Stories from Thursday, April 13, 2006

June 18, 1924- April 10, 2006 St. Francis -- Melivia Naomi Penn, 81, formerly of Benkelman died Monday (April 10, 2006) at the Good Samaritan Village in St. Francis. She was born June 18, 1924 in Lamar, Colo. She retired from the Nebraska State Patrol...

April 8, 1934 - April 11, 2006 OMAHA --James Cody Raburn was born in Lebanon on April 8, 1934 and was united with our Lord on Tuesday (April 11, 2006). He is survived by his wife of 32 year, Edith Raburn. He was preceded in death by his mother, Pearl Savanna Raburn; his father, Harry Clifford Raburn; brothers Clifford and Clyde; and sisters, Clayda, Neva, Majesty and Ellen...

The family of Stacia Shannon is hosting a card shower in honor of her 95th birthday, today (April 13). Cards of congratulations will reach her at 1500 East 11th, Apt.100, McCook, NE 69001.

When the thunder boomed and the lightning flashed Tuesday afternoon, the people of Southwest Nebraska and Northwest Kansas snapped to attention. The immediate exclamations of surprise went something like this: "Oh, my God! That was so loud. I know it was thunder, but I've never heard thunder that loud before."...

I have always been the type to just shake my head and keep quiet about various letters to the editor that have no basis until now. I sincerely feel the need to ask Daniel Bonar "What are you thinking?" I think you have obviously been misguided in your thoughts about the paper's reporting. ...

Throughout my life, I've tried very hard to avoid drawing attention to myself in public. In high school, when I had to take speech class, I would make myself sick just thinking about getting up in front of a class and making a speech on any topic. I completely avoided speech in college, choosing instead to take some kind of creative writing class...

McCook Community Foundation and Marty Russell of Castle Rock, Colo., have announced a joint effort to add a new park to the city of McCook. The project, which must be approved by the City Council, will redevelop the city-owned lot that encompasses the east water tower on East Fifth Street...

In his final teleconference call to the McCook Chamber of Commerce Sen. Tom Baker explained his recent vote against impeachment of Regent Dave Hergert. The Legislature voted Wednesday to impeach Hergert 25-22 and suspend him until a trial before the Nebraska Supreme Court...

One school board member is concerned that the board is trying to fix something that isn't broken. A school administrator said he isn't aware that the grades of students involved in activities are "substandard." McCook Public Schools board of education member Diane Lyons reported at the board's monthly meeting Monday evening that the board's activities committee continues to research the possibility of strengthening academic requirements for students' participation in activities...

A Hixson Construction crane stands by to hoist pieces of a 148-foot Viaero Wireless cell phone tower at 1100 West B in McCook. The company plans to build a 2,000-square-foot retail store at the same location. Viaero will erect three towers within McCook, each one built to withstand 95-mile-an-hour winds and one-half inch ice accumulation. ...