Stories from Thursday, September 13, 2007

The Heritage Days Parade will have a definite sports flavor this year, with a former football All-American and star of the "Game of the Century" and a former president of the American League sharing grand marshall duties. The two renowned men with McCook roots, who will be home for their respective class reunions, are Dr. Gene Budig, a McCook High School graduate with the Class of 1957, and 1967 MHS graduate Jeff Kinney...

Most of McCook Public Schools' fourth, eighth and 11th graders last year met or exceeded state writing standards. Fourth grade scores increased by 13 percentage points in one year. Karen Miller, a former McCook Senior High math teacher and now the school district's assessment coordinator, said, "In 2006-07, our fourth graders showed excellent improvement and our 11th and eighth graders had scores that remained steady."...

Don Klein and Deb Lafferty rushed to the defense of the Red Willow County Fair Board Wednesday, telling the Gazette that the county's taxpayers get a mistaken impression when they hear that the county fair budget is $583,696 for fiscal year 2007-2008...

McCook Boy Scouts unload groceries for the McCook Pantry during the Pantry's annual fall food drive Saturday morning. The youngest Scouts included 7-year-old Isaiah Petty, top right, and 8-year-olds Brayden Cribbs, above right, and Taylor Davis, middle right. ...

State Sen. Tim Gay of the Legislature's Health and Human Services Committee, says he's glad the Nebraska Medical Association came up with a proposal for basic health insurance for all Nebraskans. "I'm excited they are looking at these tough issues," he told The Associated Press...

You opened up a Pandora's box, Mr. Sehnert. People like you in McCook just don't want to see people get along or change. Everybody has a past. But if people don't let the underdogs alone, how are they supposed to have a future? The Bussards are a good family. Jerry and Les are the ones who were probably corrupted by the big shots of this town...

I am responding to Melissa Clinton's comment. I, too, am related to a murderer. My mom and my two brothers still carry the name Simants. Yes, we are related to Charles Erwin. As Melissa said, there is a stigma associated with our name also. My mom still cringes when her name is called at the doctors office, dentist office, etc...

Now that I'm working from home, it seems as though writing a weekly column is one of the hardest assignments I've ever had. Most of the time I forget what day it is. But there are also other reasons … I oversleep; I tell myself, "I'll write it in the morning," and by the time morning comes, I've forgotten it; I get involved in other projects; I get done with my early morning job and decide to go back to bed … and the list goes on and on...

McCook senior Chris Stull out for season McCook Bison head football coach Jeff Gross hopes his squad gets out of the starting blocks a little sooner than the second half against the Aurora Huskies Friday night at Weiland Field. McCook got off to a slow start last week (Sept. 7) at Ogallala and trailed at halftime 7-0. McCook, which blasted Scottsbluff 44-0 in its season opener Aug. 30, rallied for a 21-7 victory...

Several area high school football and volleyball teams are ranked in polls in Nebraska and Kansas. The McCook Bison football team (2-0) is ranked No. 1 in Nebraska Clkass B by the Lincoln Journal-Star and No. 2 by the Omaha World Herald. The Bison host Aurora Friday night for homecoming...

Dec. 28, 1910 - Sept. 10, 2007 ARAPAHOE?-- Marjorie M. Mernin, 96, of Omaha, formerly of Arapahoe, died Monday (Sept. 10, 2007) at Brookstone Village Care Center in Omaha. She was born Dec. 28, 1910, at Wilsonville to Pete and Alice (Jenkins) Van Cleave...

Aug. 16, 1914-Sept. 11, 2007   KEARNEY -- Helen Elizabeth Fairbanks, 93, of Kearney, formerly of Shelton, died Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2007, at Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney. Services will be 1 p.m. Friday at O'Brien -- Straatmann Funeral Home, 4115 Ave N, Kearney.  The Rev. John Ewton will officiate.  Burial will be in Shelton Cemetery at 3:30 p.m. ...

Oct. 7, 1961- Sept. 6, 2007 GARDEN CITY, Ga. -- Lynn M. Thompson, 45, died Thursday (Sept. 6, 2007), at Garden City, Ga. She was born Oct. 7, 1961, at Escondido, Calif., to Robert and Catherine Thayer. She graduated from McCook High School in 1979. She married Keith Thompson in August 1979. The couple had four children, Trina, Kelsey, Damon and Cory. They lived in Sterling, Kans., and Westcliffe, Colo. The couple divorced in 1996...

Dec. 3, 1911-Sept. 11, 2007 Loretta Marguerite (Joyce) Cappel died Sept. 11, 2007, at Hillcrest Nursing Home in McCook, at the age of 95 years, nine months, and eight days. She was born Dec. 3, 1911, to Walter and Catherine (Sanders) Joyce in Clay County.  She grew up on a farm between Harvard and Sutton, graduating from Harvard High School in 1930.  She came to Southwest Nebraska along with her twin sister, Charlotte to teach school. ...

Sept. 19, 1926 - Sept. 12, 2007 LINCOLN -- Marvin E. Schoonover Sr., 80, of Lincoln, died Wednesday (Sept. 12, 2007) in Milford. He was born Sept. 19, 1926, in Indianola, to Floyd and Rosa (Heinz) Schoonover. He worked as a painter for J.J. Lape, before retiring. He served in the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Army...