Progress 2/22/11

Connie Jo Discoe/McCook Daily Gazette

Bob Wondercheck of Frahm Construction, North Loup, Nebraska, sawed down a scraggly tree hanging over a secondary channel of the Republican River south of Arapahoe, Nebraska, during a summer 2010 river clean-up project.

Republican River clean-up

THE 2011 MCCOOK DAILY GAZETTE PROGRESS EDITION

FORWARD, TOGETHER

McCook Daily Gazette Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2011

Cambridge hospital undergoes major upgrade FORWARD, TOGETHER

2 – McCook Daily Gazette

Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2011

JEREMY BLOMSTEDT MCCOOK DAILY GAZETTE

CAMBRIDGE, Nebraska – There's a trio of stone pillars supporting the new entrance to Cambridge Memorial Hospital.

These columns are representative of Tri Valley Health System's basic tenets (referred to as, indeed, the "Three Pillars" – quality, customer service and growth) given to those who will pass through the facility's doors.

In October 2010, Tri Valley opened those very doors at the new hospital campus, welcoming patients, family members, guests, regular staff and visiting specialists beyond those pillars and into the building where those pledges will translate into action.

The completion of the $22 million construction project, which ultimately brought many of the Cambridge-based organization's services together under one roof, marked a major step forward for Tri Valley Health System's rural integrated healthcare delivery system. "The new hospital is an addition to the existing facility in the strictest sense," said Tri Valley CEO Roger Steinkruger, a native of Franklin County with over 30 years of hospital administration experience, "but it's also a truly new hospital." *** The update links the original hospital building (which first opened in 1958), as well as longterm care facility Cambridge Manor, with a state-of-the-art healthcare complex that provides 53,000 square feet of new available space for the system's patients, residents, and personnel, while allowing the hospital to essentially remain in its same location on the west end of the community.

The project was launched in earnest on Dec. 22, 2008, during a special meeting of the hospital Board of Trustees. A vote was taken to decide whether they would pursue the new construction; it was approved unanimously.

In early January 2009, the process of identifying specific needs and designing the facility was initiated. Providers and other staff members were brought into the conversations to give their suggestions for the best use and design of the space. The option had existed in the early discussion stages to build a new free-standing hospital away from the original grounds, but that was rejected after considerations were made about laundry and nutrition service requirements.

Neenan Archistruction, a design and construction company based in Denver and Fort Collins, Colorado, was ultimately contracted to both plan and build the new facility, as well as handle the interior design and decor duties. "They've been great to work with," Steinkruger said. *** Site work began on the Cambridge campus in August 2009, with the groundbreaking in September of that year. Nearly a year later, the new hospital came to fruition, thanks in no small part, said Steinkruger, to the teamwork displayed by all parties.

"There's been a wonderful relationship among everyone involved," he said. "I can't say enough about our staff, the medical providers, the Board of Trustees, the Foundation Board of Directors, the Cambridge Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, Neenan Archistruction, the subcontractors, local government and the communities within our service area. We've worked together as one large team throughout all phases of the project." *** Both the exterior and interior design were created to provide a number of functions, both aesthetic and practical. The look of the new building's exterior does – of course – appear more modern, but a classic stone-andmortar motif is intended to help patients feel more secure. "We

Jeremy Blomstedt/McCook Daily Gazette

The new Tri Valley Health System Cambridge Memorial Hospital at Cambridge, Nebraska. wanted the hospital to look strong and solid," Steinkruger said. But the new structure's wings are also built as they are to permit future expansion, whenever that might become necessary, he added.

The emergency entrance to the hospital features a fully enclosed area for ambulance arrivals. The ability to have this entrance on a level surface, out of the elements, will be a significant improvement for those EMS providers and patients who need access, Steinkruger said.

And the helicopter landing pad, which was previously the parking lot between the hospital and the physical therapy building, has been relocated to the west side of the new building.

An added "healing garden," which was constructed in a triangular exterior space between a newly built access corridor, the Cambridge Manor's enclosed sun porch and the new Healthy Living Center, gives patients, visitors, and staff a pleasant, meditative space to gather. It was "zero-scaped," Steinkruger said, which is to say that it does not have a lawn. There are trees and other plants in the space, but it’s made mostly of brick and stone, which makes it easier to care for throughout the year. Some of the bricks are already inscribed with donor names; more of the inscribed bricks to be added as years pass. There is also a water feature in the healing garden. *** Inside the new hospital, the design concept provides a comforting feeling with its “rounded corners, softer colors, curves, softer lines," Steinkruger said. All of this interior work was done with the patient in mind, but there was practicality at work here, too.

The new nurses' station, for example, is situated in such a way that it will allow staff to have a constant view of patient rooms, as well as the obstetrics and emergency departments. This was something that the nursing staff suggested and designed during the earliest discussions, Steinkruger said.

The new hospital construction also allowed departments such as imaging to be in one location, instead of in various rooms on different floors, plus brings health information management and the pharmacy to the same level of the building as other departments.

Additional renovation work commenced in the old facility immediately after the opening of the new hospital. This work will expand the nutrition services department, creating a new kitchen and dining center called "The Cornerstone." It will also provide

A ribbon-cutting ceremony marked the opening of the new 53,000 square-foot healthcare facility. a new home for materials management, as well as give more room to the Tri Valley Health Spa and to prevention and healthy living programs – such as the Diagnostic Sleep Center and the Wellness and Rehab Center – services that Tri Valley has added in recent years. "We feel an obligation to those we serve to provide preventative health services," Steinkruger said, adding that the work will change the atmosphere of the old building.

Several new services that have been developed in recent months, such as Women's Health and Volunteer Services, will also be housed in the newly renovated areas. (Those renovations are scheduled to be completed in February 2011.) Indeed, almost all hospital departments will be able to be housed on the same floor and under the same roof – along with many of Tri Valley's sibling services. Additionally, a number of new conference rooms throughout the building will be made available for use by various community organizations. *** Tri Valley Health System is, of course, more than just the hospital – it's a network of healthcare professionals and operations that are united to serve the people throughout Southwest Nebraska and Northern Kansas.

The system offers area residents access to a full range of services from providers based in the area, as well as a number of outside specialists. "We have 21

specialists now covering 13 specialties, including cardiology, pulmonology, orthopedics, mental health, ophthalmology, urology, infectious disease, obstetrics/gynecology, ear, nose and throat, podiatry, vascular surgery and general surgery," Steinkruger said, adding that they are looking for more specialists to join them. "Having more specialists, having them here more often," he said. "We want to grow that part of the system."

The new facilities are likely to help, he noted: "We've worked hard to make it a convenient and pleasant location for them." Tri Valley is committed to providing "as many services as possible, as close to home as possible," he said, in order to minimize travel time on behalf of those they serve. "We're grateful for those who choose Tri Valley Health System," Steinkruger said. "We view our service area as one large community." *** To that end, Tri Valley not only offers the main hospital and nursing home in Cambridge, it also operates 3 satellite health clinics (located in Arapahoe, Indianola, and Cambridge), plus Tranquil Valley Spa Services, Heritage Plaza (apartments for independent senior living) and an assisted living facility. They also provide patients access to a home medical supply company, a diagnostic sleep lab, physical therapy services, occupational therapy and even public transportation in Furnas and Red

Connie Jo Discoe/McCook Daily Gazette

Courtesy photo

A large crowd turned out for the ribbon-cutting at the hospital.

Willow counties.

People can enter the system at any one of these points, Steinkruger said, which gives them access to everything else Tri Valley has to offer. That's what makes it an 'integrated system,' he explained.

"All these components work together and support one another," he said.

The comprehensive Cambridge facility gives perhaps the best physical representation of how the system is designed to work. For example, a patient could theoretically go to the hospital's clinic (or either of the other two clinics) to see a medical provider – or to the specialty clinic for an appointment with one of the hospital's visiting specialists – then, if necessary, be taken to Imaging, or Cardiopulmonary Services, or the Laboratory (or any of the other departments, for that matter) for diagnostic testing,

be admitted to the hospital for surgery or other treatment, then make arrangements for necessary home healthcare equipment at time of release – and do all of this without leaving the building.

Simply put, a patient can come to the Cambridge hospital campus to take advantage of almost all of Tri Valley's services.

Even so, Tri Valley Health System wants people to know that they will never force patients to remain in their system, if more specialized care is required in larger healthcare facilities.

"We enjoy working with other organizations in a collaborative effort," Steinkruger said. "We believe our very basic business is one of building relationships – not just with other healthcare facilities, but with churches, schools, civic organizations and other similar groups."

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Cambridge McCook Daily Gazette

There will be additional changes at the off-site clinics at Arapahoe and Indianola. In fact, some have already happened.

"At Arapahoe," Steinkruger said, "we've added earlier morning hours and renovated the reception area. At Indianola, we've added evening hours." Improvements in equipment for those locations have occurred and others are on the horizon.

Steinkruger said that one of the next large-scale improvements for the entire system will be to enhance the voice, data, and medical record management systems of all the system's operations, including the ones outside of Cambridge. "It will make everyone's job easier if, for example, instead of having to dial the full phone number of those clinics, they can simply dial an extension," he said. *** This work is all part of Tri Valley's commitment to keeping up with the latest technological advances in healthcare.

Steinkruger offered as an example their digital mammography system purchased during November 2009. "It was the first of its kind in the state," he said.

Other new imaging equipment includes a new 3D/4D ultrasound machine, a full-screen fixed digital X-ray system, and a full-screen mobile digital Xray machine. A wireless laparoscopy system in surgery, new pulmonary function equipment and a wireless stress testing system have also been added within the last few

FORWARD, TOGETHER

Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2011 – 3

Continued from Page 2

Illustration courtesy Tri Valley Health System

The floor plan of the new healthcare complex at Cambridge, Nebraska, indicates the quantity and quality of services that are being made available. months. Tri Valley has also added a 64-slice CT scanner to their imaging department, becoming the only critical-access hospital in Nebraska to have such advanced equipment. "We believe that technology is going to continue to evolve," he said – and not just for imaging and other diagnostic testing, but for

departments like health information management as well.

Tri Valley is currently looking to hire a Clinical Informatics Specialist, someone who not only has experience with electronic medical records, but also can design computer programs. This individual will help with the communication and education

associated with the implementation, storage, and retrieval of digital documents throughout the system. *** Even with all the advances that Tri Valley is investing in, be they new facilities or technology, Steinkruger said none of these matter as much as the people pro-

Hospital and clinic ribbon cutting ceremony speakers

viding the care. "A lot of things have changed in healthcare, but the relationship between the caregiver and the patient is still the most important," he said. "We really have a wonderful, dedicated staff. The new hospital doesn't serve anyone well without them." *** Tri Valley Health System and

Cambridge Memorial Hospital are located at 1305 Highway 6 and 34 in Cambridge. The telephone number is (308) 697-3329 or (800) 732-5505.

