Stories from Thursday, September 27, 2007

Linda Fitzsimmons, Lebanon: "The living historians. I love the characters and the stories they tell. Oh, and the monument. The tour to the monument is out of this world." --- Gina Melton, Hayes Center: Friday, "The Students Day.' Having all those students here was so much fun. I'd really like to see more schools participate next year."...

Red Raiders might be 1-3, but defense has been solid Sidney's 1-3 record is deceiving because the Red Raiders' defense has played well enough to keep the team in every game. Sidney has been shut out in all three of its losses, including last week's 7-0 setback at Scottbluff. The Red Raiders won their second game 21-3 over Lexington and have been outscored 30-21...

The McCook Community College volleyball team dropped a hard-fought four-set match to Otero Junior College, LaJunta, Colo., Tuesday night at True Hall Gymnasium. The Indians lost 31-33, 30-26, 30-28, 30-24. MCC is now 6-19. MCC coach Gary Payne said he thought that we played a good match Tuesday night...

The new era of McCook Community College basketball officially begins this week with MCC's Midnight Madness at 10 p.m. Sunday in True Hall Gymnasium. There will be a men and women's 3-point shootout, a men's dunking contest and a 20-minute scrimmage for both teams...

COZAD -- Cozad hosted the Mid Platte Valley Tae Kwon Do tournament at the Wellness Center under master Larry Allen on Sept. 15. Area competitors were Robert Botsford, Jonathan Solorzano, James Rundell, Mathew Golding, Bryan Botsford and John Rundell...

Heritage Days 2007 kicked off Wednesday night at the McCook National Bank mixer, with the announcement of the Honor Family and Honor Royalty. A crowd of about 300 turned out for the event, as Marv and Dixie Lorentz were revealed as the Heritage Honor Family, Samantha Jo Post as Heritage Days Queen and Whitney Bracht as Heritage Days Princess...

STRATTON -- The go-ahead has been given for the opening of a community grocery store in Stratton. Bill Zahl, branch president of MNB-Stratton, confirmed that the store has been approved for a $70,000 loan by the Hitchcock County Regional Development Plan board. ...

The McCook Economic Development Corp. recently received the release of funds from the Nebraska Department of Economic Development to activate its $95,400 grant for a downpayment assistance program. This program targets first-time homebuyers in McCook Nebraska that meet certain income levels. ...

If you haven't been on the Gazette's Web site (http://mccookgazette.com) lately, it's worth another visit. A few of the last-minute bugs are still being worked out, but it's possible, by clicking on the "Electronic Edition" link at the left of the homepage, to view the entire, conventional print edition of the paper...

After reading the "Missing springs" article in the Sept. 24 issue of the Gazette, and looking at the illustration of the tank, gravel and water, I think he left out an item -- a source of recharge. Let me explain with some of my observed facts from my farm, located at T1, Rg. 30, Sec. 34. The exact depth of the well is 220 feet, with 7 feet of water...

I've been finding out lately exactly how much I love all the modern conveniences -- and how much I hate them. Take, for example, the fact that I cannot in any way, shape, form or fashion, connect electronically with my youngest son. We're using what they call "snail mail" for those of you who aren't as "hip" on all of the current lingo as I am. (That was written tongue-in-cheek or thumb-in-mouth in this case.)...