Stories from Wednesday, November 20, 2002

Community Hospital of McCook is gearing up for any possible smallpox outbreaks which may result from terrorist attacks. Peggy Smalley, risk management/infection control coordinator at Community Hospital, told the Board of Directors this morning Community Hospital will vaccinate three volunteers after the holidays to prepare for a possible outbreak of the once eradicated disease...

When did the Republican Valley school board put Indianola in its title? All coverage about the fantastic volleyball team's success in the Omaha World Herald was "Indianola Republican Valley." Did Red Willow just cease to exist? Last time I looked, we still had a Red Willow County and Republican Valley High School is still located at the Red Willow location, and not at Indianola. Just wondering, why the name change?...

Dear Editor, Congratulations to the McCook High School football team and the coaches for earning a position to play for the championship in the Class B finals at Memorial Stadium this upcoming Saturday. Not only are the coaches and trainers to be commended for their dedication and hard work, but also for the respect and positive reinforcement given their players...

Dear Editor, I am writing in reference to the McCook vs. Aurora football game last Saturday. (There were ) two teams with a lot of dreams and desire to achieve the goal of making it to Lincoln and the State Football Finals. Only one team could be victorious on the score board at the end of the contest, and everyone knew it...

Dear Editor, The following article, called "The Soldier," is very old. I was looking for it before Veteran's Day, but did not come across it until later. Here it is. I hope you will use it, enjoy it and find it meaningful. The Soldier It is the Soldier, not the President, who gave us democracy...

From the standpoint of McCook High School athletics, the 2002 Bison football players are history-makers. Going into Saturday night's Class B state championship game against the Ralston Rams, the Bison stand as one of only four MHS teams with a chance to go through the entire season undefeated...

Hastings based rockers Polyesther will play Sports Nightclub in McCook during the Thanksgiving holiday, Nov. 27, 29 and 30. The band rocks their fans with original alternative rock sounds. Polyesther started three years ago and includes five guys; Casey Illian of Kearney and Brandon Duggins of Lincoln, both original members, and Zack Broshears and Bryan Belgum, both of Lincoln, and John Duggins of Hastings. ...

CAMBRIDGE -- Sondra Jonson of Cambridge has painted a custom design mural on the doors of the garage of Renalle and Bob Loshbaugh at 707 E. First in McCook. The mural depicts a white picket fence with an arched trellis. The background is a gray-blue sky with fluffy clouds. A splash of color is added with flowering plants, grasses and climbing greens...

This untitled oil painting by Kady Faulkner will be on display at the Museum of the High Plains in McCook Jan. 7 through Feb. 2. The painting is part of the Sheldon Memorial Art Gallery's annual traveling exhibit, this collection called "Town and Country." The exhibit in McCook is sponsored by the McCook Arts Council. ...

Red Willow County commissioners approved a construction request for Southwest Public Power District and a letter of support for Southwest Nebraska Youth Services during their regular meeting Tuesday afternoon. Commission Chairman Earl McNutt said the request from SWPPD is for permission to trench across an east-west road in the northwest corner of the county, to replace a three-phase primary overhead line with an underground line leading to a center pivot system owned by Claude Cappel. ...

Jill Hansen and John Evans rehearse for the "Autumn Showcase," the annual fall fund-raiser for McCook Senior High's Entertainment Committee choir. The program will be Tuesday, Nov. 26, at 7:30 p.m., in the McCook Memorial Auditorium. Advance tickets cost $5 each, and are available at the MHS office and from Entertainment Committee members; tickets at the door will cost $6 each. ...

McCook High School Bison fans traveling to Lincoln Saturday for the Class B state finals football game are invited to a tailgate party and pep rally in the Nebraska Press Association parking lot at 845 S Street, west of Memorial Stadium. The party is planned from 4 p.m. until 6 p.m., and will be a fund-raiser for senior parents...

Jay Austin, General Manager of the Prairie 93.9 and Paul Aaron, Managing Partner of the Pinnacle Sports Network have announced plans to bring local University of Nebraska, Husker Sports broadcasts back to Southwest Nebraska. The first broadcast will the Nebraska vs. Colorado football game in Lincoln on Saturday, Nov. 29, including the pre-game and post-game programs...

Red Willow Western rural firefighters douse flames in a pile of trees burned by the land-owner Tuesday evening without a permit from fire officials. The fire was on land owned by Steve Cappel one mile west of the Perry Elevator and one-quarter mile north. Fire Chief Bill Elliott said this morning all fires outside burning barrels require permits and watchful supervision because of continuing dry conditions...

Families Accessing Innovative Resources -- FAIR -- has announced the first-ever "Respite Day" in Southwest Nebraska. If you are a caregiver for someone with a long-term or lifelong physical or psychological challenge, you are invited to take Saturday, Dec. 14, off...

I have been spending a lot time in Israel in recent weeks, as I have been enjoying "The Zion Chronicles" by Bodie Thoene and have been receiving weekly updates from Susan and Michelle Crothers, "Our Girls in Israel." I got acquainted with Susan and Michelle when I wrote the story "Vision for Israel" in late August...

Lena M. Logan, 84, died Monday (Nov. 18, 2002) at Hillcrest Nursing Home in McCook. She was born March 10, 1918, to Benjamin and Ida (Wilhelm) Hawkins in Red Willow County. She grew up in Red Willow County and graduated from high school at Marion. On June 23, 1935, she married Forest Logan. In 1937, they moved to California before returning to McCook in 1944. For many years she worked in the Red Willow County Clerk's office and farmed until her retirement in 1990...

ARAPAHOE -- Opal A. (Rodenbeck) Cox, 85, of Truth or Consequences, N.M., formerly of the Arapahoe area, died Saturday (Nov. 16, 2002) at the Sierra Health Care Center in Truth or Consequences. She was born March 31, 1917, at Cambridge to Albert and Mable (Harmon) Aldrich. She lived at Edison until the family moved to a farm northeast of Arapahoe in 1927. She graduated from Arapahoe High School with the class of 1934, and then taught school for seven years...