Stories from Saturday, August 16, 2008

While those of us past our peak athletic years find plenty to be inspired by in the exploits of athletes in the Beijing Olympics, those images can make a real difference for talented youngsters on the way up. Who knows? Perhaps the next Michael Phelps will someday shed his water wings because of swimming lessons right here in McCook...

A couple of weeks ago I eagled the first hole at Heritage Hills from 115 yards out while playing with Jim Lemon, Ben Coburn, and Ole Olson. That just goes to prove that even a blind squirrel finds an acorn every now and then. While flipping through my DirecTV channels this past Sunday, I was amazed to find two disgraced former big-time televangelists still doing their thing. ...

The community has "Saved the Wave," according to McCook YMCA officials. Volunteer Campaign Chairman Jeff Shaddock announced that the fund-raising campaign to renovate the swimming pool area has reached its goal of $400,000 in pledges for the project...

The property and occupation taxes in LB701 are needed to fund projects in water short years, said Daniel L. Smith, general manager of the Middle Republican Natural Resources District in Curtis. Without LB701, decreasing water allocations may be the only option, he said...