Stories from Thursday, September 4, 2003

The McCook Bison football team opens defense of its Nebraska Class B state championship Friday night at Weiland Field against Gering. Kickoff at Weiland Field is 7:30 p.m. The contest is also McCook's homecoming game. The visiting Bulldogs will enter the contest with one game under their belts...

Fall is most definitely here -- regardless of what the calender might say. The evenings are starting to cool down, the oppressive heat of two weeks ago seems to be a thing of the past, football is on the television on a nearly nightly basis and the first major hunting season has opened...

People change. There's no better example of this than George Carlin, who became known a generation ago for his vulgar humor, but has since evolved into an astute observer whose writings can be shared with people of all ages and tastes. "Isn't it amazing," says Gary Rust, chairman of Rust Communications, "that Carlin, the gross and mouthy comedian of the 1970s and 1980s, could write something so very eloquent and so very appropriate post 9-11."...

Cut other jobs Dear Editor, An open letter to the McCook Board of Education: Please read carefully the ... Open Forum letter to the McCook Daily Gazette on Aug. 28, 2003, from Sheila Berls. It would appear to me that she has very good first-hand knowledge as to why the art program here in McCook should continue as before, not be allowed to die a slow death because of you not funding this program...

Arthur E. Coone was born March 19, 1921, to Isaac and Nancy (Rousey) Coone near Heyworth, Ill. He attended school and lived in Heyworth until being called to serve his country. He served as infantryman in the Army during World War II in the European Theater of Operations...

Roberta Marie (McBride) Randel went to be with the Lord on Aug. 15, 2003, in Spokane, Wash., her home for the past 20 years. She was born Nov. 4, 1929, to Dale and Mary McBride in Indianola. She is survived by Ernest, her beloved husband of 55 years; son, Steven and Susan Randel of Wilbur, Wash.; daughters, Suzette and Dennis Milner and Sheila Randel of Spokane, Sharon and John Stephen Beauclair of Copperas Cove, Texas; nine grandchildren; 17 great grandchildren; siblings, Evelyn and Avery Winters of Indianola, Ruth Schuster of Lakewood, Colo., Robert and Velma McBride of McCook, Charles and Mary McBride of Grand Island, William and Betty McBride of Security, Colo., James and Ida McBride of Holbrook, and numerous nieces and nephews. ...

NORTH PLATTE -- Ellis E. Carpenter, 91, died Tuesday (Sept. 2, 2003) at Linden Court Nursing Home. He was born Sept. 4, 1911, Elmer and Jessie Carpenter northwest of Wauneta. He grew up in the Eden community in Hitchcock County and graduated From Wauneta High School...

DENVER, Colo. -- William Dale Amsberry, 78, died Tuesday (Aug. 26, 2003) in Denver, Colo. He was born Aug. 15, 1925, to William "Bill" and Opal (Gerdes) Amsberry in Max. He was educated in the Benkelman Public Schools, and served in the U.S. Army in the Pacific Theater during World War II. After receiving his honorable discharge in 1945, he returned to the Benkelman area...

BARTLEY -- Wayne P. Woods, 81, died today (Sept. 4, 2003) at Cambridge Memorial Hospital in Cambridge. He was born Dec. 2, 1921, to Claude P. and Minnie (White) Woods in Trenton. He grew up in Trenton where he attended Trenton High School. He entered the Army and served in World War II...

HUMANSVILLE, Mo. -- Virgil John "June" Bobinmyer, 81, died Monday (Sept.1, 2003) in Humansville, Mo. He was born July 6, 1922, to John Edward and Anna (Drain) Bobinmyer in Hitchcock County. He grew up in Hitchcock County and graduated from Herndon High School in Herndon...

The family of Mike and Anna Hays is hosting a card shower in honor of the couple's 30th anniversary, Sept. 5. Cards of congratulations will reach the couple at 907 West Third, McCook, NE 69001.

