The search officially begins for the "New Year's Baby" of 2008 in the golden plains of the Gazette area.

The first baby born in 2008 to a mother who lives in the Gazette coverage area of Southwest Nebraska and Northwest Kansas will arrive to smiles, love and newspaper recognition.

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The Gazette's first "New Year's Baby" was Charlene Betty Kenyon, born Jan. 2, 1927, to Mr. and Mrs. Charles Kenyon of McCook. The last "New Year's Baby" was Jazlin Irene Lundquist, born Jan. 3, 2007, to Elizabeth Hilton and Timothy Lundquist of McCook.

The newest honored baby must be the first born after midnight, Jan. 1, 2008, to a mother who lives within the Gazette area: in Nebraska, Chase, Dundy, Hayes, Hitchcock, Frontier, Red Willow and Furnas counties; and in Kansas, Cheyenne, Rawlins and Decatur counties.

Hospitals and doctors no longer call the Gazette to report new babies, so parents and/or other relatives must report the news. Contact the Gazette at (308) 345-4500 by phone (leave a message at Extension 113); (308) 345-7881 by fax; or cdiscoe@mc cookgazette.com by e-mail. The Gazette will be closed Tuesday, Jan. 1, and will be open for regular business Wednesday, Jan. 2, at 8 a.m.

The contest will continue until the first baby is born; the slowest New Year's baby was Nicholas Eugene Lepper, the son of Tammy and Donnie Lepper of Indianola, who arrived at 4:12 p.m., Jan. 4, 1999.

The Gazette's newest New Year's baby will be presented with gift certificates from these businesses: Unique Boutique, Community Hospital of McCook, Eakes, McCook National Bank, Phones Etc., Southwest Implement, Farrell's Pharmacy and Hallmark Shop, Tranquil Valley Spa (Tri Valley Health System), Runza, Big Mama's/Big Papa's and the Gazette.