Stories from Monday, December 19, 2005

McCook's new $14.422 million water treatment plant is unique in that it will bring the city's water supply into full compliance with new uranium standards as well as nitrates and arsenic, according to City Manager John Bingham. The city will begin testing the new treatment system next month in anticipation of full compliance by the March 31, 2006 deadline...

Curtis -- Irrigators in the Middle Republican Natural Resources District have reduced their groundwater usage to an average of 8.8 inches in 2005, reported Manager Dan Smith at the District's recent board meeting. So far, 84 percent of the certified acres in the district have been calculated. Smith doesn't expect that usage number to change much with the remaining acres to be calculated...

An inflatable Santa on West Second in McCook has a coating of snow to prove that it's likely to be a white Christmas. While nothing can top anticipation of a happy holiday, we hope those expectations aren't over inflated.

During the 1920s, Wade Stevens, later an attorney in McCook, served for two terms as Furnas County Attorney. During this time of National Prohibition, a good deal of Stevens' time was taken up in dealing with bootleggers. Illegal "stills," producing varieties of "hootch" and "white-lightning" flourished in the county and Wade worked closely with Sheriff Warren E. ...

Without question, McCook was one of the most successful Main Street programs in the state. The proof came in the form of a host of awards, harvested by McCook's downtown district in statewide competition with other Main Street participants. Despite the many honors, McCook dropped out of the program. The withdrawal came about because of lack of funding and the Main Street group's failure to connect with the McCook Chamber of Commerce, the McCook Economic Development Corp. and the City of McCook...

**Dear Editor, This letter is directed to the candidates for office. I hope that those seeking office here in Nebraska pay it some attention as it would affect all of the tax payers. I don't care about your values, I don't care about your religious affiliation, nor do I care how long you've been married, how often or how many children you have. ...

July 24, 1946--Dec. 17, 2005 Patricia J. Hecox, of McCook, died Saturday, Dec. 17, 2005, at Community Hospital in McCook. She was 59 years old. Patricia was born on July 24, 1946, to Edwin Eugene and Shirley Patricia (Otis) Bacon. She graduated from Cozad High School in 1964 and Hastings College in 1968...

July 24, 1921--Dec. 17, 2005 HAIGLER -- Albert F. Zuege, 84, died Saturday (Dec. 17, 2005) at the Dundy County Hospital in Benkelman. He was born July 24, 1921, in Haigler. He was a farmer. Survivors include his wife, Sophia P. (Keller) Zuege of Haigler; sons, Albert Zuege Jr. of Imperial and Alfred Zuege of South Dakota; four grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren...

June 17, 1935--Dec. 16, 2005 INDIANOLA -- Gerald Dean "Pudge" Sitzman, 70, died Friday (Dec. 16, 2005) at Bryan LGH East in Lincoln. He was born June 17, 1935, at Culbertson to Henry C. and Helen (Hill) Sitzman. He graduated from Culbertson High School in 1952...