Stories from Tuesday, May 17, 2005

OGALLALA -- Zach Robinson and Jordan Wilcox scored in the top 10, giving Medicine Valley's boys golf team the C2-5 District title. Team members Wilcox, Robinson, Joshua Nutt, Brenen Hammond and Richard Wilder will go on to Lincoln for the state tournament next Tuesday and Wednesday...

ATWOOD -- The Oberlin boys golf team has two players on their way to the Kansas Class 2-1A state tournament in Emporia. Jonathon Richards and Breck Simonsson placed third and sixth in the top 10. Richards, a junior, is a three-time state meet qualifier and this is Simonsson's first trip. The Red Devils placed third in the team standings...

Brandon Crick to make 3rd trip to state meet OGALLALA -- The McCook High School boys golf team's hopes of defending their back-to-back Nebraska Class B state championships were dashed Monday afternoon. The Bison finished fourth at the Class B-4 District Golf Tournament, which was played at the West Winds Golf Course in Ogallala...

David Swisher, a McCook Senior High sophomore who created this "Rube Goldberg device" last year as a freshman, looks up as a bottle of water ascends to the top of an auger. The public is invited to attend and watch the 2005 Rube Goldberg competition Thursday from noon until 1:30 p.m. ...

Red Willow County commissioners agreed with the jail task force Monday morning and will proceed to Phase II of a study into the possibility of building a county jail. Commissioners agreed with task force members that there is a need for a jail in the county, and voted unanimously to start Phase II, which would include a pre-architecture study to determine the number of beds, staffing needs, operational and maintenance costs and site possibilities for a county jail...

If the city of McCook and a rural McCook landowner are unable to come to some sort of agreement by Friday, the city will begin the process of condemning property the city plans to use for new municipal water wells. The McCook City Council voted 4-0 Monday night to offer Jay Hancock of Hancock Sand and Gravel $200,000 for 78 acres southeast of McCook. Councilman Jim Kenny was absent...

The landowner who offered the city the opportunity to investigate water sources on his property in order to develop a new well field is beginning to regret his decision. Because now, says Jay Hancock of Hancock Sand and Gravel, "when they purchase the ground, I'll have to move my entire operation."...

A Red Willow County farm will be transformed into an agricultural and environmental retreat, if its owners are approved for a $131,000 grant from the Nebraska Department of Economic Development. Andela Taylor proposes to turn her family's farm into "Hilton Farm Eco-Retreat," a tourism attraction that will provide hands-on experiences focusing on nature, wellness, culinary arts, arts and crafts and horti/agriculture...

The McCook City Council will conduct a study session Monday, at noon to discuss the possibility of exchanging the city-owned McCook Public Safety Center for the East Ward Elementary building owned by McCook Public Schools. No further information was available regarding the session. The meeting is open to the public. The council will meet in the Council Chambers at the McCook Auditorium...

Representative government is the core of our society, but how many of us are truly involved? Yes, we can vote in elections, we can call our representatives, we can even write Open Forum letters. Some of us, the bravest among us, may even consent to run for an office like school board, City Council or county commissioner -- and they deserve our gratitude and respect when they do, even when we disagree with their decisions...

**Dear Editor, Is it possible that the gasoline merchants in McCook are not treating their customers fairly? Sunday, May 8th, 2005, (a local dealer) in McCook was selling super unleaded (ethanol) for $2.179 ($2.18), but in Franklin, Nebraska, just 100 miles east, (the same franchise) was selling super unleaded for $2.029 ($2.03)...

It was another attack of "but first" disease. You've read about that, haven't you? It started last fall, when our family was visiting my sister's family in Iowa, just about high school football championship time. There, across the alley from her house, was a forlorn-looking sailboat, complete with a dishwasher toward the stern ...

(May 19, 1913 - Nov. 22, 2004) TUCSON, ARIZ. -- Lucille R. (Ball) McBee, 91, died Nov. 22, 2004, in Tucson, Ariz. She was born in Danbury on May 19, 1913, to Thomas and Alma (Hayes) Ball. She attended school in Danbury. On Oct. 10, 1936, she married Ora Franklin McBee. They farmed north of Culbertson, and moved to McCook in 1985. She has resided in Arizona since 1994...

Brent and Sheila (Whitten) Isherwood of Tehachapi, Cali., announce the birth of their daughter, Lindsey Anne, born April 26, 2005. She weighed 8 pounds, 12 ounces, and was 21 inches long. She has a 2 1/2 year old sister, Hannah. Grandparents are Stan and Jeanine Whitten of McCook, Aloma Isherwood of Lincoln, and Bruce and Fran Isherwood of Phoenix, Ariz. Bernice Dunn of Omaha is the great-grandmother...

INDIANOLA -- Norma Helm celebrated her 75th birthday May 16. Cards of congratulations will reach her at Box N, Indianola, Neb., 69034