Stories from Friday, October 1, 2004

McCook Bison boys, girls teams place 5th, 7th GOTHENBURG -- Several area teams competed at the Gothenburg Cross Country Invitational on Thursday. Chase County, Cambridge and McCook were third, fourth and fifth in the boys division, respectively. "Both (McCook) teams competed very well. This meet is the last of a very tough week. We have competed on four of the last eight days, that can be very tolling on the body," said McCook coach Tom Sughroue...

Lightning forces tie between McCook, Kearney softball teams KEARNEY -- The McCook Bison softball team played Kearney to a 0-0 tie Thursday night at Kearney. The game with Keamey was suspended after eight innings because of lightning. McCook's Stephanie Douglas pitched 7 1/3 innings. Shegave up two hits and struck out 11. Taryn Placzek pitched to the last two batters in the eighth and struck out one...

CURTIS -- The Wheatland volleyball team defeated Medicine Valley in four sets in Thursday volleyball action. Wheatland took the first two sets from Medicine Valley 25-16, 25-14. The Raiders won the third set 25-13, then dropped the final set 25-19 to Wheatland...

When Harold Davidson returned to his hometown of McCook, he brought a dream with him. Harold wanted to turn his hobby, wine-making, into a second career. Thanks to planning and painstaking preparation, Harold is accomplishing his goal. The first grapes -- from Seyval Blanc vines planted in 2001 -- have just been picked and will be made into wine during coming months...

It's official. I'm a member of a frequent-flier club, which amuses me because I fly approximately every six years. With five small children, the chances of my entire family flying are about as likely as my household getting through a day without using a Band-Aid. Neither is going to happen in the near future...

CAMBRIDGE -- Roger Stockton has taken the helm as the new coordinator for the Southwest Nebraska Rural Conservation and Development Council in Cambridge. Stockton was formerly the crops and soils extension and sunflower specialist for Northwest Kansas. He has worked extensively with farmers dealing with limited irrigation and reduced water use while maintaining producer profitability. He remains deeply concerned with the issue of sustainability of water resources and production agriculture...

A 14-year old girl admitted to false reporting and operating a motor vehicle without a license Tuesday, in connection to a Sept. 10 incident which led to a manhunt near her rural Bartley home. Sara Mowry was brought up on the charges after she allegedly told law enforcement personnel a man had forced her into her father's pickup and driven it for three miles before rolling the vehicle. ...

The response to a walking program for women overwhelmed sponsors who signed up more than twice as many participants as they had expected. A total of 252 women signed up for a program called "Women Lead the Way," sponsored by the Red Willow County Health Department, Community Hospital of McCook and Southwest Nebraska Physical Therapy...

Harry Sughroue believes the city of McCook has come full circle -- back to where it should be on the issue of fixing the city's water problems. Sughroue has announced his candidacy for the two-year seat on the McCook City Council, left open by the resignation of Jerry Reitz...

Gonzo Aguilar of the city of McCook water department removes a water hydrant at a pumpkin patch on West Second in McCook, with the passing of the growing season. Forecasts indicate there will be frost on those pumpkins soon. (Bruce Crosby/McCook Daily Gazette)

City Manager John Bingham is requesting permission from the McCook City Council to address the Middle Republican Natural Resources District on behalf of the city at a public hearing Wednesday. In this week's city council packet, Bingham brings a number of concerns over the proposed Ground Water Area and Integrated Management Plan to the attention of the council...

In McCook, there's living proof that smoke detectors work. It happened in 1990, soon after members of the McCook Fire Department visited elementary students, telling them of the importance of smoke detectors and a home escape plan. One of the pupils carried that message home, and -- at her urging -- the family had detectors installed and set up a home escape plan...

Public service ads tell parents to sit down and talk to their kids about a variety of things; from sexually transmitted diseases and drug use to gambling. None of these conversations are easy sells due to the exploratory nature of today's teens, but I can't think of anything more difficult than explaining to your child the evils and horrors of gambling, especially in Nebraska...

By The Rev. Dr. David L. deFreese Gretna As a leader in a faith community, I am concerned as our beloved state of Nebraska navigates the deeply divisive controversy of gambling and the votes that will determine future reality. My faith in Jesus Christ calls me to speak on this issue before us...

The mantra may be "Go Big Red!," but die-hard Nebraska Cornhusker fan Dr. Tim Burrows is making his statement in the green of the lawn of his home on the Heritage Hills Golf Course in McCook, seen here in a retouched black and white photo. Nebraska faces the University of Kansas in a pay-per-view game at 6:10 p.m. Saturday. (Bruce Crosby/McCook Daily Gazette)...