More information about Tri Valley – including updates on the hospital project – can found at their Web site, www.trivalleyhealth.com

Connie Jo Discoe/McCook Daily Gazette

Tri Valley Health System CEO Roger Steinkruger, above left, along with members of the TVHS board of trustees, representatives of the Cambridge, Nebraska, Chamber of Commerce used surgical scalpels to cut the ribbon to the new Tri Valley Health System Cambridge Memorial Hospital and Cambridge Medical Clinic in October 2010. During his remarks, Steinkruger told those gathered in the warm, early-autumn sunshine for the ceremony that while the new facility is wonderful, "it's not about a new building ... it's about people, people caring for people. This beautiful building and all the technology — they're of no value without a truly competent and caring staff. I suggest our most important resource, our most important asset is our staff."

Nebraska Lt. Governor Rick Sheehy, pictured at right, also spoke at the ceremony. He said that Nebraskans are known to be frugal and fiscally responsible, "yet, they make strategic investments in their future. (The new facility) is a strategic investment in healthcare in Southwest Nebraska." Sheehy said the new facility and its state-of-the-art technology allow patients to "stay home, where family and friends are." He added, however, agreeing with Steinkruger, "It's just brick and mortar and carpeting," without a caring and compassionate staff, without quality healthcare professionals.

The ‘healing garden,’ before and after

Connie Jo Discoe/McCook Daily Gazette

Two views of the new “healing garden” at Cambridgeʼs hospital. On the left is a look at the garden in the earliest days of construction. At right is an image of the space at the grand opening, with particular notice paid to the spaceʼs water feature, nicknamed “the bubbling boulder."

4 – McCook Daily Gazette

FORWARD, TOGETHER

This way for wellness

Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2011

Jeremy Blomstedt/McCook Daily Gazette

Another view of the main entrance to the new hospital and healthcare facility at Cambridge, Nebraska.

State-of-the-art imaging technology

Tri Valley Health System

Radiologic Technologists Ross Ebbers, Lindsey Stuart and Wendy Witte with the new Toshiba Aquilion 64 Multi-Slice CT system installed just prior to the grand opening of the new hospital.

Tri Valley is now the only Critical Access Hospital with a 64 slice CT.

New emergency room entrance

Jeremy Blomstedt/McCook Dailly Gazette

The redesign of Tri Valley Health System Cambridge Memorial Hospital has meant significant improvements for the emergency medicine department – including a covered ambulance bay and this new walk-in entrance.

More improvements as renovations continue

Jeremy Blomstedt/McCook Daily Gazette

The facility-wide improvements continue at the hospital, more specifically involving the renovation of the original hospital space. The old patient wing is currently being completely overhauled (shown at left) to transform it into what will be the Tri Valley Wellness and Rehab Center, which will not only contain fitness equipment and an indoor walking track, but will also include a new kitchen and dining room called “The Cornerstone.” At right is a glimpse of the equipment that will be used on the serving line. The contruction on this second phase is currently on-going, with the completion date estimated to be sometime in March 2011. There will be a celebratory open house to mark the conclusion of the renovation process; time and date will be announced.

Proud to be your source for local news. McCook Daily Gazette

Majority interest in Curtis bank sold to investment group FORWARD, TOGETHER

McCook Daily Gazette

CURTIS, Nebraska – John Wilkinson, CEO of the Curtis, Nebraska, State Bank, announced in August 2010 that his family sold a majority interest in the bank to the investment group, Western Investment Group, LLC. The Wilkinson family has owned the bank for three generations, with John coming on board 33 years ago. He has served as president of the bank for 25 years, relinquishing that position to Curtis Heapy in early 2010.

With no one in the family wanting to follow in his footsteps, Wilkinson felt he was nevertheless committed to keeping the bank locally owned.

"This is a good fit for our community and for our bank," he stated.

Wilkinson remains as the bank's CEO-CFO and Heapy continues to serve as president.

Mike Kelly of Sutherland, Nebraska, is board chairman of Western Investment Group, LLC. Three of the current bank board members remain – Wilkinson, Heapy, and Carol Hanes.

New board members are Mike Kelly and Ken Niedan of Hershey. Both have extensive bank experience.

Wilkinson and Kelly describe Western Investment Group as a small group of investors with strong backgrounds in agriculture and bank management. Investors

Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2011 – 5

Courtesy photo

The Curtis State Bank of Curtis, Nebraska, changed ownership in 2010. Majority interest in the bank was purchased by Western Investment Group, LLC.

in Western Investment Group, LLC include John Wilkinson, Curtis Heapy, Mike Kelly and Ken Niedan.

John Wilkinson said in August, 2010, "CSB needs to remain an independent bank with community ownership,

goals and ambitions -- not a branch bank owned by outsiders with unrelated interests.

This is a positive and exciting

change. Mike Kelly and his investment group are a great fit."

The Wilkinson family has owned the bank for three gen-

Holbrook Lions Club annual sale

erations, since the early 1940s, and the bank celebrated its 100th Anniversary on Dec. 24, 2010.

Connie Jo Discoe/McCook Daily Gazette

Matt McCann, left photo, a ringman for McCann Auctioneers of Edison, Nebraska, holds up a coffee pot for buyers at the annual Holbrook Lions Club consignment sale March 13, 2010. A sad-faced pedal car (right photo) waits for a new owner. Buyers parted with $133,370 before the end of the sale. A total of 970 buyers registered to bid on wares offered by 168 consignors.

The Lions Club uses its commission to fund community projects and pet projects of Lions everywhere.

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Palisade parade tradition

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By tradition or design, the final spot in Palisade, Nebraskaʼs Pioneer Days parade is held yearly by the villageʼs ambulance; this year, the crew created this tongue-in-cheek banner to highlight their position in the annual Main Street event.

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Arapahoe girls donate time, talents to serve community FORWARD, TOGETHER

6 – McCook Daily Gazette

CONNIE JO DISCOE REGIONAL EDITOR

ARAPAHOE, Nebraska — Donating their time and talents gave two Arapahoe, Nebraska, girls warm feelings inside as they coordinated a project to sew and gave away 100 pillow cases.

Kyla Monie and Audrey Breinig modeled their pillow project after a similar project that Kyla and her mother, LeAndra, learned about at a national FCCLA (Family Career and Community Leaders of America) convention. Kyla was convinced the pillow project would work well in their community.

The girls wanted to involve as many community members as possible, and contacted businesses for donations of pillow case material and money to purchase supplies for the project. The response was very positive, and they moved on to contact youth groups, 4-H clubs and, yes, even Boy Scouts, to donate their time and abilities to help sew.

Audrey, an eighth grader, and Kyla, a freshman, made their first donation, of 25 pillow

Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2011

cases, to the Crossroads Center Rescue Mission in Hastings, Nebraska, and then donated their time to help prepare and serve the mission's noon meal. "Working in the kitchen was fun," Kyla said. "We learned some cooking skills because the people there really know how to cook."

The girls made their second donation, another 25 pillow cases, to the Domestic Abuse and Sexual Assault Services center in McCook.

Another 50 pillow cases were donated to the American Red Cross.

Audrey said the whole project was fun. "It gave me a good feeling inside," she said with a smile. Kyla added, "It's given us a sense of power, knowing that these life skills can help in our community."

Kyla Monie, left, and Audrey Breinig of Arapahoe, Nebraska, volunteered in the kitchen of the Crossroads Center Rescue Mission in Hastings, Nebraska. Kyla is the daughter of LeAndra and Todd Monie; Audrey is the daughter of Randy and Ginger Breinig.

Photo courtesy LeAndra Monie

Connie Jo Discoe/McCook Daily Gazette

Audrey (pictured left), an eighth grader at Arapahoe Junior-Senior High School and a co-coordinator of a pillow case donation project – a title she shared with Kyla – stitched one of 100 pillow cases donated to a mission in Hastings, Nebraska, the Domestic Abuse Sexual Assault Services Center in McCook and the American Red Cross. Kyla (right photo), a freshman at Arapahoe Junior-Senior High School pinned the seams of a pillow case to be donated to the American Red Cross.

Oberlin woman wins $5000 grand prize in national essay contest

OBERLIN, Kansas — An Oberlin, Kansas, woman shared the story of the community's creation of a new senior center and theater and and the resurrection of its bowling alley — in 400 words or less — and won a check for $2,500 for herself and a check for $2,500 for the Decatur Area Development Fund.

Shayla Williby's essay won the $5,000 grand prize in the nation-wide 2010 "Gatherings with Purpose" essay contest sponsored by Modern Woodmen of America.

On Saturday, Dec. 4, Williby accepted her check and Connie Grafel and Greg Lohoefener of the Decatur Area Development Fund accepted their check from Modern Woodmen representatives Marie McKisson of Oberlin, Shawn Carney of Colby, Kansas, and Larry Stutz of Norton, Kansas.

Carney said that Williby's essay garnered just less than 3,000 on-line votes between Nov. 1, 2010, to Nov. 15, 2010, far outreaching the second-place winner, which got about 1,000 votes.

Williby said she has always been impressed by volunteers of all ages who have helped with the Oberlin project — starting with the demolition of the old theater and

senior center in January 2009. Williby wrote, "It was awe-inspiring to see all ages working side-by-side toward a common goal ... " The new senior center and theater are up and running, while funds are still being raised to finish the bowling alley. All three are located in a new $1.2 million structure on Oberlin's downtown main street.

Carney called the Oberlin project, "the ideal Modern Woodmen project," because of Modern Woodmen's mission, "Touching lives. Securing futures."

Williby's winning essay follows: "When the bowling alley in Oberlin, Kan., burned down, residents saw a need and an opportunity – to tear down the community's dilapidated senior center and theater as well and rebuild all three in one facility. All three gathering places were vitally important to the 1,700-resident community.

Greg Lohoefener, a businessman and lifetime Oberlin resident, formed a group of local residents who were dedicated to erecting a new $1.2 million facility to house all three entities. Community members jumped into action.

