Stories from Wednesday, June 25, 2008

CAMBRIDGE -- The McCook National Bank Seniors blasted Cozad 12-4 in a five-inning run-rule game Tuesday night at Cambridge. The Seniors improved to 9-7. The winning pitcher for McCook was Sam Frazier. In five innings, Frazier allowed six hits, four runs (all earned) and struck out seven...

COLUMBUS -- The McCook Rebels 16 and under fastpitch softball team placed third at the Columbus Fire and Ice Tournament last weekend. The Rebels went 2-1 in Saturday's pool play. The Rebels lost to Wahoo Rage 9-2, then came back and defeated the Columbus Lakeview Blue Lightning 10-1...

Aug. 5, 1914 - June 23, 2008 Constance "Connie" Ethelyn Malcolm Chrisman, mother, grandmother, friend and neighbor passed away peacefully on Monday, June 23, 2008, at her daughter's home in Denver, Colo. Constance was born Aug. 5, 1914, in Johnson County at Cook, Neb., the daughter of the late Theron W. and Virgia E. (Ethridge) Malcolm. When a little child her parents moved to Naponee, Neb., where her younger years were spent...

The family of Mike and Judy Ross is requesting a card shower in honor of the couple's 40th wedding anniversary. They were married June 28, 1968. Cards of congratulations will reach the couple at 102 West Center, Bartley NE 69020.

The City of McCook took a lot of criticism for what seemed like overly aggressive action in Norris Park, sawing down more old trees than some observers thought necessary. One look around at trees that have fallen in recent storms however, proves the basic wisdom of the city's action. One large tree, across the street from the Gazette, fell on a parked pickup truck overnight. Across the street from that tree, several parking spaces are blocked off in fear that another branch will fall...

NORTH PLATTE -- After meeting in a closed session, the Mid-Plains Community College Board of Governors approved a new property tax levy by 7-2. Elizabeth Benjamin and Glenda Hasenauer voted against the tax at the regular board meeting Tuesday night at MPCC's North Platte campus. The Americans with Disabilities Act tax of one fourth of one cent per $100 property valuation, will go to the capital improvement plan and generate approximately $220,000...

A new phrase made it into my vocabulary this year, and I was surprised that I hadn't heard it before. A brief news article quoted noted atheist Richard Dawkins making the claim "I'm a cultural Christian in the same way many of my friends call themselves cultural Jews or cultural Muslims."...