Stories from Thursday, March 6, 2003

LINCOLN -- A McCook woman said the Work Ethic Camp performed a miracle in her family. "The judge sent two of my boys to the Work Ethic Camp and the Work Ethic Camp sent two miracles home to me," Linda Albrecht told the Legislature's Appropriations Committee on Thursday...

I thought there was a study done on the merger of Republican Valley and Bartley that found in about 10 years, the enrollment was going to be down. In this day, I really don't see anything really changing to bring families with small children into our little communities. Never estimate what the government will do with these small schools...

Dear Editor, (The following letter was sent to all State Senators and newspapers by the South Platte United Chambers of Commerce:) Dear Senator, The South Platte United Chambers of Commerce is an organization made up of 41 local chambers of commerce, located in 20 counties in Southwestern and South Central Nebraska...

Dear Editor, I'd like to make a comment on the city of McCook. They ask the people to spend their money here and keep our money in McCook, but what do they do? Go out of the county and buy an implement (when) there is a good machine here. So, should the people of McCook take their example and go to Oberlin, Culbertson or North Platte for our needs?...

Dear Editor, I am writing this to address the McCook City Council and the citizens of McCook. Where do they think the money will come from by raising the city sales tax again? Rural America is in one of the worst economies in recent history. The state of Nebraska lost 1,000 farms and ranches last year. A big percentage of the local economy is agriculture. By putting additional sales tax on items to pay for the recent money loss will drive future business and future shoppers away from McCook...

With testimony which was both powerful and passionate, McCook residents did an outstanding job Wednesday of telling why the Work Ethic Camp in McCook should be continued ... and expanded. In appearances before the Appropriations Committee of the Nebraska Legislature, the McCookites made a very convincing case for the camp, pointing out that it works better, and costs less, than other forms of imprisonment...

Hundreds of people attended a community information meeting Wednesday evening at the community building on the Red Willow County Fairgrounds about public awareness regarding the manufacture and use of methamphetamine. The public forum was sponsored by the McCook City and Volunteer Fire Department, McCook Police Department, Nebraska State Patrol, Red Willow County Attorney's Office, Red Willow County Sheriff's Department, and the Red Willow Western Rural Fire Department...

During a call this morning with State Sen. Tom Baker, members of the McCook Chamber of Commerce Legislative Committee were told the casino gambling bill may have reached an impasse. Baker told the group the current bill being looked at would allow eight casinos in the eastern part of the state and unless the bill is amended to include language that would benefit the entire state, it will most likely fail...

KEARNEY -- "Get over there. Get it done and come back home." Those were Karen Carlson's sentiments as she watched her husband, Bill, and son, Ryan, leave Kearney Wednesday morning with the 734th Transportation Battalion of the Nebraska Army National Guard based in Kearney. The troops are joining other Guardsmen and active service members in America's war on terrorism...

Nearly 300 people turned out for a methamphetamine awareness meeting Wednesday night, surprising organizers and sponsors, who had planned for a much smaller crowd. The level of community concern regarding the manufacture and use of methamphetamine in Southwest Nebraska and Northwest Kansas was clearly apparent as chairs were hurriedly set up in the community building at the Red Willow County Fairgrounds...

TRENTON -- Mary A. Stupka, 95, died Wednesday (March 5, 2003) at Community Hospital of McCook. She was born May 12, 1907, in Rawlins County, to Frank V. and Mary Ann (Horinek) Sis. She grew up on the family farm where she received her education. On Dec. ...

Hazel Leota (Blake) Lashley, 86, died Wednesday (March 5, 2003) at McCook Community Hospital of McCook. She was born Feb. 26, 1917, in Frontier County, to Charlie and Jennie (Schoonover) Blake. She attended rural Washington School in Frontier County...