Stories from Wednesday, November 14, 2007

ST. FRANCIS -- The St. Francis Indians are the next team to try to slow down the juggernaut known as Smith Center. So far during Smith Center's 51-game winning streak, no opponent has come close, especially this season. The two teams play at 7 p.m. Friday at Smith Center in the Kansas Class 2-1A semifinals...

The McCook St. Patrick boys basketball team began the season against Oberlin Monday. St. Pats A team won 36-27. The B team came up short by two points to Oberlin 27-25. Kyle Gaston led St. Pats' A team with 15 points and had 7 two point shots. Luke Mabile followed with 6 points and William Burkert had 5. Mabile also had 3 two-pointers and Alex Broadfoot made 2 free throws...

Seven players scored in double figures as the McCook Community College men's basketball team routed Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture-Curtis 113-54 Tuesday night at True Hall Gymnasium. MCC improved to 4-2. Lionel Robinson (Jacksonville, Fla.) led the Indians with 19 points and 11 rebounds. Luvonte Rhines added 17 points. Russell Ridlen had 12 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists...

April 11, 1962 - Nov. 10, 2007 WAUNETA -- LeAnn Haarberg, 45, died Saturday (Nov. 10, 2007) at St. Anthony's Hospital in Denver, Colo. She was born April 11, 1962, in Imperial, to Leroy R. and Shirley A. (Murray) Haarberg. She grew up on the family farm south of Wauneta and attended school in Wauneta. She graduated from Wauneta High School in 1980, and went on to receive her associate's degree in office systems from Northwest Kansas Technical College in Goodland, Kan...

Sept. 2, 1918 - Nov. 13, 2007 COLUMBUS -- Adeline D. Thomsen died Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2007, at her residence at Meridian Gardens in Columbus, at the age of 89. She was born Sept. 2, 1918, on a farm between Wilcox and Hildreth, the daughter of Henry and Gertie (Forden) Mennenga. ...

Sept. 19, 1969 - Nov. 8, 2007 HILL CITY, Kan. -- Shannon Warren McBride, 38, of Hill City, Kan., died Thursday, Nov. 8, 2007, at Wesley Medical Center, Wichita, Kan. Shannon was born Sept. 19, 1969, in Columbus, Ohio. He grew up in McCook, graduating high school in Valentine...

Tom and Joellyn Davidson will celebrate their 30th wedding anniversary on Nov. 18. Children of the couple are son, Drew Davidson, and daughter, Megan and husband, Alex Sosa, all of Pensacola, Fla. They have one grandchild. Cards of congratulations will reach the couple at P O Box 284, Indianola, NE 69034...

The family of Pauline Hagemann of Culbertson is hosting a card shower in honor of her 98th birthday on Nov. 16. Cards of congratulations will reach her at 36987 Road 17, Culbertson, NE 69001.

As one city sales proponent summed up Tuesday's election, "The work is just starting." But as any carpenter will tell you, work is difficult or impossible if you don't have the right tools. At least now, the McCook Economic Development Corp. and other local interests will be on a more even footing when presented with an industrial prospect for McCook...

Another crisis, in a long line of crises, loomed. The cry went out, "We've got to do something!" It seems it is part of our make-up to "do something." And that, in and of itself, is not a bad thing. The problem is that we are oftentimes given to knee-jerk reactions, and it oftentimes makes a bad situation worse. In fact, I've heard the admonition, born of frustration, many times, "Do something, even if it's wrong, just do something." Dangerous territory there...

Although three of the 12 board members voted against it, the Middle Republican Natural Resources District approved groundwater rules and regulations that included pumping allocations set at 12 inches each year or 60 inches over five years. Those voting against the measure were Joe Anderjaska, Gayle Haag and Rick Spencer. Those voting in favor were Kevin Fornoff, Josh Friesen, Benjie Loomis, Stan Moore, Jerry Mustion, Dan Nelsen, Brad Randel and Marty Schurr...

The $8.8 million that the Republican River Basin Natural Resources Districts agreed to pay irrigators for their surface water is due Dec. 5 and the NRDs still don't know how to come up with the money. Dan Smith, general manager of the Middle Republican NRD, told board members at their regular meeting Tuesday night in McCook that if payment is not made by the agreed date in December, the NRDs may have to add an estimated $2,200-2,400 per day in interest for being in default of the agreement...

McCook voters expressed strong support for the existing 1 percent city sales tax, and less enthusiasm for an extra half-cent sales tax, but in the end, all three issues passed. "It's a big relief, especially the second two" questions on economic development, Councilman Aaron Kircher said Tuesday night...

May 3, 1912 - Nov. 12, 2007 CAMBRIDGE -- Leona M. Eubanks, 95, died Monday (Nov. 12, 2007) at the Cambridge Manor. She was born southeast of Cambridge on May 3, 1912, to Charles and Clara Rose (Stueber) Benscoter. She was baptized into the United Methodist Church on April 20, 1924. She graduated from Cambridge High School with the class of 1929. She attended Kearney State Teachers College, receiving her diploma in normal training. She taught school at Earl School District, Brule, North Platte...

LEXINGTON -- The Holbrook-Grant man accused of killing an Arapahoe woman as she walked with her daughter on a county road near Arapa- hoe Oct. 3 pleaded not guilty Tuesday afternoon to five charges stemming from Kasey Jo Warner's death. District Court Judge James Doyle III accepted not guilty...