Stories from Tuesday, December 13, 2005

OMAHA -- Cambridge junior Christina Houghtelling pounded a match-high 18 kills on .615 hitting, the sixth-best postseason total in school history, as the top-ranked Nebraska volleyball team advanced to the program's ninth national semifinal with a 3-0 sweep (30-26, 30-24, 30-16) of fourth-ranked Florida in front of an NCAA-record crowd of 15,119 Saturday night at the Qwest Center Omaha...

More than 300 APA pool players watched in awe as the No. 1 ranked pool player in the world Allison Fisher dazzled and charmed members of the APA Pool League during an exhibition at the Republican River Valley Event Center in McCook on Saturday. "She showed a completely different side of her personality" said Joe Bond, APA League Operator. ...

Bison sophomore girls roll past Hitchcock County TRENTON -- The McCook High School sophomore girls basketball team rolled to a 75-27 victory over Hitchcock County Monday night at Trenton. Four Bison players scored in double figures, led by Kelsee Meissner with 20 points...

The City of McCook is on the hunt for a new City Manager, with a starting salary of $72,500, depending on qualifications. Three McCook City Council members discussed Monday night at their special meeting the job skills and experience required for the position, which will need to be filled when current City Manger John Bingham leaves Jan. 13, 2006...

By CONNIE JO DISCOE Regional Editor The McCook Public Schools board of education approved a new three-year contract and salary increase for Superintendent Dr. Don Marchant following a 1 1/2-hour closed session during its regular monthly meeting Monday evening...

The McCook Public Schools board of education agreed Monday evening to consider the sale of the school district's West Q Street bus barn land to Red Willow County, whose jail task force considers it a prime location for a new city-county jail and public safety center...

By BRUCE CROSBY Editor A prototype helicopter achieved hovering flight Monday, clearing the way for a McCook factory to begin turning out kits as soon as next month. "We're real excited," Pawnee Aviation founder and CEO Ron Willocks told the Gazette this morning. Although more test flights need to be made, "the hard work is done in hover," he added...

With the largest crowd in NCAA volleyball history watching, Christina Houghtelling of Cambridge performed in magnificent fashion Saturday for the top-ranked University of Nebraska Cornhuskers. To the delight of her family and friends in Cambridge and Southwest Nebraska, Christina captured Most Valuable Player honors in the Omaha Regional by pounding a match-high 18 kills to help the Huskers sweep Florida, 3-0...

Nebraska Attorney General Jon Bruning took the right step when he referred the investigation of NU Regent David Hergert to a grand jury. The questions about Hergert's campaign conduct need to be addressed, and it appears that a grand jury is the only way that is going to accomplished...

July 14, 1939--Dec. 7, 2005 PEORIA, Ariz. -- Harvey "Butch" Rohrbacher, 66, died Wednesday (Dec. 7, 2005) in Peoria, Ariz., as the result of lung cancer. He was born on July 14, 1939, in Bertrand. He attended school in Bartley. He joined the U.S. Air Force shortly after graduation. He was medically discharged and, after undergoing surgery, joined the U.S. Navy...

May 28, 1921--Dec. 9, 2005 CURTIS -- Roy Davis, 84, died Dec. 9, 2005, at Sunset Haven Nursing Home in Curtis. He was born May 28, 1921, near White to Elmer E. and Martha Hoschouer Davis. He married Marian Candace Bailey on April 18, 1941, in Norton. The couple made their home on a farm southwest of Curtis...

May 17, 1920--Dec. 9, 2005 ATWOOD -- Robert Charles Miller, 85, died Friday (Dec. 9, 2005) at the Rawlins County Health Center in Atwood. He was born May 17, 1920, to John Jacob Miller III and Naomi Beryl (Dillon) Miller in Atwood. He attended two years of college...

Aug. 18, 1913--Dec. 10, 2005 Dillworth A. Johns, 92, died Saturday (Dec. 10, 2005) at Community Hospital of McCook. She was born Aug. 18, 1913, to Johnnie J. and Clara L. (Crouse) Rankin in Goodland, Kan. She married Francis Lynn Carpenter on Sept. 24, 1931, in Goodland. He preceded her in death in 1967. She married Horace J. Johns in Miami, Fla., on Dec. 29, 1970. They made their home in Florida until his death in 1975. She then returned to McCook...