Stories from Friday, November 16, 2001

LINCOLN -- Kenneth Dumont and Theresa Lorraine Barger were united in marriage July 21, 2001, at Lincoln. The ceremony and reception were at the Havelock Social Hall. The Rev. Francis Schmidt officiated the ceremony. Parents of the couple are Joseph and Kathryn Barger of Wauneta and Arthur and Sharon Zinnell of Sun City, Ariz. Honored guests included Joan Barger and J.W. Stevens, grandparents of the bride...

The children of Ardess Winder and Gaylord Cappel announce the marriage of their parents on Nov. 3, 2001, at the chapel at Community Hospital of McCook with the Rev. Bruce Lester officiating. Attendants were Jean Elley, Arlene League, Fran Broz and Ken Carlson. Their children and grandchildren were hosts to a family wedding reception at the Heritage Senior Center. Cards of congratulations will reach the couple at 410 W. Fourth, McCook, NE 69001...

Angela Harouff and Loren Wagner, both of Culbertson, announce their engagement and upcoming wedding. Parents of the couple are Donald Mai Sr. of Wakeeney, Kan., the late Victoria Mai, and Jack and Nina Wagner of Culbertson. The bride-to-be is a graduate of Alma High School, and received her bachelor's degree from the University of Nebraska at Kearney. ...

Vic and Nancy Knutson of Wilsonville announce the engagement and upcoming wedding of their daughter, Sandy Jo, to Timothy Scott Dean, son of Rodger and Connie Dean of Superior. The bride-to-be is pursuing a bachelor of science degree in middle level education. ...

Kerri Rasmussen and Nathan Waugh of McCook announce their engagement and upcoming wedding. Parents of the couple are Lonnie and Ann Rasmussen of rural St. Edward, and Gary and Joan Waugh of Maywood. The bride-to-be is employed at AmFirst Bank in McCook. The bridegroom is employed by Southwest Implement. They are planning a Dec. 8, 2001, wedding at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Newman Grove...

The family of Don and Marie Rasmussen of Hastings, formerly of McCook, is hosting an open house in honor of the couple's 50th wedding anniversary on Sunday, Nov. 25, 3 to 5 p.m., at the Presbyterian Church in Hastings. They were married on Nov. 25, 1951, at the Presbyterian Church in St. Paul. Cards will reach the couple at 1327 West 16th, Hastings, NE 68901...

Ray Search TRENTON -- Ray Search, 99, of McCook, died Wednesday (Nov. 14, 2001) at El Dorado Manor in Trenton. He was born Nov. 12, 1902, at Wymore to Morton and Marian (Spire) Search. In 1908 the family moved to McCook where he grew up and graduated from McCook High School in 1923...

Viola Madsen Vap BOULDER, Colo. -- Viola Madsen Vap, 87, died Wednesday (Nov. 14, 2001) at Boulder Community Hospital in Boulder. She was born June 29, 1914, at McDonald, Kan., to Edward and Mathilda (Hokenson) Madsen. After her high school graduation she moved to Herndon where she taught school...

Janet S. Latimer WICHITA, Kan. -- Janet S. Latimer, 67, died Wednesday (Nov. 14, 2001) at her home in Wichita. She was born March 29, 1934, at Denver, Colo., to Gurney and Florence (Lancaster) Hinshaw. She grew up in Denver, graduating from Denver East High School, and Rockmount Bible College. She has lived in Rexford, Kan., Colorado, California, Indonesia, Africa, and Wichita, Kan. On Aug. 11, 1956, she married Gerald Latimer at Denver. She was a homemaker...

Eileen Leora West CAMBRIDGE -- Eileen Leora West, 80, of Cambridge, formerly of McCook, died Thursday (Nov. 15, 2001) at the Tri Valley Hospital in Cambridge. She was born March 7, 1921, at McCook to Arthur and Hannah (Swedberg) West. She graduated from Maywood High School in 1940...

Lloyd Walter 'Clark' Hoagland WATSONVILLE, Calif. -- Lloyd Walter "Clark" Hoagland, 86, of Watsonville, formerly of McCook, died October 29, 2001, at Watsonville. He was born Nov. 13, 1914, in Red Willow County to Wareham Bartlett Clark and Augusta (Morosic) (Clark) Hoagland. He was raised in the McCook area...

