Stories from Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Oct. 17, 1929 - April 13, 2008 Howard Schneider, age 78, died Sunday, April 13, 2008, with his family by his side. He was born Oct. 17, 1929, in Hayes County, Neb., to Peter T. and Mary (Giespert) Schneider. He attended Hayes County schools. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict...

Adam Spanier had to hit the ground running when he took the reins at KNGN March 10, as the new station manager. He had a mere five weeks to prepare for the listener-supported Christian radio station's annual Sharathon fund raiser. The energetic, enthusiastic Spanier, took it all in stride, however, and is ready for the 2008 Festival of Grace Sharathon "Never Changing God, Ever Changing Life" to kick off bright and early at 8 a.m., Wednesday morning, at 1360 on the AM dial. ...

A trip to the gas pump is painful, but with a little imagination, you can find a silver lining. When gasoline prices are up, ethanol looks all the more attractive, helping keep those new plants in our area humming. And, there's no better incentive for saving a little gasoline -- and improving your health -- by walking to work or riding a bicycle to that meeting...

Nebraska is in violation of the Final Settlement Agreement regarding the Republican River. Nebraska doesn't know what is required until a year after it has already acted. As a result, Nebraska must guess what it has to do each year to stay within its allowance. Because the benefits gained via reduced usage take years to occur, it makes sense to set usage at a reasonable level and then use other methods to account for the huge variations in allowance that occur from year to year...

In October, the Iraqi citizens are being allowed to vote (again). They should be thankful they have the democracy instead of living under a cruel and brutal dictator controlled by thugs, cronies, and evil madmen. We Americans can only hope they don't elect a president with huge ears and who suffers from dyslexia...

Boy, I hope you had the opportunity to watch a just-passed three-day old moon and the Pleiades star cluster last week. It was a beautiful, clear evening just made for stargazing. The weather was a little cool but nothing a nice jacket or a heavy sweater couldn't handle...

Southwest High School runner Layne McConville swept all of the girls distance events at the Medicine Valley Invitational track meet Monday at the McCook High School track.

A motion to try out a new software program that could have helped at-risk junior and senior high students at a summer school program failed Monday evening when McCook Public Schools board of education members split 3-3 over the use of the "A+ Learning System."...