Stories from Monday, December 2, 2002

Everything seems to be red on Norris Avenue and in Norris Park Sunday as the community celebrates McCook Senior High's Class B state football championship. John Hubert's LaFrance firetruck (upper left) carried the senior players, who were followed by red, white and black convertibles and pickups carrying other players, coaches and cheerleaders. ...

Shopping is in full swing, trees are going up, and soon they will be guarding colorfully decorated presents. Schools and churches are putting the finishing touches on their Christmas productions, and the biggest holiday of the year will be here in just 25 days...

Talk about good timing! It doesn't get any better than it did Sunday afternoon when the McCook Bison's state championship victory celebration coincided perfectly with the unveiling of Gary Ginther's majestic "Prairie Bull" sculpture. On a beautiful autumn afternoon, hundreds of Bison fans joined players and coaches for a triumphant march up Norris Avenue. ...

Dear Friends and potential buyers of Mc-Cook Army Air Base: The McCook City Council has decided to sell the entire property at the air base. The McCook Army Air Base Historical Society requested leasing the property because our funds are limited. We know we have enough funds to repair the roof of all the buildings at the base, but if we have to purchase property too, we might not have enough for both at this time...

The family of retired U.S. Navy Lt. Cmdr. Robert "Bob" Bolles is hosting an open house in honor of his 80th birthday, Dec. 7, 2-4 p.m., at the Assembly of God Annex, 810 East C Street. Cards of congratulations will reach him at 509 Seminole Drive, McCook, NE 69001...

The family of Don and Joyce Green, formerly of McCook, is hosting a card shower in honor of the couple's 50th anniversary, Dec. 10. Family of the couple include Mark and Kathy Green of Casper, Wyo., Brenda and Randy Marvel of Akron, Ohio and four grandchildren. Cards of congratulations will reach the couple at 3805 Ridgecrest Drive, Casper, WY 82604...

LAS VEGAS -- Rebecca Hicks and Chris Chitwood were united in marriage Oct. 19, 2002, at the Monte Carlo Hotel Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas, Nev. Parents of the couple are Kathy Hicks and Mike Hicks of Phoenix, Ariz., and Jim and Karon Chitwood of Surprise, Ariz., formerly of Cambridge...

The new McCook City Council will be getting down to the business at hand after four elected members are officially sworn in and a new mayor is appointed to replace outgoing mayor, Linda Taylor, at the next regular meeting Monday, 7 p.m., in the Council Chambers at Memorial Auditorium...

The McCook Community College production of The Wizard of Oz roars into town on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The play will be performed at the Knights of Columbus hall at 7 on Thursday and Friday, and again at 1:30 on Saturday. The delightful musical is very similar to the classic movie version of the L. Frank Baum book. Dorothy (Jeri Lynn Karr), Auntie Em (Donnie Poore), Uncle Henry (Lew Tapia), and the farm hand (Lisa Burns) are caught in a cyclone...

"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: Partners in Parenting "Helping to Make Good Families Better" is the motto of Partners in Parenting. ...

CAMBRIDGE -- Cambridge merchants and the Chamber of Commerce plan their 12th annual "Christmas Tasting Tea," Friday, Dec. 6, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Merchants around the community will share holiday treats and recipes, Santa Claus will visit and Christmas carolers will stroll the streets. The theme of the day is, "Let it Snow, Let It Snow."...

Mayor Linda Taylor and Marie Owen of the McCook Chamber of Commerce prepare a special entry for a parade honoring the state championship of McCook High School's Bison football team. At the same time, the team will help with the unveiling of a very special, much-anticipated icon for the community of McCook and its schools. ...

A chance for inexpensive mattresses, bargain-priced appliances and free toys doesn't roll around very often. But the Rolling Thrift Store will be bringing those items and more to McCook soon. Catholic Social Services is sponsoring the "CSS is Us" Rolling Thrift Store Dec. 6 and 7 at the former Stage Store located at the west junction of U.S. Highways 6-34 and 83. The event is being hosted by St. Patrick Church of McCook, St. Ann's Church of rural McCook and Sacred Heart of Hayes Center...

"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: LUTHERAN FAMILY SERVICES: Lutheran Family Services is human service organization dedicated to providing quality human care services that build and strengthen individual, family, and community life. ...

Gerald H. Packard, age 88 of Arthur, died Friday (Nov. 29, 2002) at the Indian Hills Manor Nursing Home. He was born Aug. 14, 1914, in Keystone, to George C. and Bessie L. Barnt Packard. He received his early schooling in rural Arthur County. Gerald attended and graduated from Arthur County High School in 1932. He married LaVonne P. Lloyd in 1932...

CAMBRIDGE -- Freda Sophia Rebecca Forsberg, 93, died Thursday (Nov. 28, 2002) at the Cambridge Manor. She was born Nov. 30, 1908, to John and Lena Hermann on a farm near Avoca. She was raised in a German community. She graduated from the eighth grade at age 12. ...

CULBERTSON -- Alvere H. "Butch" Frecks, 79, died Friday (Nov. 29, 2002) at Community Hospital of McCook. He was born Dec. 7, 1922, to John J. and Etta D. (Meints) Frecks at Culbertson. He grew up on the family farm where he was born. He graduated from rural school and continued farming...

COZAD -- Harry Propp, 87, died Friday (Nov. 29, 2002) at Southview Manor in Cozad. He was born May 25, 1915, at McCook, to Henry and Anna Marie (Schrieber) Propp. He graduated from Culbertson High School in 1934. On Feb. 24, 1941, he married Sylvia Lee Graybeal at McCook. They made the McCook community their home. He was a truck driver for the McCook Packing Plant for more than 15 years. He was also associated with WEW Cattle Company for many years...

For 13 weeks, the coaching braintrust of the McCook High School football team planned in every detail each week's matchup against their opponents. They compiled detailed scouting reports on each team. Every team does this, but McCook seemed to have that something extra in their planning. The term "the devil's in the details" paid off...

When we get to the chapter on love in my sociology classes, I always ask my students for a definition. Every one agrees it's an emotion, a feeling, but most have a very difficult time explaining exactly what it is. One of the most famous quotes emanating from the United States Supreme Court came from Justice Potter Stewart as they were attempting to define what obscenity was...

The nation celebrated its first wartime Thanksgiving in 25 years with the holiday theme "Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition." All states joined in the celebration of Thanksgiving on the last Thursday in November for the first time in three years. For the two years previous, the holiday had been celebrated in many states a week earlier, at the request of President Roosevelt. Servicemen in cities across the U.S. were swamped with invitations to holiday dinners...

McCookites love a good party. It has been said that four people can not come together in McCook without having coffee and donuts. The common garden variety parties have kept the bakery going for many years -- for which we are most grateful. But then, every once in a while there is a real wing ding, and the party becomes something special...

CAMBRIDGE -- Vesta Lucille Proud, 90, died Sunday (Dec. 1, 2002) at the Cambridge Manor. She was born Oct. 11, 1912, on a farm south of Bartley to Guy and Daisy (Bush) Ritchie. She attended rural school and graduated from Bartley High School with the class of 1930. She taught in rural schools for five years...