Stories from Friday, January 12, 2007

SOUTHWEST -- Southwest High School senior standout Chelsey Quigley will stay close to home to play volleyball. Quigley, a 5-foot-7 outside hitter from Indianola, signed a letter of intent this morning to play volleyball at McCook Community College for the 2007 season...

After a full weekend of basketball, area teams are in full swing again and gearing up for several upcoming tournaments. Wauneta-Palisade's boys are on a roll after a long win over Hitchcock County last week. The Broncos are ranked number one and are 9-0. The Broncos girls are also playing well with a 7-3 record. Both teams travel up Perkins County...

The McCook High School freshman boys basketball A and B teams went 1-1 against Ogallala Thursday at home. The Bison edged by Ogallala in the A game 53-52. Ogallala came back in the B game winning over McCook 25-23. Dustin Parde led the Bison in scoring in the A game with 15 points...

The McCook High School freshman girls dropped to 3-5 with a 58-31 loss to Ogallala on Thursday at home. The Bison were led in scoring by Kelsey O'Dea with 8 points. Kelsey Pohl scored 7 and Morgan Chitwood 6. "The girls came out flat, and we had a hard time generating any offense, putting up only 10 points in the first half," said McCook coach Jon Graff. ...

Feb. 6, 1916 - Jan. 9, 2007 Martin Graff Jr., 90, died Tuesday (Jan. 9, 2007) at Bryan LGH East in Lincoln. He was born Feb. 6, 1916, in Lincoln, to Martin and Marie (Moul) Graff, Sr. He moved with his family to Culbertson where he attended school. He entered the U.S. Army on Dec. 23, 1942, and served during World War II.  He was honorably discharged on Dec. 8, 1945...

A house cat in a rural home near Max soaks up the winter sunshine, making good use of a hanging flower pot that won't be needed again until spring. Pet owners are urged to be sure their animals have adequate fresh water and bedding as the temperatures drop into the single digits...

After doing a quick series of jumping jacks aimed at warming up his toes in McCook's single-digit temperatures this morning, Nebraska Gov. Dave Hein-eman said his 2007 agenda is aimed at lowering taxes and controlling spending. "Nebraska is one of the top 10 high-tax states in the country," Heineman said. "We have the sixth highest tax rate in the nation."...

NORTH?PLATTE -- The first ever Mid-Plains Community College "It's Free Night" Jan. 8-9 was deemed an overwhelming success Thursday by college officials after reviewing preliminary numbers of students who registered for classes during the event. "During the two-night event, we registered more than 200 students for classes," said Chuck Salestrom, MPCC Area Director of Public Information and Marketing...

This may be one of the most popular times of the year to lose weight, but here's a little hint: Don't deny yourself of favorite foods, much less starve yourself. Not only does it drop your metabolism but it will make you 53 times more hungry than you normally would be...

After my experience of having my boat stolen at Red Willow Lake with numerous eye witnesses and the Frontier County Sheriff comments in the Gazette that no charges would be filed ... that did change after I called the state attorney general's office and State Patrol. ...

For months, liberals have been calling for the president to try a new course, there were even calls to send more troops. What they are actually saying is there is only one direction "surrender." Of course this would be political suicide, so instead they call it "redeployment."...

I so agree about talking on the phone while driving in this mess we call streets. ["Drive now, talk later" (http://www.mccookgazette.com/story/1183837.html)]. It scares me when I see someone driving and talking on the cell. For everyone's safety, quit talking and pay attention before someone really gets hurt...

The Gazette and other local media do what they can to help the McCook Humane Society, but their best efforts are nothing compared to what the community as a whole could accomplish if it were motivated to do so. A recent feature story helped increase the number of dogs going to new homes, a Humane Society official told us. But it was only a matter of hours before more dogs and cats found their way to the shelter's care, and the facility was full to overflowing again...

OBERLIN, Kan. -- Oberlin Police Chief Wade Lockhart blames cold temperatures and alcohol for the death of a 38-year-old Oberlin woman found 200 feet from her home early Wednesday morning. Lockhart said that George McCullough discovered the body of his wife, Leah, in the alley near their home and called the Oberlin ambulance at 6:43 a.m., Wednesday. ...

A chubby sparrow sits on winter-bare branches at a drive-through bank in McCook. Drifts and piles of snow create a bright-white background.

July 15, 1919-Jan. 12, 2007 Agnes I. Funk, 87, died Friday (Jan. 12, 2007), at Hillcrest Nursing Home.   She was born July 15, 1919, at Eldorado, to Jacob and Aganetha (Klippenstein) Tessman.  At age 22 she left Nebraska and moved to California.  She worked in cafes and hotels before getting a job at the Navy dry dock...