On Jan. 31, 2009, 60 volunteers gathered to start the

Connie Jo Discoe/McCook Daily Gazette

Shayla Williby of Oberlin, Kansas, front, center, accepted a check for $2,500, and Connie Grafel of the Decatur Area Development Fund, right, accepted another check for $2,500 from Modern Woodmen of America representatives Marie McKisson of Oberlin, Larry Stutz of Norton, Kansas, right, and Shawn Carney of Colby, Kansas. Helping Williby celebrate winning the grand prize in a nationwide Modern Woodmen essay contest were, second row, from left,: Shirley Ward, Carol Morford, Justin Williby, Doug Williby and Monte Moore. Back row: Trey Ward, Judy Cochran, Mary Jo Lohoefener, Greg Lohoefener and Kevin Brown. demolition of the old senior center and theater. The volunteers tore down walls, carried out the old theater seats and did anything needed to get the project started.

‘It was awe-inspiring to

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see all ages working side by side toward a common goal and learning about each other as they did so,’ said Shayla Williby, an Oberlin resident who volunteered on that day.

Many more have gathered and volunteered since that day to make the dream a reality. While the senior center and theater are completed and back in use, the community is in the process

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of raising an additional $100,000 to complete the bowling alley. Soon all three facilities will be complete for people to gather, share old memories and make new ones."

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McCook Daily Gazette

Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2011 – 7

SPUCC members tour Southwest Nebraska

Connie Jo Discoe/McCook Daily Gazette

Left: Dena R. Beck of Minden, Nebraska, president of the South Platte United Chambers of Commerce, welcomed SPUCC members to McCook, Nebraska, and the new Keystone Business Center, the starting point of the SPUCC Western Region Tour in October 2010.

Beck said recent items of interest to SPUCC includes transportation, signage, wind options in regard to manufacturing and energy, and tourism. Beck distributed a SPUCC publication called "Voyage: To South Platte Nebraska," which promotes the communities, tourism opportunities and businesses within south-central and Southwest Nebraska. "I'm a shameless promoter," Beck said with a smile, admitting that she leaves copies of the publication everywhere she stops.

Right: Betty Sayers of Holdrege (left) discussed the "Chicken Dance Trail," along which, she said, is some of Southwest and south-central Nebraska's finest and most diverse birding habitat.

"More and more tourists are coming. Nebraska has extraordinary opportunities to stop people," Sayers said.

Sayers also touted the publication, "Nebraska Rural Living," explaining, "We have no idea the depth of interest in rural living." Listening to Sayers' presentation were Lori Cappel of USDA Rural Development and Dawna Bates of "Totally Tea," which served tea and cookies to SPUCC members gathered at the Keystone. From McCook, SPUCC members traveled to and toured Trenton, Benkelman, Imperial and Grant.

Atwood man shares stories of his American travels in e-book

ATWOOD, Kansas — A former truck driver from Atwood, Kansas, likes to tell folks he's finished writing his first book. "It sounds impressive," Don Benda writes in the forward to his book, "Important Things I Learned while Driving a Truck across America."

While the book's sub-title is "A Traveler's Quick View of the Real USA," there's nothing ordinary about Don Benda's "travelogue." Yes, it's a journal of Benda's travels when he worked as a truck driver, but it's more than a listing of pretty places, good restaurants and clean motels.

Much of Benda's book is written in awe of the land he observed while driving over, across and through "big and beautiful and free" America.

He observes that, "America is at her beautiful best the second week of June."

Some observations in the book take a comical look at that land's inhabitants: "Not all bicycle riders should wear those shiny, tight spandex shorts." And, "The girls in southern California don't seem to need many clothes.

Sorry, I couldn't help but notice."

Some of it's sad, and thought-provoking: "In Hattiesburg, Mississippi, a huge Baptist churchyard has hundreds of neat white crosses lined up in rows to memorialize aborted babies."

Benda throws in a laugh or two: "The only thing worse than a deer in the headlights is a skunk under the bumper." And, "A highway billboard for a Reno, Nevada, motel says, 'You are getting verrry sleepy ... " But even more unexpected is the book's lack of a front cover. Or a back cover.

Or even pages in between them.

Benda' book is online.

That means "Important Things" rides the cyberwaves and can be found at an "address," not on bookshelves.

But it's worth looking for.

Benda's "book" is at www.rarwriter.com under a link called, "Currently Hot on RARWriter." *** Like any other book, Benda's online book is divided into chapters: "Chapter One: When will it fall off into the ocean?" One excerpt from Chapter One: A little Japanese lady in California grows the best strawberries you've ever tasted.

She sells them fresh picked and dead ripe from her little roadside stand in Lamont.

"Chapter Two: I have a feeling we're not in Kansas any more." Buffalo Bill's Scouts Rest Ranch is near North Platte, Nebraska. But his final resting place is on Lookout Mountain in Colorado.

"Chapter Three: The South's gonna do it again."

Only in the South can you find the Church of God Prophecy Holiness Get with It Tabernacle Assembly."

"Chapter Four: Jacksonville by 5 o'clock Tuesday morning." A watermelon farm manager in Florida says she has tasted watermelons from everywhere and the very best ones come from Michigan. Whooda thunkit.

"Chapter Five: Didn't you see the sign?" A little town in Fairmount in Indiana has a big billboard that says, "Hometown of James Dean.

Where cool was born."

"Chapter Six: Ain't that America?" The most interesting rock formation in the country is at Vedauwoo, between Cheyenne and Laramie, Wyoming. Go see for yourself.

"Chapter Seven: Things that go jump in the night."

Sometimes, driving a semi in the middle of the night in a howling snowstorm on a winding two-lane highway, you just want your mommy.

"Chapter Eight: West, wild and weird." A 50 percent chance of rain in the desert west means half of the fore-

cast area may get a light shower. A 50 percent chance of rain in the South means the entire forecast area will get hard rain half the day. *** Benda grew up near Atwood and Achilles, Kansas, on his parents' hard-working farm, according to his "publisher," Rick Alan Rice (a/k/a rarwriter), a cousin of Benda's wife, Sarah.

Rice writes about his relationship with Don Benda: "I have known Don Benda since he attended ... country school in Achilles, east of Atwood, in one of those one-room buildings so small that students had to step outside to turn the page in their textbook."

Benda played football and ran track at Atwood High School, graduated, left town and then returned. The years and experiences since cause Benda to describe himself as "journalist/truck driver/x-ray technician/salesman/farmer /insurance agent."

He now works as a radiology technologist at the Rawlins County Health Center in Atwood.

Don said he encourages readers to search out his "book," and take a half-hour or so to read it. "It's fun ... it's

a chuckle," he said. "Everybody has a little bit of wanderlust. Everyone can relate to something in the book." *** Rick Rice's rarwriter.com site started in 2006 as a personal website to showcase his own writing. Describing the site's evolution into much more, Rice writes: "This site has always been about the individual pursuit of artistry that has a capacity to effect positive change in the world. All of the artists profiled on The Links are emissaries to this higher calling."

Rice concludes: "The creative people profiled on this site have grown from a community of friends and associates, with a shared history, to become a confederation of like-minded spirits from all over the planet who are trying to give voice to this brave new technological world we have made for ourselves the world of the Internet, which at least for now re-levels the creative playing field and gives talented people of every stripe an opportunity to make a meaningful contribution for the betterment of us all. This is the purpose of The Links."

Courtesy photo

Don Benda of Atwood, Kansas, has written an e-book about his travels across America.

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Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2011

Goat herds help with weed control Guarding the goats

Connie Jo Discoe/McCook Daily Gazette

A Great Pyrenees dog protected the goats "hired" to eat overgrown willow trees on the Frenchman River through Wauneta, Nebraska.

WAUNETA, Nebraska — Every 10 days or so since the end of February, 2010, Bruce and Larry Peterson of Enders moved about 130 goats in two bunches, two LGDs (livestock guard dogs) and portable fencing along the banks of the Frenchman River from the west edge of Wauneta toward the eastern city limits.

Bruce Peterson said in April 2010

the goats have, for two years now, replaced Wauneta's annual efforts to burn off overgrowth on the river. Peterson said people appreciate the goats much more than the burning.

"They're kind of a novelty," Peterson said. "People like to watch them. We've had no complaints." In fact, he said, Wauneta residents were quick to alert the Petersons

and help with a couple goats and one of the dogs when a heavy rainfall laid over a section of their fencing.

Peterson said that although the Great Pyrenees guard dogs are not overly friendly, they're not aggressive; in remote areas, they're vital in protecting the goats from coyotes, he said.

While the goatstargeted willow

trees in Wauneta, they're also used extensively to eat down growths of noxious weeds and, in some places, red cedar trees and salt cedar trees.

"Goats don't prefer native grasses — that's their advantage," Peterson said. And goats will eat just about anything that grows, he said, although some times it depends upon the time of year and the maturity and cycle of the plant.

Environmentally, the goats are very "green," Peterson said. "They're chemical-free, mechanical-free and less expensive" than traditional weed control efforts, he said.

The goats moved to private landowners to tackle thistle, weed and cedar tree problems throughout the summer, and returned to Wauneta in the fall to hit the river banks again.

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Twin Valleys Public Power completes ice storm repairs FORWARD, TOGETHER

McCook Daily Gazette

Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2011 – 9

CAMBRIDGE, Nebraska — In December 2006, two ice storms ravaged six counties in Southwest Nebraska, dropping 3,000 power poles to the ground and shutting off power to customers of the Twin Valleys Public Power District, headquartered in Cambridge, Nebraska.

As crews looked at what would be years' worth of repairs after the storms, more storms hit the area, new construction demanded new power hookups and farmers nearly doubled the power they used for irrigation.

The Beaver City TimesTribune indicated in June 2010 that as of April 2, 2010, Twin Valleys had finished all the repairs needed after the December 2006 ice storms.

Repair crews had power restored to all Twin Valleys customers within 16 days of the two storms, and then began the task of replacing the 3,000 power poles knocked to the ground. With conductor damage as well, many lines had to be completely rebuilt, the TimesTribune news story reports.

Crews worked overtime through May 8, 2007, to get all seasonal and irrigation service restored.

Severe wind, lightning and rain on May 22, 2008, and another ice storm, on Jan. 6, 2010, caused additional damage. After each of these storms, and after the December 2006

ice storms, Twin Valleys' service area was declared a disaster area.

The last 2006 storm repair project included straightening leaning poles in Phelps, Harlan

and eastern Furnas counties by digging alongside each pole, straightening it and spraying expansion foam into the hole.

In addition to storm response since 2006, Twin

Valleys provided power to two large new school buildings and an ethanol plant under construction. Add to that the fact that farmers, from 2007 through 2009,

BENKELMAN, Nebraska — Gavilon Grain, LLC of Omaha, Nebraska, announced plans in August 2010 to construct a 800,000bushel, slip-form concrete grain elevator with an additional 4 million bushels of bunker storage capacity near Benkelman, Nebraska.

