Stories from Wednesday, August 26, 2009

May 4, 1921 - Aug. 23, 2009 Ella Ruth Ford died Sunday, Aug. 23, 2009, at Mercy Hospital in Oklahoma City, Okla., at the age of 88. She was born May 4, 1921, at home in McCook. She was the daughter of the late William and Magdalena Baumbach. Ella was baptized and confirmed at Peace Lutheran Church in McCook and graduated from eighth grade from Peace Lutheran School. She graduated from McCook High School in 1938...

Community Hospital officials anticipate good interest in bidding for the dirt work for the hospital's $30 million expansion and remodeling project, and plan to welcome Nebraska Sen. Ben Nelson to the ground-breaking Sunday, Sept. 27. Hospital President and CEO Jim Ulrich said Monday morning, following a board of directors' meeting Aug. ...

Bison cross country runner Hailey Harpham displays her piece of watermelon at the exhibition run Tuesday night at the Red Willow County Fairgrounds. Coach Tom Sughroue welcomed parents and introduced the team this year, with 40 high school and junior high runners. After the team ran a mile, they and their parents were treated to watermelon...

If you see your paper carrier today, you might give him or her a pat on the back. While you're at it, the same goes for Jeremy Blomstedt, special projects editor in charge of today's Fall Sports Edition, Grant Strunk, who helped with the photography and layout, and the many other members of the editorial, advertising and production staff...

During the three-hour drive from York to McCook this past week, I couldn't help but notice a great discrepancy in gas prices: $2.41 in York, $2.59 in all the communities from Holdrege to McCook. The obvious question is "Why?" It must cost 18 cents per gallon to ship it from the York Casey's or Bosselman's store to McCook/Holdrege. ...

McCook High School's "Homecoming 2009" royalty candidates pose in the school's LeRoy Hoehner Memorial Park Wednesday morning. The queen and king and their attendants will be announced following the McCook-Sidney football game Friday evening. The game starts at 7 p.m., at Weiland Field. ...

LINCOLN -- Gov. Dave Heineman today, in response to a proclamation signed by the President, reminded Nebraskans to fly state and U.S. flags at half-staff to honor the passing of U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy. President Barack Obama signed the proclamation calling for flags to be flown at half-staff for the remainder of today, until sunset on the day of the Senator's internment...

My daughter Lisa is discovering that raising small children isn't quite as easy as it looks. They are inquisitive. They are busy. They are forever testing the limits and pushing hard against the boundary lines. Not only that, they are tireless. No matter how tired mom and dad may be, they're still ready for one more round...

Wasting taxpayer money is always a bad idea and wasting it for the wrong reason is even worse. Soldiers often face the "fog of war" on the battlefield. My simple gut check helps me see through the "fog of Washington." Last week, we had "fog of Washington" moments as we worked to pass a major defense bill but I didn't lose sight of why we were there: the troops. ...