Stories from Friday, September 29, 2006

March 23, 1922 - Sept. 27, 2006 WICHITA, Kan. -- Claire Norine Suvara, 84, died Wednesday (Sept. 27, 2006) at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita, Kan. She was born March 23, 1922, in rural Oberlin to William Henry and Estle Grace (Beam) Gunthert. She attended Oberlin Elementary and Decatur Community High School, graduating in 1940...

Oct. 19,1931 - Sept. 28, 2006 Loren J. Bedore died Thursday September 28, 2006 at the McCook Community Hospital in McCook at the age of 74. He was born Oct. 19. 1931, at Zurich, Kan., the son of the late Lawrence and Beatrice (Forgue) Bedore. He grew up at Zurich until 1941 when the family moved to Culbertson. He graduated from Culbertson High School in 1949...

May 31, 1928 - Sept. 27, 2006 ST. FRANCIS -- Donald Willis Kramer, 78, died Wednesday (Sept. 27, 2006) at the Cheyenne County Hospital in St. Francis. He was born May 31, 1928, in Cheyenne County near Bird City. On Aug. 26, 1956, he married Twila G. Underwood...

A scorched helicopter and minor injuries that could be treated with bandages and a soak in a hot tub won't stop the development of a kit helicopter that crashed Thursday evening outside a hangar at McCook's airport, according to the two men aboard at the time...

The crash of an experimental helicopter at McCook Regional Airport early Thursday evening presented special concerns to emergency personnel who responded to the fire and reported injuries. The helicopter, assembled from a kit being developed by Pawnee Aviation of McCook, burned in the crash, and its pilot, Marvin May of Oberlin, and passenger and company owner, Ron Willocks of McCook, were treated for minor injuries at Community Hospital of McCook and released...

Red Willow County-City of McCook jail committee members finalized plans Tuesday for community meetings during which they will explain to voters the $7.7 million county jail-city public safety center proposal that will be on the Nov. 7 ballot. The facility would include a county jail and sheriff's office and a city police department and fire station. ...

EAST?ORANGE, N.J. -- Two Seton Hall University Communication professors have announced plans to produce a documentary concerning the 1942 Nebraska Scrap Metal Drive that supported the World War II war effort.  The documentary will highlight the dramatic participation of the World War II home front from the perspective of the more recent war on terror...

Would have, should have, could have ... That's often the tendency in major issues. The City of McCook could, at one time, have owned the old Army Air Base for virtually nothing following World War II, which would have avoided the million-dollar water fiasco of a few years back, while providing a large, modern -- for the time -- airport or at least an expansive industrial tract...

With the arrival of a couple's first child, their world can be turned upside-down. While the bundle of joy may be small, all her "accessories" can fill a small bus. There's the diaper bag with all the creams and lotions, the strollers, the cribs, the bouncy chairs. That's not even taking into account the car seats which will occupy more than their allotted amount of space in the vehicle for the next eight years...

Now I have over the years given treats to hound dogs; guess I got a soft spot. Anyway, here is a 60 pounder saying "thank you" in dog language for his treat. Dogs been helping people out for centuries. Heck, I still owe my own life to the blue heeler that rushed in while I was on my knees, picking up staples in the pasture one day, and grab then kill a big rattler coiled beside me, and he got bit for it...

McCook's volleyball team hosted Cambridge and Cozad Tuesday. The Lady Bison split with the two teams. Cambridge beat out McCook 25-18, 24-26, 27-25 and Mcook defeated Cozad 25-16, 25-17. "I was extremely proud of the way the girls battled tonight.We came out against Cozad, which was our top priority since they are a district opponent and are second in wild card points right now within our district, and played well," said Bison Coach Krystal Weber...

Dec. 19, 1942-Sept. 25, 2006 WESSINGTON, S.D. -- Jerrell Pickett, 63, of rural Wessington, SD, died Monday (Sept. 25, 2006), at the Prairie Good Samaritan Center at Miller, S.D.   He was born Dec. 19, 1942, to Forrest and Lillian (Ladd) Pickett at Zalma, Mo. At the age of 3, he moved with his parents to Nebraska. He attended school at Indianola, and graduated from high school in 1961. After graduation he was employed on oil rigs...

May 30, 1904-Sept. 28, 2006 Grace Vesper Mullanix, 102, died Thursday (Sept.28, 2006), at Hillcrest Nursing Home. She was born May 30, 1904, in Frontier County, to Claude M. and Laura M. (Gherring) Spaulding.  She graduated from Curtis High School in 1923.  She taught in rural Frontier County schools for seven years...

For many, it was the last stop before combat. Once a thriving mini-city, sprawled across 2,100 acres containing three runways and more than 200 buildings, the McCook Army Air Base was home to thousands of soldiers from 1943-45. Here, bomber pilots and crews took advantage of the wide open spaces and practiced their maneuvers for the last time on B-17s, B-24s and B-29s before being sent overseas to the Pacific and European wars...

City residents will have to pay their utility bills sooner, if the City Council approves and passes an ordinance at their regular meeting Monday, 7 p.m., at City Council Chambers in?Memorial Aud-itorium. Currently, city utility bills that include water, sewer and trash collection have to be paid by the 24th of each month or be charged a $15 administrative handling charge...