Stories from Friday, February 29, 2008

By LORRI SUGHROUE City Editor Work crews at the Nebraska Department of Corrections Work Ethic Camp in McCook camp have saved area communities a total of more than $1 million -- and counting. Non-profit agencies in Southwest Nebraska communities, who have used WEC work crews since the facility's inception in 2001, have netted a total cost savings at $1.3 million, based on a $5.85 minimum wage...

Feb. 7, 1936 - Feb. 18, 2008 MODESTO, Calif. -- Rodney was born Feb. 7, 1936, to Roy L. and Nell E. (Plourd) Nickerson at Indianola. He departed this earth on Feb. 18, 2008, at Modesto, Calif. He grew up in Indianola and later McCook, graduating from McCook Senior High School in 1954. After relocating to California he was the owner of Specialty Sales Inc., in Modesto for more than 35 years...

McCook City Council Candidate Mike O'Dell unveiled the first incarnation of his campaign Web site, VOTEODELL.COM. The site includes a feedback icon, a page for individuals who wish to help with the campaign and a page where visitors can request a yard sign. ...

Heineman opposed to tuition breaks, concerned about paying irrigators

Columbus businessman Tony Raimondo, running for the Democratic nomination for a U.S. Senate seat, visits with supporters at the Bieroc Cafe Friday morning. Raimondo said the biggest obstacle in Washington right now is political leaders who focus on "right versus left" and that bipartisan solutions are needed to solve that gridlock. ...

LINCOLN -- Arapahoe, Cambridge and Perkins County's girls basketball teams will continue on after the first round of girls state basketball action Thursday. The three teams were set to return to the floor today in Lincoln for the semi-finals. Arapahoe took out three-time defending class D-1 state champions, Humphrey St. Francis 58-48 in the first round of the D-1...

The McCook Community College baseball team dropped both ends of a doubleheader Tuesday at home to Western Nebraska. The Cougars won the first game 6-4 and the nightcap 7-2. Both teams had 15 hits in the doubleheader. Four MCC pitchers worked in the opener and two in the second game. Andre O'Conner got the loss in the opener and Daniel Alvarez lost Game 2...

Most of us would be surprised that, as it stands now, the Nebraska State Patrol can find out who you've called on your telephone and who's called you, what types of drugs your doctor has prescribed, and where you spend your money and where you make it -- all without a judge's order...

Most people, when they look back upon their life, equate each turning point or period of time with an event or series of events. For example, some people might have had the Braces Years, the Silk Shirt Phase, or the Experimental Stage (which everyone knows has something to do with illegal drugs and sex). ...

I'd say that I have to agree with Bill Frasier about hiring someone to look at the trees in Norris Park. I don't believe that all 44 trees are so bad that they need to be cut down. Who's in charge of spending the money in McCook? Make some smart decisions and spend it wisely. Even if you plant new trees there, it will be years before they provide the wonderful scenery and shade the current trees do...

May 23, 1917 - Feb. 28, 2008 CAMBRIDGE -- Lula M. Stapp, 90, died Thursday (Feb. 28, 2008) at the Cambridge Manor Tri Valley Health System. She was born in Frontier County southwest of Farnam on May 23, 1917, to John and Mable (Rose) Adkisson. She attended country school though the eighth grade...

IMPERIAL -- Kenneth "Pete" Werner, 54, died Friday (Feb. 29, 2008), at Chase County Community Hospital. Survivors include his wife, Gwen of Imperial; daughters, Elizabeth and husband, James McCrumb of Imperial and Valarie Werner of Wauneta; sons, Tracy and wife, Kristy Werner of Kenne, Texas and Christopher Werner of Woodland, Calif.; sister, Barbara and husband, Joe Claus of Palisade; brothers, David Werner of Pailisa and Arthur and wife, Tammy Werner, also of Palisade; and eight grandchildren...

May 9, 1935-Feb. 23, 2008 CHEYENNE, Wyo. -- Marcella F. Carter, 72, died Feb. 23, 2008, at her home in Cheyenne. She was born May 9, 1935, at Holbrook to Henry and Carrie Lucas. She graduated from Holbrook High School in 1952. She worked for Bell Insurance and was a bookkeeper for Capitol City Excavating and Mike J. Thiel. She was most recently working part time as a bookkeeper for Carter Bros. Construction...

The software that introduced us to the World Wide Web is no more.

I became involved in the prevention and elimination of domestic abuse eight years ago and twice a year, usually in March, and always in October because it's national domestic abuse month, I write about this horrible tragedy that goes on behind closed doors and drawn shades and blinds all across America. ...

I saw the most "right on" bumper sticker today: CONTROL CRIME, NOT GUNS! That kind of says it all and it is a lesson that the Nebraska Legislature could take to heart. State Sen. Brad Ashford (District 20), has introduced a bill, LB 958), to control the ownership of "assault weapons," those which columnist Robert Nelson calls weapons "used only to kill people."...

Some parts at the waste water treatment plant are showing their age and need to be cleaned or repaired, according to the McCook Utility Director Jesse Dutcher. The McCook City council will be asked to approve bids for this work, at the regular city council meeting Monday night, 7:30 in the City Council Chambers at Memorial Auditorium...

Ferris Bueller paid an unexpected call Friday afternoon to Memorial United Meth-odist Church Friday afternoon for the Community Lenten service. The Rev. Gary Brethour, pastor at St. Patrick's Catholic Church, recalled a scene from "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" that showed the principal at Bueller's school ringing the doorbell at the Bueller home, only to hear Bueller's raspy, coughing explanation that he was "simply too sick to even come to the door." Of course, the recording was a ruse, Bueller was simply playing hooky and had implemented several elaborate cover stories to escape detection.. ...

LINCOLN -- Megan Stansberry hit five 3-pointers and finished with 21 points as unbeaten Bancroft-Rosalie defeated Arapahoe 75-36 Friday in the Class D1 girls basketball semifinals. The Panthers (26-0) had to rally from a 14-point second-half deficit to beat Lawrence-Nelson in the first round, but they had no problem against Arapahoe and advanced to the finals after losing in the semifinals two straight years...

Cambridge senior Shelby Schultz takes it high over Sutton's Stephanie George in the Class C2 semifinal game at Pershing Auditorium Friday afternoon. Sutton led by a narrow margin for most of the game, and held off the previously unbeaten Trojans with a run late in the game to win 51-40. Sutton goes on to face Perkins County in the championship game Saturday. Cambridge will play for third place Saturday night...

The 2007-08 swim season ended on Feb. 22, for the last of the McCook High swimmers. "The girls did a great job, and we are so proud of their efforts!" said Head Coach Lori Jumps. Whitney Korgan competed first for the Bison on Friday in the 50 Freestyle. ...