Stories from Thursday, December 19, 2002

An eagle soars over Enders Reservoir on Wednesday. Outdoors people have a good chance of spotting one of the majestic birds in visits to area lakes.

I would like to encourage the people of Indianola to consider what is happening with our school here. People need to look around and see that we're losing our farming community and there are not many good jobs in the area (so we are) losing our young people...

Dear Editor, In the grip of grace. Many of us have heard terms or phrases similar to this. But what does this mean? Grace, what a word, it can take on many forms. I believe it has many different forms and each of us must apply it to our own individual lives. ...

The McCook Daily Gazette and its sports editor, John J. Mesh, apologize to the players, coaches and supporters of the Republican Valley High School girls basketball team. We were not only wrong, we were totally off-base when we said the Mustang girls "kept the press on through the end of the third quarter" in their 100-9 win over Brady in the first round of the McCook Cattle Trail Invitational...

Nebraska Sen. Tom Baker of Trenton said any decision made by the state of Nebraska to sell water to Colorado would likely involve legislative action. Baker pointed out that Nebraska is a beneficial use state. That means that the water under an individuals property may be used for their personal use, but cannot be sold to others...

NORTH PLATTE -- The Mid-Plains Community College Area Board of Governors approved the purchase of a new security system for the Brooks Residence Hall at McCook Community College during its regular meeting, Wednesday. The board voted unanimously to approve the purchase of a new security system for $10,863, from Nebraska Safety and Fire Equipment. The new equipment will be digital, movement activated and the pictures are expected to be of better quality than the current system...

North Ward second graders took their turn decorating the Christmas tree in the lobby of Memorial Auditorium last week. Helping out were their teacher Cheryl Cunningham (back, left) and Robin Calvin (right) of the city of McCook.

TRENTON -- A Stratton man who helped break into a Stratton service station will be sentenced Feb. 19, at 8:30 a.m., in Hitchcock County district court, following his preliminary hearing Thursday in Trenton. Troy Troutman, 19, admitted to District Judge John Battershell his involvement in the October 3 break-in of Scott's Sinclair Station in Stratton. Troutman told the judge he acted as a look-out while his friend entered the station, and then he helped carry stuff to his garage...

TRENTON -- The county judge and the county attorney tried Wednesday afternoon to sort through a pile of charges and convictions, trying to figure out what to do with a Trenton man charged with driving while intoxicated and driving under suspension. County Judge Bert Leffler scheduled a preliminary hearing and appointed counsel for Ronald D. Hollenbeck, 57, charged in Hitchcock County with fourth offense driving while intoxicated and at least a second offense of driving under suspension...

So, is everybody ready for Christmas? Let's see ... we had snow on the ground for 24 hours back in October. Temperatures are nearing springtime highs and the grass has never really decided to die. With that in mind I've decided maybe we can celebrate the fact that fall never really fell -- it just kind of faltered a little...

CULBERTSON -- Lydia Alberts, 92, died Wednesday (Dec. 18, 2002) at the El Dorado Manor in Trenton. She was born Dec. 6, 1910, to Henry and Elizabeth (Rutz) Schlager in Neudenhof, Russia. In 1913, the family came to the United States where she grew up in Culbertson and graduated from Culbertson High School in 1930...

BARTLEY -- Kenneth D. Schmidt, 78, died Tuesday (Dec. 17, 2002) at the C.A. Mues Memorial Good Samaritan Center in Arapahoe. He was born July 23, 1924, to John and Ella (Bridgeford) Schmidt. He grew up on a farm in the Bartley area. On April 5, 1943, he married Luella Purvis. He farmed with his father until 1944, when he entered into the U.S. Army...

SCOTTSBLUFF -- James A. Matson, 70, died Tuesday (Dec. 17, 2002) at the Western Nebraska Veteran's Home in Scottsbluff. He was born May 10, 1932, in Hayes Center to Archie and Mary Hazel (Westcamp) Matson. He received his education in McCook. He entered the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict and was honorably discharged on Oct. 4, 1954...