Stories from Wednesday, August 18, 2004

Aug. 4, 1957-Aug. 16, 2004 Charles Eugene "Chuck" Stewart, 47, of Kearney, died Monday (Aug. 16, 2004) at his parents home in McCook. He was born Aug. 4, 1957, to William Arthur and Bettye Anne (Solace) Stewart in Alliance. He graduated from McCook High School in 1976. He attended Mid-Plains Community College in North Platte and graduated with an associates degree in heating, ventilation and air conditioning technology...

Katrina and Kenneth Ahrens of McCook announce the birth of their son, Erik Wesley, Aug. 13, 2004, at Community Hospital of McCook. He weighed 7 pounds, 2.8 ounces and was 19 inches long. Grandparents are Buddy Ahrens of McCook and Kristine Ahrens of Colby. Great-grandparents include Mary Weaver of Anchorage, Alaska and Helen Ahrens of Sealy, Texas. Great-great-grandparents are Minnie "Chic" Ahrens of McCook and Jim and Eleanor Crabb of Wauneta...

No matter where you go in western Nebraska, the problems with cellular phones seem to be common. Dropped calls, billing problems, and unfriendly customer service are just a few of the complaints heard by Jerry Vap, Chairman of the Public Service Commissioner and Gene Hand, Director of Telecommunications for PSC...

A rural Herndon man, charged in Red Willow County Court Monday for sexual assault of an inmate at the Nebraska Work Ethic Camp has been charged with drug charges in Kansas. According to the Rawlins County Square Deal, Darwin Sagel, 40, was arrested in McCook Monday following a search of his residence over the weekend...

CAMBRIDGE -- Twin Valleys Public Power District in Cambridge celebrated its 60th anniversary Tuesday with an open house that offered a barbecue lunch, anniversary cake and rides in the truck bucket. Twin Valleys Manager Ken Johnson said that in late 1943, a group of area farmers joined together to investigate the possibility of bringing electricity to rural residents of Furnas, Frontier, Gosper, Harlan Phelps and Red Willow counties...

A butterfly bush lives up to its name as it attracts this tiger swallowtail. With cooler temperatures, butterflies may begin hibernation or migration earlier than usual this year. McCook's overnight low Tuesday morning of 54 was a record for that date...

The McCook Pantry shelves are no longer in danger of becoming bare! Thanks to an overwhelming response from McCook, Culbertson, Indianola and other area communities, thousands of pounds of non-perishable food have been donated to the organization which provides food free of charge to people in need...

Tonight, all across McCook, school children will carefully select and lay out the first outfit of a new school year. New BVDs, socks, shoes, blue jeans and t-shirts will be folded neatly and placed at the foot of the bed or on top of the bureau. Suppertime conversation will focus on new teachers, new classes and fall sports. ...