Stories from Thursday, April 22, 2004

In response to this piece written with the best intentions I think that we as citizens within this community must focus. The truth is that McCook is not an attractive place to live if you are single, young, and planning on developing any kind of career. ...

Medicine Valley's Taylor Wolfe had a nearly perfect meet Wednesday in McCook at the Hayes Center track invite. She won three of her events and placed second in her fourth, leading the Raiders to the girls team title with 143 points. Wolfe won the 100 meter hurdles in 17 seconds flat, the long jump with a leap of 16 feet, 6 inches and the triple jump with a total of 33-11...

Former Ohio State Buckeye star running back takes his case to the Supreme Court Greetings to all. ATTN: MAURICE CLARETT I was once told by my dad, friends, every single teacher I've ever had and George Washington Carver (and about everybody else that's ever lived) that "life is not fair."...

OMAHA -- SITEL Corporation, a leading global provider of outsourced customer support services based in Omaha, confirmed today the closing of its McCook contact center. Ninety employees were notified today that the facility would close effective June 25, 2004...

Get ready to laugh. Get ready to cry. Get ready to shiver with sheer delight. A McCook tradition -- the Barbershop Quartet Harmony Show -- is ready to go on stage for the 33rd straight year. Combining their talents with top national acts, the Prairie Statesmen Chorus will present a two-hour program of humor and harmony beginning at 7:30 p.m. Saturday night at the McCook Memorial Auditorium...

Nov. 14, 1924-April 20, 2004 ARAPAHOE -- Lois Allene (Voss) Hahn, 79, died Tuesday (April 20, 2004) at the CA Mues Good Samaritan Center in Arapahoe. She was born Nov. 14, 1924, to W. Delbert and Opal L. (Odell) Weatherwax in Furnas County. She attended country school and then graduated in 1943 from Arapahoe High School...

**Dear Editor, The letter from Sarah McPhillips illustrates the frustration many a young artist experiences. One must deal with the reality of the situation, not the ideal, just as one deals with the limitations placed on you by the materials you chose to use...

June 1, 1926-April 19, 2004 CAMBRIDGE -- Robert Sayer, 77, died Monday (April 19, 2004) at Cambridge Memorial Hospital in Cambridge. He was born June 1, 1926, in Cambridge to George and Mary (Hougnon) Sayer. He grew up in Orleans and graduated from Alma High School at the age of 16. He received normal training and taught in the area for several years...

June 5, 1962-April 19, 2004 "Tony" Anthony Paul Conroy died Monday, April 19, 2004 at Sidney as a result of a motorcycle accident. He was born June 5, 1962, to Thomas Joseph and Bertilla Ann (Hickert) Conroy at McCook. He graduated from McCook High School in 1980. ...

**Dear Editor, The evening of April 2, 2004, 26 Little Partners from third grade in Indianola celebrated their last roundup. This was the 21st year that Mrs. Nancy Renard as a teacher had sponsored a nine-month program called "Good Friends." A program between the number of students each year and a senior citizen as a Good Friend for each student. ...

The family of Lola Leu is hosting an open house in honor of her 95th birthday April 24, 2 p.m., at Maywood Community Hall in Maywood. Cards of congratulations will reach her at HC R61 Box 16, Hayes Center, NE 69032.

**Dear Editor, It greatly concerned me when I read the (Open Forum letters) in the paper about the Art Show. As an artist, I understand that Sarah's art was a nude, but let's be logical and look at a few facts before proclaiming that our children are being corrupted...

The family of Alberta Schroeder Schneider is hosting a card shower in honor of her 90th birthday April 26. Her children are Willa and husband, Bob McBride of Wauneta and Sharon and husband, Mike O'Neil of Fountain, Colo. All are former residents of Indianola. She has seven grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.Cards of congratulations will reach her at 945 Tenderfoot Hill Road Apt. 103, Colorado Springs, CO 80906...

After the rains that began last night, I suppose we can actually call it spring. That's great, except for the fact that with the rains comes the occasional thunder and lightning storm. It wasn't until I was about 18, that I learned to enjoy the real beauty of thunder and lightning. I simply forced myself to sit on the deck through one of the most ferocious storms I'd ever seen. Unfortunately two of my three dogs haven't learned the lesson...

The Trenton man who betrayed what the county attorney called "a grandfatherly relationship" and sexually assaulted a 13-year-old girl was sentenced Tuesday afternoon to 15-20 years in the Nebraska State Penitentiary. Dwight D. Bartunek, 58, wrung his hands and stumbled over his words as he told Hitchcock County District Judge John Battershell, " ... just sorry it happened." He paused, and said, "I don't know what else to say -- just, sorry."...

NORTH PLATTE -- Five consultant evaluators from the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association recommended that Mid-Plains Community College be fully accredited for 10 years, the maximum amount of time accreditation can take place at a college or university...

Two public forums will be Thursday, April 29, and Monday, May 3, at 7:30 p.m. in the McCook Junior High School cafeteria. All interested persons are invited to attend and ask questions about the upcoming McCook school bond election, according to Chris Hansen, treasurer of the Building for Their Future Committee...

A soft spring rain -- the subject of many prayers on the dry plains -- washes over a sculpture of Jesus at St. Alban's Episcopal Church in McCook. Rain is expected to continue as far into the future as Sunday.

IMPERIAL  -- Cleo Harrison, 94, died Wednesday (April 21, 2004) at the Imperial Manor Nursing Home in Imperial. Survivors include four sons, Warren Harrison and wife, Rose of Stratton, Wayne Harrison and wife, Katie of Phoenix, Ariz., Donald Harrison and wife, Fredora of Goodland, Kan., and Will Harrison and wife, Joan of Whitehouse, Tenn.; 12 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren...