Stories from Thursday, September 18, 2008

McCook Bison host Scottsbluff Friday night Jeff Gross spread the credit around for each of the 99 victories he has posted as head coach of the McCook High School Bison football team and will do the same should he get No. 100 Friday night. "This would be a momentous win for the McCook program, coaching staff and players," Gross said. "A lot of guys are responsible for these wins. It isn't just me."...

The McCook High School junior varsity volleyball team is 2-1 this season. The sophomores, who defeated Cambridge Tuesday at home are 1-1. The JV team hosts Southwest and Arapahoe Tuesday. The sophomores host Holdrege Sept. 25. McCook's leading hitter: Whitney Korgan 4 kills...

July 22, 1984 - Sept. 16, 2008 MAYWOOD -- Austin G. Fischer died Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2008 as a result of a car accident. He was 24. He was born July 22, 1984. to Cindy S. (Boubin) and Jerry D. Fischer in North Platte. He graduated from Maywood High School in 2003 and Chadron State College in 2008, majoring in wildlife biology...

Dec. 17, 1918 - Sept. 14, 2008 BENKELMAN -- Norma Ilene Hardwick, 89, of Benkelman, died Sunday (Sept. 14, 2008) at Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney. She was born Dec. 17, 1918, in Cheyenne County, Kan., to Roy and Pearl (Huffman) Crook. She lived her entire life in Dundy County, Neb., and was a graduate of Benkelman High School in 1936. After graduation, she taught school for two years at Rural District No. 66...

The Mid Plains Community College Board of Governors voted 7 to 3 to increase the property tax levy by a half a cent Wednesday night. The increase, approved at a regular monthly meeting at McCook Community College's Weeth Theater, will generate $1.1 million in revenue...

Norris Park will get a makeover of sorts this year, with new playground equipment and sidewalks. The improvements are part of the Public Works Department capital improvement plan presented to the McCook City Council Monday night. Public Works Department Kyle Potthoff said some of the projects slated for the future and funded by general funds, such as $15,000 each year for mower replacement in the parks and ballparks departments and developing the upper area of Barnett Park for recreation use, are "wish list" items that depend on availability of funds.. ...

Improvements set for next year at the McCook Regional Airport include a new eight-plex hangar costing nearly $500,000, with 95 percent of the costs paid by federal funds. The new hangar would replace five old tee-hangars. Total cost of the new hangar comes to $475,000, with federal funds at $451,250 and local general funds at $23,750...

About $44,0000 worth of purchases will be made for the city cemetery, trash collection and transfer station this year. This includes an upgraded sprinkler system and snow plow for the cemetery, trash containers and a water tank for the transfer station...

What can you build in a factory 34 feet high, using 300 people including welders, machinists, engineer, administrators and painters? Don't know? Neither do we. Whatever it is, a foreign company will manufacture it in a 320,000-square-foot building, haul in parts on 15 rail cars and ship out finished products on seven rail cars, as well as using trucks...

The Sept. 16 story about robocalls and the candidate apology was well-timed. The general election is in full swing in Nebraska and voters can expect to be bombarded with political robocalls. I started a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization last year to combat intrusive robocalls by using a voluntary, private-sector solution, the Political Do Not Contact Registry...

Time once again for all things to equal out, time wise that is. On Sept. 22, the sun will cross the celestial equator at 9:44 a.m. MDT, from the northern hemisphere into the southern and summer will end for us and fall, or autumn, will begin. The name for this crossing is the autumnal equinox, referring to the idea of "equal time" or daytime and night time will be equal...

Oct. 14, 1925 - Sept. 16, 2008 CULBERTSON -- Joye Louise Thompson, age 82, passed away Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2008, at Nebraska Veteran's Home in Grand Island, Neb. She was born Oct. 14, 1925, in Omaha, Neb., the daughter of Joseph and Louise (Koch) Heizenreter of Culbertson, Neb. Joye grew up in Culbertson where she graduated from Culbertson High School in 1943...