Stories from Tuesday, May 6, 2003

The McCook High School boys golf team captured its own nine-hole triangular Monday afternoon at Heritage Hills. The Bison edged out perennial Nebraska Class A state contender North Platte 150-153, with Ogallala placing third with 166 strokes. Bob Gaulke and Tyler Lawson led the Bison with 37s, followed by Nick Nothnagel and Matt Serbousek with 38s...

Having watched many Oscar award shows over the years, I shudder every time one of the winners launches into one of those long-winded acceptance speeches. "Enough already," I think as the recipient thanks a long list of people, starting with Mom and Dad, and going through a litany of teachers, mentors, friends and co-workers...

Dear Editor, When will our legislators ever learn the lessons of history? In the 1980s President Reagan signed a bill for a huge tax cut and instead of revenues to the treasury going down as the liberals predicted, they almost doubled. They went from 500 billion to almost a trillion...

A committee formed by Red Willow County commissioners to find a new public defender will advertise for applicants through Wednesday, May 28. Public Defender Bob Conner will retire June 1. Conner has been the county's public defender since 1995, and was paid $31,000 per year during his latest two-year contract...

Four McCook residents left the city at 1 a.m. today for Pittsburg, Kan., as part of the Southern Baptist Disaster Relief Organization. Gregg Roberts, Gloriann Spencer, Kent Gerih and Jerry Roberts are en route to Kansas City where they will pick up the portable kitchen trailer...

Development along North Highway U.S. 83 is kicking into full gear with the announcement that a Blockbuster Video is coming to the former Autozone building. Plans for a housing development in the same area will be presented to the McCook Planning Commission at a meeting in the McCook City Council Chamber at Memorial Auditorium on Monday...

Surrounded by family members from around the country, and friends and community leaders from Southwest Nebraska and Northwest Kansas, Gazette Publisher Gene Morris accepted the first Francis L. Partsch Award for Editorial Leadership. "This is the kind of community that believes in participatory democracy," he told the Omaha World Herald, which established the $10,000 cash prize named for Partsch, who served as editorial pages editor of the Omaha newspaper from 1982 to 2002...

McCook Police Chief Ike Brown warned area residents today to not leave their keys in their vehicle and to lock the doors. The warning came after a male juvenile stole two vehicles Monday from a resident from the 300 block of West A. The first call came in at 6:10 a.m., from a resident stating that a black Mustang convertible had been taken...

Red Willow County commissioners discussed Hillcrest and terrorism insurance during their regular meeting Monday. Board members also approved a tax exemption for Victory Christian Academy in McCook. Commissioners approved renewing the county's property and liability insurance policies with EMC Insurance Co. The total premium from May 1, 2003, through April 30, 2004, will be $112,810. The previous premium was $94,577...

CURTIS -- The body of 70-year-old man last seen in Joplin, Mo., on April 13 was found half-a-mile from his car stuck in a ditch on a gravel road 12 miles northeast of McCook. Frontier County Sheriff Daniel Rupp said this morning he has ordered an autopsy on the body of Albert E. Cignetti of Joplin...

Voters turned out on a beautiful spring day to make a decision on stormy issue of whether to renew McCook's one-cent city sales tax. Proponents said the tax was vital for property tax relief and to continue need ed community improvements. Opponents said the City Council had not proven itself trustworthy and should not be given more tax dollars until expenses are cut...

The decision on which company -- or companies -- will be in charge of the design and building of the the city's new water well field has been put on hold for two weeks. The council was asked to approve contracts with two local engineering firms to complete the city's final solution to its long-term water problems...

GOTHENBURG -- The McCook Junior High School eighth grade boys and girls competed in the Dutch Zorn Junior High Relays Saturday at Gothenburg. The Bison boys won six of the 14 events and the Bison girls won the discus relay. The Bison boys mile relay team of Austin Barenberg, Jon Bryant, Craig Fritz and John Swanhorst finished first and set a new school record with a time of 4 minutes, 8.8 seconds...

Joseph P. Bruckler, 90, died Saturday (May 3, 2003) at Bryan LGH Hospital in Lincoln. He was born April 16, 1913, in Philadelphia, Pa., to Michael and Catherine (Tishler) Bruckler. He grew up in Philadelphia where he received his education. On Oct. 25, 1942, he married Katherine Walsh. She preceded him in death...