Stories from Tuesday, August 22, 2006

A contract with Kurt P. Fritsch as new city manager was approved with little comment by the City Council Monday night, although Councilman Jim Kenny voted against approval. Mayor Dennis Berry mentioned that Fritsch was a good candidate for the position, adding "there wasn't a plethora of candidates dying to come to McCook."...

McCook Daily Gazette Bond issues are nearly ready to go to the voters for a new city/county public safety center and jail, but the owner of the property where it could be located won't pick up his mail. County Attorney Paul Wood told Red Willow County Commissioners Monday that two certified letters containing the county's bid for the old West Ward building had not been signed for, despite Englewood and Vail, Colo., postmasters sending notice to owner Peter Coulter that they were waiting for him...

By LORRI SUGHROUE City Editor There may have been a silver lining to the continuing drought -- the lack of rain caused water consumption to remain steady, eliminating the need for another significant jump in water rate increases. Public Utilities Director Jesse Dutcher told council members at their meeting Monday night that staff had been expecting a large drop in sales in 2005, which didn't occur. ...

Feb. 18, 1925 - Aug. 20, 2006 HOLDREGE -- Kathryn Lee DeMay, 81, died Sunday (Aug. 20, 2006) at the Holdrege Memorial Home in Holdrege. She was born Feb. 18, 1925, in Holdrege, to Hale H. and Freddie A. (Lundin) Hilsabeck. She graduated from McCook High School in 1943...

Sept. 8 , 1932 - Aug. 20, 2006 ST. FRANCIS -- Robert Edward Poorman, 73, died Sunday (Aug. 20, 2006) at St. Francis. He was born Sept. 8, 1932, in Lincoln County, Colo. He married Roberta Irene "Bobbi" Meade. They made their home in Bird City, Kan. He was employed as a line superintendent for rural utility until his retirement...

The family of Walter and Elsie Hofman is hosting an open house Sunday, 3-5 p.m., at the Imperial Community Center, 9th and Wellington in Imperial, in honor of the couple's 65th wedding anniversary. Cards of congratulation will reach the couple at PO Box 339, Imperial, NE 69033...

Aug. 1-7 was World Breastfeeding Week in the United States. The theme for 2006 was "Code Watch: 25 years of Protecting Breastfeeding." The "Code" is short for the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes.  It is a set of recommendations written in 1981 by the World Health Organization, intended to be a standard to regulate marketing by companies that profit when mothers don't breastfeed (primarily infant formula companies)...

In the Aug. 16 edition of the Gazette, an article (indicated a) school policy aims for lifelong learning, health. Another issue that should be addressed is the "dog allowed in the classroom." Hopefully that was a temporary agreement until the teacher could make other arrangements!...

Since the establishment of the first American Red Cross blood program in 1948, millions of Americans have embraced the selfless act of donating blood and passing the gift of life on to someone else; wherever the blood is most needed. Blood drives have become community tradition and a sense of pride has developed for a successful event...

Check out the car washes after a rare muddy weekend and you'll see the lineup. Folks waiting to wash the dirt off, wax and polish their prized possession. Drivers like these cringe at the first parking lot door-ding, and recoil in horror at the thought that a hailstone might damage that gleaming paint job applied in Detroit or Tokyo...

June 18, 1923 - Aug. 20, 2006 ARAPAHOE?-- Margaret M. Smith, 83, died Sunday (Aug. 20, 2006) at the C.A. Mues Good Samaritan Center in Arapahoe. She was born June 18, 1923, at Gosper County to William and Katie (Abood) Toomey. She was raised north of Arapahoe on the family farm. She attended school at Arapahoe High School and graduated in 1940...