Stories from Thursday, September 2, 2004

McCook welcomes Scottsbluff Bearcats to town Friday night The McCook Bison football team's defense of its second straight Nebraska Class B state title begins Friday night. The Bison, winners of 26 straight games and 34 of their last 37, will play the Scottsbluff Bearcats, who will challenge McCook's defense with their Wing-T offensive formation...

McCook and Cambridge will begin their defense of their state titles. Chase County and Eustis-Farnam are trying to turn successful seasons last year into state titles of their own. Programs like Southwest High, Hitchcock County and Rawlins County are just looking to play the first game with their new names...

Rawlins County spikers rout WaKeeney WaKEENEY, Kan. -- The Rawlins County volleyball squad came out strong during their first matches of the season Tuesday night at WaKeeney-Trego. The Buffs defeated WaKeeney 25-14, 25-7. "The girls were excited and that showed throughout the match," said Rawlins County coach Kelley Dewey...

Dec. 8, 1918-Aug. 31, 2004 Lamar Hajek, the third and youngest child of Frank and Agnes Steiner Hajek, was born Dec. 8, 1918, on a farm north of Marion, Kan. He died Aug. 31, 2004, at the Rawlins County Health Center in Atwood at the age of 85 years...

NORTH PLATTE -- The proposed levy for Mid Plains Community College Area will be less than one cent higher per $100 valuation than it was last year. If approved, the new tax levy will reflect a $10.49 increase over last year's tax-asking on a home valued at $100,000...

An Hispanic male is sought on four felony charges connected to an as-sault Tuesday afternoon northeast of McCook. Red Willow County Sheriff Gene Mahon said this morning that a complaint was filed late Wednesday afternoon against Jose Cruz Cepeda-Lopez, who is charged with first-degree sexual assault, first-degree false imprisonment, burglary and robbery...

Doak Construction workers position the new four-faced town-square clock in the center of McCook Community College's campus. Stabilizing the top of the clock are Jeremy Guerrero (left) and Bob Fritsch. The black wrought-iron clock -- standing in the lawn east of McMillen Hall -- is a gift from the McCook College Foundation and is one phase of the foundation's campus enhancement plan. ...

NEW YORK -- A trip to the Republican National Convention in New York City is making a lasting impression on one Southwest Nebraska resident. Kathy Wilmot of Beaver City said the experience is one she will never forget. "As I walked around Ground Zero, I could still smell the ashes from the burning buildings and see the remains of the severely damaged buildings that are to be torn down," she said...

Get ready, sports fans! The 2004-05 high school season is here! Following the spectacular success of a year ago -- when five state champions from this area were crowned -- the Southwest Nebraska and Northwest Kansas region is bursting back into action with new teams and new dreams for athletic achievement...

I know I'm fickle; it hasn't been six months since I was touting the benfits of summer. But with the Labor Day weekend approaching, it's hard for me not to begin longing for fall. Sure, I've en-joyed the hours we've spent fishing, barbecuing and sitting outside with the mosquitoes, but it's time to start enjoying the joys of fall and winter -- hunting, chili and being snowed in for a couple of days a month...

Nov. 9, 1942-Aug. 31, 2004 Larry Leibrandt, 61, died Tuesday (Aug. 31, 2004) at Community Hospital of McCook. He was born Nov. 9, 1942, to LeRoy and Lois (Johnson) Leibrandt in McCook. He grew up in McCook and graduate from McCook High School in 1960. In 1962, he graduated from McCook Junior College and then attended Chadron State College and received his auctioneering degree from the Iowa School of Auctioneering...