Stories from Thursday, January 30, 2003

By identical 5-1 votes, the Republican Valley and Twin Valley school boards Wednesday night approved board-to-board petitions to merge the two school districts and create a new school district. However, those approvals mean absolutely nothing if bond issues to finance a new $6.9 million dollar school building do not pass in both districts...

Have you noticed it? For some of us, it is only a vague memory from our childhood, for others, it is something we have never seen, something we hoped to never see. For still others a painful memory of times long ago. Young men and women who have the appearance of children barely out of high school are appearing around the community in their camouflage fatigues and black beret hats. They are our heroes...

Scott and Shona Carlin of McCook announce the birth of a son, Casey Jon, born Saturday (Dec. 28, 2003). He weighed 4 pounds, 13.8 ounces. Grandparents are Jon and Cheri Bodeman of North Platte, Les and Cathy Yoos of Ludell and Harold and Teresa Carlin of McCook. Great-grandparents are Vi Tjaden of Grant and Curtis and Wanda Bodeman of Hayes Center...

COLBY -- Ed and Pam Geihsler of Colby, Kan., announce the birth of a son, Collin Edward, and a daughter, Reagan Bree, born Thursday (Jan. 16, 2003) at Hays Regional Medical Center. Collin weighed 5 pounds, 15 ounces and was 19 inches long. Reagan weighed 5 pounds, 14.5 ounces and was 19 inches long. ...

LEAVENWORTH, Kan. -- Levi and Twila (Tyan) Talbott of Leavenworth, Kan., announce the birth of a son, Caleb Mark, born Tuesday (Dec. 17, 2002). He weighed 8 pounds. Grandparents are Jim and Linda Tyan of Trenton, Mark and Lori Talbott of Kansas City, Kan., and Leon and Marcie Stoppel of Oakley, Kan...

GRAND ISLAND -- Matt and Lori Beiber of Grand Island announce the birth of a son, Blake Joseph, born Tuesday (Dec. 10, 2002). He weighed 7 pounds, 9 ounces. Grandparents are Bill and Sharon Beiber of Culbertson and Frank and Janet Jarecke of Grand Island. His great-grandmothers are Irene Munger of Alliance, Frances Jarecke and Twyla Korus of the Grand Island area...

SWANTON -- Robert and Kathy (Moorhous) Homolka of Swanton announce the birth of a son, Devin Michael, born Thursday (Jan. 16, 2003). He weighed 7 pounds, 4 ounces. He has two sisters, Megan and Tori. Grandparents are Keith and Carol Moorhous of Culbertson and Ron and Susie Homolka of Swanton...

CULBERTSON -- The family of Alton and Alice Marks is hosting a card shower in honor of the couple's 40th anniversary, Feb. 3. Cards of congratulations will reach the couple at RR 3 Box 105, Culbertson, NE 69024.

Sen. Tom Baker said this morning that the state could be looking at an $800 million deficit. During his Legislative call this morning, Baker told the McCook Chamber of Commerce Legislative Committee that early figures on corporate and individual income tax receipts are down considerably...

Moving 14-year-olds into high school is "ludicrous," one parent told the McCook school board, and another group is circulating a "manifesto" against plans to close West Ward. Several patrons of the McCook public school system showed up at the Wednesday evening board study session to reiterate their opposition to the changes proposed for the McCook Public Schools...

The McCook City Council is applying for a $100,000 grant to build a new transfer station and recycling center. The application for a grant from the Nebraska Department of Economic Quality to build a new transfer station/recycling center had been tabled during the council's regular meeting Monday, Jan. 20, until further information was available...

A McCook construction company is suing Red Willow County for $54,329, saying the county's hiring of another construction firm was illegal. The lawsuit filed Jan. 23 by McCook Contracting L.L.C. claims the county illegally hired J.L. Construction to build its new household waste facility and that bid information about site-clearing given only to J.L. Construction caused McCook Contracting's bid appear not to be the lowest...

An old car along Medicine Creek south of Curtis has seen better days, but few of us have seen better January weather than we are enjoying this week. Highs were expected to reach into the 60s today and Saturday.

Jerry Ruzicka (left), religious coordinator at the McCook Work Ethic Camp, accepts a Bible from the treasurer of the Red Willow County Area Ministerial Association, the Rev. Charles Hooton. Hooton delivered a case of Bibles on behalf of the ministerial association, the third such delivery since the facility opened in April 2001. ...

I'm giving up, it's time to admit we've been beaten and hang our heads in defeat. But I still think non-smokers should rally behind their enemies. Think about it -- if it weren't for us smokers, you'd be paying an even higher tax bill each year...

BENKELMAN -- Robert Wayne Oakley, 75, died Monday (Jan. 27, 2003) at Community Hospital in McCook. He was born March 24, 1927, at Denver, Colo., to Oscar Otto and Bertha (Phillips) Oakley.  He moved with his family to a farm west of St. Francis at an early age, and attended country school near his home.  He later moved with his family to Benkelman where he attended Benkelman High School...