The state-of-the-art, 110car Burlington Northern Santa Fe shuttle facility will feature 60,000-bushel-perhour truck unloading capability and a high-speed grain dryer. The Benkelman facility expected to be fully operational for the July 2011 wheat harvest.

"We are pleased to be expanding our grain facility net-

work with the addition of our ninth grain elevator in Nebraska," said Matt Gibson, director of merchandising and operations western region of Gavilon Grain. "The new facility will allow us to better serve and develop new relationships with producers in Southwest Nebraska."

The Benkelman facility is located at the intersection of Highway 34 and Highway 61, south of the Benkelman city limits.

Joe Theiler, elevator manager at the Imperial, Nebraska facility, will meet with area producers to bid on corn and wheat.

Theiler can be contacted at (308) 882-4233 for cash

bid information. Location and cash bid information can also be found on the Benkelman Web page at www.gavilon.com/benkelman.

Gavilon Grain, LLC is a subsidiary of The Gavilon Group, LLC. The Gavilon Group, LLC provides essential commodities and related services in the physical distribution, trading, merchandising and risk management of raw materials and value-added products moving through the global supply chain of grain, feed ingredients, fertilizers and energy products.

For more information, visit www.gavilon.com

IMPERIAL, Nebraska — Athletes playing sports at Chase County Schools must have completed ImPACT testing before they can play.

ImPACT — Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing — determines a baseline of a student/athlete's neuro-cognitive skills and then provides evaluation of recovery after a concussion.

The baseline test is computerized and takes about 20 minutes. It measures word memory, design memory, reaction time, shape recognition and speed.

The Imperial Republican reported in November 2010 that CCS Activities Director Marc Mroczek said that should an athletic suffer a concussion, follow-up evaluation will determine if/when he/she is okay to return to action.

The Republican reported, "The test evaluates the athlete's post-injury condition and tracks recovery for a safe return to play, thus preventing the cumulative effects of a

Book signing

Courtesy photo

Jeremy Blomstedt/McCook Daily Gazette

The offices of Twin Valleys Public Power District, located in Cambridge, Nebraska. In 2010, crews from Twin Valleys finished the repairing the extensive damage caused in their district by a major ice storm in 2006. increased their irrigation horsepower by 46 percent, requiring Twin Valleys to upgrade some backbone distribution line and substations.

One new substation and its associated transmission and distribution line would be completed by the spring of 2011, the Times-Tribune reports.

Chase County athletic department Omaha-based grain company to build elevator near Benkelman implements concussion evaluation

Brenda Humphrey Meisels, a resident of Ann Arbor, Michigan, but a native of Imperial, Nebraska, spoke and autographed copies of her first novel, "Family at Booknook" at the McCook, Nebraska, Public Library in August 2010. Meisels describes "Booknook" as a coming-of-age story in which readers follow the growth of a 16-year-old pregnant girl, her baby and the bitter old man who becomes a surrogate grandfather to the baby girl. Meisels graduated from Nebraska Wesleyan University and earned a master's degree in social work from the University of Nebraska. As a psychotherapist, she used the personal narratives of her clients as inspiration for "Family at Booknook."

Color guard

concussion."

Mroczek said that physicians will read follow-up test results and make the determination if/when a student/athlete can return to action.

ImPACT Applications Inc. of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, provided the computerized neuro-cognitive assessment tools and services being used at CCS. ImPACT is being used for concussion management at more than 1,000 high schools, colleges, sports medicine centers and by professional teams throughout the world.

In Nebraska, CCS and Southwest and Ogallala schools are clients of ImPACT, according to the Republican.

Mroczek told Republican reporter Jan Schultz that the school was contacted by Dr. Doug Nicholson from Chase County Community Hospital/Clinic about the ImPACT program. Mroczek said that there were at least two winter sports athletes at CCS diagnosed with concussions.

Jeremy Blomstedt/McCook Daily Gazette

Members of the Palisade, Nebraska, VFW and American Legion posts led the way for the rest of the parade down Main Street during the communityʼs annual Pioneer Days festivities.

FORWARD, TOGETHER

10 – McCook Daily Gazette

Buying and selling

Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2011

Connie Jo Discoe/McCook Daily Gazette

Tom Faimon of Stratton, Nebraska, revealed his bidding number to his five-year-old grandson, Jake, of Lincoln, during Gordon Gessleman's annual spring farm consignment sale in Culbertson, Nebraska, March 31, 2010. Auctioneers, including Jeff White of Hershey, sold everything agricultural; ringman Frank West caught bids on irrigation valves. Gessleman called the sale, "a barn-burner. We sold $100,000 more than we did last year. Things sold well — there were very few no-sales. Even big items (tractors and implements) brought good money." Gessleman predicted that 2010 would be "a lot like last year — grain market's down, fuel's up, expenses are up." He said that livestock "is the only thing holding up well. We sold livestock equipment like it was new." Gessleman has watched trends in agriculture at his sale every year for 22 years; he said he appreciates buyers' and sellers' support of his sale each year.

‘Burton's Bend Music Festival’

Connie Jo Discoe/McCook Daily Gazette

Area businesses in brief RJC Cleaning and Detailing

INDIANOLA, Nebraska – RJC Cleaning and Detailing of Indianola, Nebraska, offers heavy-duty equipment cleaning using fully-portable equipment.

Call Roderick J. Carpenter at (308) 737-1348 or (308) 737-1349 for appointments to clean farm equipment, construction and heavy equipment.

Bankers Life and Casualty

BENKELMAN, Nebraska – Bankers Life and Casualty of Benkelman, Nebraska marks its 25th anniversary in 2011.

The company has been serving its clients since 1986.

For more information about the services they offer, contact them by phone at (308) 423-2647. The business’ mailing address is P.O. Box 582, Benkelman, NE, 69021.

www.mccookgazette.com

Young country and western singer Alexis Whipple of Arapahoe, Nebraska, performed during the first-ever "Burton's Bend Music Festival," in July in Holbrook, originally known as "Burton's Bend." Alexis yodeled during the performance, a skill she learned from "The Yodeling Queen," Janet McBride of Mesquite, Texas, who also played and sang during the music festival. Hundreds of fans of western, cowboy, blues, gospel, patriotic and jazz music gathered in the community's former school house to listen to what festival producer Mary Schutz calls "roots music." Alexis wore a vintage dress redesigned for her by Laurie Ramesbothom, the proprietor of Phoebe Delia's Mercantile in downtown Holbrook.

“ I am a bench Jeweler. I create, design, carve my own waxes and cast jewelry all in house which makes it very time consuming and delicate work. I do most of my work with people in and outside the area looking for custom designs. Not all Jewelers are created equal. It’s a different ball game than simple retail, it requires me to be involved in both sides of my profession, and I love it”. -Bill Longnecker “Discover the Difference”

“America’s Best Jeweler 2009 and 2010” bill_longnecker@hotmail.com

www.longneckerjewelry.com

“My drive and passion is designing jewelry and serving our areas needs.”

Farnam vineyard and winery owners enjoying the fruits of their labor FORWARD, TOGETHER

McCook Daily Gazette

Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2011 – 11

CONNIE JO DISCOE REGIONAL EDITOR

FARNAM, Nebraska — Gary Wach is in awe of the drive and the determination — and faith — that his greatgrandparents must have possessed to leave their home in Russia and immigrate to a young, wild America 125 years ago.

Gary's great-grandparents, Friedrich Hermann and Maragaretha Minna Nagel Wach, came to America with nine children in tow, and arrived on Ellis Island on June 18, 1885, the same day as the Statue of Liberty, Gary said.

"They traveled by train to meet family in Sutton, Nebraska, and then homesteaded west of Hayes Center," Gary said.

"My great-grandfather was 54 years old," Gary said. "I've often wondered what drive, and nerve, it took to move his family like that."

Gary's grandfather, William, and William's older brother, Julius, were born in Worms, Russia; William was just nine months old when his family set out for America. William's and Julius' brother, Otto, was one of six babies born in America.

The three brothers married three of the four Schultz sisters, Gary said, and the Wach family grew with their new country.

Gary must have inherited some of that drive and determination — and faith — because he and his wife, Ricky, are growing grapes and making wine in the middle of corn and wheat and iced tea and beer country.

Out of respect for Gary's grandfather's and great-uncles' pioneering spirit, Gary and Ricky have named their wine-making and wine-tasting venture, "Three Brothers Vineyard and Winery." *** Gary and Ricky met while they both taught at the agriculture college in Curtis. They moved to Chicago and then to Sioux City, Iowa. For years, one or the other was working while the other was looking for a job, Ricky said, with a smile.

Then, two jobs came open back at the college in Curtis, and the Wachs decided they would like raising their children in a small town, and they could be closer to Gary's family at Hayes Center. "It was a good mix," Ricky said. "Two good jobs and a good place to raise our kids."

The family moved to Curtis, and for two years, they looked for a house to buy. At a friend's urging, they looked at a house in Farnam, and fell in love with it and the community.

"Farnam's such a welcoming town," Ricky said.

With the new home came

In February 2010, Gary and Ricky Wach stood among the sleeping grape vines at "Three Brothers Vineyard and Winery" in Farnam.

10 acres of pastureland that the Wachs rented out.

Gary thought originally of planting an orchard on those 10 acres, but that was in 2000, and there was a lot of talk of small vineyards and familyoperated wineries, even in Nebraska. "Grapes were in the news," Ricky said, "And grapes provide a crop slightly quicker than an orchard."

So, Gary researched and studied, and planted — "as a hobby and a distraction from everyday life" — 300 vines — three varieties of grapes — on just more than half-an-acre of land. "It's very labor intensive," Ricky said, so the first plot was kind of experimental, to see if that's what they really wanted to get into.

The Wachs added more plants and varieties every year, or replaced plants killed by late freeze, and by 2009, had just more than five acres

of plants.

In 2004, a huge tree came down at the south end of the pasture, making room for the foundation of a winery. Over the next five years, Gary and Ricky, family and friends built the winery with a fermenting and work room, lobby and tasting room with seating for 24.

In 2008, Gary and Ricky waded through the legalities of labeling, and bottled their 2008 grape harvest.

On June 6, 2009, the Three Brothers Winery opened, and the Wachs hosted their grand opening weekend on July 18 and 19. "We had a very busy two days," Ricky said.

