Stories from Thursday, April 10, 2003

A 23-year-old man faces charges of willful reckless driving and flight to avoid arrest after he led eight Red Willow and Hitchcock county law officers on a cross-country chase at speeds up to 90 miles an hour Wednesday evening. Red Willow County Sgt. Burke Curl said this morning no time has been set for the man's arraignment in county court. The man's name will be released after his arraignment in court...

Dear Editor, Thank you for sponsoring the Rally in the Heartland service April 5. Thanks to Gloria for spearheading the speakers and the entertainment. It was a very heartwarming rally in support of our troops and their families. We need to keep American troops as well as the U.K. troops in our prayers...

Dear Editor, First I must compliment your beautiful city. It was such a pleasure to stop overnight at Karrer Park. However, I was astonished to read that your county commissioners would ask for bid specifications, then not recognize them. I was the purchasing agent for Boeing Aircraft for 41 years in Portland, Oregon, and when we asked for bids, we were committed to honor them, with no exceptions! I respect Mr. ...

Dear Editor, What a remarkable sight to see the Iraqi citizens pulling down the statue of Saddam Hussein and for many if not most enjoying freedom for the first time in their lifetime. The sights and sounds of people enjoying what a lot of us take for granted should make us all reflect on how fortunate we are to live in America. I for one am extremely proud of our county and president for this great gift we have given to the Iraqi people...

We all have memories of tragic events -- Pearl Harbor, the Kennedy assassination, the shuttle tragedies, and, of course, September 11, 2001. Thankfully, we also have memories of positive events -- the birth of a child, a wedding, the fall of the Soviet Union and the Berlin Wall...

The family of Stacia Shannon is hosting a card shower in honor of her 90th birthday April 13. Her family includes Tim and Barb Shannon of McCook, John and Hannah Shannon and Kathleen Crist all of Sheridan, Wyo. Cards of congratulations will reach her in care of Willow Ridge Retirement Community, 1500 East 11th Street, Apt. 100, McCook, NE 69001...

Going all-out in their effort to save the Work Ethic Camp, supporters have launched a fund drive to raise money for legislative lobbying. The account -- called the "Work Ethic Coalition" -- has been established at AmFirst Bank. Donations may be made at the bank, or sent to: Work Ethic Coalition, %AmFirst Bank, P.O. Box 1447, McCook, NE 69001...

A robin enjoys a sprinkler on the far side of the artificial April shower on a McCook lawn. The city is already short an inch of moisture for the year, which could indicate the region is headed into its fourth year of drought.

Much of the discussion at this morning's McCook Chamber of Commerce Legislative meeting centered around the grassroots effort to retain the McCook Work Ethic Camp in McCook. In a teleconference call State Sen. Tom Baker, who has been a strong supporter of WEC, said he has talked with several members of the Senate Appropriations Committee and is confident at least one additional member of the committee will vote in favor of putting the Work Ethic Camp back into the budget...

The Nebraska assistant attorney general, eager to defend his state in a three-state argument over water in the Republican River Basin delivered his "closing statement" during the annual Southwest Nebraska water conference Wednesday in McCook. Dave Cookson started coming to Southwest Nebraska nearly five years ago, sharing updates, asking and answering questions and keeping water users informed of progress in the Kansas vs. Nebraska and Colorado Republican River Compact lawsuit...

Having started my day early Wednesday, I didn't take time to follow my regular routine and watch the 30 minutes of news I normally allow myself. It wasn't until my co-workers started arriving in the newsroom that I heard of the celebrations occurring in Baghdad. And it wasn't until I arrived home in the evening that I was able to witness the moving images flashing across the television screen...

WAUNETA -- Mildred Brill, 95, died Wednesday (April 9, 2003) at the Heritage of Wauneta Nursing Home in Wauneta. She was born March 10, 1908, to Chester and Nellie (Beard) Decker, on a farm near Oberlin. In 1920, she moved with her parents to a farm west of Wauneta. She attended school in the area and graduated from Wauneta Rural High School in 1927. In 1928, she went to Imperial where she was employed as Deputy County Treasurer for 10 years...

JENNINGS -- Jim Foster, 43, died Wednesday (April 9, 2003) at the Decatur County Hospital in Oberlin. He was born July 11, 1959, at Norton, Kan., to Kenneth and Alice (Germeroth) Foster. He grew up in the Jennings area where he attended Jennings Grade School and graduated with the Jennings High School class of 1977. He then resided in Dodge City, Kan., where he worked as a meat processor at High Plains Dressed Beef. He later moved back to Jennings...

G.B. Crapson was born Oct. 10, 1930, in Wauneta, to Roy L. and Edith W. (French) Crapson. As a youngster, he attended school in Wauneta and country school District No. 14 in Hayes County, northeast of Palisade. Jiggs continued his education in Wauneta, graduating from Wauneta High School in 1956. ...