News from neighbors
Reaping in remembrance
HAXTUN-FLEMING HERALD, July 14 — As the sun came up over the horizon Sunday morning, something special was happening in a wheat field south of Haxtun. It’s said that angels come in disguise, and for the family of John Everitt, those angels showed up in jeans and boots, driving combines, tractors and semis.
Everitt, who was seriously injured in an all-terrain vehicle accident southeast of Haxtun on June 21, succumbed to his injuries and died at Northern Colorado Medical Center in Greeley on Wednesday, July 7.
Everitt, who farmed alongside the Starkebaum family, also had just over 400 acres of his own wheat planted in three fields south of town. As his fields turned golden and were ready to harvest, friends and neighbors gathered to cut his wheat and haul it to the elevator, lifting a burden off the shoulders of his grieving family.
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Benkelman man dies in harvest-related accident
IMPERIAL REPUBLICAN, July 14 — Law enforcement officers and EMS responded quickly Sunday after a Benkelman, Nebraska, man was pinned between two semis waiting to unload grain, one block west of Wauneta, Nebraska’s main street.
A Nebraska State Patrol email reported Brian Stute, 54, was pronounced deceased at Chase County Community Hospital in Imperial, Nebraska, where he was transported by Wauneta EMS after the accident.
Stute had parked his semi in preparation to unload at the Frenchman Valley Coop elevator, according to the state patrol’s statement from Cody Thomas, public relations director.
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Cannabis oil facility looking at Yuma
YUMA PIONNER, July 15 — Kind Roots of Wray is in the process of attempting to locate a cannabis oil manufacturing facility in Yuma.
The facility would be located in the Yuma Industrial Park, operating year-round. It potentially could generate considerable revenue in excise tax for the city of Yuma, as well as create more than 20 jobs.
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Would-be benefactor left Christian Academy founders with vision for the future
STERLING JOURNAL-ADVOCATE, July 13 — Pastors from seven Sterling churches continue to work on establishing a Christian school despite the death of the man who apparently wanted to fund it.
Rev. Mark Phillips, pastor at First Baptist Church of Sterling, said that when William Scott of Colorado Springs died on June 3, he left behind an energized group of people who had learned to work together to achieve their common goal.
Scott came to Sterling in April offering to buy a vacant building in Broadway Plaza to house the Colorado Plains Christian Academy. He signed a contract and a date was set for closing; the purchase was to be for cash. After twice delaying the closing for health reasons, Scott died suddenly June 3.
There has been speculation about Scott’s ability to raise the funds to make the purchase, and Phillips readily admits the former Navy officer had something of a checkered past.
“Our view of him is different than how he was portrayed (in the previous article),” Phillips said. “I believe that his desire to do good may have just been beyond his ability.”
Liz Taylor, who was hired by Scott as his assistant, said she remains convinced Scott was sincere in his desire to help open the academy in Sterling.
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Ideas for city square concept shared
IMPERIAL REPUBLICAN, July 14 — Ideas for Imperial, Nebraska’s city square concept drew discussion during the first official planning meeting conducted Tuesday night by Jennie Kozal, community planner with Miller & Associates.
The city obtained matching grant funds for a feasibility study for a city square concept on the city block that includes the library, city offices and city gym.
Tuesday’s meeting was held to seek public input on what people envision for the block that also includes two grassy areas and parking for the library and city facilities.
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