Stories from Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Aug. 30, 1967 - Sept. 21, 2009 WAUNETA -- Russell Wayne Thompson, 42, died Monday (Sept. 21, 2009) at Chase County Community Hospital in Imperial. He was born Aug. 30, 1967, at Longview, Texas to Riley H. and Betty J. (Hancock) Thompson. He grew up and attended school in Texas...

Oct. 31, 1945 - Sept. 27, 2009 IMPERIAL -- Sylvia Jane Polly, 63, died Sunday (Sept. 27, 2009) in Lakewood, Colo. She was born Oct. 31, 1945, in Imperial to Helen and Ralph Sandman Jr. She attended Rural Service District 21 through the second grade and graduated in 1964 from Chase County High School. Upon graduation, she attended Mercy Hospital School of Nursing in Denver, Colo., receiving her cap after completion of her preliminary training...

After three months of hard work and dedication from Walmart associates, Store Manager Nate Henning declared, "we took a good store and made it a great store" at this morning's ribbon cutting and grand re-opening celebration. The store remodel expands aisle space, reduces clutter, and provides an open and clean shopping experience for their customers. "We made this transformation for the customers," Henning told the crowd of community leaders and Walmart associates who gathered...

Beginning Thursday, SourceGas will charge higher rates for natural gas service in Nebraska. The company has applied to the Nebraska Public Service Commission for a rate increase. State law permits "interim rates" to be charged to customers while the Commission evaluates a rate proposal. Depending on the outcome of the case, interim rates may be credited back to customers...

Doug Colby, 49, of McCook, is the "go-to" guy among family and friends. "He can fix anything," said his wife, Noreen. Doug keeps a wide variety of tools and spare parts carefully organized in his garage, so that whenever anyone speaks a need, he can quickly and efficiently meet it...

SCOTTSBLUFF -- The purpose of the Rural Community Forum held in Scottsbluff Monday was to help the United States Department of Agriculture chart a course to bring rural communities into the new, 21st-century economy. Introducing the topic and then answering questions were U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar, Nebraska U.S. Sen. Ben Nelson, Nebraska U.S. Rep. Adrian Smith and Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman...

The price for delivering natural gas to your home is going up $5 a month, at least temporarily, but that's nothing compared to how much your gas bill will go up if you're a large commercial customer. SourceGas, which charges for delivering gas sold by several other companies as well as itself, will start charging "interim rates" for gas service Thursday while it awaits a decision by the Nebraska Public Cervice Commission on a permanent rate...

My dad loved cars. He particularly loved fast cars. But in order to be fast, a car also must handle the road well. One night, when I was 15, it was just Dad and me, in the late hours of the night, or perhaps the early hours of the morning, westbound on I-70. Dad was driving his pride and joy, a 1970 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme. Yellow, if it matters...

A long-standing empty building on West First Street and C Street has been transformed into a photography and dance studio by owners Cody and Amanda Dame. Divine Productions, the photography / videography / disc jockey business, has been in operation for several years as a home-based business and more recently, located at Westview Plaza. However, the dance studio, Spotlight Studios, is a new venture the couple is embarking upon with the help of their new dance instructor Nora Lobjanidze...