Stories from Friday, September 1, 2006

The McCook High School varsity, junior varsity and sophomore volleyball teams were swept by Hastings Thursday in their season- and home-opening matches. The matches were played at the McCook High School gymnasium. In the varsity match, Hastings defeated McCook, 25-14, 25-15, 25-23...

Willie Plagmann of Western Engineering of North Platte checks out the damage after the asphalt overlay project on O Street hit a snafu Thursday afternoon. An axle broke at West Second and P on one of the trucks carrying the material to the work site. ...

Two more have filed for the two-year City Council seat, vacant due to former councilman Bill Longnecker's resignation. Marty Conroy, of 706 West M, and Ben Gonzales, of 409 W First, filed for the position by the Aug. 31 deadline. They will join Luke Schwartz and Keenan Coady on the Nov. 7 ballot...

It was too bad the last Hot Summer Nights free concert couldn't have been held in the park, but the overnight downpour justified the organizers' decision to move the TASL concert into the Fox Theater. If you can't have a concert in Norris Park, the historic old theater is a great substitute...

Feb. 28, 1920-Aug. 29, 2006 BENKELMAN -- Frona L. Kerchal, 86, died Tuesday, (Aug. 29, 2006) at Sarah Ann Hester Memorial Home in Benkelman. She was born Feb. 28, 1920, to Frank and Mable (Hartzer) Taylor on their farm near Wauneta. She was a member of the graduating class of Wauneta High School in 1938. ...

Aug. 22, 1932-Aug. 31, 2006 LEBANON -- Christiana Louise Marie "Christa" Johnson, 74, died Thursday (Aug. 31, 2006) at Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney. She was born Aug. 22, 1932, at Vocklabruck, Austria, to Baron Erwin von Woelfle and Margarete (Schellmann) Woelfel. ...

Feb. 17, 1932-Sept. 1, 2006 LEBANON -- Viron Leroy Johnson, 74, died Friday (Sept. 1, 2006) at his home south of Lebanon in Decatur County, Kan. He was born Feb. 17, 1932, at Oberlin, to Harlow S. and Evelyn Valentine (Hendricks) Johnson. The family lived in California, Kansas and Nebraska during his childhood. He graduated from high school at Dighton, Kan...

A strong wind out of the south straightens the flag that flies over a cannon on a hilltop along Highway 36 between Atwood and Oberlin. Cooler weather promises to make for a pleasant Labor Day holiday weekend.

Both teams miss scoring opportunities SCOTTSBLUFF -- Scottsbluff did something Friday night that no Bearcats football team had done in a long time -- score some points against McCook. McCook, ranked No. 1 by the Lincoln Journal-Star and No. 2 by the Omaha World-Herald and Huskerland Prep Report, had posted four straight shutouts over the Bearcats...