Stories from Friday, January 20, 2006

Jan. 17, 1962--Jan. 14, 2006 ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- Jan Marie Mick, 43, died of breast cancer at her Anchorage home on Jan. 14, 2006, surrounded by family. A memorial service will be at Anchorage Lutheran Church, in Anchorage, Alaska, on Saturday, Jan. 21, at 2 p.m., with Pastor Bill Warren officiating...

Jan. 30, 1929--Jan. 18, 2006 HAYES CENTER -- Keith George Burkert, 76, died Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2006, at his home near Hayes Center. He was born Jan. 30, 1929, to David R. and F. Marion (Wolverton) Burkert in the home that he now lived in. He attended rural elementary school in Hayes County and graduated from Ag Tech High School in Curtis in 1946...

Volunteers from the community, offenders from the Nebraska Department of Corrections Work Ethic Camp, and city crews work non-stop installing seats at Memorial Auditorium, which came in this morning around 10 a.m. Doors to the Kathy Troccoli concert are set to open at 6 p.m. tonight...

David Urbom was sworn in Thursday afternoon as the new district court judge for the Eleventh Judicial District, with the Red Willow County District courtroom filled to capacity. "I'm excited to get going," Urbom said afterwards, who will officially start his duties on Monday...

The regional economy is doing better.

Dear editor: There are too many peacenik nutty letters appearing in print today. They are against American values and love of country. It is an indisputable fact America, at the behest of a great commander in chief (perhaps our finest president) has decided to stop a brutal, insane, mad-dog tyrant...

Editor: Passion of the Christ? That's the only movie you will pay to go see? How pathetic. Have an open mind. I dare you to see Brokeback Mountain. Watch an episode of Will & Grace. Just because the Bible may state that it is "wrong" to be gay, doesn't make it right to be prejudiced against such a large percent of the world's population. That's what it is. Prejudice...

Editor: Although I don't own a single piece of vinyl my music selection does cover the broadway, big band and rock and roll that Mrs. Cribbs recalls listening to, albeit digitally. My collection even includes jazz, folk, bluegrass, electronic, country, classical, etc., and not surprisingly much of the music was even inspired by the same basic religious beliefs the associate editor holds. Faure's requiem and "A Love Without End, Amen" come to mind...

Despite the advances in technology, many people can still feel alone and isolated, especially when they they reflect on their individual habits. This is especially true when it comes to vacuuming, a very personalized, individualized chore. Everyone has a particular way that they vacuum, whether it's in circles or diagonal, daily, weekly or when things start sticking to your feet...

LINCOLN -- For the third meet in a row, sophomore Matt Hall breaks a school record. At the Cotter Invitational at Lincoln High Jan. 13, Hall placed first among 13 divers with a score of 325.05. The score beats the 11-dive school record held by Rick Filon 2002-2003 by 5 points...

COLBY -- McCook's basketball teams took to the court in the first round of the 21st Annual Paul Wintz Orange and Black Classic Thursday. The Bison girls played Liberal while the boys played Scott City. McCook's girls fell short to Liberal 53-46. "I am very proud of the girls and how they played tonight. We did not let the press bother us, we kept our turnovers down and we played four quarters of good basketball," said Bison girls coach Barry Schaeffer...

The McCook Optimist Club is sponsoring the 15th Annual MAC Attack tournament this weekend. Boys and girls in grades 4-8 will be playing on Saturday and Sunday. Games begin at 8 a.m. on Saturday and 9 a.m. on Sunday. Boys Grade 4 Division Jan. 21 8 a.m. North Platte Dawgs vs. McCook White-Spilinek St. Pats gym...

COLBY -- Colby defeated Rawlins County (Atwood) wrestlers Thursday 45-27. Results 103 Coy Taisma Col won by default 112 Cody Work Col won by default 119 Trenton Powell Col won by default 125 Matt Michelbrink RC defeated Hunter Ochs Col 130 Lincoln McClure Col won by default...

Christian artist Kathy Troccoli sings to a capacity crowd at Memorial Auditorium Friday night. She is in McCook with Dee Brestin as part of the Christian Women's Conference coordinated by the women's ministry at the McCook Evangelical Free Church. One thousand women were registered for the conference, "Forever in Love with Jesus," which continues Saturday at the auditorium. ...

As Missy Nelson stood in the midst of McCook Memorial Auditorium Friday afternoon, shivers of thankfulness, pride and excitement coursed through her body and into her heart and soul. "It's a miracle. It truly is," she said as she watched more than 500 comfortable new auditorium seats being bolted into place. "I never want to forget this feeling. It's an awesome testimony to God's powerful role in our lives," she said in a trembling, emotion-filled voice...

Highlights from this past week include the beginning of committee hearings, the conclusion of bill introduction, and the referencing of all legislative bills. Upon Wednesday's adjournment, the total number of bills introduced for the session was an even five hundred. Compared to 763 bills in the last 90-day session, members of the Legislature certainly have their work cut out with only 60 days in the session and carry-over bills lurking on the agenda...

Last week I listed seven traits that are important to men when they're looking for someone to share their lives with: To love and be loved, physical attractiveness, attractiveness on the inside, personality congruence, trustworthiness, a life partner and a best friend, and someone who makes us happy. Today, the rest of the list...