Stories from Wednesday, October 4, 2006

The McCook Regional Airport will be closed through Thursday for crack sealing and painting on the runways. Great Lakes Airlines will run its normal schedule of flights.

April 24, 1933 - Sept. 23, 2006 OKLAHOMA -- Warren "Red" Eugene Martin, 73, formerly of Bartley, died Sept. 23, 2006, at Duncan Regional Hospital in Duncan, Okla. He was born April 24, 1933, near Dewey, Okla., to Harley and Cora Martin. On Jan. 17, 1957, he married Katherine West. She preceded him in death...

BRUSH, Colo. -- Shirley Gene White, 79, formerly of Haigler, died Thursday (Sept. 28, 2006), at the Ebenezer Lutheran Care Center in Brush, Colo. Graveside services with Military Honors were today 11 a.m. (MDT) at the Haigler Cemetery in Haigler with Rev. Brian Fong officiating. ...

The family of Jessie June Helus is requesting a card shower in honor of her 85th birthday on Oct. 9, 2006. Her son is David Riley and wife, Kim of McCook. She has two grandchildren. Cards of congratulations will reach her at Hillcrest Nursing Home, P. O. Box 1087 McCook, NE 69001...

The family of Claude Wood is hosting a card shower in honor of his 104th birthday on Oct. 8, 2006. Cards will reach him at Imperial Manor, Box 757, Imperial, NE 69033.

No issue is more important to us than our children and the role their education plays in their future. Not as emotional, but just as important, are the financial sacrifices all of us make to keep public schools in operation and up to speed. But that doesn't excuse the actions of officials at a few Class I districts, who seemed to think that they were justified in playing fast and loose with taxpayer money, just because they disagreed with heavy-handed control from Lincoln...

The governor, the Department of Natural Resources, and the Upper Republican Natural Resources District board complain that WaterClaim has been too harsh of a critic of the URNRD. Now Ron Milner, who has very strong credentials, and has long been considered one of the state's best friends and NRD's strongest supporters, has written a public letter echoing one of WaterClaim's biggest complaints. He says, and we strongly agree, that there is a serious problem in how the URNRD currently operates. ...

Four times now I have been privileged to witness the miracle of birth. I experienced it three times, but I kept my eyes pretty much closed throughout. Entering into the labor/delivery room for the births of four of my six grandchildren has provided me with a different perspective altogether, hence the term "witness."...

Monday's AARP debate at Heritage Senior Center lasted about an hour, but the debate about the outcome continues, with both District 44 legislative candidates claiming victory and criticizing their opponent. Frank Shoemaker of McCook, responding to the Gazette's coverage of the event, clarified his position on the transbasin diversion proposed by Mark Chris-tensen of Imperial...

SIDNEY -- McCook High School junior Justine Hager will be making her third trip to the Nebraska Class B state tournament -- this time is an individual. Hager finished third at the Class B-4 district tournament Tuesday at Sidney's Hillside Golf Course...

Test pilot Marvin May had just remarked how smoothly the helicopter was flying, when designer Ron Willocks heard something break, then felt the aircraft, only a few feet off the ground, drift to the left and nose over into the grass near a hangar at McCook Regional Airport...