his family and those who knew him...

Shoemaker release

ATWOOD, Kan. -- August "Gus" William Rummel, 93, died Wednesday (July 26, 2006) at Good Samaritan Center in Atwood. He was born May 29, 1913, in St. Francis, to Henry and Vivian (McKnight) Rummel. He was baptized as a Jehovah's Witness in 1940. Preceding him in death were his parents; his first wife, Lenora; second wife, Margaret; four brothers, Wesley, Arlie, Victor, and Stanley; and two sisters, Evelyn and Helen...

Feb. 1, 1929-July 30, 2006 WILLARD, Mo. -- Vera May Brown Tuller, 77, died Sunday (July 30, 2006) in Missouri. She was born Feb. 1, 1929, at Danbury to Victor and Etta May Brown. She was raised in Danbury, graduated with honors from Danbury High School, attended McCook Junior College and the University of Nebraska, receiving her teaching credentials in 1948...

May 23, 1922 - July 29, 2006 John D. Winston, 84, died Saturday (July 29, 2006) at his home in McCook. He was born May 23, 1922 at Middletown, Ohio, to Walter and Ruth A. (Saunders) Winston.  He graduated from Withrow High School in Cincinnati, Ohio and attended a trade school in Ohio where he became a drafting engineer.  He served in the Army Air Force during World War II from 1942 to 1946 and was stationed in the Marianas Islands in the Philippines...