Stories from Tuesday, May 25, 2004

SALINA, Kan. -- Atwood High School's Andy Fikan and Oberlin's Matt Mondero earned medals at the Kansas Class 2-1A state golf tournament Monday. The state tournament took place at the par-70 Salina Muncipal Golf Course. Fikan tied for sixth place with three others with a 7-over-par 77. He shot 39 on the front nine holes and 38 on the back nine...

McCook squad features just 11 players After taking a third-place finish from last year's American Legion state tournament, the 2004 McCook National Bank Seniors ball club has gone through a complete makeover. Taking control of this year's team is head coach Justin Wacker. Assisting Wacker will be Scott Burns and Brandon Shiers...

One of the more visible changes for the 2004 McCook National Bank baseball team is the coaching staff. Gone are last year's head coach Tye Hallowell and assistant Seth Vontz. In are new head coach Justin Wacker and assistants Scott Burns and Brandon Shiers...

HAYS, Kan. -- Atwood's Jeff Horinek easily swept the discus, along with the shot put, at the 1A regional and will advance to the Kansas State Track Meet on Friday and Saturday at Cessna Stadium in Wichita. The Class 1A Ransom regional took place at Fort Hays State University...

McCook Bison Championship Youth Football Camp set The McCook Bison football team will host the 2nd annual Championship Football Camp on June 1-4. The camp will feature many of the players that helped McCook win the Back 2 Back State Football Championship...

Jan. 2, 1910-May 21, 2004 ATWOOD -- Nelly Beverly (Barnes) Higley died Friday (May 21, 2004) at her home in Atwood. She was born Jan. 2, 1910, to Josephine Adeline (Hamilton) and Lorenzo Hugh Barnes in Oberlin. She graduating from Decatur Community High School in 1928. She then went to Atwood to work in the Henneberger Hospital...

The family of Grace Vesper Spaulding Mullanix is hosting a card shower in honor of her 100th birthday May 30. She was born in 1904 in Red Willow County. Her children are Gerald and wife, Gladys of Grand Island and Donald and wife, Donna Mullanix of McCook. She has five grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren. Cards will reach her at 309 West Seventh, McCook, NE 69001...

A McCook insurance agent urged Red Willow County commissioners Monday morning to investigate other health insurance opportunities before renewing county policies next year. Commission Chairman Earl McNutt said the board sees no problem investigating the concept of bidding the county's health insurance plan...

David Anthony Tyeeme Clark from the University of Kansas will give a special public presentation at 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, June 2, at the Bieroc Café in McCook. The title of Dr. Clark's presentation is "What Your 'Indian' Elides, e yi ki ka di me ko wi to wi?: Athletic Mascots and Team Names as Anti-Indianism."...

Robert M. Beren (left), chairman of Trenton Agri Products LLC, and Nebraska Gov. Mike Johanns cut the ribbon signifying the grand opening of the Trenton Agri Products LLC plant Thursday morning near Trenton. Open since March 29, the plant employs 31 people and uses 36,000 bushels of grain per day to produce fuel-grade alcohol. (Gene O. Morris/McCook Daily Gazette)...

Although we haven't traveled extensively in other states, we can't imagine any of them having closer contact with their elected leaders than we do in Nebraska. This week has a particularly good example of our close ties with those holding the state's highest offices. Within two days' time, U.S. Sen. Ben Nelson, Gov. Mike Johanns and U.S. Rep. Tom Osborne have all been to Southwest Nebraska for special ceremonies and scheduled forums...

I've written before about a bit of wisdom I received from my father many years ago as we sat in front of our black-and-white television set back on the farm on the banks of the South Platte River. Oohing and aaahing one of the war movies popular back in the 1960s, I was taken aback by a dose of reality from my father:...