Their calendar has since been filled with bus tours, wine tastings, "fifth quarter" gatherings during Eustis-Farnam High School's football season, Christmas parties, a prime rib dinner night, Valentine's Day

hors d'oeuvres, musical entertainment featuring local talent, an "Open That Bottle" night with shrimp and pork loin.

The Wachs plan card nights, family movie nights, star-gazing nights and "Sunset on the Patio." *** The Wachs have planted 10 varieties of cold-hardy grapes and bottle nine wines.

"They're semi-sweet and semi-dry whites and reds.

Nebraska is a relatively new wine state — most prefer semi-sweet and semi-dry wines," Gary said. "Our wines are middle-of-the-road," Ricky said. "Not super sweet or really dry."

The Wachs produce their wines with their own grapes, although a devastating hail storm just before an August harvest last year forced them to purchase some grapes from other vineyards for

blending with their own grapes. When the Wachs have an abundance of grapes, they do the same — offer them to other wineries.

The Wachs hire local help to pick their grapes, and then Gary and Ricky — short version — weigh, de-stem, crush, press, ferment, rack and filter the grapes and the resulting wines, and bottle, cork, and label the finished wines.

Wachs' wines are named for the variety of grape: I Seyval, a white wine: Fruity aromas and well-balanced smooth taste.

I Brianna, a white wine: Hints of pineapple and citrus.

I Vignoles, a white wine: Fruity with notes of pear.

I Frontenac gris, a white wine: Amber colored from a gray ("gris") grape; hints of peach and apricot flavors.

I Tradition, a red wine: A blend of Marechal Foch and

Connie Jo Discoe/McCook Daily Gazette

The Wachs opened their wine-making and wine-tasting venture during the summer of 2009, offering nine semi-sweet and semi-dry white and red wines, and a variety of events, activities and opportunities to taste them.

Connie Jo Discoe/McCook Daily Gazette

Frontenac grapes; hints of blackberry and butterscotch aromas.

I Rougeon, a red wine: Pepper aromas with hints of elderberry.

I Landot Noir, a red wine: Licorice flavors and aroma; a beautiful deep color.

I Frontenac, a red wine: Lightly oaked to give a hint of smoke and toasted almond; cherry undertones and a deep garnet color.

(In July 2010, their Frontenac wines were awarded one gold and one bronze medal from the fourth annual "Mid-American Wine Competition" at Ankeny, Iowa.)

Coming soon: LaCrosse, a dry white wine: Unique taste, very "Nebraska."

Despite the fact that one wine-taster was looking for a wine "that tasted the closest to beer," the Wachs said the appeal of wine is growing. Gary said he is pleasantly surprised by the number of woman who enjoy wine, and is even more pleased that men will also enjoy a glass of wine with their meal.

The Wachs have had visitors from Russia, Canada and Australia and many states between California and Florida.

"And we're seeing increasing traffic in Farnam," Ricky said.

"It's so nice to sit in the tasting room, drink our wines and see the vines from which the grapes came framed in the north window," Ricky said. *** The Wachs want to create a Nebraska "wine trail," promoting and marketing Nebraska wines with other vintners across the state.

"We are dependent upon each other to promote the wine industry," Ricky said.

The Wachs gladly direct their visitors and wine-tasters to other vineyards and wineries. *** Three Brothers Vineyard and Winery is located on the northwestern edge of Farnam, in the gray and maroon building just a block north and a block west of the Methodist and Catholic churches at the north end of Main Street.

Ricky said. "If we're here, we're open." The phone number is (308) 569-2501.

E-mail can be sent to: 3brothers@atcjet.net Three Brothers' Web site is: 3brothersvineyard.com

FORWARD, TOGETHER

McCook Daily Gazette

Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2011 – 13

Summer 2010 project removed fallen trees from river

Connie Jo Discoe/McCook Daily Gazette

Roger Frahm, left, and project manager Merle Illian examined river maps and a dayʼs progress during a summer 2010 Republican River clean-up project south of Arapahoe, Nebraska.

CONNIE JO DISCOE REGIONAL EDITOR

EDISON, Nebraska — Two yellow Caterpiller excavators churned through the waters of the Republican River between Arapahoe and Edison in Nebraska, their operators grabbing fallen and decaying trees and branches from the water channel, and tossing them far up onto the banks.

Two men wading in kneedeep water used super-sized chainsaws to rip through overhanging trees whose roots snake in and out of the sandy banks of the river. Along come the Cats, and operators Roger Frahm and Ryan David lifted the timber out of the water and deposited it all on the banks.

The crew from Frahm Construction of North Loup, Nebraska, worked throughout the summer of 2010 cleaning out the water channel of the Republican River. Merle Illian, project manager of the Twin Valley Weed Management Area, said the two-year riparian improvement project was down to its last three to four miles, and would have cleaned

debris, fallen timber, log jams and beaver dams from 142 miles of the Republican River from the Cambridge diversion dam to the Nebraska-Kansas line south of Hardy, Nebraska.

SA

The riparian improvement project also targeted removal of sediment from the stream bed, deep disking of islands (to allow scouring of vegetation and sandbars)

and control of invasive and noxious weeds and trees.

The project wasfunded primarily with a $545,000 Nebraska Environmental Trust grant.

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the river, county commissioners, county weed management personnel and most of all, the landowners, this project would not have happened. Illian said.

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MADD honors area troopers

LA VISTA, Nebraska — Mothers Against Drunk Driving recognized 18 law enforcement officers' efforts to stop drunk driving, and Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman thanked the officers for their service and sacrifice at MADD's 11th annual Law Enforcement Awards and Recognition Event May 25, 2010, in La Vista, Nebraska.

Among the officers honored were Nebraska State Patrol Troop D troopers Doug Petty and Jeff Van Stelton, who patrol Southwest Nebraska. The troopers received a MADD Adult DWI/DUI Team Award.

Award presenters announced: "Troopers Petty and Van Stelton showed tremendous dedication to removing impaired drivers from our roadways in 2009.

Their dedication and hard work resulted in 104 individuals (arrested) for DUI, while the McCook/Sargent area had a significant decrease in motor vehicle crashes. Thank you for your outstanding efforts."

Gov. Dave Heineman thanked all of the honorees for their service to and sacrifice for the State of Nebraska. MADD volunteer and victim/survivor Jerry Beller spoke at the event, expressing his appreciation for the work of the officers and for the families who stand behind them.

In 2009, Nebraska officers made approximately 13,000 driving-under-the-influence arrests. MADD spokesperson Sara Magnus said, "Their dedication moves forward the mission of MADD, eliminating drunk driving, supporting the victims of this violent crime and stopping underage drinking."

Illian said that the cooperation of 280 landowners along the Republican River can be credited largely for the success of the project. Without the cooperation of communities on

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McCook, NE 69001

308-345-1952

Community Hospital: serving the region’s healthcare needs FORWARD, TOGETHER

14 – McCook Daily Gazette

Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2011

CANDY CROSBY COMMUNITY HOSPITAL PUBLIC RELATIONS COORDINATOR

McCOOK, Nebraska – Community Hospital in McCook strives to excel at providing for the healthcare needs of the region through quality, efficient and patient-center care.

“Meeting the healthcare needs of residents in Red Willow County and those counties surrounding Red Willow is a vital mission for Community Hospital,” says Jim Ulrich, Community Hospital President and CEO. To accomplish that mission, the hospital continues to support and develop existing and new services on the main hospital campus, as well as centers of excellence in satellite locations. Those locations include: Community Hospital Outpatient Services Center – Indianola The Outpatient Services Center at 104 N. Third in Indianola offers an array of outpatient healthcare services.

Those services include occupational, massage, and speech therapies, medical nutrition therapy, diabetic education, pharmacy consultative services and Fitness Reaching Older Gens (FROG), an exercise program for those 55 years and older. At this time, the center is staffed only during appointment times.

Call (308) 344-8285 to make an appointment or for more information.

Curtis Medical Center Service providers at the Curtis Medical Center in Curtis, Nebraska include full-time physician assistant, Terry Gourley, and visiting family physician Wade Fornander, M.D., Lorinda Reece, M.D. and Rose Remington, M.D.

Photo courtesy Community Hospital

The exterior of Community Hospital Outpatient Services Center in Indianola. The hospital also offers healthcare services at offices in Curtis and Trenton.

The clinic offers healthcare services for every stage of life including obstetrics, pediatrics, allergy shots, minor procedures and more. Call (308) 367-4162 for an appointment.

Outpatient services, such as occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical nutrition therapy and diabetic education are also offered at Curtis Medical Center.

Call (308) 344-8285 for more information.

Trenton Medical Clinic Medical providers at Trenton Medical Clinic include full-time physician assistant, Teresa Hodgson, and a rotating schedule of family medicine physicians: John West, M.D., Richard Klug, M.D. and Mark Serbousek, M.D. Trenton Medical Clinic offers rou-

s.l. jonson studio

tine healthcare services for the entire family, including preventative healthcare and education.

The clinic also offers allergy shots, limited lab and X-ray services and minor procedures. Call (308) 3345155 to make an appointment.

Outpatient services, such as occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical nutrition therapy and diabetic education are also offered at Trenton Medical Clinic.

Call (308) 344-8285 for more information.

Community HealthCare and Hospice The qualified staff of Community HealthCare and Hospice helps people creatively face the challenge of chronic illness or aging in their own home.

This regional service provides services in seven counties for home health and hospice including Red Willow, Frontier, Hayes, Hitchcock, Furnas, Dundy and Chase.

Services and programs offered through Community HealthCare and Hospice include: skilled nursing, home health aide, Lifeline, physical therapy, registered dietician, speech therapy, occupational therapy and medical social worker.

A nurse is available by phone, to provide full 24-hour coverage and address the needs of any client at any time. The office is located in McCook at 407 W. Fifth.

Call (308) 344-8356 for more information.

Community Hospital Sleep Services

Community Hospital's Sleep Services facility is located in McCook at the Southview Plaza, 801 West C, Suite C. The facility helps patients achieve adequate and healthful sleep. A sleep technician gathers data that is later analyzed by a board certified sleep medicine physician who can recommend the proper treatment.

Two beautiful home-like sleeping suites with handicapped accessible private half baths are equipped with comfortable pillow-top mattresses and other amenities to offer a quiet, peaceful sleep during the testing.

Call (308) 344-8386 or (308) 344-8387 for more information.

