Stories from Thursday, February 7, 2002

The bad news is, many of your favorite shows may be off the air for the next few weeks. The good news is, you'll have the chance to watch -- and read about -- the goings-on at the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. From the youngest sledder to the most advanced hockey player, athletes have one main inspiration if not actual goal: becoming an Olympic Athlete...

Open letter to Gov. Mike Johanns: I believe that taking cigarettes away from the prisoners and guards is unjust. I do not smoke, but that does not mean that anyone cannot smoke. What is next, we cannot drink beer or whiskey or even whine? We live in the U.S.A. not the Soviet Union. It is fine to tell the young people they cannot smoke until they reach voting age. It would not surprise me a bit if the smokers in Nebraska did not vote for you for governor or vote for Mr. Baker for the Unicameral...

Dear Editor, To the City Council, mayor and people of McCook: I would like to (submit) a proposal: How about working toward bringing a Target or Shopko store in? Also, maybe a Burger King or Long John Silver's to bring in more businesses and jobs? These places would be so great for McCook and the surrounding areas for jobs and a greater diversity for shopping. ...

Dear Editor, Hello. My name is Bernard Judd. Well, we filed for some medical help so my wife could go to the doctor when she needs to, as we have no insurance and the cash to pay every time and it is hard to afford to go to the doctor when she needs to. Sure, we both have jobs, but my wage is low, and hers is low, but ... she can only work part-time, so we don't have the money, and the cost of living is up very high. Trying to make ends meet is very hard...

Where is our City Council and chamber, and what are they doing to help the couple who have the Oz-Tex Daylight Doughnuts shop? Is the council going to hid their heads in the sand and not help? Maybe they should, after the way they helped the people of McCook by the debt over the water problem...

The Nebraska Legislature and Gov. Mike Johanns are again thinking about taxing Nebraska smokers another 50 cents a package. When will enough be enough for these people? While I respect many aspects of the Johanns administration this is one aspect I can not and will not endorse...