Stories from Tuesday, June 3, 2003

KEARNEY -- The McCook Rebels 18 and under girls fastpitch softball team posted a 2-2-2 record during last weekend's Kearney Klassic Tournament. The Rebels finished second in the tournament. The Rebels' 18 and under squad features several players from the McCook High School varsity squad...

GROSSE POINTE PARK, Mich. -- David Ward Russell, 81, of Grosse Pointe Park died Thursday (May 22, 2003). He was born in Nebraska and graduated from McCook High School in 1939, and from the University of Nebraska with a bachelor's and master's degree He served in the U.S. ...

Dear Editor, I'd like to know why the state road crew closed the west drive of Mt. Hope Cemetery, Beaver City, the weekend before Memorial Day, rather than repairing it a week or so ago. It was reported earlier that there was a hole in that drive. The American Legion or VFW always have Memorial Day services and there are a number of people who come to the services and to decorate graves. This made it inconvenient for them...

Attend a triumphant high school sporting event and you're almost sure to hear the words of Queen's vintage song, "We Are The Champions." Although written more than a quarter of a century ago, the song-- which salutes super success -- applies exceedingly well to the accomplishments of Coach Ron Coleman and his title-winning golf teams at McCook High School...

Could the Fourth of July fall victim to the Homeland Security Act? It's a possibility, according to an Associated Press story last week. The problem is, federal bureaucrats can't decide what restrictions should be placed on rail shipments of fireworks...

A house fire at 1306 East B Street on Monday resulted in $65,000 in damage to the structure and contents. The home is owned by Kevin and Brandi Manley. At 11:05 a.m., the McCook City and Volunteer Fire Department received a call from a passerby who reported smoke coming from the house...

Red Willow County commissioners hired a McCook attorney as the county's new public defender Monday morning. Ryan Wilcox replaces Bob Conner, who has been public defender since 1995 and retired June 1. Wilcox began work immediately. Wilcox was one of two attorneys who submitted applications to the county's public defender policy board. The other applicant was Robert Harvoy of Ogallala...

Red Willow County commissioners warned litterbugs and careless irrigators Monday that trash in the ditches and water on the roads won't be tolerated anymore. County Attorney Paul Wood assured commissioners during their meeting Monday he will prosecute if he has a solid case against someone dumping trash along county roads or an irrigator who repeatedly irrigates the county roads...

TRENTON (AP) -- Groundbreaking for an ethanol plant was tentatively set for June 17 after Hitchcock County received a $608,000 Community Development Block Grant on Monday to help build the facility. The plant east of Trenton, to be owned and operated by Trenton Agri Products LLC, would provide about 27 full-time jobs...

As the saying goes, "necessity is the mother of invention." The owner of a leaky car attempted to provide a little relief from today's early morning rains. Thunderstorms are predicted off and on for the next week.

Now that the Heritage Senior Center has found a place to move -- temporarily -- the final step in getting the expansion process started is to negotiate a reduction in bids with two construction companies. In two separate items addressed during the regular McCook City Council meeting Monday night, the council agreed to approve the use of the Assembly of God Church Hall for the preparation and serving of meals during the construction project from Aug. ...

OBERLIN -- David Murray Jr. of Oberlin and Jason Rogers of Selden both won their second feature of the season in their respective divisions in racing action Saturday at Oberlin Speedway. Rick Schwab of Norton took the lead at the drop of the green in the 15-lap IMCA Modified main event with Murray, Barry Richards and Tyson Garrison in tow...

Temperatures were pleasant for the hot racing action at McCook Speedway Friday night. North Platte's Troy Bayne and Todd Chrisman, Culbertson's Richie Wickizer and McCook racers John Berry, Darren Berry and Jay Alberts were all cool under pressure, yet hot enough to earn the A Feature wins...

KEARNEY -- The McCook Rebels 14 and Under girls fastpitch softball team took third place at the Kearney Klassic Tournament this past weekend. In pool play Saturday, McCook defeated Kearney DMilico 6-1, North Platte Belles 16-0 and lost to the Norfolk Golden Girls 6-5...

KEARNEY -- The McCook Rebels 16 and under girls fastpitch softball team split four games at the Kearney Klassic Saturday and Sunday. The Rebels blasted the Grand Island Explosions 13-1, clipped the Holdrege Heat 5-3 and lost to the North Platte Sensation 7-0 Saturday...

OBERLIN -- Dennis L. Sloan, 84, died Monday (June 2, 2003) at the Decatur County Hospital in Oberlin. He was born March 11, 1919, in rural Selden, to Howard and Emma (Snell) Sloan. He was raised on a farm near Selden. He graduated from Selden Rural High School in 1937 and attended Strickler's Business College in Topeka, Kan., for two years...