More information on Community Hospital services can be found at www.chmccook.org

Courtesy photos

"Our Mother of Perpetual Help," at left, a bronze sculpture by Sondra Jonson of Cambridge, along with "Mary, Handmaid of the Lord" (center) were installed at St. Robert Bellarmine's in Omaha in 2010. Also, a new monument, "Meeting between Sts. Peter and Paul" (pictured right) at Trinity Heights Shrine in Sioux City, Iowa, was dedicated and "Mother's Love" was installed in the new Tri-Valley Memorial Hospital in Cambridge. "Rachel Weeping for Her Children" was dedicated at St. Rose Priory church in Springfield, Kentucky. During 2010, several large sculptures were displayed in South Dakota, Iowa and Pennsylvania. "American Farmer" was displayed in Sen. Johann's Washington, D.C. office. The studio launched a new 22" resin sculpture of the Sioux Falls Veteran's Memorial "Going Home." At the end of the year, Jonson was working on a new bronze Crucifix for the prayer garden at St. Robert Bellarmine's and a special monument "The Heart of the Hurt" for the Spiritual Life Center at the Hutchinson, Kansas correctional facility.

Proud to be your source for local news.

McCook Daily Gazette

Oberlin Arts & Humanities Commission

LOOKING BACK~ A night of Jazz with Donna (Kemp) Tucker opened the season followed by the Little Sun Drum & Dance Group who helped us celebrate Oberlin’s Sesquicentennial. The talented family of the “Kid Fiddlers” perfomed as well a Jackie Creamer’s Dance Group from Hays. The Oberlin Area Concert Band presented a Christmas Concert. Branson on the Road was the next program. Ronnie Kole presented a jazz piano concert. The year will end with the 4Hyms in concert and a walking history tour of Oberlin’s main street.

P L A N S F O R T H E 2 0 11 - 2 0 1 2 S E A S O N I N C L U D E ~ The season will begin with Bobby Lane’s Big Band Orchestra followed by an award winning Jump Rope Team from Denver. Stanton Nelson, piano prodigy will present a concert in October. An Organ Concert will be held at Faith Lutheran Church. A Christmas Concert will be held in December and a comedy performance is planned for the end of January. The February Dinner-Theater will feature David Burgess, flamingo guitarist. A local barn tour will conclude the season.

FORWARD, TOGETHER

McCook Daily Gazette

Ethanol plant tour

Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2011 – 15

Connie Jo Discoe/McCook Daily Gazette

Eric Meeuwsen, center, whose family owns Zeeland Farm Services Inc., of Michigan, explained to Nebraska Lt. Gov. Rick Sheehy and Andrea McClintic of the Nebraska Department of Economic Development the grain receiving area of the Cambridge ethanol plant that his family has purchased and will operate as Nebraska Corn Processing LLC. The plant opened Feb. 1, 2010, with 19 employees, most of whom worked at the plant for the former owner. The plant has a capacity of 40-44 million gallons of fuel-grade ethanol. The plant also produces 420,000 tons of wet distiller's grain annually. Sheehy said that restarting the ethanol plant — which operated for nine months and then sat idle for one year — should help corn prices in the area. Meeuwsen said the plant should give the farmers another option for marketing their corn. The lieutenant governor, McClintic and other Cambridge residents also walked through "fermentation alley." Sheehy told Meeuwsen, "Thank you for your investment in our state."

Jeremy Blomstedt/McCook Daily Gazette

Pinpointʼs McCook, Nebraska, office.

Pinpoint continues working to provide the best communications solutions for the residents of Southwest Nebraska

Connie Jo Discoe/McCook Daily Gazette

Marie McKisson of Oberlin, Kansas, third from the right, represented Modern Woodmen Camp No. 611 of Oberlin as she presented a check for $4,079.82 to the Oberlin Meal Site to pay for landscaping and a retaining wall at the new building in downtown Oberlin in November 2010. Board members accepting the donation are, from left, Dewaine Stapp, Beth Sebaugh, Helen Gee, Mary Ann Amack, Dorothy Moore and Max Carman.

Oberlin Meal Site receives donation

OBERLIN, Kansas — Modern Woodmen Camp No. 611 of Oberlin, Kansas, presented a check in November 2010 for $4,079.82 to help the Oberlin Meal Site pay for landscaping and a retaining wall at its new building in downtown Oberlin.

Meal Site personnel helped Oberlin members of Modern Woodmen and community residents host a fund-raising taco supper Oct. 12.

Marie McKisson, secretary of the Oberlin camp of

Modern Woodmen, said, "Thanks to the generous donations from the community, $3,179.82 was raised, and $900 was matched by the Modern Woodmen's home office."

Standing in the bare dirt outside the new Meal Site building, McKisson presented a check for $4,079.82 to board members.

Modern Woodmen of Oberlin is part of a nationwide network of camps that help communities through social,

Movies at Trenton library

TRENTON, Nebraska — The Trenton, Nebraska, public library began showing Saturday matinee movies in November 2010, using a "Public Performance Site License" from Movie Licensing USA. The family-oriented movies begin at 11:30 a.m. Popcorn is available until it runs out.

Your source for local news – on-line.

www.mccookgazette.com

educational and volunteer activities.

McKisson said, "With the 'Matching Fund Program,' we help carry out the Modern Woodmen mission to improve quality of life for members and

their communities."

Crediting the hard work of members nationwide, McKisson said that Modern Woodmen makes donations totaling more than $5 million annually.

CAMBRIDGE, Nebraska – While Pinpoint has continued to develop its long haul, dark fiber, data center and other business-to-business services across the Midwest, 2010 was a busy year for retail operations in the McCook, Cambridge, Bartley, and Indianola markets.

Personnel changes include the hiring of Jackie Johnson to manage the McCook market, and the appointment of Steve Hagedorn to oversee sales in the Cambridge, Bartley and Indianola markets. Service offerings included the completion of the fiber-to-the-home network in Cambridge, and ongoing construction in Bartley.

Offering a range of consumer services including high speed digital subscriber line (DSL), fiber-to-the-home, cable Internet, home telephone, email services, and cable television, Pinpoint continues to provide personalized customer service, advanced technology, and hometown, reliable services for rural Nebraska. Unlike companies that resell telecom services, Pinpoint has a central office in McCook, featuring 21st century switching technologies that enable advanced features on 21st century office telephone systems. Pinpoint’s investment in McCook enables services that are often unavailable in rural communities and features that that help businesses operate with greater efficiency and profitability in a competitive, global environment.

In 2011, Pinpoint looks forward to the introduction of new technologies and services in rural Nebraska markets. Since 1918, Pinpoint has been committed to facilitating communications in Southwest Nebraska and will continue that tradition in 2011.

Marci Sis Branch Manager

Rich Bernt Business Banker Vice President

Arapahoe’s Heartland Partners sets records in 2010 FORWARD, TOGETHER

16 – McCook Daily Gazette

ARAPAHOE, Nebraska — The exterior of the offices of Heartland Partners Realty and Auctioneers was renovated in 2010 with new masonry, windows and paint, but the real progress was inside, where the business, established in 1999, achieved a record-setting year.

Heartland Partners associated with Cabela's Trophy Properties in 2007, which proved to be a sound business move, according to owners Mark and Linda Hamel.

"The advantage of exposure to the recreational/investor buyers for properties we have listed is significant in achieving the maximum selling price for our clients," Hamel said. With ag commodities prices being strong, a high percentage of the land that's been sold in our area is being purchased by local buyers, he said. However, the competition for desirable land is high and the auction process can be utilized to maximize the selling price of real property.

An auction also expedites the sale process if time is of the essence. In 2066, Mark Hamel added the AARE designation to his auctioneer and real estate broke resume.

This is the Accredited Auctioneer

Real Estate designation acquired through an education process offered by the National Auctioneers Association. At the 2010 annual conference in San Diego, Heartland Partners Realty and Auctioneers received the Customer Service award presented by Cabela's Trophy Properties.

Even though the stock market has recently reached levels not seen since June 2008, many investors are convinced that with the U.S. national deficit at unfathomable heights, there is no better hedge than land.

The combination of pending inflation, low or non-performing investments and instability/distrust in stocks makes land a very solid investment. The immediate challenge for Heartland Partners in 2011 is "we need land listings," Hamel said.

If you or anyone you know is considering selling land, Heartland Partners Realty and Auctioneers can offer proven performance to assist in accomplishing the desired result.

Don't forget, Heartland Partners also sells personal property, too.

Located at 402 Nebraska Ave in Arapahoe, Heartland Partners can be reached at (308) 962-7745 or www.hprealty.net.

Courtesy photo

The exterior of Heartland Partners Realty and Auctioneersʼ offices was renovated in 2010, but inside was where the business really shined, having a record-setting year.

A celebrity visitor rewards students and staff at Southwest Public Schools for collecting one million pop tabs

Kevin Warneke, director of the Ronald McDonald House in Omaha, read the name of Southwest Public Schools on the plaque of 83 "Thanks a Million" club members, those schools and organizations that have each given at least one million pop tabs in support of the Ronald McDonald House since the house's inception in 1996.

Warneke and Ronald McDonald visited the junior/senior high school in Bartley in March 2010 for an all-school convocation to honor the school and its National Honor Society (and its predecessor Twin Valley NHS), whose members have made donations to and volunteered time at the house twice a year since February 2000.

NHS sponsor Peg Rice accepted a plaque on behalf of NHS members. Ronald told students, teachers, administrators and visitors, "Love grows and grows and grows, until it's huge, when you plant seeds of kindness and sharing." He added, "It's so cool that you worked so hard to collect one million pop tabs. It's no little thing to do."

Warneke said the pop tab collections are recycled and the proceeds are used to finance the Ronald McDonald House, which offers free housing to families of children being treated at Omaha hospitals. Warneke said, "You are helping us to help families help their sick children."

Southwest's youngest students laughed and giggled as Ronald performed magic tricks and juggled bowling pins.

Connie Jo Discoe/McCook Daily Gazette

Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2011

Trees planted in Oberlin cemetery FORWARD, TOGETHER

McCook Daily Gazette

Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2011 – 17

CONNIE JO DISCOE REGIONAL EDITOR

OBERLIN, Kansas — Representatives of the City of Oberlin, Kansas, the Oberlin Cemetery and Modern Woodmen of America (MWA) Camp No. 611 of Oberlin planted trees in the Oberlin Cemetery as a lasting gift to the community. on Oct. 16.

The Modern Woodmen's nationwide "Plant a Tree" program pays homage to the roots of the organization, honoring the pioneer woodmen who cleared forests to build homes and secure futures for their families, said MWA activities coordinator Marie McKisson of Oberlin.

Today, Modern Woodmen offer financial services to help members clear away financial burdens, McKisson said. "And today, planting trees is an important way to create a secure future for families, communities and the environment," she said.

