Stories from Wednesday, February 14, 2007

The first and second rounds games of the girls sub-districts concluded last night with several upsets. The Class C2-11, and D1-11 finish up the semifinals tonight, while the D2-11 and D1-10 move two teams into the championship on Thursday. Southwest's girls move into the C2-11 semifinals tonight against an undefeated Perkins County in Gothenburg...

McCook Community College baseball coach Jeremy Jorgensen announced some weather-related changes to the MCC schedule. The games scheduled for this weekend in Borger, Texas have been moved to Feb. 25-26 at noon. "They have two inches on the ground and still snowing," Jorgensen said. "We will leave at 8 a.m. on Saturday the 24th and return late Monday night."...

The McCook Public Schools board president asked parents to "trust me," assuring them that "there are some things being done" with the controversial reading and language programs at McCook Elementary. President Greg Larson asked parents, "Please, be patient," promising that there would be "open discussion" of the curriculums at the March 12 board meeting...

The two men who ran away from the Nebraska Department of Corrections Work Ethic Camp in McCook Saturday night sure picked the wrong car to flag down for a ride. The offenders, Jordan Hoy of Adams County and Jacob Booze of Buffalo County, left the work camp, on the northwest edge of McCook on North Highway 83, about 6:30 p.m., walked 6-61?2 miles in snow and rural terrain before dropping down onto Highway 6&34 about 21?2-3 miles east of McCook and tried to hitch a ride...

Helicopters like the one at work above have helped the Nebraska Public Power District reconstruct nearly 60 percent of the transmission system in central Nebraska damaged by the New Year's ice storm. The helicopters are used to remove and replace shield wire insulators at the top of some of the structures, which costs half as much as completing the work with a ground crew and takes half the time. ...

We've heard the advice many times before, and even read it in this space: Wash your hands often. Avoid contact with people who are sick. Stay home from work, family gatherings and social functions if you're sick. Eat healthy and get plenty of rest. Don't smoke...

The family of Alta Stock Fahrenbruch is hosting a card shower in honor of her 80th birthday. She was born Feb. 18, 1927, in rural Hitchcock County. She married Donald L Fahrenbruch on Dec 29, 1946, and taught for 40 years in Nebraska and Kansas. Cards of congratulations will reach her at 111 W. Main, Norton KS 67654...

The Natural Resources Committee of the Legislature is asking for your input in dealing with water issues in the Republican River Basin. The Committee asks that you give your input on Feb. 28, at 1:30 p.m. at the Capitol in Lincoln. There will be hearings for two different bills -- LB 458, introduced by Senator Tom Carlson, and LB 701, introduced by Senator Mark Christensen. You can review these bills online at http://nebraskalegislature.gov/. Click on the Bill Finder link. ...

Ahh. Love is in the air. At least I think it is. After all, red hearts and roses are everywhere. Chocolate candies are bandied about. Greeting card companies are gleefully rubbing both hands together as the cash registers go ca-ching. And commercials for, of all things, pajamas, clog the airwaves...

July 22, 1922 - Feb. 10, 2007 OMAHA -- Wayne "Barney" Elwood Bayliss, 84, died Saturday (Feb 10, 2007) in Omaha. He grew up in Gordon and graduated from Gordon High School. He joined the U. S. Navy and served three years on the USS Randolph in the Pacific Ocean during World War II. After an honorable discharge from the service he returned to Nebraska and completed Barber School then opened a barbershop in Ainsworth and then Valentine...

Aug. 16, 1928 -- Feb. 13, 2007 GREELEY, Colo. -- Claude E. Runyan Jr., 78, died Tuesday (Feb. 13, 2007) at Hospice and Palliative Inpatient Care at North Colorado Medical Center in Greeley, Colo. He was born Aug. 16, 1928, in Herndon to Claude P. and Mary Magdalena (Pummer) Runyan. He grew up in Traer and attended schools in Athol and Traer. He started working at an early age at the elevator and feedlot in Traer...

Dec. 14, 1927-Feb. 12, 2007   Neal Roderick Fidler of McCook died Monday (Feb. 12, 2007), at the Cambridge Hospital.  He was 79 years old.  Neal was born on Dec. 14, 1927, at McCook to Myrl L. and Louise T. (Koitsch) Fidler.  He graduated from McCook High School in 1945...

June 9, 1986-Feb. 4, 2007 Sgt. Randy Jay Matheny, 20, died Sunday (Feb. 4, 2007), near Baghdad, Iraq.  He was killed by a roadside bomb while serving his country. Randy was born on June 9, 1986, in Oberlin and lived in McCook his entire life.  He graduated from McCook High School in 2004. ...