Stories from Monday, June 17, 2002

The family of Opal Dunn is hosting an open house in honor of her 90th birthday, June 24. The open house will be Sunday, June 23, from 2-4 p.m., at the Heritage Senior Center, 1312 West 5th Street in McCook. Cards of congratulations will reach her at 1308 West Circle Drive, McCook, NE 69001...

The family of Dwaune and DeVeta Redfield of McCook are hosting an open house in honor of the couple's 60th wedding anniversary June 22, 5-8 p.m., at the Hayes Center Legion Hall in Hayes Center. Children of the couple are Sharlene and Joe Baker of Brighton, Colo., Keith Redfield of Palisade and Kaylene and Dick Luedtke of Columbus. They have seven grandchildren...

Jeanette and Roland Miller of Culbertson are celebrating their 40th anniversary on June 17. They were married in 1962 at St. John's Lutheran Church in Culbertson. Family of the couple are Kim, Jay, Nic, Ben and Morgan Schilling of McCook and John, Karen, Jake and Will Miller of Culbertson...

Ty and Pat Wagner of Culbertson would like to announce the engagement of their Junker, the son of Bob and Becky Junker of Grand Island. Grandparents of the couple are Wag and Patty Wagner of Culbertson, Walter and Enid Zapp of McCook, Jim and Ann Frazier of Cozad and Irvin and Marge Junker of Fairbury. ...

Joe and Kathy Barger of Wauneta announce the engagement and upcoming wedding of their daughter, Courtney, to Daniel Gonzales. The bride-to-be is 1995 graduate of Wauneta-Palisade High School and a 1999 graduate of the College of Saint Mary in Omaha. ...

The family of Richard and Lila Johnson of McCook, are hosting a card shower in honor of the couple's 45th wedding anniversary June 16. Their children are Rick and Kim Jonson and Teresa and Joe Slaby, all of McCook and Joanie and Mike Eastman of Lincoln. They have 10 grandchildren. Cards of congratulations will reach the couple at 304 East Fifth, McCook, NE 69001...

Diana Renae Fossen, former resident of Indianola, and Jose' Luis Peņa announce their engagement and upcoming wedding. Parents of the couple are Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Fossen of Omaha and Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Peņa of Moscow, Kan. Grandparents of the bride-to-be are Henry and Pauline Fossen of Indianola. ...

Your help is needed to perpetuate a glorious Independence Day tradition. For as long as most of us can remember, the McCook Elks Lodge No. 1434 has sponsored a fireworks display on the Fourth of July. The lodge has taken on the responsibility of putting on the show again this year, but needs the support of businesses, organizations and the public in order to cover all the expenses involved...

Dear Editor, The discussion of the race track seems to be going on and on. I don't think people actually hate racing. It's the location. I live across the street from the track and I'm telling you it is noisy and dirty. It is impossible to compare the noise to anything else. ...

"Just wait 'til your father gets home!" Many of us can recall our mothers uttering those words in disgust as we pushed Mom to her limits. As adults, we realize she was actually saying that she couldn't wait until our father got home. She desired the reinforcement of masculine authority to help her gain the upper hand...

MINDEN -- Erin Rebecca Gumb of McCook and Dallas Richard Schwenka of Minden were united in marriage on Nov. 24, 2001, at Westminister Presbyterian Church in Minden with Dr. Terry Palmer officiating. Parents of the couple are John and Nancy Gumb of McCook and Richard and Deborah Schwenka of Minden...

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Members of the Pi Kappa Pi Fraternity from 32 colleges and universities across the United States will pedal into McCook on Saturday, June 29. The cyclists are scheduled to arrive at the United Methodist Church at 5 p.m. The team will have dinner with the McCook Jaycees and enjoy a night of local activities...

NORTH PLATTE -- Through laughter and drama, retired U.S. Marine Lt. Col. Oliver North told a group of Nebraska Veterans to stand proud and continue with their lives despite the ongoing war on terrorism. North was the keynote speaker at the Veterans Expo 2002, Nebraska's Veteran's-America's Best in North Platte on Saturday...

The next regular meeting of the McCook Water Advisory Committee will be Tuesday at the Heritage Senior Center, 7-9 p.m.. The purpose of the meeting will be to narrow the selection of possible well field sites. Olsson Associates, the engineering firm hired by the city to do the study, will present the Committee with its findings to date and will recommend six sites within fifteen miles of the city...

