Stories from Wednesday, August 6, 2003

Except for a few innings, first-year McCook American Legion Juniors baseball coach Jade Muehlenkamp said his team played a solid two games at the Class B state tournament at Seward. The Juniors lost to Ogallala 18-9 last Friday in their state tournament opener. McCook led 9-8 entering the final two innings...

COMMERCE CITY, Colo. -- Melvin L. Dunn, 79, of Commerce City, Colo., died July 17, 2003, of cancer. He was preceded in death by his wife Roberta. He is survived by his son, Ronnie Dunn and wife, Gail; his daughter, Glenna Sheader and husband, Denny; two brothers, Harvey Dunn and Harold Dunn; two sisters, Ruth Brown and Norma Lund; and nine grandchildren and four great-grandchildren...

Annexation due I believe that the proposed annexation is long overdue. If the city has been providing services to these proposed annexation areas, it is time for them to become part of those who pay for the services. Something strange A month or so ago, Bush asked for and signed a bill to up our debt limit another trillion dollars. ...

How do you like to deal with the heat? According the the Gazette's online poll at mccookgazette.com, "Stay home in air conditioning" was the most popular choice, selected by 54 people or 62 percent of those taking the poll. Twenty-eight people, or 24 percent, chose "Go swimming," 18 people or 16 percent picked "Go to the mountains" and seven people or 6 percent chose "Eat or drink something cold."...

In their fight for fairness on water quality issues, mayors from Southwest Nebraska sat down face-to-face Tuesday with U.S. Sen. Chuck Hagel in the Walsh-Brady conference room at McCook Community College. During the 45-minute session, the town leaders found the senator agrees with them that arsenic and uranium limits -- set by EPA for drinking water supplies -- are arbitrarily low and lacking in common sense. ...

I stood out on the front porch Monday, reveling in the rainfall. Yes, I know that those immediately outside of McCook got nary a drop, while we enjoyed a full hour of precious, heaven-sent moisture soaking into the ground and rushing down the city streets...

The Hot Summer Night concert series continues Thursday, with The New Old Timers of the Northwest Kansas area. The New Old Timers are four friends who enjoyed performing and entertaining together. The musicians are Joe Vincent on the banjo, Kenna Vincent on the bass, Todd Toman on the fiddle and mandolin and J.F. Stover on the guitar...

INDIANOLA -- If it has wheels on it, bring it on. Doug Shadley, coordinator of the second annual Old Settlers Days custom and classic car show, encourages everyone to bring their collectible, custom and classic cars or cycles -- or their works-in-progress -- to the parade and car show on Indianola's Main Street Saturday...

Southwest Nebraska's Relay For Life begins 7 p.m. Friday in Norris Park. The event, which runs through the night ending 8 a.m. Saturday, is a unique fundraiser for the American Cancer Society. "Relay is an inspirational night of friends, family and fun," said Barb Bortner, Relay For Life co-chair. ...

OBERLIN -- Marianne Larue of Oberlin chuckled, her kids get upset with her because she makes them fill out their own county fair entry forms. But, by doing the work themselves, Annamarie and Jacob can take pride in the purple and blue ribbons they earn at the Decatur County fair in Oberlin...

The United States should reach out to NATO allies for help in Iraq and Afghanistan, U.S. Sen. Chuck Hagel told the Gazette on Tuesday. A trip to Jordan and Iraq in late June allowed the Senator to see first-hand the effects of the war in Iraq. Hagel spent about 14 hours in and around Baghdad with Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Dick Lugar (R-IN) and Foreign Relations Committee Ranking member Joe Biden (D-DE)...

McCook athletes Brock Hubert, John Swanhorst, Josh Cherry, Nate Crick, Chad Stull and Chris Stull participated in the Hastings College Basketball Camp in July. The participants and staff members are not listed in the order in which they appear in the photo. ...

The McCook Titans boys baseball team placed third in the Hastings 13 and under baseball tournament Saturday and Sunday. (From left) Nathan Gleason, Taylor Garcia, Kyle Harms, Dillon Goltl, Joe Vetrovsky, Sam Frazier, Kendall Foster, Matt Thayer, Adam Kruger, and Cameron Foster. Coaches are Monte Garcia and Ron Kruger...

DENVER, Colo. -- Maxine Jo Bowers, 76, died Sunday (Aug. 3, 2003) at St. Anthony's North Hospital in Denver, Colo. She was born Jan. 3, 1927, to Oscar and Rosa May (Bunny) Irelan in Arapahoe. She grew up in Arapahoe and attended Arapahoe Public School...