Stories from Tuesday, January 28, 2003

Warm winter sunlight highlights the rough bark and casts shadows across the smooth surfaces of the rustic log bedstead in the front window of "BackWoods Creations," a new custom furniture and cabinetry shop in McCook. The pine-and-cedar bed frames demonstrate the "rough" side of the shop's owner, Chad Wilcox, who also builds finely-finished cabinets and furniture in oak, maple or walnut...

Dear Editor, There appears to be a good deal of public discussion and comment regarding two bills that I have introduced during this legislative session. They are LR 8CA and LR 9CA. They would each raise the salary of state senators from $12,000 to $20,000 a year. The only difference between the two bills is that one of them has a provision which ties senator's salary increases to increases received by state employees through the collective bargaining process...

Dear Editor, Sen. Dan Burton (R-In) introduced legislation (S-105) which would strike Thimerosal (mercury-based preservative in vaccines) Provisions in the Homeland Security Act which protects Ely-Lilly from lawsuits arising out of injuries from the use of this toxic substance. mercury is a known neurotoxin and has been linked to autism, Alzheimer's and other chronic neurological dysfunctions...

Dear Editor, My fellow Americans: Read the Bible. To provide peace in this time of war, Read the Bible. Holy scripture, the Word of God, is our only hope. If you don't read the Bible, you will be damned for all eternity! And the bank might close your account. The world is going to end pretty darn soon...

Once upon a time, not so long ago, rural residents were involved in the manufacture, sale and consumption of an illegal substance. Whole careers were created out of manufacturing the substance, transporting it to the dealers and retailing it to the final consumers...

The McCook Senior Parents are still raising funds for the Graduation Celebration. From 5:30-8 p.m. Wednesday, at the McCook Pizza Hut, a portion of the proceeds from the Pizza Hut Buffet will be donated to help off-set the cost of games and prizes at the 2003 Graduation Celebration in May...

The McCook Police Department will monitor 10 public streets during February for speed enforcement operations. The areas will be monitored during random time periods throughout the day for the purpose of reducing the frequency of traffic violations, decrease traffic accidents and to enhance public safety...

One-year old Keanu Barrett, takes advantage of a spring-like day, Monday, to share a few of his french fries with one of the residents of Barnett Park. McCook set a record high of 69 on Monday, breaking the old record of 68 set in 1934, and Imperial had the state high with 73. Keanu and his mother, Lori, in addition to hundreds of other McCook residents were out in full-force enjoying the spring like temperatures...

ELWOOD -- A drought expert and Nebraska Assistant Attorney General Dave Cookson will be guest speakers at the ninth annual Elwood Water Conference Thursday, Feb. 6, at 10:30 a.m., the Elwood Civic Center. The first presenter will be Cookson, who will explain the settlement of the Kansas-Nebraska Republican River Compact lawsuit...

GRAND ISLAND (AP) -- With calving season about to begin in Nebraska, the mild winter weather has so far has been a blessing for both producers and cows, experts said. The lack of a heavy snow cover has allowed producers to graze their cows on crop residue and save limited hay supplies that are traditionally needed when snow covers grazing ground, University of Nebraska-Lincoln beef specialist Jim Gosey said...

IMPERIAL -- Imperial will host a blood draw on Friday. Area residents can give blood at Zion Lutheran Church 10:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Blood supplies regionally and nationally are low. Currently nation wide there is less than a three day supply of blood. The supplies of type O blood are most critical. Those interested must be 17 -years-old, weigh 110 pounds and are in general good health and it must be at least 65 days between blood donations...

ATWOOD -- Elsie L. (Flick) Bergling, 97, died Sunday (Jan. 26, 2003) at the Good Samaritan Center in Atwood. She was born March 8, 1905, in Braman, Okla., to John and Clara (Lawrence) Flick. On Dec. 30, 1927, she married Andrew A. Bergling in Newkirk, Okla. ...

Helen May Bagan, 82, died Sunday (Jan. 26, 2003) at Community Hospital of McCook. She was born Feb. 22, 1920, to Charlie and Lillian B. (Groves) Doyle in McCook. She graduated from Red Willow High School in 1938. On April 3, 1946, she married Gerald L. Bagan in McCook. She has lived in the area all her life...

SIDNEY -- Ronald C. Holsinger, 73, of Sidney died Thursday (Jan. 23, 2003) at the Denver Veterans Hospital. A memorial service will be held at Gehrig & Son Funeral Home Thursday, 10 a.m. Following the service, military honors will be held in Sidney at Greenwood Cemetery...

CULBERTSON -- Walter M. Bauer, 94, died Sunday (Jan. 26, 2003) at Community Hospital of McCook. He was born Sept. 13, 1908, in Culbertson, to Jacob and Katherine (Lutz) Bauer. He grew up at Culbertson where he graduated from rural school. He began farming on the family farm...

BEAVER CITY -- Everett Lewis Vise, 97, died Sunday (Jan. 26, 2003) at the Beaver City Manor in Beaver City. He was born May 12, 1905, near Wilsonville, to Samuel and Nancy Ann (Jones) Vise. On Feb. 25, 1926, he married Florence McConnell at Norton, Kan. He farmed south of Cambridge and Wilsonville. He retired and moved from the farm to Beaver City in 1994, where he lived in his home until 1996. Since that time, he has lived in the Beaver City Manor...