Stories from Thursday, April 4, 2002

Climb aboard. It's time for a trip down memory lane. To start our journey, let's go all the way back to 1926 in a town called McCook in the middle of America. As we come upon the scene, two men are taking a drive to visit about a pioneering idea for higher education in Nebraska...

I agree with the editorial viewpoint concerning the new fees on water bills. After reading the letter, I was almost ashamed to be a McCookite. I didn't want to buy the old Army Air Base -- let the council members who voted for it pay for it. I would be willing to pay a little extra in my monthly bill if they had a utility fund set up for families that are unable to get by...

Kudos to the Gazette for speaking out regarding the changes in water policy. No complaints? Perhaps the residents are just resigned to fact the City Council charges ahead without regard to citizen input. Why don't they just be truthful? "The sole purpose of this effort is to ... generate more cash for the city."...

Dear Editor, Patience is a virtue. What do I mean? Well, hopefully this letter will explain it. I am a mother of two wonderful precious boys and believe me, I have had to learn a lot of patience with them. Probably, as any parent would say, with their kids no matter if they are boys or girls. As parents, we teach our kids that when crossing the street we are to stop and look both ways twice before crossing the street...

As a retired person on a fixed income, I find the new policy on charges for water users very threatening. I agree with the March 27 Gazette editorial.

Spring has sprung, the robins have arrived and flowers are beginning to bloom. There's only one thing left to make it perfect -- the change from standard to daylight saving time. I've been counting down for the last 166 days and finally it's only two days before I have my evenings back...

BARTLEY -- Kenneth L. Downer, age 76, died Tuesday (April 2, 2002) at his home north of Bartley. He was born on October 4, 1925 in Harrisburg, Neb. to Herbert and Mary (Shafar) Downer. Kenneth graduated from Banner County High School in Harrisburg. He married Maxine Leafdale in 1945 and they had 6 children. Kenneth farmed with his brothers in Banner County until 1961. At that time Kenneth and Maxine moved to their farm north of Bartley...

Albert H. Alberts, 87, died Monday (April 1, 2002) at Community Hospital of McCook. He was born June 21, 1914, to Harman J. and Rika (Groothius) Alberts at Sacramento, Neb. He grew up on a farm at Culbertson and graduated from Lutheran Church School in 1928. He entered the U. S. Army on Oct. 24, 1940, where he was a Tec 5 in the Medical Department, serving during World War II...