Stories from Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Aug. 25, 1930 - Sept. 28, 2008 ATWOOD -- Eugene F. Leitner, 78, died Sunday (Sept. 28, 2008). He was born Aug. 25, 1930, to Carl Andrew and Theresia Elizabeth (Kogl) Leitner. He worked at the grocery store for Glen Williams and attended Atwood grade school. He graduated from Atwood High School in 1948...

IMPERIAL -- Gordon Luhrs, 80, died Sunday (Sept. 28, 2008) at Chase County Community Hospital in Imperial Survivors include his wife, Mary of Imperial; sons, Art Luhrs of Wauneta, Robert Gordon Luhrs and wife, Tracy of Carmel, Ind., John Luhrs of Imperial and Tom Luhrs and wife, Lynn of Imperial; and 15 grandchildren...

June 19, 1939 - Sept. 27, 2008 Larry Ernest Johnson, 69, of McCook, died Saturday (Sept. 27, 2008) at Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney. He was born on June 19, 1939, in Holdrege, to Ernest and Lois Irene (Hopkins) Johnson. He received his education in Holdrege, graduating from Holdrege High School in 1957. He then attended Kearney State Teachers College...

Oct. 18, 1926 - Sept. 27, 2008 TRYON -- A. LaVerne Neal, 81, of Tryon, died Saturday (Sept. 27, 2008) at the Nebraska Heart Institute in Lincoln. He was born to Loren Thomas and Nancy Hill Neal in Tryon, on Oct. 18, 1926. He grew up in McPherson County and attended District 9 in Tryon...

The family of Willie and Lynne Wilson of Maywood is requesting a card shower in honor of the couple's 50th wedding anniversary. They were married Oct. 4, 1958, in Fallon, Nev. Their family includes Kirk and wife, Mary of Imperial, Kris and wife, Michelle of McCook, Russ of Lincoln daughter-in-law, Marilyn of Maywood and the late Kevin Wilson. They have 10 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Cards of congratulations will reach the couple at P O Box 67, Maywood NE 69038...

From the outside, the house at 810 W. Fourth looks boarded up and deserted, but not that bad. From the inside, its a different story -- which is why the McCook Health Board declared it a public nuisance at its noon meeting Monday at the Heritage Senior Center...

The informational meeting of the McCook Public Schools board of education Monday evening created more questions than it answered about filling the vacancy caused by the resignation of board member and president Greg Larson. Larson tendered his resignation, effective immediately, at the Sept. ...

If the existing McCook Public Schools board of education wants to select the district's new superintendent, the process can be completed before Dec. 31. If the existing board wants to pass that honor on to the next board, after it is seated in January, it can do that, too...

With gas prices tickling the $4 mark and speculations that it will rise to $7, many people are parking their cars and finding more economical ways of transportation for their every day routines. The streets of McCook are full of walkers, bike riders and motorcycles of different brands and colors before the work day begins. The streets and highways also have shown an increased presence of motorcycles of many styles, colors and brands...

The 34-year-old Cooper Nuclear Station will keep operating at least another 26 years, if the Nebraska Public Power District is successful with its latest application to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The NRC's license renewal process is expected to take between 22 and 30 months, and will include an environmental review and review of safety requirements...

Brad and I have always been animal lovers, thankfully that's just one of the many things we have in common. About four months ago we added a foursome to our menagerie of pets. This time is was the feathered version -- canaries. We decided to try breeding them. Our first hatch, we had one successful egg. The second time around, we had three...

I just read where the Bush Administration did it again; giving the finger to U.S. citizens and taxpayers and a second one to Congress. On Aug. 4, under provisions of the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement -- NAFTA -- he extended for two more years a test program that was to be just one year, allowing long-haul truckers from 100 Mexican trucking companies full access to U.S. highways, although both Congress and the highway safety advocates opposed this action...

From all appearances the annual Heritage Days Celebration in McCook was a resounding success. Thanks to those who organized plus the multitude of volunteers that made it a success. Thanks to all who came forth to enjoy the festivities. Even the weather cooperated...