For more information about Modern Woodmen services or about the organization's six-year-old "Plant a Tree" program, call McKisson at (785) 475-2927.

Photo courtesy Modern Woodmen/Marie McKisson

Planting a tree in the Oberlin Cemetery are, from left: Sam Steinmetz, Modern Woodmen of America (MWA) member; Ron Solko, City of Oberlin employee; Eleanor Boyles, MWA; Nan Stanley, Cemetery sexton; Joe Stanley, Oberlin mayor; and Martha Fringer and Ella Betts, MWA members.

Downtown improvement

Connie Jo Discoe/McCook Daily Gazette

Glen Skeen in the bobcat and Gary Mays in a front-end loader, both of Skeen Construction, Kearney, moved the last of the debris and filled in the basement after demolishing the former Gambles building in downtown Indianola in March 2010, making way for the construction of a new community emergency storm shelter. Throughout 2010, Indianola used a $706,700 CDBG Neighborhood Stabilization Program grant to build the shelter and remove four blighted neighborhood structures.

Montreal woman with Southwest Nebraska roots shares her family story CONNIE JO DISCOE REGIONAL EDITOR

MONTREAL, Quebec, Canada — Mildred Wolfe Burns writes in her book, " ... it is good to know the strength buried deep in our bones."

Burns' book — "The Wolfe Pack: Stories of a Mid-Western Family 1850-1950" — starts with the lives of her mother and father, Asa and Alice Wolfe, and their parents and grandparents. She tells of life in a dugout, of walking

three miles to school, of nine months' vacation of hard work on a farm. "But their story is part of who we are now," Burns writes.

The second and third sections of Burns book tells of the lives of Asa and Alice and their five children, whom Burns calls "the first 'cubs' in the pack."

The fourth section of Burns' book is an account of her father's life, transcribed from his typed and handwritten accounts and notes. Burns

writes, "His belief that you must make your own future seems a typically American value."

Asa Wolfe was born in Wellfleet in 1889; Alice Thomas Wolfe was born in Indianola in 1890. "As children, they learned the hard lessons of pioneers, that life might not be easy but the future was going to be good," Mildred writes.

Asa Wolfe graduated from high school in Indianola in 1910, and after college, teaching and serving in the U.S.

Army, he was appointed Red Willow County superintendent of schools, in 1934. He was in direct supervision of 65 rural schools and five city superintendents of schools. Asa served in this position for 17 years.

Asa also served as chairman of the county's American Red Cross chapter, helping families recover from the devastating Republican River flood of May 1935.

The Wolfe family — Alice and Asa and children, John Allen, Mildred Louise, Marjorie

Kate, Ina Mae and Charles Robert — lived at 411 E. Second in McCook.

Burns concluded her book, "Writing 'The Wolfe Pack' has been fun. The hours spend reminiscing with my sisters and brothers have provided many good stories — and variations on stories.

So each of them is also 'the author.'"

Right: The cover of Burns' book, which is available at the McCook Public Library.

There’s only one safety rule when it comes to downed power lines –

Stay Away!

If you see a downed line, contact McCook Public Power District immediately. If you’re in a vehicle that is in contact with a downed line, stay inside until the line is removed. If you’re outside, go for help but never touch the vehicle! Never assume a power line laying on the ground is dead. It could be deadly.

Courtesy photo

Asa Wolfe, father of the author of “The Wolfe Pack,” Mildred Wolfe Burns.

McCook Public Power District North Hwy 83 McCook 308-345-2500 1-800-658-4285

Oxford woman pays tribute to those lost in 1935 flood FORWARD, TOGETHER

18 – McCook Daily Gazette

CONNIE JO DISCOE REGIONAL EDITOR

Nancy Knuth of Oxford grew up listening to stories of the Republican River Flood of 1935.

Nancy's father helped build sandbag walls against advancing flood waters. "He went into the water that night to help a family," Nancy said.

"Living in a small community of Oxford, we all heard the stories," Nancy said. Some stories — even 75 years later — take her breath away.

A mother and father, and their four little daughters. Another mother and father, their youngest child just a baby, the mother's sister. A father and a son ... their widows who never remarried.

To pay tribute to the people whose lives were swept away with the Republican's violent flood waters on that May 31 in 1935, Nancy spearheaded an effort she called "Republican Valley Flood Remembered" to easily identify the graves of the 113 people who died when too much rain fell too fast and the Republican raged out of its banks.

Nancy has created white vinyl banners to place over the graves on Memorial Day, the 75th anniversary of the devastating Republican River Valley flood. Nancy said she'll give the banners to family members or to cemetery caretakers, those who may want to reuse them each year.

Nancy started her banner project in January, 2010, with a list of flood victims provided by a classmate, Bob Mitchell of Edison. "It was a record of the deceased from each town,"

Nancy said. "It wasn't a perfect list," so she went looking for the names of more victims.

The first step involved the Oxford Cemetery Board contacting town and village officials up and down the river, requesting the names of flood victims buried in their cemeteries.

The search started in Seibert, Colo., and St. Francis, Kan., and ended up near Republican City and Bloomington, Nebraska, just before the Republican enters Kansas.

Nancy said she was especially impressed with the help she got from Elza Doak, a City of McCook employee who researched flood victims in McCook's cemeteries, and with Bill Hardwick, who researched Benkelman-area cemeteries.

Nancy identified 68 grave markers all along the river, several of which mark the resting place of more than one victim, such as the Wallace family marker in Riverview Cemetery in McCook. The single stone reads: "Bernard J. Wallace, wife Delores and four daughters, died May 31, 1935 in flood."

Another stone, in Memorial Park Cemetery in McCook, marks the single grave of Edwin Colver and his 6 1/2-year-old son, George.

On Monday, May 31, 2010, the 75th anniversary of the Republican River flood, each of the graves that Nancy has located will be marked with a vinyl banner identifying its occupant(s) as a victim(s) of the Republican River flood of 1935.

Travis Bieker of Acme Printing in McCook assisted with the design of the banner; McCook National Bank

Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2011

Connie Jo Discoe/McCook Daily Gazette

In Memorial Park and Riverview Cemeteries in McCook, Nebraska, Nancy Knuth of Oxford, Nebraska, placed white vinyl banners across the graves of victims of the Republican River flood of May 31, 1935. The banners were to be placed on the graves again on May 31 — both the 75th anniversary of the flood and Memorial Day — to identify the graves of flood victims.

paid for the banners.

It's appropriate that the victims of the Republican River flood be identified, honored and remembered, on the anniversary of the flood and on Memorial Day. As time goes by, those who lost their lives in the flood become no more than a list of names.

"This is not just a list of dead people," Nancy said. They were real

people who lived, whose families loved them and missed them when they were gone. Nancy said, "They were people whose lives were changed forever by the flood." *** Towns/cemeteries and people involved in Nancy's project include: Marilyn Banister; Haigler, Benkelman, Bill Hardwick; McCook, Kyle Potthoff and Elza Doak;

Stratton, Brett Johnson; Cambridge, Shirley Houlden; Arapahoe, Dallas Garey; Beaver City, Jim Wenburg.

Elwood, Kathy Leggott; Edison, Rod Best; Highland-Union Cemetery, Jeannie Jordan.

Carter, Gary Peterson; Orleans, Merle Arntz; Franklin, Tom Paulsen; Holdrege, Mona Cohagan; and Upland, Barbara Casper; and Kearney.

National Weather Service presents commemorative ‘High Water Mark’ plaque to Indianola CONNIE JO DISCOE REGIONAL EDITOR

INDIANOLA, Nebraska — For whatever reason, the monument that marked the rise of the 1935 Republican River flood as it swept through Indianola was removed years ago and taken to the city office.

After a National Weather Service program that commemorated the flood's 75th anniversary, Indianola city officials plan to replace the original marble monument to its rightful position in south Indianola and highlight it with a new "High Water Mark" plaque presented to the community in August 2010 by Joy Hayden and Dave Floyd of the NWS. Hayden told those gathered for the NWS program during Indianola's annual "Old Settlers Celebration" Aug. 14 that the Republican River Flood of 1935 was a "very interesting weather event that changed this area." Understanding the 1935 flood explains how Southwest Nebraska devel-

oped flood control, crop irrigation and recreation opportunities throughout the remainder of the 20th century and into the 21st century, Hayden said.

To understand the flood is to also understand the times — economic depression and devastating drought.

Without conservation practices that protected the soil, crop growers "farmed and worked the land until the loess soil had nothing to hold it," Hayden said. "1934 was the driest on record," she said, and there was little relief through May of 1935.

No clouds skittered across the clear skies of Northeast Colorado, Northwest Kansas and Southwest Nebraska; little or no rain fell on thirsty land — until May 30 and 31, when two huge low pressure systems, each full of moisture, collided over the tristate area.

Starting through the night, rain fell in torrential amounts along the Republican River and all its tributaries. "These storms

Courtesy photo

Cambridge monument make D. W. Neiswanger built monuments in 1935 to mark each community's "High Water Mark."

dumped huge amounts of rain, setting records than have never been broken," Hayden said.

Incredibly, in Colorado, the storm let loose of at least 24 inches of rain in 24 hours, Hayden said, explaining that the weather service didn't use rain gauge measurements then, but did what it called "bucket surveys" — reports of rainfall amounts that fell in reliable buckets.

"It may have been more than 24 inches," Hayden said, because a store in Colorado was having a sale on stock tanks, tanks that held 24 inches of water. "And those stock tanks ran over," Hayden said.

The rain fell with such ferocity that it caused "cracks in the earth," according to author V.S. Fitzpatrick in his book about the flood, "Back Trail Disaster." "The soil actually moved with the force of the rain," Hayden said. "With the weight of all that water, the soil actually moved."

At Beecher Island, Colorado, the force of the rain swept away a 19-foot-tall monument, and it was gone. "The monument was never found," Hayden said.

The rain started falling through the night, Hayden said, and families along the river had little or no warning of walls of water rushing between the high bluffs along the Republican River through the three states.

The Harding family was caught off guard, Hayden said.

The daughter rode an iron bed through the swirling waters, and she landed in a tree. Her mother rode a shutter, and lost her life.

Rescuers found her brother on a downstream island of debris 24 hours later. The brother shared his small island refuge with an angry cow, Hayden said, and he spent hours dodging debris and the mad animal.

The Wing family at Indianola discovered that they didn't have time to evacuate to higher ground, Hayden said, and rode their house through the angry, muddy waters until it hung up on trees and debris. The trees sheltered the family for 22 hours before they could be rescued.

