On behalf of myself and the Convention & Visitors Bureau, I would like to publicly thank Orv Qualsett, Brian Gallagher, Matt Shonsey, Scott Zana, Hugh Miner, Deb Sweley, Joe Kutlas, Kurt Haecker, Howard Schumann, Rocky Almond, Jeremy Jensen and Jeff Richardson from Grand Island and Kaleena Fong, Gregg Holliday and Fran Hummel from Hastings, all of who were part of the Grand Island & Hastings Volleyball Bid Committee.

Since last November these individuals have dedicated an extraordinary amount of their time, energy and leadership as the communities of Grand Island and Hastings partnered together to develop a bid proposal to host the 2008 & 2009 Nebraska State Volleyball Championship. Their creativity, enthusiasm for this project and can-do attitude resulted in a superb, well-constructed competitive bid package.

Our thanks are also extended to the venues (Grand Island Senior High, Northwest High School, Grand Island Central Catholic, Hastings High School, Hastings College and the Heartland Events Center) who painstakingly provided very comprehensive facility statistics, competitive pricing and were willing to be recommended as a host venue. The cooperation of the venues was integral to this project even getting off the table, especially since several schools anticipate being in the championships next year.

Although our bid to host state volleyball was unsuccessful, the cooperation and collaboration between Grand Island and Hastings has forged a bond between our communities that will provide many more economic partnership opportunities far into the future.

Rene Seifert, Executive Director

Greater Grand Island Sports Council, Grand Island / Hall County Convention & Visitors Bureau

Biggest issue is illegal immigrants

We've listened to the presidential debates and speeches for about two months now. Some say the biggest problems are the economy, the war in Iraq, global warming and the list goes on and on. Some of the candidates have addressed the illegal immigration issue but none seem to really do anything about it. This is the most important issue that should be addressed right away. In the meantime, the Mexicans are coming across the border at up to 1,000 people per day. When is this nonsense going to stop?

The outrageous behavior of the corrupt government of Mexico's president must be stopped. The Mexican president has created ID cards for illegal aliens and these are now being distributed in the United States through Mexican consulates. Mexico is a foreign government. It has no right to decide who should live inside our borders.

These people owe no allegiance to the United States. In fact, Mexico encourages them to keep their Mexican citizenship and remain loyal to their mother country.

Money, that's all they want from us. They refuse to learn our language, They ignore our laws. They are a major source of our growing crime rate. They are helping to bankrupt and overcrowd our schools and hospitals.

Mexico has sunk to the depths of social, moral and economic depravity and now wants the U.S. economy to save it.

I urge all citizens to right their senators and congressmen to put a stop to this invasion by illegals. They are a threat to our economy, our freedom and our way of life. We don't want to be a nation of several cultures, nations and languages, but remain as one culture, one language and one nation under God.

Thomas Fehr

814 W. Seventh St.

Tourists welcomed in Grant County

I would like to respond to the letter to the editor in your newspaper about the scenic byway and its route through Grant County.

My husband and I were never asked about any kind of a grassroots or otherwise petition about the scenic byway and its designation of Highway 2, which happens to go through Grant County. Most people that I talk to have no opinion and really don't care. This landowner angle that they are going through could very well be about three to ten people. If that is the case then, is that a majority? I don't think that this really indicates that the county majority or otherwise is for or against it. I think that a true opinion of this should be brought to a vote.

This scenic byway has a goal of tourism to help the businesses on Highway 2. I work in a business in Hyannis and just bought a motel that I wouldn't mind renovating. But if we can't even get support of a byway, it's seems rather silly to try to promote a business of any sort, let alone support our local agriculture. I was in the chamber and listened to the struggling beginnings of the byway. It is simply a band-aid that they are trying to put on a failing rural economy. I think Grant County is better than portrayed by the letter in your paper.

I still think that anyone has a right to be welcomed into our beautiful Sandhills to admire the country side as a tourist or otherwise. I welcome anyone who wants to visit.

Connie S. Storms

Hyannis