Stories from Friday, April 18, 2003

With the special election for an extension of the McCook City sales tax less than three weeks away, it's important that McCook voters understand the question on the ballot. McCook City Manager John Bingham said he is concerned that several misconceptions may keep the measure from passing at the special election May 6...

Remember the range fire which raged over vast stretches of Hayes and Hitchcock counties in March of 2002? It was a terrible ordeal, made more tragic by the death of long-time volunteer firefighter, Bernie Schutte of Palisade. Ron and Julie Scott, members of the Hayes County Volunteer Fire Department, recalled the massive fire fighting effort this morning as they appealed to lawmakers to find a way to save the Nebraska Forest Service...

FREMONT -- Mark and Jana Lundberg Mellick of Fremont announce the adoption of their daughter, Seh Na Schuyler Mellick, who was born August 13, 2002, in South Korea. The couple traveled to Seoul, South Korea in March to bring their baby home. Grandparents are Bob and Donna Lundberg of Lincoln and Earl and Linda Mellick of Norfolk. Great-grandmothers are Flora Lundberg of McCook, Alice Applegate of Cozad and Leona Vahsholz of Stanton...

St. Patrick's Catholic Church, E. Fourth and F Streets in McCook is conducting the Good Friday Liturgy today, 7 p.m., the Easter Vigil Mass Saturday at 8:30 p.m.; and Easter Mass Sunday at 7:30, 9 and 11 a.m. Sacred Heart Catholic Church at Hayes Center will conduct the Good Friday Liturgy today at 7:30 p.m. and will celebrate Easter Mass at 10 a.m. Sunday...

With the holiday approaching, Easter eggs are already apparent on a tree and lawn on Apollo Avenue in McCook. The McCook Elks Lodge annual Easter egg hunt is 2:30 p.m. Sunday at the lower shelter house in Kelley Park.

Diane Klein of McCook looks at a display of photographic essays depicting the history of Bureau of Reclamation projects west of the 100th Meridian since June 17, 2002, when Pres. Theodore Roosevelt signed the Reclamation Act. Reclamation is the largest wholesale water supplier in the U.S., with operations and facilities in 17 western states. ...

The pride was evident in the voices of three young boys -- a son and two nephews -- as they introduced their hero. Garrett Wagner and Eric Likes told Central Elementary students Thursday that their uncle, Sgt. 1st Class Darrell Brooks of McCook is a great man, "Because he gives us things and he plays with us."...

With daylight-saving-time fresh in our minds, many of us are probably still up late at night, by at least one hour. What to do with that extra time as you stare at the clock, reminding yourself that it's only 9 p.m. instead of 10 p.m. and you have to get up at 6 a.m., when it's really 5 a.m.? (This will be going on like this in my head for at least the next three weeks.)...

Wilma Alice (Farr) Ward was born Dec. 12, 1948, at Cambridge, to Albert and Doris (Houser) Farr. She passed away April 16, 2003, after a short bout with cancer. During her childhood years she lived north of Cambridge on her parents' farm. She attended Prairie Bell School District No. ...

Duane Kenneth Meyers, 75, died Thursday (April 17, 2003) at Willow Ridge Retirement Home in McCook. He was born Oct. 28, 1927, at North Loup, to Harry William and Grace Mae (Wilkie) Meyers. He graduated from North Loup High School in 1947 and later from Milford Trade School with a degree in small engine repair...

STRATTON -- Lylas E. Hudson, 72, formerly of Benkelman, died Wednesday (April 16, 2003) at Great Plains Regional Medical Center in North Platte. Funeral services will be Saturday, at 9:30 a.m. (MDT), in the Forch Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Bernard Lorenz officiating.  Interment will follow services at the Palisade Cemetery at Palisade...