Stories from Friday, May 9, 2003

LAMAR, Colo. -- The McCook Community College baseball team got caught on the wrong end of a slugfest during the first round of the Region IX Tournament at Lamar, Colo. The Indians were blasted 32-15 by Western Nebraska. The Indians established single-game records for most runs scored and most runs allowed...

Dear Editor, Citizens of McCook, thank you for voting back in the 1 percent sales tax. It will save me lots of money. I will do my shopping at the Countryside Food Service and get my meat at the Butcher Block, where they have great hamburger, sausage and roast beef...

It's been a tough lesson to learn, but the towns and cities of the Great Plains are getting along a lot better than they used to. The reasons, which become more apparent with each passing year, are our communities' interdependence and their record of success when towns, and regions, work together...

The family of Rod and Angie Bowman are hosting a card shower in honor of the couple's 35th wedding anniversary May 11. Cards of congratulations will reach them at HC 2 Box 46, Trenton, NE 69044.

Jill R. Hidy of Trenton was selected through a competitive process to deliver the commencement address at this morning's spring commencement ceremonies at McCook Community College. Hidy, who concentrated her MCC studies in mathematics, plans to attend Chadron State College, and, after receiving her baccalaureate degree, plans to teach secondary level mathematics...

LINCOLN -- McCook Senior High's journalism staff won the Class B sweepstakes award and its teacher-sponsor was named "Championship Advisor" in the 2003 Nebraska High School State Journalism Competition. MHS journalists won 15 awards. Teacher Linda Crandall-Jones earned one of five "Outstanding Advisor" awards presented in Class A1, A2, B, C and D...

CURTIS -- The Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture presented 82 candidates for graduation during commencement ceremonies on Thursday. Eleven students were recipients of achievement and high achievement honors including Carla Ferguson of Oberlin, Kan., Regina Minary of McCook, Jason Behrhorst of Seneca, Larry Cooper of Orchard, Trista Dye of Hemingford, Katy Eyestone of Wray, Colo., Lori Krolikowski of Grand Island, Preston Kurz of Palmer, Else Nielsen of Braedstrup, Denmark, Philip Ottun of Sargeant and Lorain Wiiest of Moorefield. ...

A menacing cloud rolls through McCook as a storm front arrives Thursday afternoon. A tornado was reported near Bartley, with large hail around the area.

HAYES CENTER -- The Kevin Fornoff barn near Hayes Center leans a little more toward the east and some homes and businesses in Indianola are missing windows after a hail-packed storm roared through Southwest Nebraska late Thursday afternoon. The public reported a tornado six miles south of Bartley...

OXFORD -- The Southern Valley Eagles won their home invitational tournament Thursday with a 337 score -- 11 strokes better than runnerup Axtell. Arapahoe's Brent Fanning captured first-place individual medalist honors with a 73. Fanning edged out second-place medalist Justin Bash of Southern Valley by one stroke...

For years, the perfect Mother's Day morning has been waking up Sunday morning with no little children in the bed combined with these small children letting me sleep as long as I want. Of course, this has never happened -- either part -- so I am taking a different approach with Mother's Day this Sunday. Rather than waiting for breakfast in bed or the perfect gift, I'm going to be thankful for  my children and in turn, thankful for all the things I've learned from my children...

WILSONVILLE -- Merna Shearer Haught, 67, died Tuesday (May 6, 2003) at her home in Wilsonville. Funeral services will be Monday, 10:30 a.m., at the Baptist-Christian Church at Wilsonville with the Rev. Keith Theobald officiating. Burial will follow at the Wilsonville Cemetery at Wilsonville...

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- James "Jim" Leo Williams, 65, died Sunday (April 26, 2003). He was born May 17, 1937, in Bakersfield, Calif., to Orval and Gretchen (Edwards) Williams. They later moved to Nebraska and he graduated from Benkelman High School in 1956...