Stories from Monday, July 27, 2009

Aug. 6, 1980 - July 13, 2009 ELSIE -- Debra Michelle Ridlen (Palser) was born Aug. 6, 1980, at Holyoke, Colo., to David M. and Pamela S. (Holien) Ridlen. As a young girl, Debra grew up in Enders and attended both grade school and high school in Imperial. ...

COLBY, Kan. Addison L. Marks, was prematurely born to her parents, David and Amy Marks of Colby, Kan., on Saturday, July 4, 2009. She lived such a very short time that day, but left footprints on their hearts forever. Grandparents are Greg and Cathy Ockinga and Alice Marks, all of Culbertson and the late Alton Marks...

Daphne Tidyman lights a luminary candle Friday night at the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life in Southwest Nebraska in McCook's Norris Park. Cancer survivors, caregivers, families and supporters walked the park, which was lined with teams offering games, such as twister, watermelon and silent auction baskets. ...

At left, Kacee Samway and JoAnn Neel dance to the music during the Red Willow County 4-H Performing Arts showcase Friday while at right, Kathlyn Hauxwell tells judge Lori Pearson about the horse pillow she made for her 4-H sewing project at the Community Building on the Red Willow County fairgrounds. ...

At last Nebraska's safe haven law has finally done its job. Originally written without tight enough age restrictions, Nebraska's law allowing relatives to legally "abandon" children at hospitals without fear of prosecution became a national sensation when parents began using it to drop off troubled teenagers...

I am in favor of having dog licenses, high fees for loose dogs (especially for repeat offenders), licenses for cats, (fines) for those feeding feral cats, and I love the idea of having a dog park. I know that these things represent changes for McCook. Yes, there is a cost for the upkeep of dogs and cats. If you have never noticed a wandering or lost animal in town, did you notice how thin it was?...

Each summer the little town of Medora, in the Badlands of western North Dakota, becomes the destination of choice for thousands of tourists. Medora is located on Interstate 94, and is on the route from Minnesota to the Black Hills. It is also billed as the Gateway to Roosevelt National Park. ...

From the sidewalk, 3-year-old Rylie McCrumb of Wauneta "leads the band" for the community's annual "Harvest Festival" parade Saturday morning. Susan Todd of Wauneta and her sister, Janet Applegarth of Palisade, held court from a covered porch swing on the float for "Susie's Creative Stitches" float, which won first place in the parade's business division. ...