Stories from Thursday, July 11, 2002

Jacob Pruitt splashes in the shallow end at the Arapahoe pool. More pictures of the "Arapahoe Plunge" on page 13.

Garry and Jennifer Clifton of Pleasant Grove, Utah, announce the birth of a son, Jonathan Michael, born Monday (July 1, 2002). He weighed 6 pounds, 4 ounces. He has one brother, Joshua, age 3 to welcome him home. Grandparents include Doloris Clifton of McCook...

Jeremiah and Becky Meixner of McCook announce the birth of a son, Kameron Cayne, born Tuesday (July 9, 2002). He weighed 8 pounds, 4 ounces. He has one brother, Devon age 2, to welcome him home. Grandparents are Kevin and Cheryl Harpham of Columbus and Norman and Hannahlore Meixner of McCook...

Mike and Andrea Stevens of McCook announce the birth of their son, Tyson William, on Tuesday (July 2) at Community Hospital in McCook. He weighed eight pounds and one ounce. He has a two year-old sister named Elise. Grandparents are Chuck and Gaylea Bunstock, Mike and Lori Stevens, all of McCook, and Deb and Jeff Huss of Culbertson. ...

Dear Editor This letter is addressed to Walt Sehnert. I am not sure what prompted you to write the story, "A reunion of brothers in the Philippines," but I appreciated it immensely. My grandfather, Evert Mosher (aka 'Mo') is truly an amazing man and this is just one of the numerous grand stories he has locked up in his head.  I am still learning many of the important things in life but the one I am really starting to grasp on to as I get older and wiser is that a person can learn a LOT from their grandparents! So much has happened in my grandparent's lifetimes it is amazing.. ...

Dear Friend, In visiting with a lady this week, she said her 75 year old father was suddenly taken ill and rushed to Omaha 10 days ago. He enjoyed good health until then. She said Doctors suspect West Nile virus, the disease carried by mosquitoes. She said he is in la la land most of the time but every once in awhile he is lucid. ...

Dear Nebraskans: By the end of May, members of the Nebraska Army and Air National Guard completed their missions of providing security at ten of Nebraska's commercial airport terminals. We are extremely proud of the manner in which our citizen soldiers responded to the call of our President and Governor, and the professionalism they displayed in performing these very important duties...

Dear Editor: One wonders, did Mr.. Tiller pay his taxes in Red Willow County or was it Frontier county? You cannot compare the farm with the race track,because the farm is year around and the race track is not. By the way isn't the race track in Red Willow county and not Frontier County. The city council can hopefully make the right decision on this issue...

On the 141st anniversary of his birth, new generations are discovering the greatness of the highly esteemed, nationally known lawmaker from McCook: George William Norris. That fact will be evident this evening when admirers of the late, great senator gather in McCook for a birthday tribute to the man called "The Gentle Knight of Progressive Ideals."...

ATWOOD -- Atwood residents can water their lawns and gardens and wash their vehicles from 4 a.m. until 8 a.m. and from 6 p.m. until 10 p.m. only. Outside water use restrictions, dictated by drought conditions, go into effect today. Mayor Betty Mickey said restrictions will continue until further notice. Violations may result in fines and jail time...

The city of McCook has asked for voluntary water conservation. Residents are being asked to shut off outside water between the hours of 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Gov. Mike Johanns made a stop in McCook today to present five Community Development Block Grants to communities and organizations in Southwest Nebraska. The city of McCook was awarded a $350,000 grant for the expansion of the Heritage Senior Center...

Dorothy Kennedy (left) and Sharon Haarberg (right) kick off Crazy Days by dressing as their favorite Saturday morning characters. Great deals are available at area business throughout the three-day event. The shopping extravaganza ends Saturday with a car show and poker run...

OBERLIN -- City officials in Oberlin have lifted a complete ban on outside watering and have returned to the Stage 2 odd-even watering schedule. Repairs have been made to a water well pump motor, easing water restrictions. The odd-even plan, based on street addresses, allows residents to water from midnight to 10 a.m. and from 9 p.m. until midnight...

BARCELONA, Spain -- Floyd Hershberger, a member of the Rotary Club of McCook was among nearly 20,000 Rotarians and their guests from some 65 countries in Barcelona, June 24-27 for Rotary International's 93rd annual convention. Participants celebrated and exchanged ideas on Rotary volunteer projects focused on the world's most critical problems, including literacy, hunger, children at-risk, micro-credit, youth development, avoidable blindness, international education and polio eradication...

BARTLEY -- The Twin Valley board of education voted July 8 to proceed with a proposal to merge with Republican Valley. The board accepted that recommendation from its citizens' committee, and appointed board members Duane Teter, Mark Hayes and Doug Deterding to a committee to work with Republican Valley representatives...

Early morning irrigation follows the dictates of water restrictions imposed because of the prolonged drought in Southwest Nebraska. Several communities have implemented restrictions, up to and including bans on all outdoor watering.

ATWOOD -- Rawlins County commissioners and county residents are questioning a proposed 21 mill tax levy for the Rawlins County Health Center. County Attorney Charles Peckham told commissioners during a meeting July 8 he will write a petition asking that the increase be put to a vote by the people...

MAYWOOD -- Maywood schools and a Class I K-8 school south of North Platte will cooperate on junior high sports programs starting this fall. The Hi-Line Enterprise reports that Maywood is experiencing low enrollment in its junior high and would not have had enough seventh and eighth grade boys this fall to play football. District 44 south of North Platte has not previously offered sports, but will have 18 to 20 seventh and eighth grade boys this fall...

Is your cat acting tired and sick? Is your dog refusing to eat or growling at you every time you walk by? Is your horse trying to stomp you into the hay? Is your fish refusing to swim, floating around on top of the tank? In case you don't get the animal channel on the local cable lineup, you may not know that now there is an answer. A psychic for pets can tell you exactly where the problem lies...

NORCATUR, Kan. -- Everett N. Pruitt, 86, died Wednesday (July 10, 2002) at the Norton County Hospital in Norton, Kan. He was born March 1, 1916, to Everett Newton Casto Pruitt, Sr. and Veda Lillian Bailie at Osawatomi, Kan. He served in the United States Army during World War II...

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. -- Larry Edward Rasser was born May 20, 1938, in McCook, the first-born and only child of Bob and Gerri Rasser. In his schoolboy years he was involved in Boy Scouts and participated in track. Early on, many though that Larry "would make his living by his hands." He graduated from McCook High School...