Stories from Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Many young people are spreading their wings for the first time as they settle in to their new college housing, meet new friends and cringe at the requirements of that first accounting class or Biology 101. The pressure is on as they spend Mom's and Dad's savings, scholarship money if they're smart or athletic, or money borrowed against future earnings...

I'd like to comment on the excellent work done by Laura Brunk of St. Francis, which was profiled in the McCook Daily Gazette article, "4-H booth demystifies digital conversion." Laura's information was very thorough and correct. Local cable subscribers' service will not be interrupted during the analog-to-digital conversion. ...

If recent information wasn't a 2x4 between the eyes of city government, it sure should have been. First is sales tax collections. To use this is to determine the health of the local economy is like determining the depth of the lake by looking at the surface...

Once in awhile I get to enjoy a really special flight and this was one to share. Friday my schedule opened and mid morning I departed McCook to fly to Wallace. Over several years I taught three persons, an adult and two young'uns, to fly at Wallace. ...

As I sat watching the news the other night, the broadcaster was talking about a 76-year-old man who runs marathons, rides his bike through the mountains of Colorado, and has climbed some of the tallest mountains in North America. He said his goal is to climb Mount McKinley and hike the Grand Canyon -- c'mon, that's ridiculous -- I'm 41 (30) years his junior and my goal is to be able to climb 14 stairs every morning...

Aug. 13, 1936 - Aug. 24, 2008 PARKS -- Hal Dudley Tecker, 72, of Parks, died Sunday (Aug. 24, 2008) at Wray Community District Hospital. Before he was born, the devastating Republican River flood of 1935 washed everything away including the roads leading to doctors. ...

Following a 30-minute closed session Monday morning to discuss potential litigation, Red Willow County commissioners agreed to wait until Sept. 8 to hear a final proposal from Pawnee Aviation about how the company plans to pay off a $370,000 county loan...

After four and half years, the Kelley Creek Walking Trail is beginning to take shape. Construction contractors have begun work on the Phase I section of the trail, from the lower shelter house at Kelley Park to East H, and estimated they will be done sometime the first week of September, weather permitting...