Daisy A. McMichael HOLDREGE -- Daisy A. McMichael, 95, of Holdrege, formerly of North Platte, died Monday (Nov. 12, 2001) at Holdrege. She was born June 9, 1906, at Maywood to Clyde and Edith (Doudna) Cowman. She graduated from Maywood High School in 1924...

Leone R. Smith CURTIS -- Leone R. Smith, 98, died Friday (Nov. 16, 2001) at Sunset Haven Nursing Home in Curtis. She was born Oct. 13, 1903, in Frontier County to Leo and Sophia (Siegel) Dold. She graduated from Curtis High School. She married Don "Rock" Smith. ...

Parmer 'Skeeter' Curtis Webb TRENTON -- Parmer "Skeeter" Curtis Webb died Wednesday (Nov. 14, 2001) at Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney. He was 64 years old. Skeeter was born Nov. 15, 1936, at Clovis, N.M., to Clementine (Messina) and Tom Edward Webb. He graduated from Fort Sumner, N.M. in 1954...

First, I want to acknowledge the passing of Ray Search. My interest in local history came as a result of my father, Buss Booth and Ray. I'm sure I've mentioned before how amazing it was to hear Dad and Ray talking about the stores that occupied McCook's Main Street or Norris Avenue. ...

Dear Editor, A few days ago Mr. Frank Sowers ask the Question "Where has the Billions Gone"? I think I can answer that question. The money went into the pockets of every one but the producer. Please read on and think about it. The people in charge of the beef checkoff say we are receiving many dollars back for each dollar spent. I say spent, because it was not and is not an investment. There is no way to gauge if the checkoff is working because there is no control...

Dear Editor, Concerning the state budget crisis and higher education in Nebraska: Possible reduction of funding at the universities could seriously compromise the quality of our excellent institutions. We cannot let this happen! Rational solutions are not an option...

Dear Editor, Almost every town has its unique personalities who both express and become part of that town's character. If every town had only one personality like Ray Search, that town would already be as doubly blessed as McCook has been. Young aviator, movie projectionist, pipe organ expert, theater manager, businessman, story teller, town booster, historian, neighbor and friend, Ray Search "lived" more in his time than some others would live in many life times...

Dear Editor, On Nov. 10, 28 people gathered at D's (Elks Club) to celebrate the 226th birthday of the Marine Corps. It was a great evening, thanks to the efforts of Duane Tappe, Dan Stramel and Jerry Calvin, who arranged for the gathering and organized the traditional birthday ceremony. ...

Stay alert, but don't let worry about bioterrorism keep you from going about your business. Three University of Nebraska Medical Center doctors and state epidemiologist Dr. Thomas Safranek, offered that advice at a two-hour teleconference Thursday night...

Dear Editor, I am writing to you in response to the letter Judy Coe sent regarding the letter she received for riding her horses in town. I, for one, am outraged by this. Doesn't the Stratton Village board have better things to do than harass it citizens?...

While military forces surround the Taliban in Afghanistan, domestic measures are being taken to ensure that terrorists never again have a chance to attack America in the same way they did on Sept. 11. The suicide terrorists took drastic measures to do the United States serious harm, and we have responded with forceful, yet measured actions...

Dear Editor, Peace and Safety! Peace and Safety! This is the hue and cry in the USA and all over the civilized world since the terroristic attacks of 9/11. But do you know that that is one of the hallmarks (signs) of the "end of this age" which will culminate with the "rapture (the snatching of the church, composed of every true believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, out of this world to Heaven)." As you know, George Bush, the United States of America and other nations are waging a war on terrorism all over the world. ...

Mabel L. Ritchie BENKELMAN -- Mabel L. Ritchie, 99, of Stratton, died Wednesday (Nov. 14, 2001) at Sarah Ann Hester Memorial Home in Benkelman. She was born Sept. 30, 1902, at Stratton to Joseph Aaron and Laura Alice (Rickard) Cowen. She attended school in Stratton and was a graduate of Stratton High School...