Stories from Friday, September 7, 2007

MANHATTAN, Kan. -- McCook High School junior defensive end/tight end Tyrone Sellers has picked up a K-State offer, according to rivals.com. There must be something in the water in McCook, Neb. The town in Southwest Nebraska has sent several talented players to the Big 12 over the past few years and it looks like it's in line to do the same in the class of 2009...

Sept. 5, 1962 - Sept. 5, 2007 HAYES?CENTER?-- Regan "Reg" E. Vlasin of Hayes Center died Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2007, at Community Hospital in McCook after a courageous battle with cancer.  He was 45 years old. Reg was born on Sept. 5, 1962, at McCook to Joseph P. and Doris M. (Nelms) Vlasin.  He graduated from Hayes Center High School in 1981. After his graduation he continued to live in Hayes County where he farmed and worked for the Hayes County Road Department until the time of his death...

IMPERIAL -- The McCook High School girls and the Dundy County-Stratton boys claimed the team titles at the Imperial Invitational cross country meet Thursday. The meet took place at the Imperial Country Club. The McCook girls placed four runners in the top 11 and six in the top 24 and scored 25 points to place first. Dundy County was second with 54 points, followed by Chase County 57, Betrand-Loomis 64, North Platte-St. Pat's 83, Perkins County 86, Southwest 111, Ogallala 112 and Sutherland 169...

Nebraska is special in many ways, with its Unicameral govenment, publicly owned power system and many other unique attributes to make its citizens proud. One trait, however, is nothing of which to be proud. Nebraska and Alaska are the only states which still have no provision for newborns to be left at hospitals, fire departments and other appropriate places without fear of prosecution...

Put some fresh batteries in the camera and set the alarm clock to get up early Saturday and make your way out to the McCook Regional Airport. If the winds are relatively calm, you'll hear the whir of powerful fans and the roar of burners as more than a dozen huge, colorful hot-air balloons inflate for the morning flight of the McCook Balloon Fest...

Jessica Teeter, right, of Culbertson, takes advantage of the mild weather Friday afternoon to treat her kids to pizza at Barnett Park. Jessica said they frequently stop at Barnett Park while they wait for Dad, a truck driver, to get off work. The Teeter children, from left, are Aspen, 3-years-old, Blaine, 8, Galen, 7 and Felisha, 5...

Members of the McCook Fire Department Fire Fighter Combat Challenge Team may be able to go to the World Championships after all, if enough donations are obtained. Each firefighter paid their own way to the qualifying competition in Omaha and a July competition in Westminster, Colo. But to compete at the World Championship in Las Vegas Nov. 4-8, the team needs to raise approximately $4,000 to pay for the trip...

Red Willow County commissioners plan a public hearing at 9:30 a.m., Monday, before adopting the county's $18.4 million budget for 2007-08. At 10 a.m., the board will discuss the possibility of the county sharing a portion of the half-cent sales tax being requested by the City of McCook...

When I die and if I go to heaven I still want to fly airplanes. I am writing this at the Sterling, Colorado airport having just completed an awesome twin engine airplane flight from McCook. There was no wind at altitude so the ride was smooth. A few high clouds were evident but I could see Sterling from forty miles out. Even the landing was acceptable, at least my three passengers didn't complain. Life doesn't get much better and to think I get paid to do it!...

Life is an incredible journey filled with ups and downs, highs and lows, agony and ecstasy and we never know what's going to happen next. I do my best to explain this to my sociology students every time we meet and yet, sometimes, I don't have the answers either...

McCook's 125th birthday inspires special celebration.

Jan. 15, 1918-Sept. 6, 2007 ARAPAHOE -- Laura Marie Stewart, 89, died Thursday (Sept. 6, 2007), at the C.A. Mues Good Samaritan Center in Arapahoe. She was born Jan. 15, 1918, at Wilsonville, to Roy and Rosa (Millard) James. She was raised by her grandparents in Wilsonville and graduated from Wilsonville High School in 1937...

April 28, 1938 - Aug. 20, 2007 OSCEOLA -- George E. Cole, Jr., 69, died Monday, Aug. 20, 2007, at Annie Jeffrey Memorial County Health Center in Osceola. A memorial service was Aug. 24, 2007, at Dubas Funeral Home in Osceola with Pastor Dan Spearow officiating...