Stories from Tuesday, May 21, 2002

The McCook City Council tabled decisions on a proposed lodging fee and moving forward with test hole drilling in the effort to find a solution to McCook's water problem and approved a $1 fee for the Handibus, while maintaining Saturday service. A proposal to begin charging a two percent lodging fee for motels within the city of McCook was met with opposition from Kay Lavene, director of the McCook Economic Development Corporation and several representatives of the lodging industry Monday night at the McCook City Council meeting.. ...

The Hillcrest Board of Trustees will meet Wednesday, 5:30 p.m., in the lower level conference room. On the agenda is the dining room fundraising proposal and a tour of the 100 wing.

IMPERIAL -- Mothers Against Drunk Driving will honor a Nebraska State Patrol trooper stationed in Imperial during an "Outstanding Law Enforcement Award" ceremony May 24 in Lincoln. Trooper Jamie Balthazor of Imperial will receive one of eight MADD awards...

The city of McCook is requesting that flags be flown at half-staff in honor of Ray Real, long-time volunteer for the city of McCook Fire Department. Real was injured in a May 7 construction accident and died Saturday due to complications from those injuries...

CULBERTSON -- The Stone Church, on Highway 17 south of Culbertson, will have its annual songfest and business meeting Sunday, May 26, at 6 p.m. Past members, family and friends from Texas, California and Nebraska, as well as other states, are planning to attend...

This weekend the YMCA will begin it's summer schedule. The YMCA will be closed Saturday, Sunday and Monday in observance of Memorial Day. The YMCA will re-open on Tuesday, May 28, with summer hours: Monday through Thursday the "Y" will open at 5:00 a.m. and close at 9:00 p.m., on Fridays the doors will open at 5:00 a.m. and close at 7:00 p.m., and on Saturdays the YMCA is open from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The YMCA is closed on Sundays during the summer...

The city of McCook is reminding area residents that yard clippings and leaves are the only items to be placed in the green trash containers located around the city. Becky Bodeman of the McCook transfer station said no bags, trash or brush should be placed in the containers...

While celebrating his 97th birthday in his old hometown of McCook, former Nebraska Gov. Morrison Monday proposed a new slogan by which the community should be known. In an exclusive interview with the Gazette, Gov. Morrison declared that, henceforth, McCook should be known as the "Heritage Center of America's Great Plains."...

Raymond John Real, Sr., 72, died Saturday (May 18, 2002) at Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney. He was born Nov. 10, 1929, at McCook to John E. and Amy Zenobia (Fisher) Real. He attended McCook Public Schools. He served with the Nebraska National Guard...

ST. FRANCIS -- Gertrude Mary Antholz, 88, died Saturday (May 18, 2002) at Good Samaritan Village in St. Francis. She was born March 2, 1914, to Roy and Sophia Mary (Kletchka) McKain in Rawlins County, Kan. In 1962, she married Edwin Atholz in Bird City. She was a homemaker and a nurse's aid...

Joseph John Augustyn, Jr., 74, died of pancreatic stomach cancer Friday (May 17, 2002) at his home in McCook. Mass of Christian Burial will be Wednesday, 11 a.m., at St. Patrick's Catholic Church with the Reverend Gary Brethour and the Reverend Andrew M. Augustyn officiating. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery...

When the mercury climbs above 70 degrees, the female subconscious whispers, "Shake the rugs." When the breezes of May and June toss the scent of lilacs across the front porch, the female psyche says, "Mix some Clorox water and wipe down the shower."...

Dear Editor: May is National Teen Preganancy Prevention Month. Family planning, a program of People's Family Health Services, has valuable resources available to parents to enable them to become approachable parents. How many parents talk to their kids about sex? How many kids talk to their parents about sex? Talking to kids about sex is more than asking, "Do you do it?"...

Dear Editor: I wish to acknowled the city of McCook Parks Department and the employees of the city for their work on our parks. My observation is prompted by my visits to Norris Park and seeing the Norris Avenue Islands. These facilities are assets to the city and enjoyed by the people of McCook and the surrounding area...

You will hear much more in the weeks to come, but there is no time better than the present to take heed of the legislative threat to continued Amtrak passenger train service to McCook, Hastings and other points along the Burlington-Santa Fe rail lines in Nebraska and Colorado...

OXFORD -- Kay Lavon Haag, 59, died Sunday (May 19, 2002) at Great Plains Regional Medical Center in North Platte. She was born April 25, 1943, to Milton and Ruth (Berner) Lueking in Oxford. She graduated from Oxford High School in 1960. She earned a bachelor's degree in Business and Education from Kearney Teacher's College...