Stories from Thursday, July 2, 2009

The public is invited to come listen, learn or orate at a "Tea Party," 7 p.m. Saturday at the McCook Fairgrounds, on the southwest side of the ballparks. Participants are encouraged to bring banners and posters.

Steve Smith of WaterClaim.org issued the following analysis of Tuesday's document by the Republican River Compact arbitrator: I have read through the 74 page ruling by the arbitrator regarding the Republican River Basin. This is a more detailed analysis of his ruling. ...

The D&T Electric Giants captured the 2009 McCook Midget Baseball Association Cubs Division Tournament. The tournament took place Thursday through Sunday at Felling Field. No. 8 McCook National Bank Astros 7, No. 9 First Central Bank Cardinals 0 The regular season is over and now each team has a clean slate for the ultimate destiny of playing for the championship...

LEXINGTON -- McCook High School's Connor Larson posted two first-place finishes and a second-place showing at the recent Lexington Tennis Tournament. Lexington Tennis Results Boys 18 Singles -- Larson first place Connor Larson defeated Eric Marrow of Lincoln 6-1, 6-2...

Sales are still sluggish, but firework vendors in McCook say they don't expect a barrage of buyers until the next couple of days. "Eighty percent of my sales come from on July 3 and 4," said Eric Hutto of Trenton, who owns 10 firework stands across Nebraska, including one operated by the McCook Optimists in exchange for a percentage of sales...

The McCook City Council will consider the recommendation from the Parks Advisory Board to approve a bronze war memorial in the center of Norris Park, at its regular meeting Monday night, 7:30 at City Council Chambers in Memorial Auditorium. Boy Scout Trenton Klimper wants to construct the memorial as his Eagle Scout project. The McCook City Council gave its preliminary approval in May for Klimper to proceed with his idea...

It's easy to get discouraged about the way things are going, especially if you or your friends or family are out of work and you've watched your chance for a comfortable retirement evaporate with Wall Street's bull market. We've looked on with alarm as the government takes over banks and two of the former "big three" automakers and old family franchises disappear. ...

Woo-Hoo! Finally got some glass on those elusive planets. The clouds were gone, the sky was clear, and the temperature was great for sky watching. The only drawback was the pesky mosquitoes -- still in full force even at 4:30 in the morning. Jupiter, high in the south, shining brilliantly, gave a good display in the telescope. Three of the Galilean moons, (Europa, Callisto, and Ganymede) were showing as small pin-pricks of light. Io was too close to the planet to be seen...

LINCOLN -- With camp season in full swing, the state's Chief Medical Officer is advising that precautions be taken against the novel influenza A (H1N1). "The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued guidance on how camps can handle ill attendees and promote safe infection control practices," said Dr. Joann Schaefer. "It's very important that camp personnel know the symptoms and isolate ill campers from the others."...

In its second year, the program that enables Nebraska landowners to receive hay harvesting permits is in effect. These permits are for the harvesting of hay from the right-of-way of state maintained highways. Interstate highways and freeways are excluded from the program. Landowners whose land abuts the state right-of-way will have the first opportunity to...

The Nebraska Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program provides low-income senior citizens with coupons to purchase fresh produce and honey at Nebraska Farmers' markets and roadside stands. To be eligible, participants must be 60 years of age or older. ...

Samantha Jorgenson and Kyle Minnick, both of Holdrege, announce their engagement and upcoming marriage. Parents of the couple are Bear and Deanna Jorgenson of Hershey and Bill and Nancy Minnick of Cambridge. The bride-to-be graduated from Hershey High School in 2002 and is a graduate of the University of Nebraska Medical Center with a Doctorate of Physical Therapy. She is employed as a physical therapist with New West Orthopaedic & Sports Rehabilitation...

LAKEWOOD, Colo. -- SourceGas Distribution LLC ("SourceGas") today announced it has filed a request with the Nebraska Public Service Commission to increase the non-gas component of its rates to cover the increased costs associated with providing natural gas service to approximately 90,000 customers across Nebraska. ...

Kristy Dubas and Collin Eisenhart of Westminster, Colo. announce their engagement and upcoming marriage. Parents of the couple are Joseph and Sandy Dubas of Lincoln and David and Doris Eisenhart of Culbertson. The couple is planning a July 18, 2009, wedding in Lincoln...

Rusty and Casey Lashley announce the birth of their daughter, Tesni Shea Lashley, born May 14, 2009 at Bryan LGH in Lincoln. She weighed 8 pounds, 11 ounces and was 21 1/2 inches long. She has two brothers, Mitt, age 5 and Lawson, 2 1/2. Grandparents are Terry and Jean Hallowell and Tom and Lana Lashley, all of McCook. Great-grandparents are Betty Harmon and Delma Teel, both of McCook...

1917-2009 HILTON HEAD, S.C .- Frances Real Bailey, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, died on May 31, 2009. Fran was born to Frank and Mary Eloise Real in McCook, Neb., in 1917, the second youngest of six sisters, including Julia Colgan, Margaret Hoole, Eloise Skidmore, Willa Bailey and Florence Jeffries. A leading business man in McCook, Frank Real was a city councilman, three term mayor, Chamber of Commerce member and a Director of the Nebraska Society for Crippled Children...

Jon and Gloria Kennedy are celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary. An open house will be Saturday, July 12 at St. Catherine Catholic Church Hall in Indianola, from 1 to 3 p.m.