Stories from Friday, February 27, 2004

April 2, 1924-Feb. 25, 2004 WAUNETA -- Donald William Follett, 79, died Wednesday (Feb. 25, 2004) at Heritage of Wauneta in Wauneta. He was born April 2, 1924, to Floyd and Anna Roberta (Dudek) Follett in Palisade. He graduated from Palisade High School in 1942...

Garden County awaits Trojans in showdown for state berth Up and down was the theme during Cambridge's 85-70 defeat of North Platte St. Patrick's for the championship of the boys C2-11 Sub-District. The game was played at the McCook High School gym Thursday night...

The rules and requirements are baffling and intimidating ... the acronyms, completely confusing. But surprisingly, the application form is fairly simple. Emergency response personnel from Southwest Nebraska learned recently that federal "Homeland Security" grant money won't be distributed as easily as it has been in the past...

Randall Datus, the finance manager for McCook Public Schools, opens a bid Thursday afternoon from a company seeking the position as construction manager for the proposed renovation/expansion of North Ward elementary into a single-site elementary facility. ...

If you ever wanted to run for the McCook City Council or McCook Board of Education, now's the time to throw your hat into the ring. As of this morning, only two candidates had filed for the two open seats on the council, and just two incumbents had filed for the three open seats on the school board...

**Dear Editor, I am asking McCook townspeople right now if it is OK to expose high school kids to Renaissance art. For an example, I will use Michaelangelo, who painted nude figures. Others with a common theme were Sandro Botticelli, Donatello, Raphael, Leonard Da Vinci and many more. Do high school parents or McCook citizens have a problem with kids, age 14-18, being exposed to such classic nudes?...

Just like most families, my family sits in the same pew at church every week, week in and week out. Except when we are late. Or when someone else gets to it first. Or when it's too full. Or when we know we'll feel sorry for anyone having to sit by us...

Why are people so surprised at the violence in the Passion of Christ movie? It WAS one of the most violent acts in the history of mankind. Jesus was so kind and loving and yet was killed by those very people He came to save from an eternity of punishment, God's chosen people. Maybe this is going to be a great way to spread the word, and bring people to the realization of just who Jesus is, and what the gospel is all about...

It's time to support closing our two local grade schools, District 8 and 41, that are stealing tax dollars from the McCook school that would go a long way toward helping with expenses. Having these two grade schools within a few miles of McCook is like allowing private, high cost grade schools with everybody's tax dollars funding them. Support McCook schools, and call Tom Baker and tell him to close the local schools, as being suggested in the Legislature...

Bob Thayer, before you start pointing the finger at President Bush, let's put your war record on public display, and recruit another Democrat to nit-pick it.

**Dear Editor, I am so glad to see the Gazette's editorials keeping everyone stirred up about current events: In a reply to the person questioning Mr Thayer's record. Have you ever served in any capacity in the military? Please look up the FROZEN CHOSIN or just use this link:...

June 22, 1934-Feb. 27, 2004 HAYS, Kan. -- Marilyn A. Carlson, 69, died Friday (Feb. 27, 2004) at her home in Hays, Kan. She was born June 22, 1934, to L. Vernon and Mary (Macfee) Puelz near Danbury. She attended public schools through the eighth grade. She graduated from McCook High School in 1951. She then qualified for an elementary grade teaching certificate by attending McCook Junior College in McCook for two years...

OMAHA -- George L. Todd, 86, died Thursday (Feb. 26, 2004) at Good Samaritan Center in Omaha. Survivors include three sons, Jim and wife, Paula of Manassas, Va., Gary and wife, Ann of Omaha and Randy of Mancos, Colo.; two brothers, Jack and wife, Betty of Grant and Bill and wife, Jean of Littleton, Colo.; sisters, Maxine Fosbinder of Grant and Marion Titz and husband, Dan of Omaha; sister-in-law, Vivian Todd of Imperial; seven grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren...

More than 150 people turned out for the double debut Friday afternoon of the 2004 Lenten series sponsored by the Red Willow County Ministerial Association. St. Alban's Episcopal Church provided the setting for the first community Lenten lesson of the season and the community debut of the Rev. Dr. Mark Taylor, the new pastor at First Congregational Church...

By CONNIE JO DISCOE Regional Editor STRATTON -- Is Jennifer Sydow 4 years old? Or 16? She's only celebrated four birthdays. In 20 years, will she be nine years old? Or 36? She will have had just nine birthdays, after all. How about in 30 ... 40 ... 50 years? Oh, the math! Oh, how confusing!...

Since you live a long way from the big city, do you get the feeling there's not much to do in the middle of winter, except the same-o, same-o kind of stuff? Well, think again. For pure, unadulterated entertainment, there are very few things more thrilling than post season play between high school basketball teams...

After sitting around for 3 1/2 years waiting on the phone to ring, I decided it was time to get out of the house and go somewhere. I've had several e-mails from folks who say they miss my "travel" columns so there will be more to report in the months to come as the weather continues to improve...

Omaha Warriors' Theresa Becker (4) tries to throw the basketball in-bounds to teammate Kari Larson (14) against the defense of the McCook Chiefs during the opening girls game of the eighth annual Nebraska Homeschool Invitational Friday afternoon at the McCook YMCA...

By TYLER BIECK Gazette Writer The McCook Bison boys basketball team begins post season action Saturday night as they will take Holdrege in the B-5 District play-in game. Game time is 7 p.m. at the UNK Health and Sports Center. Holdrege (12-8) came out on top 68-66 when the teams played each other at the beginning of the basketball season on Dec. 20 in McCook...

The Southwestern Nebraska Industrial Association had a committee in 1903 on Reservoirs and Irrigation. The Association was doing all it could to promote the cultivation of sugar beets and was trying very hard to have a sugar beet factory located in Southwest Nebraska. ...