Title ready for first baby of 2009

The search is on -- the search for the first baby born in the new year in Southwest Nebraska and Northwest Kansas.

The McCook Daily Gazette has sponsored the "New Year's Baby Derby" since 1927. Charlene Betty Kenyon was declared the winner of that first baby race, being born at 11:25 p.m., Jan. 2, to Mr. and Mrs. Charles Kenyon, 112 E. Second. (Just a side-note and a comment on changes in society: Until 1982, only the father's name was listed on the Gazette's records of New Year's babies. The first baby whose mother's name is listed was Travis Raymond Hubert, who was born at 1:27 p.m., Jan. 1, 1982, to Pam Hubert of Stratton, at Dundy County Hospital in Benkelman.)

The winner of the 2008 "New Year's Baby" title was Blake Alan Hagan, born at 2:08 p.m., Jan. 1, at Community Hospital of McCook, to (Ashley) Dawn and Bruce Hagan Jr. of Culbertson. Blake was welcomed home by big sister Lydia and big brothers Alex and Cameron.

The winner of the 2009 baby derby will be the first baby born after midnight, Jan. 1, within the Gazette's coverage area of seven counties in Southwest Nebraska (Chase, Dundy, Hayes, Hitchcock, Frontier, Red Willow and Furnas counties) and three counties in Northwest Kansas (Decatur, Rawlins and Cheyenne counties) to parents who live within the same area.

Proud parents, grandparents or other family members must -- MUST -- contact the Gazette with the new baby's stats (time and location of birth, parents' names and address, doctor's name), because hospitals and doctors do not release such information.

The deadline to contact the Gazette is noon, Friday, Jan. 2. If there is no "New Year's Baby" by that time and day, the contest will continue on a minute-by-minute and day-to-day basis.

To submit a new baby's statistics, contact the Gazette at (308) 345-4500 (and, if necessary, leave a message on extension 113); fax, (308) 345-7881; or e-mail, cdiscoe@mc cookgazette.com

The first baby born in 2009 will win a package of goodies, products and services from Unique Boutique, Community Hospital of McCook, Farrell's Hallmark Shop, Phones Etc., Runza, Pizza Hut/KFC/Taco Bell and McCook National Bank of McCook; Tranquil Valley Spa/Tri Valley Health System and Mark's Pharmacy of Cambridge; and Lord's of Indianola.

The McCook Gazette will award the baby's parents a one-year subscription to the Daily Gazette.