Stories from Wednesday, July 9, 2003

NORTH PLATTE -- The McCook Rebels 14 and under girls fastpitch softball team won the 14 and under Class B State Championship Friday through Sunday at North Platte with a 5-0 record. "The Rebels played a wonderful tournament," said coach Chris Wallace...

Dear Editor: I am writing with reference to a letter written by Carl Schneider of Stratton on the "opinion" page of the Gazette dated July 8, 2003. OUTDOOR LIFE magazine reported on this kind of electric shock treatments for snakebites in the mid 1980's. ...

I still think Argus Hamilton's so called unbiased column stinks. Can't the Gazette find something else for that spot?

Admit it. You were surprised when you heard that supporters of U.S. Highway 6 are in the midst of forming a nationwide tourist association. What's that all about, anyway? For most of us, Highway 6 has been in existence for a lifetime, taking us from town-to-town on short east and west journeys. ...

It's always a little nerve-wracking, moving into a new neighborhood. What will the neighbors be like? Are they night owls who love heavy metal music? And if so, do they own their own karaoke machine? Do they have wild and crazy teenagers, coming and going at all hours, slamming car doors, honking their horns at all hours to announce their arrival or departure?...

Does anyone notice anytime there is a report that the economy is failing and the jobless count is going up, such as right now, Bush comes up with another scare tactic to get our attention away from the bad news. It now seems that Saddam is a real threat again and worth $25 million dead or alive. Who's footing that bill?...

Not only am I disappointed, but my children are disappointed because the swimming pool is not open. The deadline wasn't July 4th. It was sometime back in June. How many more promises is the city going to break? What kind of rates are we going to get? Maybe we should have a week or two of free swimming for the whole city of McCook. There's only a month left before school starts, so why even charge at all?...

McCook High School head football coach Jeff Gross talks to participants in the McCook Youth Football League Tuesday night at the MHS practice field. Gross said 110 boys in grades 5-8 signed up to play in the league, which started two weeks of practice for the upcoming season. At left are members of the Bison football team, who are helping out with the league...

A new Chief Financial Officer, Troy Bruntz, of Lincoln, joined Community Hospital's staff on June 30. Troy was hired to fill the position vacated due to the hospital's administrative reorganization, which moved the former CFO, Jim Ulrich, to Vice President Finance & Support...

Gov. Mike Johanns presents checks to Indianola Mayor Cliff Lord (above) and Farnam Fire Chief Rod Klein, who accepted Community Development Block Grant awards for a new fire station in Indianola and a new fire truck in Farnam. Flying across the state with Gov. ...

WASHINGTON, DC -- A McCook program will receive a $2 million military appropriations under language included in the Department of Defense Appropriations bill approved by a Senate committee today. Nebraska's Senator Ben Nelson, a member of the Armed Services Committee, requested funding for the project, which will be led by 21st Century Systems, Inc...

The McCook American Legion Juniors came from behind to beat the Lexington Juniors 7-6 at the Jaycees Sports Complex Tuesday night. Jeff Klug started on the mound for Juniors. Klug pitched for four and one-half innings and giving up six runs on eight hits and striking out five Lexington batters...

The McCook National Bank Seniors dropped a 17-12 decision to the Lexington Seniors Tuesday night at the Jaycees Sports Complex. The game showcased a prowess of powerful batting capabilities with four home runs in the ball game, three of them from MNB...

BEAVER CITY -- Eugenia "Gene" Lorraine Wyatt, 91, of Holdrege, formerly of Beaver City, died Tuesday (July 8, 2003) at Bertrand Nursing Home in Bertrand. She was born May 5, 1912, at Hollinger to Edward and Cordelia (Dowell) Harman. She grew up in the Hollinger area. She graduated from Beaver City High School with the class of 1932. Following graduation, she taught county school for a few years...