Stories from Friday, January 21, 2005

COLBY -- The McCook boys squared off against an undefeated Liberal last night and could not overcome a 23-point performance by Liberal's Antonio Hansen. Liberal defeated McCook 77-53. McCook had a good shooting night, shooting 46 percent from the field, but turned the ball over allowing Liberal 33 points off of those turnovers...

BROKEN BOW -- The McCook High School wrestling team lost a dual at Broken Bow Thursday 47-22. McCook's varsity and junior varsity wrestlers compete at the Lexington Invitational Saturday. The JV competition starts at 8:30 a.m., followed by the varsity meet at 10 a.m...

NEW YORK -- Don Dernovich, who retired last year after a long career as art instructor at McCook Community College, has received important recognition through acceptance into active membership of the American Watercolor Society. According to a release, "there are certain milestones that one attempts to reach in his chosen career. ...

A request to the McCook Board of Zoning Adjustment to consider allowing McCook Public Power District to place a 350-foot tower in west McCook has been postponed until a later date. According to City Manager John Bingham, Stan Goodwin, the attorney representing MPPD has requested that the item be removed from Monday's meeting agenda...

TRENTON -- Hitchcock County Attorney D. Eugene Garner said this morning the investigation into the death of three-month-old Kyla Martinez continues. Garner said he and Nebraska State Patrol Investigator Gary Eng are awaiting autopsy reports and lab results from the Scottsbluff Regional Medical Center...

As Nebraska welcomes a new governor, the people of Southwest Nebraska have reason to be proud. Once again, the state's chief executive has a direct link to this region. Dave Heineman, who was sworn in as Nebraska's 39th governor at 10 a.m. today, lived in both McCook and Benkelman during his early grade school years...

**Dear Editor, I don't understand the mentality of the McCook town council. Yes I said town. I know a lot of the people here would like to call this town a city, but the only thing "city" about it is their big ideas. The only problem is they don't approve the ideas that will help the community to grow. A while back, everyone was crying because they were going to change the name of the college; boy that started a large uprising...

**Dear Editor, We have to concur with Michael and Candy Owens' comments about the short-sightedness of the decision to not help the college expand with a new parking lot. The economic impact of MCC to our area so greatly affects every citizen and business owner in the community...

Unless you have been living under a rock, were raised by a rock or have a pet rock as your only friend, you've likely heard of No Limits Texas Hold 'Em, a poker game which is everywhere. This last Christmas, either you or someone you know likely bought a loved one something poker-related. Just ask around and someone will have received a set of poker chips...

April 22, 1940-Jan. 19, 2005 Virginia "Ginny" Lavonne (Mitchem) Moore died Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2005, at her sister's home in Lincoln. She was 64 years old. Ginny was born on April 22, 1940, in McCook to Dale Jess and Fern Elizabeth (Worske) Mitchem. She was the second born of ten children. She attended McCook Public Schools. She moved to Milwaukee, Wis., and was employed as a nurse's aid at a hospital...

Nov. 5, 1951-Jan. 20, 2005 STANBERRY, Mo. -- Deva K. (Bentley) Vaught, 53, of Stanberry, Mo., died Thursday (Jan. 20, 2005) at Stanberry Health Care Center. She was born Nov. 5, 19551, to Ellis E. and Ruby L. (Wharton) Bentley in Gentry County, Mo. She was a member of the Church of Christ...

McCook boys lose to Ulysses COLBY, Kan. -- The McCook High School girls basketball team snapped a 10-game losing streak and will play for fifth place at the 20th annual Colby Orange and Black Classic Tournament. The Bison girls defeated Ulysses 42-30 Friday in the consolation bracket Friday afternoon...

A trio of ice fishermen try their luck on Swanson Reservoir, just west of the dam, on Thursday. Other parts of the lake were nearly open water, thanks to recent warm days.

ARAPAHOE -- The Southern Valley girls gave coach Mike Lanham his 400th career win Friday night as the Eagles came away with a convincing 76-51 victory over the Arapahoe Warriors. Lanham has a career record of 400 wins, 143 losses. Southern Valley's Megan Becker led all scorers with 18 points...

OBERLIN -- The semi-final round of the Oberlin Invitational pitted the 2004 Kansas state champions against the 2004 Nebraska state champions. Cambridge came into the game ranked 8th in Nebraska class D1, but Quinter was up to the challenge. Quinter came out ready to play from the opening tip and was able to beat Cambridge in every quarter on its way to a dominating 68-42 win...

A bill introduced in the Nebraska Legislature eventually could lead to an increase of $300 on telephone bills for some Nebraskan. The measure, introduced by Sen. Mike Foley of Lincoln, calls for all but $20 million of Nebraska's Universal Service Fund to be placed in the state's general fund one year after the bill is enacted...

OXFORD -- Southern Valley turned in 156 points on three first-place finishes and three seconds, four thirds and two fourths to win the Republican Valley League tournament on Friday. Southwest was second with 113, Cambridge third with 100, Bertrand fourth with 95, Dundy County fifth with 93.5, Alma sixth with 58 and Arapahoe seventh at 57 points...

Legislators, Congressmen, and other elected officials continue to try to make our lives "better and safer" by continuing to pass laws, ordinances, and regulations restricting our behavior. When you look at the way people used to live compared with the way we live today, it's a wonder that anyone who grew up in the '40s, '50s, '60s or even the disco '70s, made it to middle age or older...

Welcome Governor Heineman! The swearing in of our new governor was the Legislature's priority this morning. There was a full house watching as he made his first remarks to the legislative body as Nebraska's 39th Governor. I have had the opportunity to work with Gov. Heineman during the time he served as State Treasurer as well as Lieutenant Governor, and I truly believe he will represent our state well. I am also pleased to mention that he is formerly a member of Legislative District 44...