Stories from Friday, February 15, 2002

The family of Jerrell and Thelma Pickett is hosting a card shower in honor of the couples 40th anniversary on Feb. 25. Family of the couple are Winona Duxbury of Wessington, S.D., Shane Pickett of Jay, Okla., and Logan Pickett. Parents of the couple are Ervin and Lillian Schaffert and Harold and Violet Blume all of Indianola. Cards of congratulations will reach the couple at 2195 37th Avenue, Wessington, SD 57381...

The family of Harvey and Erma Hinz are hosting an open house in honor of the couples 50th anniversary Saturday, Feb. 23, at D's Place, 905 E. Seventh, from 2 - 5 p.m. They were married Feb. 17, 1961. Children of the couple are Lynda and Larry Ruppert of McCook, Lisa and Kyle Fairbairn of Bellevue, Gary and Barb Hinz of McCook, Connie and Phil Gildersleeve of O'Neil, and Vickie and James Polk of Lincoln; the couple have eleven grandchildren, three step-grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. ...

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- Velora E. Ridenour of Culbertson and Ted A. Zapp of Culbertson were united in marriage Jan. 22, 2002, at the White Rose Wedding Chapel in Colorado Springs, Colo., with the Rev. Linda Helfinger officiating. Parents of the couple are Eloise Summers of McCook and the late John E. Ridenour, and Walt and Enid Zapp of McCook...

Virginia S. Williams NATOMA, Kan. -- Virginia S. Williams, 64, died Monday (Feb. 18, 2002) at the Memorial Hospital in Abilene, Kan. She was born Oct. 25, 1937, to Wavy and Rowena (Crumpacker) Baker in McPherson, Kan. She graduated form Plainville High School in Plainville, Kan., and Sacramento City College in Sacramento, Calif...

Eleanor M. Horton ARAPAHOE -- Eleanor M. Horton, 91, died Friday (Feb. 15, 2002) at C.A. Mues Good Samaritan Center. She was born on Jan. 20, 1911, to Thomas and Amelea (Faholz) Penn in Wakita, Okla. In 1928, she married George Brown in Norton, Kan. They lived and farmed south of Arapahoe until 1946. She worked as a civil service employee with the Bureau of Reclamation in Arapahoe and Sargent...

The McCook Community College men's basketball team will play its final two regular-season home games Saturday and Tuesday. McCook will play Southeast Community College of Beatrice at 4 p.m. Saturday and Western Nebraska at 7 p.m. Tuesday. It would be difficult to distinguish who the Indians' top player is, and the team would like to keep it that way...

As if having a new baby is not sleep-depriving enough, my sleep-habits have been further thrown into further turmoil. For some odd reason, I am not sleeping and am staying up late at night to watch, of all things, the Winter Olympics. I don't remember watching the Olympics as much in the past. ...

To the one who said to move the track, first, how long have you lived here? Second, I know they have had car races on there for more than 70 years. If you just moved there, then you have the problem. It seems very uncaring for you to say "go to North Platte of Culbertson." I don't think that's very unfriendly...

This is not a surprising action from our Red Willow County Commissioners. They are the ones who pushed to locate the toxic chemical pickup building on the local fairgrounds until local homeowners protested. Last fall, they spent a month and a half building a new track at Red Willow County taxpayer's costs, without thinking about the homeowners' concerns again, and now they're trying to shove this race noise past us McCook homeowners again...

Dear Editor, You may be aware that the U.S. Senate will be considering legislation shortly that would increase Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards for passenger cars and light trucks. Such an increase could result in reduced availability of America's most popular vehicles, including SUVs and pickup trucks. This would have a devastating effect on the automobile industry and the consumers right to choose...

As a special added attraction, a number of Gazette subscribers this week are receiving the premiere issue of a full-size shopper's guide called the "Big Buffalo Nickel." It was inserted into thousands of carrier-delivered newspapers today and is also available free in 57 news racks throughout the Golden Plains of Southwest Nebraska and Northwest Kansas...

I want to comment about the races. I moved to near the fairgrounds in 1978. At that time, there were no races being held at the fairgrounds. Last year, I put new windows in my mobile home, hoping it would decrease the noise I heard from the races. Even that did not help...

I live two blocks from the race track. We move into our house more than 20 years ago. At that time the track was there, but no races. We were told at that time there were no races because they made to much noise and the city had an ordinance against noise. ...

CAMBRIDGE -- Ramona Elizabeth Schmidt, 71, died Thursday (Feb. 14, 2002) at Cambridge Memorial Hospital. She was born on Sept. 14, 1930, to Henry and Elizabeth (Kiel) Dinges in Lincoln. She graduated from McCook High School in 1948. On Aug. 10, 1951, she married Griff F. Schmidt at San Rafael, Calif. The couple made their home in Indianola. She was employed as a telephone operator and retired in the early 1980s. She served for many years as a volunteer at the McCook Humane Society...