The family of Pat Ele is hosting a card shower in honor of his 85th birthday today, Sept. 4, 2003. Cards of congratulations will reach him at 702 West Second, McCook, NE 69044.

The McCook Community College volleyball team lost all four of its matches on a weekend swing through Colorado to start the season. The Indians lost to Trinidad State 21-30, 25-30, 11 -30 and Lamar 24-30, 18-30, 23-30 at Lamar Friday. Top hitters were Lindsey Lewis, Jame Beauprez and Ashley Hamilton all with five kills in the Trinidad game...

The 2003-04 McCook Community College softball team will play a scrimmage at 3 p.m. Saturday at the Jaycees Sports Complex. Admission to the intrasquad scrimmage is free. Then at 2 p.m. Sunday, the Indians will play the "Twisted Sisters" at the Jaycees Sports Complex...

By The Associated Press and McCook Daily Gazette LINCOLN (AP) -- Three out of four Nebraska eighth graders were graded as being proficient on statewide writing tests. Seventy-three percent of McCook's students were graded as proficient, slightly lower than the statewide average, but the same as last year's average...

Big Red fans gather in downtown McCook for a homecoming pep rally Wednesday afternoon to cheer on McCook Senior High's football, volleyball, cross country, girls golf, boys tennis and softball teams. Senior football players (top right, from left) Richard Smock, Trevor Bourg and Trent Lyons predict a successful year for the Fightin' Bison, the defending Class B state champions. ...

Twelve McCook High School seniors are candidates for fall homecoming royalty. They are: (front row, from left) Melissa Ankersen, daughter of Russ and Sue Ankersen; Kassi Cunningham, daughter of Skip and Cheryl Cunningham; and Maggie Jones, daughter of Ken and Jane Jones. ...

TRENTON -- A 58-year-old Trenton man remains in the Hitchcock County jail in Trenton on a $50,000 cash bond, following his arraignment Tuesday on three charges of sexual assault. Dwight Bartunek is charged with two counts of first degree sexual assault, Class II felonies punishable by up to 50 years in jail; and one count of sexual assault of a child, a Class IIIA felony punishable by up to five years in prison, a $10,000 fine, or both...

It's fall. That means the return of the screaming, smelly starlings to the trees north of the high school football field -- and the wires and catwalks at Frenchman Valley Co-Op.

Community Hospital Health Foundation recently received a much-appreciated $1,000 donation for the Hospice program from the Vap family in memory of Irene Vap, who was a McCook resident. The donation helped to purchase two bedside commodes and a wheelchair, with the balance of the purchase to go to the thermal tinted window replacement project in the Hospice suite...

The Republican Valley Riders will be hosting a memorial ride and a supper Thursday, Sept. 11, to benefit the family of Kansas State Patrol Trooper Jerry Stritt and his family. Stritt and his wife Rose were involved in a motorcycle accident in Grand Island on Thursday, Aug. 14. Rose was transported to BryanLGH Hospital in Lincoln where she died from her injuries the next day. Jerry's recovery is ongoing...

People change. There's no better example of this than George Carlin, who became known a generation ago for his vulgar humor, but has since evolved into an astute observer whose writings can be shared with people of all ages and tastes. "Isn't it amazing," says Gary Rust, chairman of Rust Communications, "that Carlin, the gross and mouthy comedian of the 1970s and 1980s, could write something so very eloquent and so very appropriate post 9-11."...

Cut other jobs Dear Editor, An open letter to the McCook Board of Education: Please read carefully the ... Open Forum letter to the McCook Daily Gazette on Aug. 28, 2003, from Sheila Berls. It would appear to me that she has very good first-hand knowledge as to why the art program here in McCook should continue as before, not be allowed to die a slow death because of you not funding this program...

Fall is most definitely here -- regardless of what the calender might say. The evenings are starting to cool down, the oppressive heat of two weeks ago seems to be a thing of the past, football is on the television on a nearly nightly basis and the first major hunting season has opened...