Stories from Thursday, May 16, 2002

McCook Senior High cheerleaders plan a cheerleader camp for kindergartners through sixth graders, Saturday, from 10:30 a.m. until 2 p.m., at the junior high. Little girls are asked to bring a sack lunch; drinks will be furnished. Preregister by calling Cindy Wilcox, 345-1779, or register at the door Saturday; the registration fee is $15. ...

Garrett and Jessica Stevens of McCook announce the birth of a son, Colton Michael, born Thursday (May 2, 2002). He weight 8 pounds, 12 ounces. He has one brother, Clayton, age 2, to welcome him home. Grandparents include Jim and Cheryl Stevens of McCook and Jerry and Marilyn Slater of Indianola. Great-grandparents are Anne Slater and Alice Mae Stritt of Indianola, Thelma Lueders of Beatrice and Pat Stevens of Holbrook...

ATWOOD -- Atwood will be rolling out the red carpet this weekend as the Atwood Ambassadors host the 20th Annual Early Rod Run. The event kicks off Friday night with the participants treated to pizza at Atwood Bowl at 6 p.m., followed by 50s and 60s dance music at the Lake Atwood park provided by deejay Joe Vyzourek. There will be a fireworks display at the lake at dusk...

TRENTON -- The Palisade mother accused of beating her baby sits in the Trenton jail following her preliminary hearing Wednesday morning in Hitchcock County court. Judge Cloyd Clark bound Renae McDaniel, 24, over to district court Wednesday. McDaniel is charged with child abuse in connection with the head injuries suffered by her son when he was a year old. The little boy is now 2 1/2, and, like a younger brother, is in foster care...

Brooks Snyder (left) and Talon Darling duel with their light sabres while waiting to be first in line to buy tickets for this morning's 12:01 a.m. premiere of Star Wars Episode II. Both 16-year-old McCook residents, they took their places outside Cinema 3 in McCook at noon Wednesday...

Two area men were arraigned Friday in Red Willow district court on various drug charges. Loren Andrew Biltoft, 36, of North Platte, was arraigned for attempted possession of a controlled substance, a Class I misdemeanor. Biltoft was originally charged with possession of a controlled substance, a Class IV felony, which he did not plea to, and charges were amended to attempted possession...

PALISADE -- Trinity Lutheran Church of Palisade is sponsoring a communitywide cookout on Saturday, May 18, beginning at 6 p.m. at the church. All food will be provided, along with games and prizes for the kids. Everyone is welcome to attend and get to know the people of Palisade...

The McCook Police Department has received a report from a citizen who received a solicitation telephone call expressing to be for the benefit of the McCook Fire Department. Police department officials warn the public that the McCook Fire Department does not solicit funds from the public and has not authorized any telemarketing firm to make such solicitations...

The Bodybenders will be presenting a tumbling recital Tuesday, 7 p.m., at the McCook City Auditorium. The performance is open to the public.

The names of those attending the Baker teleconference Monday morning were incorrect. Those attending were Marv and Dixie Lorentz, Linda Taylor, Duane Tappe, Gloria Masoner, Kay Lavene, Jack Hendricks, Scott Hoffman, Rebecca Vosburg, Angus Garey, Marie Owen and Brenda McMurtrey...

From McCook, it's 250 miles to Denver and 285 to Omaha. Greeley, at 240 miles, and Lincoln, at 225, are slightly closer, but -- by any means of transportation -- large, metropolitan medical centers are more than an hour away. From the standpoint of hospital and nursing home care, that means the residents of Southwest Nebraska and Northwest Kansas are underserved. Right?...

Dear Editor: Once again the community of McCook has responded in awesome fashion to help stock the McCook Pantry. Postal worker gave generously of their time and muscles to collect the sacks of items, which totaled just short of 2900 pounds. With the help of four high school students the food was brought into the Pantry where workers sorted and put away all 2,900 pounds by the end of the day, Monday...

With only three full weeks left to get the house in presentable order for our annual Harris Family Reunion, I've been trying to spend every spare minute finishing my list. Never mind that the list contains 123 items, I am determined that at least half of them will be accomplished...

BEAVER CITY -- Melvin O. Lamb, 93, died Tuesday (May 14, 2002) at Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney. He was born March 6, 1909, to George W. and Ella Ada (Parker) Lamb at Stamford. He spent his early years in Petersburg, Ind. The family moved to Beaver City in 1927...