Stories from Wednesday, November 6, 2002

Contenders for a two seats on the McCook City Council waited anxiously until nearly 5 o'clock this morning to get the final results of the 2002 election. The race for two of the three seats on the McCook City Council remained close throughout the polling process at the Red Willow County Courthouse Tuesday night...

Dear Editor: Please allow me the opportunity to explain what has happened since a letter voicing my concerns regarding the Furnas County Sheriff's race was published. It is my sincere belief that what has occurred needs to be share with the voters of Furnas County...

Two neighboring farm couples from Furnas County -- Sam and Sally Smith and Bill and Betty Brown -- were planning to vote Tuesday, but Bill's truck broke down Monday night, and Sam and Sally agreed to drive him and Betty to Grand Island to pick up parts...

Red Willow County Clerk Pauletta Gerver said she was pleased with voter turnout this year. Of the 7,949 registered voters, 3,455 turned out at the polls and 340 voted on the absentee ballot. Overall, the county had a 48 percent voter turnout. Residents in Ward 1, Precinct 3, in the reservation area of McCook, had the greatest turnout with 67 percent. The clerk's office reported that 336 residents voted out of 504 registered voters...

Rawlins County voters OK'd funding for their hospital and clinic in Tuesday's election, and in Furnas and Hayes counties, contenders for the sheriffs' positions are separated by just a handful of votes. The Rawlins County Health Center in Atwood will be funded by 14 mills in 2003 and 2004, after 949 voters approved the mill levy. A total of 679 voted no. The same voters also approved liquor by the drink, 1,025 to 554...

"Choose to Care" is the theme for this year's United Way fund drive, which has a goal of $81,000 and continues through Dec. 15. The following agencies benefit from your United Way contribution: SWATTER'S 4-H CLUB The 4-H Swatter's club is a group of 40 mentally and physically handicapped teens and adults who meet monthly. ...

Jacqueline Roberts (left) and Kelsea Lozar cheer on their favorite football team, which is in action at 5:30 p.m. at Weiland Field today in first round Class B District action. They are both sophomores at McCook High School.

Red Willow County commissioners will have an attorney look at proposed industrial zoning rules before they decide whether or not to incorporate them into the county's land zoning regulations. Following a public hearing Tuesday, commissioners did agree to make any industrial use a "conditional use," which means each application would be subject to public hearing requirements, and final decisions would be made by the commissioners...

I am extremely predictable. I have a set routine I follow, depending on the day of the week, and I seldom alter the course. I do my routine work in the same way everyday, lest I skip a vital part of the process and have to spend precious time retracing my steps...

PARKS -- Garold E. Smith, 86, died Monday (Nov. 4, 2002) at Dundy County Hospital in Benkelman. He was born March 3, 1916, at Oswego, Kan., to Elmer and Rosella (Blalock) Smith.  At an early age, he moved with his family to their farm near Parks, and he attended country school near his home as well as Parks High School...

CAMBRIDGE -- Retha Cherry Jones, 61, died Thursday (Oct. 31, 2002) at the Cambridge Memorial Hospital in Cambridge. She was born Aug. 11, 1941, to James and Geneva (Wilson) Cherry in the Red River Valley north of Dekalb, Texas. She and her parents moved to Cambridge in 1953 where she attended Cambridge Public Schools until her graduation in May of 1960...

MOUNTAIN HOME, Idaho -- Dorothy Marie Huff Carleton, 85, died Sunday (Oct. 27, 2002) at her residence in Mountain Home, Idaho. She was born May 1, 1917, to Henry Boyd and Selma Ida (Schultz) Huff in McCook. Following the death of her mother, she lived with her maternal grandparents on a farm near Oxford and later near Merril, Wis. ...

Arlus D. Hueftle died Monday (Nov. 4, 2002) at Bryan LGH East at Lincoln. He was 62 years old. Arlus was born Sept. 25, 1940, at Holdrege, to Earl A. and Almina C. (Francis) Hueftle. He graduated from Eustis High School in 1958. On Oct. 18, 1986, he married Dorene D. Welte at McCook. In 1983, Arlus was employed as a car salesman for Lee Janssen Motor Company. He was working for Republican Valley Motor Company at the time of his death...