Stories from Tuesday, May 3, 2005

McCook High School senior Dallas Korus will continue his wrestling career at Chadron State College. Korus signed a letter of intent Friday to wrestle for the Eagles. Korus will probably wrestle at either 125 or 133 pounds, said McCook High School wrestling coach Nick Umscheid...

Sean Sterkel decided to make the four-hour trip from Bridgeport to McCook Monday worth it. Sterkel signed a letter of intent to play golf at McCook Community College for the 2005-06 season. Sterkel joins a recruiting class at MCC that includes McCook High School senior Brett Chmiel, who signed two weeks ago...

NORTH PLATTE -- Two teams of McCook High School golfers competed at the North Platte Triangular Monday. The nine-hole tournament, which also featured Ogallala, was played at the North Platte Country Club. The Bison A team placed third in their division with a 185 score. North Platte was first with 155 and Ogallala was second with 168...

Work will continue on improvements to the Mc-Cook water system after the City Council approved a number of items concerning the project at its Monday night meeting. The council voted unanimously to approve a bid from Elk Creek Backhoe to demolish the old booster station on West Fifth and install the new one...

Developers and prospective home builders can continue with their plans to build homes or businesses inside the McCook city limits after the council approved a Short Term Capacity Assurance Plan. The council voted unanimously to approve the plan that will allow up to 28 new sewer connections...

CULBERTSON -- Culbertson's school board voted 6-0 Monday evening to enter into a new three-year unification agreement with Stratton and Trenton. The board had indicated it would abide by the results of an advisory vote April 26, in which patrons were asked to pick between the three-school unification or a merger with McCook. The results were close: 179 for the unification, 153 for the merger...

Red Willow County commissioners chose between Nebraska and Pennsylvania firms when they purchased replacements blades for the county's road graders Monday morning. Commissioner Leigh Hoyt made a motion to purchase the county's grader blades from Presco Sales and Service Inc. of Norfolk, although that firm's bid was slightly higher than a bid from a company in New Kingstown, Pa. "For $170, let's keep the money in Nebraska," Hoyt said. "They're a Nebraska business, and pay Nebraska taxes."...

Lt. Gov. Rick Sheehy, above from left, Pawnee Aviation CEO Ron Willocks and Rex Nelson, McCook Economic Development Corp. executive director, survey the helicopter kit plant in the former railroad roundhouse in McCook. Sheehy was in town Monday as part of a tour of unique businesses throughout the area. Sheehy said he admired the ingenuity of entrepreneurs in Western Nebraska...

How big a price should a candidate pay for violating the law? Is it enough to pay a fine and then go ahead and serve with a tainted record? In light of calls for his resignation, Regent David Hergert is going to find out. Hergert will avoid criminal prosecution, but he will pay $33,512.10 in fines after admitting to violating state campaign finance laws in his defeat of Dr. Don Blank of McCook in last fall's election...

**Dear Editor, I realize that Dave Nabity has little to no chance of winning the GOP nomination for governor next year, but his thoughts and ideas reported in the April 29 Gazette ["Candidate emphasizes outstate growth" (http://www. mccookgazette.com/story/1095475.html)] deserve some feedback...

**Dear Editor, We are NOT outstate Nebraska!!! ["Candidate emphasizes outstate growth" (http://www.mccookgazette.com/story/1095475.html)] **Charlene Colson, via e-mail

**Dear Editor, The following facts might clear up the motorcycle helmet law issue: Football players in official games are required to be in uniform. This includes the wearing of appropriate headgear. Yet, there are far more knee injuries to motorcycle riders than football players who do not choose to wear shoulder pads...

**Dear Editor, The article written by Walt Sehnert, "The Draft Notice, and Mr. Walmsley" was very interesting and well-written. I plan to send it to my brother, Lester Wurm of Overland Park, Kan., since he is a Korean War veteran. He served at White Sands Proving grounds at that time, New Mexico...

Dec. 21, 1928-May 1, 2005 Ruth Marie DeBaufre Morgan died Sunday, May 1, 2005, at Community Hospital of McCook. She was born Dec. 21, 1928, in Langhorne, Penn., and was adopted by William and Elizabeth DeBaufre. Ruth's early years were spent in New Jersey. The family moved to Lincoln in 1931. She attended Prescott and Sheridan grade schools, Irving Junior High and Lincoln High graduating in 1946. She attend the University of Nebraska, graduating in 1949...

KEARNEY -- Travis and Susan Payne announce the birth of their son, Aidan Charles Payne, March 8, 2005, at Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney. He weighed 7 pounds, 14 ounces and was 20 inches long. Grandparents are Bob and Pat Bonge of McCook, Marian Payne of Kearney and the late Charles Payne. Great-grandparents are Patty Devoy of O'Neill and Alvie Payne of Kearney...

The family of Bill and Clara Pankonin is hosting a card shower in honor of the couple's 25th anniversary May 1. Cards of congratulations will reach the couple at 318 East Ninth Avenue, Benkelman, NE 69021.

The family of Von and Donna (Douglass) Simmonds is hosting an open house in honor of the couple's 50th anniversary May 7, 2005, 2 p.m., at the Knights of Columbus Hall in McCook. The couple married on May 8, 1955, in Kensington, Kan. They are former residents of McCook.Their children are Javonna and Jim Monzon of California, Ron and Kelly Simmonds of Iowa, Rod and Brenda Simmonds of Kansas, Lonnie and Angie Simmonds of Wyoming and Mike and Tonda Simmonds of McCook. ...