Stories from Thursday, May 12, 2005

BENKELMAN -- The Cambridge boys relay team and Trojan senior Kyle Custer swept the boys division in the Nebraska Class D-10 District high school track and field meet. The Medicine Valley girls were No. 1 in team rankings as the relay team took first in the 4x100 and 4x400 relays...

ARAPAHOE -- The Arapahoe girls and boys track teams placed seventh and eighth at the Nebraska Class D-6 District meet in Arapahoe. The Arapahoe boys scored 44 points and the girls 32. Arapahoe's Ryan Stagemeyer placed first in the boys 100-meter dash...

First the good news: We are having more precipitation in the area this spring, with the possible exception of McCook with its mythical "bubble" that seems to keep rains from reaching McCook. The city is 1.12 inches below normal for the year, but that could be overcome with one good rain of the type that we have seen fall on our neighbors...

**Dear Editor, Recently I wrote a letter to the editor to your newspaper stating that in the recent election for regent Dave Hergert, Clark Anderson, Dr. Blank received public funds from the State of Nebraska for their election. Only Dr. Blank received public funds. This was a mistake on my part and I apology to both Dave Hergert and Clark Anderson for my error...

**Dear Editor, The argument that "it's none of our business what goes on behind closed doors" is fraught with error and here is why: The Holy Bible does condemn people who "continue" to practice homosexuality. They could repent and be forgiven!  They could be changed by the restorative power of God, but those who say to accept them as they are, might as well say that to the adulterers, those who bear false witness and other individuals that are mentioned in Revelation 22:15, we accept you and we can't fire you or discriminate against you in any way. ...

(May 29, 1924 - May 9, 2005) WAYNE -- Pauline Ferne Merchant, 80, died Monday (May 9, 2005), in Lincoln. She was born May 29, 1924, to Paul and Ida (Meng) Kunde at Sacred Heart Hospital in Yankton, S.D. She was baptized and then confirmed on June 12, 1938 at St. ...

**Dear Editor, I attended McCook High School only for my senior year. But I have never forgotten Mr. Datus's current affairs class ["Schools losing 98 years' experience" (http://www.mccookgazette.com/story/1096401.html)]. He was a wonderful teacher. I hope he and Mrs. Datus have an enjoyable retirement. And please, tell them thank you for their many years of dedication to teaching and McCook schools...

(Feb. 12, 1941 - May 11, 2005) OBERLIN -- James "Jim" Bricker, 64, died Wednesday (May 11, 2005), at Decatur County Hospital in Oberlin. He was born Feb. 12, 1941, to Robert and Bertha (Bank) Bricker, at Russell. He attended Lucas Grade and High School and graduated in 1959...

(Jan. 20, 1924-May 10, 2005) HAYES CENTER -- Bertha Kutz, 81, died Tuesday (May 10, 2005), at the Chase County Hospital of Imperial. She was born Jan. 20, 1924, to Emanuel and Anna (Burnenheide) Klumpe at Olpe, Kan. As a young girl, she grew up and attended Catholic Parochial School in Olpe, graduating in 1942. She then traveled to Wichita, where she was employed by Boeing Aircraft Company assisting in the production of bombers during World War II...

**Dear Editor, It is with heartfelt thanks that we write to you about the success of our first fund raiser for the McCook Recreational Trail. As with any community improvement, there are many folks who are happy to give lip-service in support of a walking trail...

Since my oldest son told me in December he would be transferred from his Coast Guard post in Santa Rosa, Calif., I've been keeping in close contact with him. At first, I only wanted to know if one of his choices would be the new Coast Guard station near Lake McCon-aughy. When that dream was dashed like glass against a rock, I concentrated on trying to persuade him to find something within 300 miles of McCook, another fruitless campaign...

Robert Odegaard of Fargo, N.D. oversees the refueling of a Vietnam-era ground attack Douglas AG fighter, while a World War II-era Gruman F6F fighter in British D-Day markings, piloted by Steve Hinton of Chino, Calif., waits its turn Tuesday at McCook Regional Airport. The planes were enroute from a display at Fargo to their home base in Chino...

A strong spring storm Wednesday afternoon dumped hail the size of softballs near Palisade and spawned a tornado that ripped through a farmstead near Curtis. According to reports from the National Weather Service in Goodland, law enforcement officers reported 4 1/4-inch hail one mile west of Palisade at 3:39 p.m...

After meeting little resistance to the state budget and sweeping changes to the state's economic incentives, lawmakers most likely will take up debate on the issue of Class I school districts before the end of the session. Sen. Tom Baker said this morning he has been surprised by the ease with which the budget and economic incentive package have passed through the process...