Stories from Wednesday, May 14, 2003

McCook High School senior Nathan Reicks, wearing his No. 54 McCook Bison football jersey, threw out the first pitch Tuesday night at Felling Field to kick off the McCook Midget League baseball season. The catcher for the first pitch was Zayne Gillen (2), the son of Brad and Wendy Gillen and a member of the Bison Dental Team. ...

Dear Editor, It is assumed that we on the bottom can't afford building and sheds as the rich people do. We on the bottom of the dollar pile just think outside the box when it comes to shelter. A simple can of spay paint makes a great shelter. Most of my tools set outside. ...

For sidewalk superintendents, this is a glorious time in mid-town McCook. After two months of tearing out and digging in, a 23-foot wide paving machine is moving steadily down B Street, installing a nine-inch thick, silver gray slab of concrete on the south side of the highway...

There are many photos on display at the Museum of the High Plains Historical Society, 423 Norris Avenue, of the June 11, 1928, tornado that ripped through McCook, mainly in the northwest area. The pictures depict many of the houses that were destroyed in the extreme weather. ...

The American Cancer Society McCook Relay For Life committee has announced that its team recruitment night will be 6 p.m. Tuesday in the Community Hospital meeting rooms. Individuals interested in captaining a team for the 2003 McCook Relay For Life should attend the meeting to receive team materials and information on how to recruit a team. Sandwiches will be served...

McCook High School senior Mandy King parks herself atop fellow senior Tyler Bieck's car, which seemed to materialize overnight in the hallway outside the office at MHS.The front window displays the sun shield message, "Need Help Please Call Police," and the back window sports a handwritten message, "Ha! We got you Bieck!" Principal Jerry Smith, who is in his fifth year in the McCook school system, said this morning, "It's a fairly harmless senior prank -- the first since I've been here. ...

Local Boy Scouts display the flags for the National Anthem at Tuesday night's opening ceremonies for the McCook Midget League baseball season at Felling Field. For the opening pitch, see Page 11.

The McCook school board eliminated one position, reduced six others, and agreed to take part in a reorganization study covering all of the schools to the west. The board also approved the hiring of a school psychologist for a position that had been contracted with Educational Service Unit 15, tentatively approved the extension of an exclusive contract with a soft drink company in order to fund a new football scoreboard, and agreed to let to city of McCook use the school's kitchen and cafeteria while the Heritage Senior Center is being remodeled.. ...

The new president of the Mid-Plains Community College Area is calling on the system to "embrace its potential" as an educational institution. At the conclusion of commencement exercises at North Platte Community College last week, the role of Mid-Plains Community College President passed from Dr. Carlton Williams to Dr. Michael Chipps...

Coach Ty Orton has harvested a solid crop of recruits for the 2002-03 McCook Community College men's basketball team. "We have had a good season recruiting," Orton said. "We are currently finished recruiting and we are very excited about the new team that we will have for the upcoming school year...

The McCook Community College men's basketball program will be hosting several camps in June. The camp dates are June 16-19 (Monday-Thursday). The Starter camp, which is for boys and girls who will be starting the 5th, 6th and 7th grades, will have registration at 7:15 a.m. on June 16...

The McCook High School girls tennis team dropped two matches Tuesday at their final home competition of the spring at the Bison Courts. The Bison lost to Ogallala 5-4 and Holdrege 7-2. McCook varsity singles winners in the Ogallala dual were senior Moriah Gull, No. 2, 8-2; senior Kelsey Lyster, No. 3, 8-2; and sophomore Kim Serbousek, No. 4, 8-2...

SOUTH PLATTE -- More than 120 state tournament participants from Culbertson, McCook and Republican Valley have been honored with certificates of recognition by the South Platte United Chamber of Commerce. The total number of state performers from this area -- one of the highest in history for the three schools -- is expected to rise even higher in coming days when area athletes enter state track and field and golf competition...

LINCOLN -- McCook's Work Ethic Camp might receive some of the inmates freed if a prison in Lincoln is closed, but Gov. Mike Johanns said he would veto the entire budget bill if the proposal to close the Lincoln facility is included. Johanns called the proposal, passed by the Legislature on Tuesday, "irresponsible and kind of breathtaking."...

I am the world's worst "Lady in Waiting." My week has been filled with anticipation. My daughter-in-law's due date is today. As I penned these thoughts on Tuesday afternoon, all was in readiness, with the exception of the babe. She/he seems less than anxious to venture forth. ...

CURTIS -- Delbert L. Conner, 88, died Monday (May 12, 2003) at Sunset Haven Nursing Home in Curtis. He was born May 12, 1915, at Quick, to Lewis George and Genevive Tracey Conner. He graduated from the Nebraska School of Agriculture in Curtis in 1933...

Clifford H. Smith, 86, died Tuesday (May 13, 2003) at Willow Ridge Assisted Living Center in McCook. He was born June 9, 1916, at Rockville, to Hans and Marie (Hetzel) Smith. He grew up in Rockville and graduated from Rockville High School. He entered the U.S. Army and served during World War II...

CORVALLIS, Ore. -- Phillip Propp, 99, died Friday (May 9, 2003) at Heart of the Valley in Corvallis, Ore. He was born Feb. 5, 1904, to Henry and Anna Marie (Schriner) Propp at Hausenbach, Russia. His family immigrated to America in 1906 and farmed in Culbertson...