Stories from Thursday, April 8, 2004

Amber Garrett, of Otero Junior College, was one out away from pitching a perfect game against the McCook Community College softball team on Wednesday. MCC's Ellie Miller broke up the perfection with a single, but Garrett recorded a strikeout -- one of 14 -- against MCC's final batter to give Otero a 3-0 win Wednesday at the Jaycees Sports Complex in McCook...

Oct. 20, 1917-April 7, 2004 ARAPAHOE -- Lora Colleen Horton, 86, died Wednesday (April 7, 2004) at the CA Mues Good Samaritan Center in Arapahoe. She was born Oct. 20, 1917, to Claude L. and Millie (Shepherd) Taylor in Gosper. She graduated from Arapahoe High School with the class of 1936...

Aug. 11, 1948-April 6, 2004 SCOTTSBLUFF -- Ralynn M. "Ray" Rittenhouse, 55, died Tuesday (April 6, 2004) at Regional West Medical Center in Scottsbluff. He was born Aug. 11, 1948, to Shirley and Edna (Pinkston) Rittenhouse. He graduated from Bridgeport High School in 1967. After graduation, he enlisted in the Navy and served from 1967-1971...

Minnie Huff of McCook will celebrate her 80th birthday with a tea from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 17, at Peace Lutheran Church in McCook.

Americans live in a different world since the terrorist attacks of 9-11. We're a little bit more cautious ... a little more aware of what's going on around us. We don't obsess about what might happen, but we do have plans in mind for "what if ..." But, what if an emergency arises or disaster strikes, and your health keeps you from responding in a typical manner?...

While funding for ethanol incentives fell short in this legislative session, Sen. Tom Baker said this morning the state is contractually obligated to pay the incentives to plants which meet production requirements. Speaking by telephone with members of the McCook Chamber of Commerce Legislative Committee, the senator devoted most of the hour-long session to answering questions about ethanol. ...

Two former North Platte residents have been arrested on drug charges, the result of several weeks of hard work by the McCook Police Department and Red Willow County Sheriff's office in concert with the information and assistance provided by area citizens, according to a news release today...

Michael Parris (left) and Jerry Brown of Starostka Construction, Grand Island, pour concrete this morning for a fermentation structure at the new SW Energy LLC ethanol plant three miles west of McCook. Tanks are also arriving today, according to SW Energy board member John Kugler of McCook. ...

Red Willow County Clerk Pauletta Gerver helps Jerry Amich of Election Systems and Software, supplier of the county's new automated voting system, which will be in use for the first time at the May 11 primary. A ballot box is at the left, while three of the scanners which will read voters' paper ballots are at the right. ...

When driving by the former Hinky Dinky and Buy 'n Save building on West B, many people are surprised to see that the spacious structure is being turned into a church. "Why," the passers-by wonder, "would they put a church there?" The questions quickly turn to understanding, however, when the pastor and members of the McCook Christian Church explain why they chose the block-long site fronting the busiest street in McCook...

**Dear Editor: This story begins in January 2003 as SPC Steven Towery of McCook and the 855th Quartermaster Co. left the North Platte area. In April 2003, Steve and others from the North Platte area left for Ft. McCoy, Wis. I and my husband made a promise to each other that we would send Steve a box of goodies and other things every week. The company left in April 2003, for Iraq...

In preparation for the spring gardening season, my husband and I have been doing the "final" cleanup on our yard. It seems we put off the worst tasks until there was simply no putting it off any longer. This year alone, we've chopped down unwanted trees, loaded up tons of cement and bared a lot of earth, getting ready to lay grass, flowers or whatever we can get on it in order to keep the dust from blowing...

Greetings to all. Irony seems to catch up to me every time. I just love to make my disgust/hatred/rebuke for the New York Yankees known. Since the beginning of the year I have wrote three columns that mentioned or focused my dislike for the Bronx Bombers, but Irony decided to attack this week's column...