For purposes of doing hearing tests, Joleen Bradley is grateful that newborn babies sleep so much. "In order for us to screen for hearing, the babies need to be very still and very quiet," she said. That is why Community Hospital's newborn hearing screener is used soon after the baby's birth. "The screener can be used until babies reach six months of age, but after that the babies are too active to get accurate readings," she said...

Stars and stripes celebrate upcoming summer birthdays at North Ward Elementary. Sharon Derr, para-professional, designed and created the bulletin board.

The McCook City Council and residents of the city are being given an extra month this year to examine McCook's proposed budget for fiscal year 2002-03. The extra time came after a request from members of the City Council to be allowed more time to make decisions on the budget...

"What does your father mean to you?" The question brought some to tears and all to reflection. In celebration of Father's Day, we asked area residents to explain what makes their dad so special. Matt Sehnert, a father himself, compared his adult relationship to his dad, Walt Sehnert, to his childhood memories. "When I was a child, my father worked a lot," Sehnert said, "He was more of a father figure. Now that I'm older, he has become a friend."...

The McCook School Board of Education will be told it may need to examine possible budget reductions following the special session of the Nebraska Legislature scheduled for late July or early August. The board meeting is scheduled Monday, 7:30 a.m., in the conference room of the McCook Junior High...

Inez Foster accepted the position of minister of visitation at Memorial United Methodist Church three short years ago. "I had long felt God's call upon my life," said Inez, "but there was no way I could have envisioned the changes He would make in my life, one day at a time, since I accepted the minister of visitation position."...

LINCOLN -- Nebraska farmers and ranchers have until June 28, 2002 to apply for more than $4 million dollars, and maybe double that amount, that will soon be available to protect cropland and grazing land with soil and water saving practices, said Steve Chick, State Conservationist for the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service today...

As part of its ongoing effort to reduce crime in Southwest Nebraska, the McCook Crimestoppers program has obtained a toll free number to call to report illegal activity and adapted a new temporary logo for the organization. The new number, (866) 345-5440 may be used by persons outside the McCook calling area to better utilize the Crimestopper system. The previous number (308) 345-5440 remains the same for McCook residents...

Melba L. Huckfeldt, 81, died Saturday (June 16, 2002) at Hillcrest Nursing Home in McCook. She was born July 3, 1920, to Lloyd and Susan (Carter) Haney in Gosper County. She grew up in Elwood where she graduated from Elwood High School in 1937. On Sept. ...

BENKELMAN -- Francis Edward Neville, 87, died Thursday (June 13, 2002) at the Sarah Ann Hester Memorial Home in Benkelman. He was born Dec. 14, 1914, to William and Jane (Wallace) Neville in Eddyville. He completed school through the eighth grade in Eddyville before the family moved to Haigler...

About 7-8 years ago, I wrote a column about then-Orlando Magic center Shaquille O'Neal. In it, I blasted O'Neal for being a one-dimensional player. At that time, he just had one move -- he could dunk. His free throwing was atrocious. He was shooting about 40 percent from the free throw line...

"McCook Gets Army Air Base, Construction Due To Start At Once On Port Facility ... Temporary Office Quarters Being Arranged in McCook Today; First of Army Personnel to Arrive Late Today; Speedy Job Is Assured" Finally! The Sept. 1, 1942, McCook Daily Gazette headlines tell the whole exciting story that was about to begin in McCook's history. ...

In 1976 our country went on a year-long party, celebrating America's Bi-Centennial Birthday. Com-munities spruced up, new music and dramas were written, and politicians spoke at the least provocation -- extolling America's virtues and accomplishments over the last 200 years...

Some people are uncomfortable unless they're able to control every aspect of their lives. The current slang for this kind of person is that they're "control freaks." They can be found everywhere; at work, at home, in friendships and in relationships. Negative experiences in life made them that way and changing is virtually impossible...

BOISE, Idaho --  Retired Major Donald D. Mues, 74, beloved husband, father, and grandfather passed away one day short of his seventy-fifth birthday on Monday (June 10, 2002) at St. Luke's Hospital in Boise, Idaho. He wrestled with a lengthy illness of which he never stopped battling. Memorial Services will be held at 1 p.m. on Monday (June 17, 2002) at the Cloverdale Funeral Home in Boise, Idaho...