Stories from Monday, April 19, 2010

The intellectual properties of Pawnee Aviation Inc. have been retrieved from the man who borrowed $300,000 from Red Willow County and defaulted on the loan. Rex Nelson of McCook, administrator of the county's revolving loan fund program, drove to Longmont, Colo., Friday and took possession of computers, files, filing cabinets, blueprints and designs for the helicopter kit that Ron Willocks, owner of Pawnee Aviation, was developing with the $200,000 loan and the $100,000 grant that he received from the county in December 2004. ...

It's an obvious irony when the folks in charge of providing an education for our children can't do math, but it's an outrage when good teachers who actually deliver the education lose their jobs because of those mistakes. North Platte has been dealing with just such a situation, having been shorted $750,000 in state aid it should have received next year, a total $2.5 million reduction in state aid, expected to require a reduction in force...

I was born in South Dakota in 1928, but moved to Plainview with my parents, Walter and Lenita, in 1930, when they bought the Plainview (Nebraska) Bakery from Sam Johnson. Though hard times had really begun in the late '20s, they became progressively worse in the 1930s, and it was of the decade of the '30s that my earliest memories were formed. I really believe that all who lived through that trying period in our nation's history carry scars that will be only erased by death...

As I read about the Keystone project in the April 14 issue of the paper, to my surprise I discovered that the article stated EAD Constructors of Omaha is the main contractor at the Keystone, with several sub-contractors hired for additional work. What is going on here? As I commented before, we should be keeping our dollar here. This really upset me ... as I stated before on the Hillcrest issue, this puts another dent in the economy of not only McCook, but some of the area small towns...

Spring, is definitely here and the Unicameral has wrapped up the 101st Legislature. Much was done this year and I would like to use the next three Letters Back Home to highlight what was accomplished this session. This week I would like to discuss LB 817, LB 594, and LB 1103...

Sept. 12, 1991 - April 14, 2010 OGALLALA, Nebraska -- Kylie Hicks, 18, senior at Ogallala High School, died Wednesday (April 14, 2010) after a heroic battle with cancer at the Childrens Hospital in Omaha. Kylie was born Sept. 12, 1991 in Cambridge, Nebraska, the daughter of Kent and Lisa Hofeldt Hicks. She attended elementary schools in Ogallala and was preparing to graduate with the Class of 2010...

With the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day this week, I am reminded about the considerable potential Nebraska has to move our country forward along the road to a prosperous, green energy economy -- with wind. While wind energy is just one type of clean energy we produce, it shows a lot of promise in Nebraska. ...

McCook High School's golf team has one of the top home-course advantages in the state. The Bison shooters get to practice and play regularly at the tough Heritage Hills Golf Links layout located on the west edge of the city. That home turf advantage will be put to the test Tuesday, April 20, when the Bison boys host the annual Ron Coleman Invitational...

GOTHENBURG -- Winning track and field meet team trophies is getting to be a habit for the McCook High School girls team. The Bison girls claimed another championship trophy at the Dutch Zorn Invitational Friday, April 16, at Gothenburg High School. McCook scored 153 points, easily winning the title with the host Swedes second with 106...