Stories from Tuesday, May 4, 2004

After taking a year off from the game, Lisa Adams wanted to play volleyball again. A tip from her brother Scott, a pitcher on the McCook Community College baseball team, led Adams to MCC. Adams, who attended school at the University of Nebraska-Kearney last year, signed a letter of intent Monday to play for new MCC volleyball coach Jennifer McConville...

CAMBRIDGE -- Waid Vontz and Matt Sexton led Cambridge in the individual standings and to the team title at Monday's Republican Valley League golf tournament. Vontz shot a 74 to take the individual title, while Sexton finished with a 78 for the runner-up position...

The Wauneta-Palisade boys and girls track teams swept the team titles at the Golden Plains Activities Conference track meet Monday in McCook. The Lady Broncos finished with 172 points over runner-up Culbertson with 137. Lakeside Central was third with 116 points, followed by Wallace 30, Hayes Center 27, Maywood 21 and Wheatland 17...

The 2004 Bison/NBDA Junior All-Stars boys basketball team will host its annual Alumni Scrimmage at 3 p.m. Saturday at McCook Community College's Tru Hall Gymnasium. Valentino's Pizza and Runza have been previous sponsors for the Junior All-Stars, and coach Steve Nicholson would like to encourage Alumni players to participate in the scrimmage...

St. Pat's also participates at Dutch Zorn invite GOTHENBURG -- McCook eighth-grader Erica Clapp set a new school record in the triple jump at the Dutch Zorn Junior High track meet Saturday. Clapp hit 30 feet, 7 inches, a personal best and a school record in the triple jump to take first place in the event. The seventh and eighth-grade meet featured McCook, St. Patrick School in McCook, Cozad and Gothenburg...

July 28, 1913-May 2, 2004 Earl W. Bruening, 90, died Sunday (May 2, 2004) at Community Hospital of McCook. He was born July 28, 1913, to Richard and Mary Ann (Martin) Bruening in Hendley. He grew up in Hendley and graduated from Hendley High School in 1933...

Oct. 30, 1925-May 2, 2004 Marvin F. Lindsey, 78, died Sunday (May 2, 2004) at Community Hospital of McCook. He was born Oct. 30, 1925, to Arlo J. and Vernell (Reed) Lindsey in Stockville. He graduated from Stockville High School. He received his bachelor's and master's degree at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln. He received his doctorate degree at North Carolina State University in Raleigh, S.C. After graduation he returned to a position at the University of Nebraska...

TRENTON -- A man died Monday when the road grader he was operating was struck by a westbound Burlington Northern Santa Fe freight train at the intersection of the county road and railroad tracks five miles east of Trenton and about one mile south of Highway 34...

The family of Dale and Clara Adams is hosting an open house in honor of the couple's 50th anniversary May 29, 2-4 p.m., at the First Congregational Church in McCook. They were married June 6. Cards of congratulations will reach the couple at 302 West P Street, McCook, NE 69001...

If you compare McCook's downtown business district with towns of similar size, the local central shopping area ranks among the most thriving and forward-looking in the Midlands. Up and down Norris Avenue, over on West First and down C Street, McCook is blessed with a number of progressive and aggressive retail, financial, service and professional firms...

**Dear Editor, I am directing my feelings to those of you who intend to vote no on the elementary school bond issue. We are very fortunate to live in a town we call home that is such a comfortable place to live and raise a family. Our children's future depends on the education that will enable them to carry on a life that we have learned to take for granted. A good school system is also an asset when trying to attract new families to our town...

**Dear Editor, Friday, May 7, is being observed nationally (and locally) as Early Childhood Provider Appreciation Day. This is a special day to recognize all early childhood professionals, such as child care providers, preschool teachers and educators of young children...

**Dear Editor, Recently I was asked by one of my friends to report on my thoughts regarding the proposed new construction in the McCook school system, specifically the renovation and addition at North Ward Elementary. My first exposure with the project was at a Rotary meeting where Tom Bredvick was the guest speaker. Tom's topic was the background and need for a new bond issue that is on next Tuesday's primary election ballot...

My wife was out shopping the other day, when she got to the item marked "cat bowl" on her shopping list. Now I consider a cat lucky if he doesn't have to live in the barn and hunt mice for a living, so our 22-pound Maine Coon-cross was quite an adjustment when he began jumping (Whoomp!) onto the bed in the middle of the night, or hopping (umph!) into the middle of my chest when I'm home alone at noon, taking a nap...

McCook Daily Gazette The budget restraints that compelled the McCook Public Schools board of education to initiate a seven-period day at the high school last fall have not eased, yet, it seems, concerns about losing eighth period haven't changed either...

McCook High School Principal Jerry Smith told educators he would like the board to consider naming every straight-A student "No. 1" in his or her class. Smith said Monday that the No. 1 designation would mean more top students will qualify for honors and scholarships. "This will give our students more opportunities after graduation," Smith said. Board member Jack Clark agreed, saying more McCook graduates would be able to compete for top scholarships...

McCook Municipal Airport and North Platte Regional Airport will submit a joint application for $225,000 under the Small Community Air Service Program to advertise and promote both airports. With $55,000 in local funding, the two airports will have a war chest of about $300,000 to try to persuade travelers to fly out of an airport closer to home...

McCook's new wells will be lower in nitrates if they are near surface water, but they have to keep their distance if the city wants to avoid a more costly treatment system. And, then there's the possibility of contamination from an old dump. After discussion with Greg Wolford of W Design Associates, however, the council voted unanimously to seek proposals from engineering firms for the design and supervision of a water treatment facility. The proposals are to be received by June 8 at 4 p.m...

Her spacious, sun-drenched kindergarten classroom was "truly visionary" when McCook's North Ward Elementary was built in 1949, according to kindergarten teacher Bev Klein. "This one classroom is truly a bright spot," Klein told the 20-or-so people gathered for a second informational meeting designed to describe the $5.8 million project that would transform North Ward into a single-site elementary school...