Stories from Thursday, June 5, 2008

One of the many problems with Nebraska's misguided embrace of term limits is the increase in both the temptation of lawmakers to become lobbyists and the power lobbyists wield among neophyte legislators. Now, at least one state senator seems to have taken the role of paid lobbyist while still serving, only two years into her first term...

There is good news and bad news about the summer season. First the good news? The nights are warmer for more comfortable observing sessions outside in the evening and the interesting constellations of summer are coming into view. The bad news? The sun sets later and rises earlier thus the nights are shorter so the time for observing is reduced. But, I guess only an astronomer would call that bad news...

KEARNEY -- The McCook Rebels Black 16 and under fastpitch softball team went 1-1 in pool play Saturday in Hastings beating the North Platte Belles 2-1. Then losing to the Kearney Hogans 11-0. McCook Rebels 2, North Platte Belles 1 Gretchen Sehnert and Amberette Burkey each singled...

The McCook National Bank Senior American Legion baseball team has a 2-2 record entering this weekend's play. The Seniors defeated Aurora 3-2. The winning pitcher was Mike Grabowski, who struck out nine batters in seven innings. Leading hitters were Jeff Lorentz, Shane Wallen and Cletus Macke each with one hit...

BENKELMAN -- The McCook American Legion Junior B's baseball team improved to 4-2 with a 17-7 victory over Benkelman Wednesday night at Benkelman. The game was called after 4 1/2 innings because of lightning. McCook scored its 17 runs on just two hits. The Junior B's scored one run in the top of the first inning, four in the second, two in the third, four in the fourth and six in the fifth...

Justin Herron won the John Mullen Pro-Am Golf Tournament in 2007 and returns for the 20th annual event at Heritage Hills Golf Course this weekend. The tournament will begin with a shotgun start at 9 a.m. Saturday and Sunday. The tournament was started by Bernie and Nona Mullen in memory of their son, former assistant pro at Heritage Hills...

The family of Jerry and Jenene (Phares) Smith of Palisade is requesting a card shower in honor of the couple's 40th wedding anniversary. They were married June 8, 1968, in the United Methodist Church in Palisade. Children of the couple are Jeff and Julie Smith of Albuquerque, N.M., and Matt and Jamie Smith of Mesa, Ariz. They have three grandchildren. Cards of congratulations will reach the couple at 36616 Hwy 25, Palisade NE 69040...

The family of Jerry and Florence Uerling is requesting a card shower in honor of the couple's 60th wedding anniversary. They were married June 9, 1948, at St. Catherines Church in Indianola. Cards of congratulation will reach the couple at PO Box 188, Indianola, NE 69034...

The family of Russ Dowling of McCook is requesting a card shower in honor of his 93rd birthday on June 8, 2008. His family includes his wife, Fern of McCook; daughters, Sharon Felker and husband, Jerry of McCook and Carrol Barnell and husband, Warren of Lincoln and son, Roger Dowling and wife, Maurine of Sequim, Wash. He has 12 grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren. Cards of congratulations will reach him at 907 East 5th St., McCook NE 69001...

PALISADE -- The tornado that Charlie and Dolan Smith photographed north of Palisade early Wednesday evening was probably the same supercell cloud that prompted weather officials in Hayes Center to blow tornado sirens and send residents to their basements...

The McCook City Council erred when it denied a local couple a special zoning exception for a dog breeding kennel, a judge has ruled. District Court Judge David Urbom ruled in favor of Daniel and Lizann Miller, who sued the city when the council denied a special exception for the Miller's kennel on their property...