Stories from Friday, September 12, 2008

GRAND ISLAND -- The McCook Bison volleyball team went 1-1 at the Grand Island Northwest Triangular Thursday night. The Bison defeated Holdrege 25-18, 25-18 and lost to GINW 25-10, 25-15. GINW defeated Holdrege, 25-12 25-12. Against GINW, Hanah Swanhorst had 1 ace serve. Tara Powell, Swanhorst and Joanna Bryant each had 3 kills...

CURTIS -- The Middle Republican Natural Resources District decided Tuesday not to include in next year's property tax request the additional 4.57-cent property tax authorized under LB701. Occupation taxes at $7.13 per irrigated acre also will not be requested. The MRNRD adopted the 2008-09 budget at its regular meeting Tuesday at Curtis that totals $5 million and without the added revenue of LB701 taxes...

There was once a short-lived sitcom about an accountant who moonlighted as a detective. Or maybe it was the other way around. We didn't watch the show during its short run, but we can imagine why it didn't make it. To most of us, keeping track of rows of numbers ranks right up there with cleaning out the garage or changing the kitty litter box...

So how about a reality show to select the next President? Contenders would be selected out after nationwide tryouts, then be given tasks to complete, ala "The Apprentice" or "Survivor." Contestants would face dilemmas like "How much do I compromise my position on this issue to gain an endorsement from this influencial group or individual?" Or, what position can I adopt to attract the X amount of dollars I need to win this early primary?"...

A new fall season usually means large amounts of change across the broadcast landscape, but that's simply not the case this year. Most of the network schedules are carbon copies from last fall; they include a significant batch of series that had their seasons cut short because of the prolonged writers' strike...

This year has been a very successful Farmers Market with baked goods, fresh grown produce, fruit, eggs, with many other goodies. Again, jars of honey -- this honey is from the McCook area, the very sweetest and very pure. It is not diluted like the imported, which is diluted 15 to 18 percent with water or sweet syrup...