Disjointed walls and windows and roofs of homes and barns pin-balled from one obstacle to another, crashing into and catching on trees and downstream farmsteads. Along with people clinging to life and floating debris, the rushing waters carried livestock — alive and dead — wildlife, and snakes ... oh, so many snakes.. Indianola residents killed at least 40 rattlesnakes on Main Street after flood waters receded, Hayden said. City workers cleaning out the power and light plant at McCook after the flood encountered hundreds and hundreds of snakes washed into the shell of the building on the north bank of

Connie Jo Discoe/McCook Daily Gazette

Bill Baumbach of Indianola, Nebraska, president of the Indianola Historical Society, left, accepted a "High Water Mark" plaque commemorating the 1935 flood of the Republican River from Dave Floyd, warning coordination meteorologist with the National Weather Service of Goodland, Kansas. the river. There were also reports of a mountain lion or a bobcat at the plant, Hayden said.

Disease spread with the flood, as people tossed into the raging waters took in great gulps of water littered with dead bodies — man and animal — and every sort of waste and garbage imaginable.

Many of those who survived the water succumbed later to sickness, or spirits broken by the helplessness and hopelessness they felt, the losses they suffered, and the death and destruction they witnessed.

Farmers and ranchers couldn't always prove ownership of farm animals found alive downstream, Hayden said, because in 1935, none of the three states had brand inspection laws yet.

"Thieves took advantage of this," Hayden said. Horses and mules were vital to farm operations in the days before every farmer had a tractor. "Families were so attached to their horses and mules," Hayden said. "They put a lot of stock in their livestock."

And now, their animals were gone, either to the flood waters or to thieves.

——— Hayden described the Republican River Flood of 1935 as "a hinge to the future." "Things had to change," she said.

McCook newspaper publisher Harry Strunk worked tirelessly to build dams that would control the waters of the Republican River, she said, and Nebraska Sen. George W. Norris, of McCook, fought in Washington, D.C., for money to repair flood damages.

Even Robert Ripley — you know, Hayden said, of "Ripley's Believe It or Not" — spread the news of the death, destruction

and devastation caused by the flood by printing and circulating a picture of the ravaged root ball of a huge prairie cottonwood tree pointing toward the skies over Benkelman. The flood waters had uprooted the mammoth tree, tossed and tumbled it in the water, and deposited it — upside down — near the river bank.

Eighty million people saw that picture in their newspapers, Hayden said.

With Strunk's emphasis on flood control and dams on the Republican came the added benefits of irrigation for farmers and recreation for everyone.

Flood waters receded, families rebuilt their lives and homes, and the rains — normal rainfall — returned to the Golden Plains. Life carried on.

Cambridge, Nebraska monument maker D. F. Neiswanger feared that people would forget the flood, its devastation and the lessons it could teach, and designed and created "High Water Mark" monuments for community officials to place at the highest point of the Republican's escape from its banks. Some history indicates that Neiswanger sold each monument for $5; other stories tell of him giving them to communities.

Hayden said she admires Mr. Neiswanger, and the accuracy and conscientiousness with which he located his monuments.

Hayden said she has located nine of Mr. Neiswanger's monuments: In Kansas, one in St. Francis, and, in Nebraska, one at Haigler, one at Trenton, one at Indianola, one at Bartley, two at Cambridge, one at Edison and one at Arapahoe. Hayden asks that anyone who knows of additional monuments contact her at

the NWS office in Goodland, Kansas, at the NWS web site: www.weather.gov/gld To commemorate the 75th anniversary of the flood, memorialize flood victims and honor the memory of D.F. Neiswanger, the NWS has created permanent markers designed to be installed beside Neiswanger's original High Water Mark monument.

Hayden presented Indianola's modern High Water Mark plaque to Bill Baumbach, president of the Indianola Historical Society, whose father told him of the devastation of the Republican River flood.

"Dad was 17 years old in 1935," Bill told those gathered for the NWS program and plaque presentation in Indianola. "He rode his horse to the cliff to watch the flood waters, and saw a guy bobbing in the water. The guy bobbed a couple times, and the third or fourth time, he was gone."

——— Former Nebraska State Sen. Owen Elmer of Indianola asked NWS warning coordination meteorologist Dave Floyd what the consequences of a similar rain would be today.

Speaking for the National Weather Service only, Floyd said the major difference between today and 1935 is the technology available to detect such an event.

"We have river gauges to measure stream flow, radar to estimate rainfall and communication capabilities that were unavailable then," Floyd said.

"With early detection of such an event and warnings," Floyd said, " ... today, the loss of life would not be so great because people would not be caught by surprise."

Southwest RC&D banquet turns emotional during awards ceremony FORWARD, TOGETHER

McCook Daily Gazette

CONNIE JO DISCOE REGIONAL EDITOR

McCOOK, Nebraska — End-ofthe-year banquets are usually happy events, recognizing special accomplishments and honoring special people.

But when Southwest RC&D (Resource Conservation and Development) did just that on Nov. 16, 2010,, tears flowed unashamedly and some — normally quite talkative — were struck speechless.

At its banquet in McCook, Nebraska, the RC&D recognized two men for their dedication to the mission of RC&D, two men whose commitment to the development and conservation of natural and human resources in Southwest Nebraska will be sorely missed.

RC&D "Innovator" awards were presented posthumously to Rick Hedke of Trenton and Frank Potthoff of Palisade.

RICK HEDKE During board members' annual announcements of awards, Bill Zahl of Stratton presented the "Innovator of the Year" award posthumously to Rick Hedke, who died at his home in Trenton on June 12, 2010. He was 57 years old.

Hedke was president of Southwest Weed Management Area since its inception in 1996. Hedke was responsible for co-writing grant funding requests, scheduling landowner meetings and "knocking on doors" to explain how SWWMA would help the Republican River.

According to RC&D officials, Hedke, "was on the ground working as much as possible" when actual weed control efforts started in

Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2011 – 19

2008. Jennifer Rittenhouse-ten Bensel, RC&D executive director, wrote, "Rick helped with surveys, repairs, spraying, mapping, rebuilding fences .... whatever needed to be done."

Rittenhouse-ten Bensel wrote: "Innovators can see past the problems and recognize the solutions.

Rick was that man." She continued, Rick's "Innovators helped build a solid foundation for a sustainable weed management area group in Southwest Nebraska, and Rick's legacy on the Republican River continues with the work of the SWWMA." Jen struggled with tears to tell Hedke's sons, Quen and Andrew, who accepted the award, "We are proud to have known and worked with Rick Hedke."

FRANK POTTHOFF Frank Potthoff was honored, too as an RC&D "Innovator" who helped with the organization of the RC&D in the early 1990's, and continued his support of the organization until his death on Oct. 5, 2010, at the age of 73.

Bill Zahl said that Potthoff could always see the potential within Southwest Nebraska, and promoted it actively through his association with the RC&D. Zahl recognized Potthoff's character: I Work ethic — "Frank did heavier physical work, as well as understanding the business/organizational side of business operations."

I Willingness — "Frank was willing to tackle just about anything for the betterment of his local community and extended Southwest Nebraska community."

I Grass roots beliefs — "Frank was a grass-roots kind of man who

could see potential when others could not."

I Vision — "Frank had the vision to help organize the Southwest RC&D." I Attitude — "Frank had a very positive attitude. His smiles were free."

Connie Jo Discoe/McCook Daily Gazette

Tears flowed down the cheeks of Jennifer Rittenhouse-ten Bensel, and fellow presenter Tim Smith was struck speechless as they presented an "RC&D Innovator" award to Andrew, left, and Quentin Hedke, the sons of Rick Hedke, a founder of Southwest Weed Management who died in June 2010.

Bill Zahl read from the "RC&D Innovator" plaque presented posthumously to Frank Potthoff, a founder the RC&D in the early 1990's who died in October 2010.

Connie Jo Discoe/McCook Daily Gazette

Left: Zahl and fellow RC&D member Lynne Wilson, center, presented the "Council Member of the Year" to Joyce Spicklemeyer of Hayes Center.

Center: Bill Zahl presented the "Project of the Year" award to Linda Zahl, representative of "SOS," "Save Our Swanson," a grass-roots project to reclaim picnic areas and shorelines of Swanson Lake.

Right: Dr. Weldon Sleight, Dean of the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture in Curtis, encouraged those at the banquet to "put their arms around young people and encourage them to come back" to start new businesses and raise their families.

Coming tomorrow: The year in area agriculture

State runner-up poster artist

Photos courtesy/Carol Kelley

Lance Kelley, a fifth grader at Southwest Public Schools in Indianola in April 2010, displayed the poster with which he won the state runner-up award in the 2010 Arbor Day poster contest administered by the Nebraska Forest Service and sponsored by the Nebraska Power Association. Lance followed the theme of the contest — "Trees are Terrific ... and Energy Wise" — by heralding the benefits of trees in breaking the wind and providing shade. Rachel Allison, Nebraska Forest Service District Forester of North Platte, left, presented Lance with a $50 savings bond and gave his art teacher, Carol Kelley, $250 to buy new educational materials and the tree that was planted by fifth graders at the new Southwest Junior-Senior High School in Bartley April 16. Lance is the son of Ken and Carol Kelley of Danbury and was among approximately 580 fifth grade students from nearly 30 Nebraska schools who participated in this yearʼs Arbor Day poster contest.

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WHAT HAPPENS IN HERNDON...

20 – McCook Daily Gazette

FORWARD, TOGETHER

Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2011

... STAYS IN HERNDON

MIX TOGETHER ROAST BEEF AND SUMMER FUN Hundreds eat roast beef sandwiches and all the fixinʼs during Herndonʼs ox roast June 5, 2010.

Kyle Grafel and “Flash” bring the “Grafel Homestead” to life in Herndonʼs Ox Roast parade.

From left, Ken Solko, Rodney Solko, Ron Solko, Pat Solko and Shad Dewey shred 1,600 pounds of roast beef and 700 pounds of vegetables.The juices made 200 gallons of gravy.

Herndon Highʼs Class of 1980 races an outhouse.

Amy and Jackson Schlimmer on the Portschy family float.

Don Stuczynski (Stuʼs Alignment), Makenzie Mayer drag main.

Kevin Dixson, Jeremy Wahrman sing ʻTumblinʼ Tumbleweeds.ʼ

Brayden Keffler cools off after the parade.

Chief Cook Don Solko and Rodney Solko pick out bay leaves.

Lawrence Wendelin drives a buckboard wagon on main street.

Photos by Connie Jo Discoe/McCook Daily Gazette