Stories from Friday, August 1, 2008

McCook's new walking trail is shaping up to be a win-win situation. Through state, local and federal grants, McCook residents will soon be able to use the first phase of the trail, from East H street to Kelley Park, along with special exercise stations...

I love TV. And I'm not afraid to say it. Oh, sure, I happily work for a newspaper -- and reading is one of my favorite hobbies, and a good movie is always worth getting off the couch for (thank you, WALL-E and The Dark Knight), and I don't mind going outside for a breath of fresh air now and again -- but most of the time, that box in my living room is my favorite attention portal...

Some Christians receive the prestigious title of "Prayer Warrior." They pray mightily for long periods of time and are confident that they will receive what they pray for. Funnily enough, it always seems like these Prayer Warriors do get what they pray for. ...

The McCook Optimist Club 11th annual Golf Scramble is set for Sunday at Heritage Hills Golf Course. Registration is 8 a.m., followed by a shotgun start at 9 a.m. The format is an 18-hole, four-person scramble. Men and women are welcome to participate...

CULBERTSON -- The Hitchcock County Fair Board will host a sand volleyball tournament Thursday, beginning at 5:30 p.m. at the fairgrounds in Culbertson. Those interested in particpating should call Dolyn Brown at (308) 278-3107.

The McCook Walking Trail will be a full-body workout in the future, thanks to a grant from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Nebraska. The $5,000 will help fund costs for new gym equipment for exercise stations that will be included on the trail. McCook was one of nine communities that received a 2008 Health Advantage Wellness grant, the first of its kind from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Nebraska. ...

Dec. 19, 1997-July 30, 2008 ST. FRANCIS -- Travis John Havel, 20, died Wednesday (July 30, 2008), at St. Francis. He was born Dec. 19, 1987, at Imperial. He was a laborer. Survivors include his father, Brian Havel of Parks; his mother, Sharon Havel of Benkelman; a sister, Amber Havel of Colby, Kan.; and grandparents, John Finley III of St. Francis and Ed and Carol Havel of Imperial...

Nov. 18, 1933-July 25, 2008 Howard "Hank" Kisker, 74, Satanta, Kan., died Friday, July 25, 2008 at Via Christi Regional Medical Center-St. Francis Campus, Wichita, Kan., as a result of an auto accident. The son of Frank and Laura (Roedel) Kisker, he was born Nov. 18, 1933, at Red Willow, Neb. Hank moved to Haskell County, Kan., in the late 1960s from McCook, Neb...

Nov. 5, 1930-July 31, 2008 MAX -- Leslie Ivan Kirkman, 77, died Thursday (July 31, 2008), at Dundy County Hospital in Benkelman. He was born Nov. 5, 1930, in Dundy County, on his family's farm north of Benkelman, to Ivan and Ruby (Pickens) Kirkman. Hewas educated at the Benkelman Schools and graduated with the Class of 1949...

April 14, 1941-Aug. 1, 2008 Jim L. Marts of McCook, Neb., died Friday, Aug. 1, 2008, at Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney. He was 67 years old. Jim was born at Cambridge, on April 14, 1941, the son of George F. and Hannah O'Dell Marts. He graduated from Bartley High School in 1959...

A majority of Fortune 500 companies and many colleges and universities now employ sensitivity trainers to "educate" their workforce about the special problems and issues faced by any person or group who might be considered a minority or disadvantaged; in other words, anyone who isn't a physically healthy, emotionally mature, white male...

Don't click on every enticing e-mail you receive.

The McCook City Council will be asked to approve $6,000 to purchase water pump improvements at the defunct Broken Tee Golf Course, at its regular meeting Monday night. The city owns land that includes a portion of the golf course at the Republican River Event Center...

The Schilz brothers, Zach (right) and Josh, reroof the Nazarene Church, at 801 W. First in McCook. "It's steep," said Lonnie Schilz, who, with Zach and Josh operate Schilz and Sons Complete Construction Co. and tackle some of McCook's really, really high-pitch roofs. Lonnie said the church roof is "past a 12/12 ... must be a 14/12," which means it rises 14 inches in one foot. A normal house, he said, is 4/12...

Improvements on J Street that were scheduled for late August have been pushed back until next year. Public Works Director Kyle Potthoff will give an update on the major repair project as a regular agenda item at the regular McCook City Council meeting Monday night, 7:30 in City Council Chambers at Memorial Auditorium...

Those who have objections or suggestions about the $22 million budget proposed for the city next year can bring them to a public hearing, scheduled for the regular McCook City Council meeting on Monday night at 7:30, in City Council Chambers at Memorial Auditorium...