Stories from Wednesday, March 3, 2004

OXFORD -- The Southern Valley Eagles face the two-time defending state champion West Point Central Catholic Blue Jays Thursday at Lincoln East High School in the opening round of the Nebraska Class C-2 girls state basketball tournament. Tip-off at Lincoln East High School is at 11:30 a.m...

HOXIE -- The Oberlin boys fell short against Hoxie 60-57 Tuesday night at the Kansas Class 2A sub-state at Wakeeney-Trego. In addition to the Red Devils, the season ended for five other area basketball teams Tuesday night. The St. Francis boys and girls also lost in the Wakeeney sub-state. The boys lost 72-51 to Plainville and the girls fell to Wakeeney-Trego 47-37...

Jan. 9, 1922-March 1, 2004 Virginia Marie Stinson, 82, died Monday, March 1, 2004, at Community Hospital of McCook. She was born to William Frederick and Lillian Marie (Junker) Baumbach, Jr. on Jan. 9, 1922, in Red Willow County, McCook. She attended country school in Indianola...

March 29, 1921-March 1, 2004 OBERLIN -- Philip Niemeth, 82, of Herndon, died Monday (March 1, 2004) at Decatur County Hospital in Oberlin. He was born March 29, 1921, to Henry and Elizabeth (Versch) Niemeth on the family homestead near Herndon. He attended grade school at St. Mary's Catholic School...

Oct. 13, 1911-March 1, 2004 GOTHENBURG -- Bessie Schleeman Spray, 92, died Monday (March 1, 2004) at Hilltop Estates in Gothenburg. She was born Oct. 13, 1911, to Homer and Eva Dettra Robinson in Stockville. She graduated from the Nebraska School of Agriculture at Curtis in 1929...

Another of the vestiges of summer, rural life, is history. We're talking about riding in the back of a pickup truck, wind in our hair, feeling the force of the air on our hand, outstretched over the side of the box. On Tuesday, Gov. Mike Johanns signed LB227, which will require all those younger than 18 to wear seat belts...

**Dear Editor, I was recently disturbed to read the article "Women's Venture Group." I think you need to do more research in the neighboring towns. We in Arapahoe have two very nice clothing stores -- Williams Bros. for the entire family and Wagners on the Balcony that has lovely women's and children's clothes. I do agree that there is not much from here on West, but please remember that Arapahoe is here and has these two shops, plus many others in various other businesses...

It's almost as if they walked right off the pages of Scripture and into my life. First, there was the man, standing far off at the outermost edges of the temple court, beating his chest and crying, "Have mercy on me, Lord, a sinner." Only in my life, he was a she and I am comforted to know that her prayer found favor, just as this man's prayer found favor, with the Lord...