Stories from Thursday, April 3, 2003

Supporters of the Work Ethic Camp plan to lobby hard to restore funding for the two-year old, 100-bed facility. The camp would close under the budget plan tentatively agreed to by the Legislature's Appropriations Committee. The panel voted Wednesday against reversing its earlier decision to strip the $6.4 million in funding for the camp from the two-year budget...

I was just wondering who is paying for the new dirt work east of Valmont. Is the city of McCook paying for that, when we have a lot of other bills to pay? EDITOR'S NOTE -- The site east of Valmont is being jointly developed by the city of McCook and the McCook Economic Development Corp. as an industrial park...

I agree with Steve Stramel, that President Bush deserves at least a medal, or at least our prayers. Our soldiers are doing more than the inspectors ever did.

Asked to make its case for a new prison, the McCook community did so with flying colors, only to see a lesser contender receive the nod because it was closer to the power centers in Lincoln. Given a second chance with the Work Ethic Camp, Southwest Nebraska came through again, helping create and staff a cutting-edge facility that shows every promise of helping turn young lives around, creating productive, responsible citizens at a cost savings to the taxpayers of the state...

Mark and Jennifer Kool of McCook announce the birth of their son, Brayden MaKray, Wednesday (March 26, 2003) at Community Hospital in McCook. He weighed seven pounds and 1.4 ounces. He has a sister, Bailey, who is almost 6 years-old and a brother, Bryson, who is four. Grandparents are Dick and Katie Cappel and Howard and Janet Kool of McCook. Great-grandparents are Lorna Trupp and Loretta Cappel of McCook, Emma Johnson of Mount Vernon, Wash., and Alberta Davis of Oskaloosa, Iowa...

KEARNEY -- Rich and Brandy Brodersen of Kearney announce the birth of a son, Keagan Michael, born Saturday (March 22, 2003). He weighed 8 pounds, 3 ounces.Grandparents are Max and Carol Brodersen of McCook, Trudy Spicer and Ron and Julie Belding of Beatrice. Great-grandparents are Elmo and Betty Willy and Vivian Belding of Beatrice...

Steve and Sherri Rothmeyer of McCook announce the birth of a son, Joseph David, born Friday (March 21, 2003). He weighed 7 pounds, 1 ounce. He has one brother, Andrew, and one sister, Sarah. Grandparents are Jeff and Judy Kroblin of Shawnee, Kan., Norman King of Des Moines, Iowa, Keith and Ruth Bradley and Al Rothmeyer all of McCook...

The McCook Economic Development Corp. and Southwest Biofuels LLC, a Nebraska limited liability company, are working together to develop a 20-million-gallon-per-year motor fuel-grade ethanol facility near McCook. The facility will process locally grown corn into value-added ethanol and wet and dry distiller's grains...

McCook National Bank employees Cathy Reicks (clockwise from top), Kristi Novak and Lisa Felker look through boxes to find books to send to troops overseas. The books are donated by the McCook Library Foundation. The leftover books are being prepared for McCook Public Library's annual book sale, April 11, 12 and 13. MNB prepared care packages to send to troops that included food items, cameras, phone cards, personal hygiene items and other products...

Herndon and Atwood school district patrons approved a merger of the two districts at the polls Tuesday. Vote totals were: 786, for; 119, against. Rawlins County Election Officer Meredith Hrnchir reported that 52 percent of registered voters cast ballots...

A trio of turkeys trots across the brown grass at Macklin Bay at Swanson Reservoir. Residents are hoping for April showers to help turn more of that brown vegetation into green.

Saying he is "absolutely dumfounded" by the Appropriations Committee's decision not to fund the Work Ethic Camp in McCook, State Sen. Tom Baker of Trenton promised to lead efforts to get the camp restored to the budget on the floor of the legislature...

ANSLEY -- A recent edition of "Country" magazine features an Ansley High School 16-year-old and her state and national powerlifting championships. Lindsey Hartman has set American records, lifting 280 pounds in the squat and 305 pounds in the deadlift in the 132-pound weight class. Lindsey is the daughter of Kim and Allen Hartman and the granddaughter of Ruth Ann of McCook and the late Ernie Hackenkamp...

The "Light of Hope" program sponsored by CASA will take place Tuesday evening beginning at 7:30 p.m. at the Memorial United Methodist Church parking lot in McCook. An incorrect time was listed in an article in Wednesday's Gazette. "Please come an light a candle for a child," said Doug Skiles, president of the CASA board...

OXFORD -- Mike Clements of the Lower Republican Natural Resources District will discuss the Republican River settlement at a dinner at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Husker Club in Oxford. The dinner is part of monthly meeting of the South Platte United Chambers of Commerce, which begins at 3:30 p.m. with committee meetings. The social hour begins at 5:30 p.m., followed by the dinner and program...

Races at McCook Speedway start Friday at 8 p.m. Tickets will cost $8 for adults, $5 for seniors 60 and over; and $4 for children five through 12; children four and under are admitted free with an adult. Race divisions will be IMCA modifieds, stock cars and hobby stocks, mini-trucks and mini-sprints, and classic modifieds. ...

Budget cuts are beginning to hit us all hard, not only on the state, and federal level, but right here in our own hometown. Yesterday, news was released that the appropriations committee of the Nebraska Legislature has removed funding for the McCook Work Ethic Camp. Four of the nine supported the camp -- the other five decided they would save face by not voting at all...

ATWOOD -- Steven C. Horinek, 88, died Tuesday (April 1, 2003) at the Prairie Living Senior Center in Colby, Kan. He was a lifetime resident of Rawlins County. A Mass of Christian Burial will be Saturday, 10 a.m., at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Atwood with the Rev. Damian Richards as celebrant. Interment will be in the Mount Calvary Cemetery in Atwood...

Memorial services for Linda C. Jackson will be conducted from the Nelson-Harris Funeral Home in Holdrege on Saturday, 10 a.m., with the Rev. Murray Jones officiating. Inurnment of the ashes will be in the Prairie Home Cemetery at Holdrege. Linda Carol Jackson, 56 years of age, of Holdrege, passed away unexpectedly Wednesday (April 2, 2003) at her home. ...

Funeral services for Joy L. Smith will be conducted from the United Methodist Church in Oxford on Saturday, 10 a.m., with the Rev. Theta Dame and the Rev. Hyeongdong Baek officiating. Interment will be in the Oxford Cemetery. Joy Lynne Smith, 46, of Arapahoe, passed away Monday (March 31, 2003) at the Clarkson Hospital in Omaha, following many years of heart disease. ...