Stories from Wednesday, October 25, 2006

Vikings notched 1st win last week The 1-7 record for Grand Island Northwest is misleading, said McCook High School football coach Jeff Gross. GINW has only been blown out of one game -- a 48-0 loss to Crete in Week 4. The Vikings' six setbacks have been by 21, 17, 7, 3, 11 and 4 points...

CURTIS -- Southwest's volleyball team captured the GPAC tournament title Tuesday. The Roughriders defeated Hitchcock County in the semifinals and Wallace for the title win. Wallace defeated Dundy County in the semifinals. The Dundy County Tigers won the consolation game against Hitchcock County in four tight sets...

The football season is nearing its end as the first round of playoff games begin Thursday night. Southwest starts the Class C-2 west games off with 6-2 Burwell. The Roughriders will defend their home field at 3:30 p.m., in Bartley against Burwell. Both teams square off for the first time...

July 4, 1926 - Oct. 24, 2006 BEAVER?CITY?-- June A. Hedges, 80, died Tuesday (Oct. 24, 2006) at Phelps Memorial Hospital in Holdrege. She was born July 4, 1926, at Mankato, Kan., to Bernard and Eunice (Lawrence) Sawyer. She was raised in Kansas and moved to Beaver City in 1943. She graduated from Beaver City High School in 1945...

Nov. 1, 1935 - Oct. 17, 2006 KANSAS?CITY, Mo. --?Lois May Johnson 70, died Tuesday (Oct. 17, 2006) at the Carondelet Nursing Home in Kansas City, Mo. She was born on Nov. 1, 1935, north of McCook, to Frederick and Alma (Unger) Ackerman. She graduated from McCook High School in 1953...

Speaking to crowds in his hometown, U. S. Sen. Ben Nelson Tuesday night brought applause when he said, "People on the right and left make the noise, but the people in the middle make the laws." With the comment, Nelson, a Democrat, was calling attention to his role in passage of essential legislation, including tax cut plans put forward by President George Bush, a Republican...

BARTLEY -- Red Willow County Commission Chairman Earl McNutt told the one man at a jail informational meeting in Bartley Tuesday evening that he wasn't there to tell county residents how to vote. Fellow Commissioner Leigh Hoyt, however, wasn't so objective. With a chuckle, Hoyt said, "I am here to tell you how to vote," asking the man to vote yes on the proposed county jail and sheriff's office. Hoyt continued, "I'm for it. It's a good deal for Red Willow County."...

When the little girl wept as her daddy left for Iraq, I was once again reminded why Mark and I decided he should run for the Legislature. We both believe in this great State and Country, and we would like to make a difference. I married Mark Christensen because he is a great man. He is loving, caring and a wonderful father. Mark has worked very hard to provide for the children and me. All of the children attend public school, and our oldest is attending the University of Nebraska. ...

The McCook Daily Gazette has graciously invited me to share a few thoughts with you today and in next Wednesday's issue. I sincerely appreciate this opportunity to speak directly to you, the voters in the 44th District and I thank the Gazette for making this space available...

Like Mr. Hobbs I appreciated the Editorial titled "Negative Ads Obscure the Issues." The article titled "Christensen, Ricketts blast opponents' pro-life credentials" on 10/18/06 was coverage of a story as it happened.  The rebuttal article entitled "Shoemaker, Nelson say attacks unfair" on 10/20/06 was appropriate to allow those candidates to repudiate the claims until it came to the last two paragraphs...

As City Council ponders an earlier due date for water bills. Councilman Conroy and Mayor Berry should be commended. Their concern for those whose only income is a late month Social Security check is valid and insightful. I believe moving the past due date to the 22nd of each month as being considered will put and undue hardship on hundreds of seniors...

Southwest Nebraska Community Theater recently presented "On Golden Pond" at the Fox Theater in McCook. We appreciate all who attended to enjoy this play and lend support to each and all of our productions. We also thank the Work Ethic Camp for assisting us in moving and erecting the set three different times. The help they provided was tremendous. The supervisor and his crew were very efficient and effective...

Growing up along the Front Range in Colorado meant spending Saturday afternoons on long drives through the nearby canyons and infrequent overnight trips through the high country. The mountains, after all, were the primary motivation for moving from Texas to Colorado in 1962...