Stories from Tuesday, November 8, 2005

City Manager John Bingham said at Monday's council meeting that engineers working on the water treatment plant have kept the city "out of the loop" concerning the deep injection well process, but W Design/JHC assured him and council members that they are on schedule and will meet the required compliance dates...

McCook will host Beatrice in state semifinals Saturday During McCook's run of winning 49 of its last 50 football games (and 55 of its last 57), the Bison have found a way to win games in which they haven't played their best. Monday night's Nebraska Class B state quarterfinal matchup with Holdrege at Weiland Field was one of those games...

COZAD (AP) -- Chase County got into the Class C1 semifinals by a foot. Gabe Lenners kicked a 29-yard field goal with nine seconds left Monday night to give 10th-ranked Chase County a 23-21 win over No. 6 Cozad in a Class C1 quarterfinal. Matt May rushed for 205 yards and two touchdowns in the win for visiting Chase County...

There will be a girls basketball player and parent meeting at 7 p.m. next Monday in the McCook Senior High School auditorium. The purpose of this meeting is to discuss expectations and rules for participating in basketball, some of the basketball points of emphasis for players, coaches and fans, as well as some of the basketball rule changes...

The children of Mary Richards are requesting a card shower in honor of her 90th birthday. She was born Nov. 12, 1915. Cards of congratulations will reach her in Stratton.

By CONNIE JO DISCOE Regional Editor The timing was unfortunate for Red Willow County to help with a Christmas project designed to further enhance the rehabilitation of offenders at the Nebraska Department of Corrections Work Ethic Camp in McCook. A contribution from the county would have helped pay the postage to mail Christmas gifts to offenders' children. ...

It was a nail-biter, multi-Tums football game Monday night when McCook's fighting Bison defeated the Holdrege Dusters, 10-3, in the final seconds of a quarterfinal game in the Class B playoffs games. Scoring the game-saving touchdown was quarterback Tony Purvis (center, above). The Bison advance to the last playoff game, Saturday, at 4 p.m., at home on Weiland Field, against the Beatrice Orangemen, who defeated Aurora Monday evening, 27-20...

Talk about thrilling! The final few minutes of Monday night's McCook-Holdrege playoff battle carried players, coaches and fans on a whirlwind ride of emotions, with the fate of both teams riding on every play. McCook's game-winning drive will live vividly in the minds of Bison fans for years to come, with the thrust to victory defining the never-quit spirit that has been the mark of McCook teams for the past four years...

With the recent hurricanes in the South, I've been enjoying a chance to get an historical perspective through a book recommended by a co-worker. Whenever newsroom discussion would turn to the storms, citizen and government response, Regional Editor Connie Jo Discoe would pipe up, "You've got to read 'Isaac's Storm.'"...

**Dear Editor, As a former resident of McCook (I grew up there), this week has been one of deep loss for all of us. The John T. Harris Family was my second family when I was growing up. I probably spent more time at their home than I did at my own! Besides keeping me busy at numerous jobs (and there were MANY!), John T. (Mr. Harris to me) always kept his door open, even as I got older...

**Dear Editor, I certainly was delighted to read your Oct. 31 editorial on the Sand Livestock verdict. I really love this business some days. I just learned of that edition, and it truly made my Monday to read it. It is so vital for people to know with certainty they can speak up in public...

**Dear Editor, Both former president Bill Clinton and Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D. Mass.) were quoted in the media as praising and agreeing with Rosa Parks and her stand and defiance against the laws of Alabama in 1955. Therefore, anyone who agrees that Rosa Parks did the right thing with her defiance is acknowledging that law is subservient to morality...

**Dear Editor, By writing letters to Open Forum, the enemy will retreat if and only if you are a capitalist. The do-gooders in Iraq are there for a reason: enforce freedom and democracy. Ownership of land and mineral rights is guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution...

A specially appointed coroner said he had not yet seen information from a police investigation of the death of a former Red Willow County Attorney. Attorney Pete Burger was ap-pointed coroner in the case of Dal Wood, who died at his home in McCook on Sunday. Wood's son, Paul Wood, is Red Willow County Attorney and acts as coroner...

CULBERTSON -- The Evening Circle at St. John's Lutheran Church in Culbertson plans its annual Turkey Dinner on Wednesday from 5:30-7 p.m. the menu includes turkey, ham, dressing, potatoes and gravy, corn, rolls with butter, salads, desserts and coffee or water. ...

July 9, 1930--Nov. 6, 2005 Joseph D. "Dal" Wood Jr. died Sunday, Nov. 6, 2005, at his home in McCook. He was 75 years old. He was born July 9, 1930, in McCook to Joseph D. and Pearl (Lawritsen) Wood. He was a graduate of McCook High School in 1948, McCook Junior College in 1950 and the University Of Nebraska College Of Law in 1954...