Stories from Thursday, March 29, 2007

HASTINGS -- Chelsea Morgan, a Southwest High School alum, has committed to play volleyball at Hastings College in Hastings under the direction of head coach Fred Aubuchon. Morgan is a 5-foot-9 sophomore outside hitter who currently attends and plays volleyball at North Platte Community College...

Braithwait, Schultz make girls first team COLUMBUS -- The Wauneta-Palisade Broncos, the Nebraska Class D-1 state champions with a 25-0 record, were honored by the Associated Press with six players on its All-State Boys and Girls Basketball Teams. Wauneta-Palisade seniors Andrew Isom and Marc Klima topped the Class D-1 boys First Team, and teammates Russell Ridlen and Trevor Ridlen were named to the Second Team...

HASTINGS -- The McCook Community College baseball team improved its record to 11-9 with a doubleheader sweep at Hastings Wednesday. The Indians defeated the Hastings junior varsity 9-2 and 1-0. Trevor Hansen (2-0) led MCC in the first game, allowing two runs on five hits. He had six strikeouts no walks and hit a batter. Two late runs spoiled his bid for the shutout...

Taylor Farr and Caitlin Hiatt fly kites into a brisk wind after school Monday. The girls and their McCook Elementary "Crackerjack" classmates built tetrahedron kites and then tested their aerodynamics. (Connie Jo Discoe/McCook Daily Gazette)

Southwest Nebraska residents and all others living in the Republican River basin will have have to bear the costs of compliance with Republican River Compact, under Sen. Mark Christensen's water bill, LB 701. But non-compliance is not just a local issue, constituents told the senator this morning at the Chamber Legislature conference call...

Wednesday night's storm rolls into Southwest Nebraska, in a photo taken by Dennis Arp of Culbertson, just west of Culbertson about 7 p.m. A tornado described as a half-mile wide, causing flashes as it hit power lines, was reported a mile east of Bird City, damage by a possible tornado was reported near Wauneta, and 10 to 20 miles of power line was downed by the storm near Grant. ...

Right on time, tornadoes, hail and thunderstorms have appeared in the Golden Plains, reminding us that Severe Weather Awareness Week is next week, April 2-6. A tornado drill is scheduled for Wednesday, but judging from last night's weather activities, spotters and the public should already be prepared to take cover, whether it's manning their lookout positions in the case of trained spotters, or taking cover, as is wise for the rest of us...

The Housing America Campaign 2007 is in full swing across the nation. The campaign goal is to highlight the critical affordable housing shortage and the need for programs, policies and resources to effectively address local housing needs. Nine out of 10 Americans cite affordable housing as a high priority, and more than half believe the housing policy with respect to the provision of affordable housing is on the wrong track, according to a new Zogby America poll...

Wow, what a show! I was so glad that I attended the Western Nebraska Community Collegiate Chorale's performance in the Tipton Theatre on the MCC campus, Wednesday, March 28th, 2007. We were treated to such a diverse repertoire of wonderful music, I could hardly stand it! The performance held me absolutely captive the entire time. The harmonies were superb and tight and the formal attire was gorgeous. ...

A story in the news yesterday made me realize just how smart dogs can be -- some dogs anyway. Two-year-old Toby, a golden retriever, saved his mistress' life when he noticed her choking and dragged her to the ground, jumping on her chest until she coughed up the piece of apple she was choking on. The dog ate the apple when it was all said and done...

Jan. 29, 1918 - March 15, 2007 BELLEVILLE, Kan. -- George Edward Sis, 89, died Thursday (March 15, 2007) at Belleville Health Care Center. He was born Jan. 29, 1918, to Frank and Edvie (Shimanek) Sis. He attended Munden High School for two years and then attended Belleville, High School, graduating in 1935...

May 6, 1927 - March 27, 2007 Betty Jean Schneider died Tuesday (March 27, 2007) at Community Hospital in McCook at the age of 79. She was born May 6, 1927, at Omaha the daughter of the late Wilber Dean and Gertrude (Spear) Conner. Betty grew up at Maywood and attended high school at Curtis...