Stories from Friday, January 18, 2002

INDIANOLA -- Amanda Stevens and Brian Warren, both of McCook, were united in marriage Aug. 18, 2001, at the Church of Christ in Indianola with Scott Mustion officiating. Parents of the couple are James and Cheryl Stevens of McCook and Ron and Gloria Warren of McCook...

Jessica R. Zimmerman and Gary R. Gramins were united in marriage Aug. 18, 2001, at First Congregational Church in McCook with The Revs. Rod Church and Phillip J. Ewert officiating. Parents of the couple are Ira and Patricia Zimmerman of McCook, and Gerald and Dolores Gramins of Menomonee Falls, Wis...

The families of Rod and DeVona Roudebush are hosting an open house in honor of their 25th wedding anniversary, Sunday, Jan. 27 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., at the United Methodist Church in Curtis.

The family of William and Jean (Hummel) Ellis are hosting a card shower in honor of the couple's 40th wedding anniversary Jan.20. Cards will reach them at HCR66 Box 17, Bartley, NE 69020.Their children are William and Julie Ellis of Bartley and Loris Ellis of McCook. They have two grandchildren...

In a blatant attempt to boost readership, this column and next week's column will be devoted to my attempt to maintain my sanity in a precarious situation -- moving. As of today, the move is just beginning. By this point next week, the move should be complete and my patience and organization tested...

Since we're not going to have a winter this year, NBC is about to bring us the next best thing. In about three weeks, the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City begins. OK I lied. All of those people who are looking forward to the Winter Olympics can stand on their collective heads...

Elva Viola Brumagin ROCKPORT, Texas -- Elva Viola Brumagin, 88, died Thursday (Jan. 17, 2002) in Rockport. She was born July 2, 1913, at Yuma, Colo. She lived in McCook for 43 years, and wintered in Rockport until 1992, when she made it her permanent residence...

Phyllis E. Gray ROCA -- Phyllis Elaine Gray, 74, of Benkelman, died Thursday (Jan. 17, 2002) at her daughter's home in Roca. She was born May 31, 1927, in Dundy County to David A. and Manila A. (Osborn) Merklin. She attended school in Dundy County...

Burdette 'Bert' Hesterwerth COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- Burdette "Bert" Hesterwerth, 89, died Oct. 2, 2001, in Colorado Springs, Colo. He was born Sept. 20, 1912, in Red Willow County to John and Philemona (Schmitz) Hesterwerth. He attended school in McCook and graduated from McCook High School in 1931...

Marian M. Browning WAUNETA -- Marian M. Browning, 82, died Wednesday (Jan. 16, 2002) at Heritage of Wauneta Nursing Home. She was born Jan. 22, 1920, in Ogallala to C.H. and Minnie (Davidson) Browning. She grew up and attended school in Ogallala. On Mar. ...

Lidya 'Lela' Klein RED LODGE, Mont. -- Lidya "Lela" Klein, 98, died Wednesday (Jan. 16, 2002) in Cedar Wood Villa in Red Lodge. She was born Jan. 22, 1903, in McCook to Conrad and Marie (Amen) Bauer. She moved to Colorado when she was young. On Feb. 11, 1924, she married Samuel Klein in Iliff, Colo. They made their home in McCook...

John Raymond McCarl, the only government official ever to say "No!" to four presidents and make it stick...it was his job to see that U.S. funds were spent in a legal and constitutional manner and that a proper accounting was made in every instance. McCarl was appointed to a one-time 15 year term by President Warren G. Harding to be the first Comptroller General of the United States at a salary of $10,000 a year...

It's that time again for the concert update for places accessible to residents of Southwest Nebraska. I'm going to do it a little different this time and divide the venues into two different columns. Today's column will deal with other entertainment appearing in Las Vegas between now and May 1st...

Louise M. Fuhrer GREELEY, Colo. -- Louise M. Fuhrer, 79, died Wednesday (Jan. 16, 2002) at North Colorado Medical Center. She was born April 28, 1922, in McCook to Louis and Hattie (Smith) McCurdy. She was a graduate of McCook High School. On July 17, 1942, she married Robert D. Fuhrer in Oberlin. They made their home in McCook until they moved to Colorado in 1950...

Dear Editor, To McCook residents who think the new arena would cause odor, flies and mosquitoes, and have "horse apples" and urine running down city gutters: The new arena is not a feedlot nor a place to keep horses on a year-around basis. We would venture to say that there is more odor, flies and waste coming from neighborhood dog pens and cat litter boxes than would ever come from the arena that has been proposed. ...

Dear Editor, Until the rocket scientists running this town find a way to get the price down on water, maybe you'd be wise to consider another source. I like collecting rain water off my roof. Two years ago, (I started) using small rain barrels. Last year, using small ponds (be sure to cover for bug and pet protection) plus renting my neighbor's roof kept our water costs the same as winter prices...

Dear Editor, I'm not the first, nor will I be the last county taxpayer to say our Red Willow County Fairgrounds need a new location to accommodate its existing and growing diverse list of users. With our new college baseball and softball teams, high school softball team, area youth YMCA soccer teams, Midget League baseball, YMCA adult and youth softball leagues pushing the existing ballfields to their usable limits, expansion of the fields is inevitable. ...

Dear Editor, I wasn't able to attend the chili cookoff this year. I would like to thank the Gazette for running the story on it. It's nice to see how the cookoff is still supported by the folks of McCook. Thank you, Michele Winkelmann via e-mail...

Dear Editor, Your readers need to know that the formation of a water advisory committee by the city is in direct response to a request made by these same three people and their associate, Jim Kenny, several months ago. Furthermore, the recommendation made to the City Council at the Jan. 7 City Council Meeting (which none of these people attended) to avoid a formal recommendation from this committee was to allow all the views of these four people full access to the City Council...

There is still plenty of time for candidates to throw their hats in the ring for this year's election. Incumbents have until Feb. 15, and challengers have until March 1 to file. It takes a special person to place his name before the voters, and offer to serve in public office...

If you can find the time during the coming week, we recommend you make a leisurely visit to the Museum of the High Plains in McCook to view the Barn Again! exhibition. As you stroll among the exhibits from the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., you will be transported in memory to an earlier time in American life ... a time when barns were the focal point of life on the farm...

Viola Mae (Hale) Raburn CAMBRIDGE -- Viola Mae (Hale) Raburn, 89, died Wednesday (Jan. 16, 2002) at Cambridge Manor in Cambridge. She was born Sept. 7, 1912, at Colt, Ark., to Joseph Henry and Myrtle May (Brothers) Hale. On Jan. 15, 1926, she married Floyd E. Raburn in Quitman County, Miss., and lived in Birdie, Miss. From 1929-46, they lived in Decatur County, Kan., Lebanon and Bartley. In 1946, they moved to Cambridge...