Stories from Friday, August 18, 2006

McCook residents will be looking at smaller water and sewer rate increases than expected in October, a possible increase in the city levy and the chance to vote on a half-cent sales tax, if these items are approved by the McCook City Council Monday night, 7:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at the Memorial Auditorium...

The McCook Area Chamber of Commerce, in coordination with McCook Postmaster, Jim Casson, have announced a logo contest for McCook's Quasquicentennial (125th) Birthday Celebration which is scheduled for 2007. The winning entry will be used to create a cancellation stamp for use at the McCook Post Office throughout 2007...

Community Hospital Health Foundation's Campaign for Better Care has brought in nearly $1.6 million toward the $2 million goal for Community Hospital's physical therapy and occupational therapy construction project, members of the board of directors were told this week...

Debate is best Dear Editor, The best way to determine the merits of one candidate over the other is in a forum of open debate. ["Top local concerns" (http://www.mccook gazette.com/story/1164176.html)]. We voters should have the opportunity to observe each candidate's ability to formulate questions as well as respond to them. We should not only hear the candidates state their positions, but witness them articulate their defenses of them...

Nebraska could lose federal funding if it doesn't improve compliance with teacher quality standards under the No Child Left Behind law, but it must be doing something right. Under that law, states were supposed to have highly qualified teachers in every core academic class by the end of the last school year...

Where do firefighters go on vacation? Someplace they can hoist, climb and rescue, of course. Several members of the McCook Fire Department recently coordinated their vacation days and competed together as a relay team at the Fire Fighter Combat Challenge in Westminster, Colo. Wearing their 100-pound "bunker gear" and using firefighter techniques and equipment, they tested their agility and endurance in obstacle races against other teams...

Jan. 21, 1932-Aug. 16, 2006 DANBURY -- Robert "Bob" Peach, 74, died Wednesday, (Aug. 16, 2006) at The Veterans Affairs Medical Center, in Marion, Ill. He was born Jan. 21, 1932, in Velpen, Ind., to Orville R. and Lucy (Hochmeister) Peach. On Feb. 14, 1954, he married Jerlene Todrank at the Holland United Methodist Church...

Twenty-three years after Red Willow County's jail was closed, the county commissioners are ready to ask the voters for money to build a new one. A resolution calling for a special election to issue bonds for a new jail is on the agenda for 10 a.m. Monday for the regular meeting of the Red Willow County Board of Commissioners. It will be in the commissioners' room in the courthouse...

A 12-year old McCook girl is hoping to raise enough money so she can compete in a beauty pageant in Hollywood. Olivia Cappel recently returned from Lincoln where she captured the Nebraska State Ambassador title at the National American Miss pageant. Now she hopes to raise about $6,000 so she can compete Nov. 19-26 in Hollywood for the national title in her age group...