Stories from Wednesday, December 10, 2003

A logo and slogan have been selected, but they are being "professionalized" before being released after the first of the year "for maximum effect," said Dan Stramel of the Red Willow County visitors Committee. Harold Clapp of McCook won first place prize of $200; Carlie Goodenberger of McCook placed second for $100 and Pam Harsh of McCook placed third for $50...

LINCOLN -- The Nebraska National Guard Family Center and the American Red Cross are teaming up to provide holiday greetings to military men and women who are away from home. Project Video Connect allows families to send a two-minute video e-mail to service members...

Let us hope the lines of communication are kept open concerning the diesel plume which lies under the railroad yards on the south edge of McCook. This is serious business. The diesel plume sits close to McCook's four million gallon water storage tank, and is not far away from the McCook Humane Society facilities facing South Street...

**Dear Editor, Anyone who enjoys reading and especially Nebraska History should be certain to purchase the new book: Medicine Creek Journals. This book has been written by D. Jean Smith of Curtis, Neb., and is a wonderful read. You will be amazed at this true story and the famous characters that helped settle Southwest Nebraska, mainly Frontier County...

**Dear Editor, When I woke up this morning and read the headline in the North Platte Telegraph about this nonsense that's come to my part of the world, I was appalled that someone would turn the Arnold Public School into the ACLU for prayer in our school. It made it harder to take this close to Christmas...

**Dear Editor, In the Dec. 4 issue, one Mr. McPhillips spoke quite vehemently on the hypocrisy of the ACLU. Unfortunately for the readers, he neglected to look at all aspects of the matter. As I have come to understand it, the purpose of the ACLU is to defend the civil liberties of Americans, as the name so clearly states...

The mood at the Gazette has been decidedly subdued over the last several days. Sudden death has taken our breath away. Instead of planning delectable holiday menus, we have been planning a funeral dinner. Instead of displaying Christmas decorations, we have been displaying flower arrangements. In place of Christmas greeting cards, we have all shared in cards and notes of condolences to our Gazette family in honor of Roger Schmidt, our co-worker and our friend...

Eastern Wyoming College's Jason Deich (32) of Melbourne, Australia, goes after the rebound as McCook Community College's Jack Lutzeier (23) takes the shot Tuesday night at True Hall Gymnasium in McCook. The Indians picked up their seventh win of the year 92-78 over the Lancers. (Bruce Crosby/McCook Daily Gazette)...

WAUNETA -- Anna "Ann" Carmelita (Holbein) Rueter, 91, died Monday (Dec. 8, 2003). She was born Aug. 16, 1912, in Eustis. She graduated from Eustis High School in 1930 and entered Midland College in Fremont. In 1931, she began studies at Nebraska State Teachers College in Kearney. She taught in rural schools in the Eustis area and in Naponee, Wauneta and Kimball...