Stories from Saturday, January 7, 2006

Admittedly, 2005 was a year that required Americans everywhere, including Mc-Cook and the surrounding area, to dig deeper into their pockets than ever before to come to the aid of hurricane and tsunami victims. In this area alone we conducted several fund raisers to help out our neighbors to the south after homes were destroyed and lives were uprooted by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita...

Three-sixty's, bam-drops, three-set -- all words used in a teenage boy's vocabulary, especially if he's a skateboarder. "My friends and I enjoy skateboarding; however we have no place to skateboard," said Derek Beebe, an avid skater. A few boys from our town are in desperate need of a new skate park, he said. Beebe, Jared Bailey and Tony Roe are three boys who made it their goal to include a skate park in McCook's budget...

**Dear Editor, For about the past three years, the Board of Education of the Hayes Center Public Schools has been at work trying to address facility needs brought forth by administrators, staff members, students, and patrons. The 1996 addition was a strong move forward, as the board members at that time recognized the needs to bring more diverse curriculum to the school through distance learning, the need for an expanded and accessible library along with administrative and a conference /multipurpose room. ...

According to a Seattle newspaper, in August 1992, when Dick Cheney was Secretary of Defense in the George Herbert Walker Bush administration, he made a public speech in Seattle 18 months after the end of the first Iraqi War. After the speech, he entertained questions from the audience and responded to a particular question by saying, "The question in my mind is how many additional American casualties is Saddam worth? And the answer is not very damned many. ...

The Legislature is three days into the legislative session, and a total of 201 legislative bills have been introduced thus far. That number, of course, is in addition to the 763 bills that were in-troduced last year during the first session. Members of the body have been taking advantage of the last few days to catch up on business, get reacquainted with colleagues, and prepare themselves for the days that lie ahead. ...

It's been more than 13 years since the voters of McCook resoundingly approved the playing of keno at local establishments. Now -- after six years without the number guessing game -- members of the City Council are considering whether or not to allow keno games to return to the community...

Dec. 14, 1920--Jan. 5, 2006 LINCOLN -- Esther Arganbright, 86, died Thursday (Jan. 5, 2006) . She was born Dec. 14, 1920, in Wymore. She attended Doane College and received her master's degree from the University of Nebraska. She was a teacher at Wymore Country School, Wymore and McCook Elementaries, the University of Nebraska and the University of Wyoming...

BENKELMAN -- Trisha Marie Minard and Richard David Willis, both of McCook, were united in marriage Saturday, Sept. 17, 2005, at the Community Building in Benkelman with the Rev. Robert Sander officiating. Parents of the couple are Teresa and Rocky Sander of Benkelman, Rusty and Penny Minard of lndianola, and Rocky and Shevawn Willis of Culbertson...

OMAHA -- Heidi Doane and Luke Krizek were united in marriage in a candlelight ceremony on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2005, at the Fort Street Christian Church in Omaha with the Rev. Jon Hanson officiating. Parents of the couple are Terry and Lanette Doane of Ansley and Roger and Corky Krizek of McCook...

Marc and Janet Rasmussen of Cambridge announce the birth of a daughter, Emma Grace, on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2005, at Cambridge Memorial Hospital. She weighed 8 pounds, 11 ounces and was 22 inches long. Grandparents are Mike and Peggy Rasmussen of Lincoln and Don and Annie Harding of Cambridge. Great-grandparents are Glen and Marilyn Rasmussen of Minden, Ruth Harding of Cambridge and Verna Burks of Kearney...

Brian and Helena Perks of Rushville announce the birth of a son, Hunter James, on Monday, Nov. 28, 2005, at Gordon Memorial Hospital in Gordon. He weighed 7 pounds, 1 1/2 ounces and was 19 1/2 inches long. Grandparents are James and Yanis Helm of Danbury, Terry Perks of Bartley and Sandra Schwab of McCook. ...

The family of Artie Blake is hosting an open house in honor of her 100th birthday. She was born Jan. 19, 1906. The open house will be Saturday, Jan. 21, 2-5 p.m., at the Heritage Senior Center in McCook.