Stories from Thursday, January 4, 2007

NORTH PLATTE -- The McCook High School Bison swimmers competed in North Platte on Dec. 15 in their last meet before Christmas. They swam against North Platte and Scottsbluff in a double dual. Both boys and girls came up short in the team standings but many improved their times...

HASTINGS -- The McCook Bison boys basketball team returned from a short holiday break to face Class A opponent North Platte in the opening round of the GNAC tournament in Hastings on Dec. 28. The Bison were without senior starter Josh Cherry who is practicing for the Army All-American football game to be played on Saturday...

BLAIR -- The Dana College women's basketball team lost to Midland Lutheran College 66-50 Wednesday night at the Gardner-Hawks Center in Blair. Midland Lutheran improved to 13-3 overall and Dana dropped to 7-8. Dana's Jillian Bryant, a 5-foot-11 freshman from McCook High School, scored 6 points, grabbed 3 rebounds and added 1 steal for the Vikings. She made 2-of-5 field goals and 2-of-2 free throws...

By CONNIE JO DISCOE Regional Editor Red Willow County Extension Educator Kent Been recommends making no drastic decisions regarding trees damaged in the latest ice and snow storms until next spring. Unless it's a safety issue, Been said, major cuts or the removal of damaged trees should wait until spring...

The apparent "New Year's Baby 2007" is the as-yet-unnamed new daughter of Elizabeth Hilton and her husband, Timothy Lundquist, of McCook. The little girl was born at 12:46 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 3, at Community Hospital of McCook. She was delivered by Dr. Toby Free...

An idea originated by Rep. Tom Osborne to streamline the state's approach to helping new businesses has blossomed to the point potential entrepreneurs in Southwest Nebraska are already calling Mid Plains Community College looking for answers to their business questions...

Kathy Jones, County Clerk Magistrate, swears in nine new county officials Thursday morning in Red Willow County District courtroom. Shown from left are Commissioner Leigh Hoyt, Sheriff Gene Mahon, County Attorney Paul Wood, Surveyor Gary Dicenta, Commissioner Earl McNutt, Assessor Sandra Kotschwar, Clerk of District Court Beverly Dodge, County Clerk Pauletta Gerver, County Clerk and County Treasurer Marleen Garcia...

It was an ignoble end for a man used to extravagant wealth and unlimited power. Standing on the gallows at dawn, a noose around his neck, Saddam Hussein heard taunts and derision from those he formerly oppressed and who now oversaw his execution, Shiite officials...

Most of us in McCook got through the twin winter storms relatively unscathed, but now that the streets are open, we're getting out and about. Even vehicles equipped with four-wheel drive are finding it difficult to get around on the ice, and the number of fender-benders in the daily police reports is picking up...

On behalf of the Salvation Army and the Red Willow County Ministerial Association, I would like to thank everyone in the community for a successful bell ringing session. This includes all of the groups, organizations, and individuals who gave of their time during the busy Christmas season. This year saw an increase of $1,531.92 over last year for a total of $10,201.82...

No matter what the weather, there always seems to be someone who can find something to complain about. For months, we've been hearing how much we need moisture. We finally got it. Granted we didn't need it all at once, but just take a look outside and you'll realize there's a lot of moisture laying on the ground and in places it could be there till March...

April 1, 1929 - Jan. 2, 2007 CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas -- Norma Forgue was born in McCook, April 1, 1929. She died Tuesday (Jan. 2, 2007) in Corpus Christi, Texas. Viewing will be at Rhoton Funeral Home in Carrollton, Texas, on Friday from 6-8 p.m. Funeral services will be at Calvary Hill Cemetery in Dallas, Texas, at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday...

July 17, 1918 - Jan. 2, 2007 NORTH?PLATTE?-- Christian Adam Jurgens, 88, died Tuesday (Jan. 2, 2007) at Great Plains Regional Medical Center. He was born July 17, 1918, to George and Emma (Waltemath) Jurgens. He was raised in Moorefield, graduating from Moorefield High School in 1935. He attended Teachers College in Kearney...