Stories from Monday, August 12, 2002

The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services has confirmed two cases of West Nile virus have been found in Western Nebraska. Two horses, one in the Scottsbluff area and one in the North Platte area, have tested positive for the virus. Previously the virus had been found in two birds in Lincoln, a sentinel chicken in Omaha, a mule near Ceresco in Lancaster County, and in horses in Scotts Bluff, Fillmore, Valley, Saunders, Platte and Dawson counties. ...

The family of Larry and Beth Goltl of Oberlin, is hosting a card shower in honor of the couple's 40th anniversary Aug. 19. Cards of congratulations will reach the couple at 111 North Wilson, Oberlin, KS 67749.

STRATTON -- Julie Renee Henderson and Jarrod Lee Hilker were united in marriage April 6, 2002, at the Christian Union Church in Stratton with the Rev. Dr. Daniel Marshall officiating. Parents of the couple are Gary and Beverly Henderson of Stratton and Terry and Tammie Hilker of McCook...

Jennifer Berry and Taylor Rogers, both of McCook, were united in marriage July, 27, 2002, in an outdoor ceremony in McCook. The bridegroom is the son of Mark and Stephanie Rogers of McCook. Becky Wiemers of Omaha served as the matron of honor. Alex Helmbrecht of McCook served as the best man...

Carey Ruf of Cambridge and James Rohr of Eustis, announce their engagement and upcoming wedding. Parents of the couple are David and Margaret Ruf of Wilsonville and Francis Lee and Calysta Rohr of Munjor, Kan. Grandparents of the couple are DeeLee and Odessa Treat of North Platte, Manuel and Margalee Ruf of Wilsonville, Bertha Gross and Regina Rohr, both of Hays, Kan. ...

Jacquelyn Rose Einsphar and Justin Daniel Sabin announce their engagement and upcoming wedding. Parents of the couple are Jack and Sharon Einsphar of Evergreen, Colo., Ron and Cindy Sabin of McCook and Anthony and Martha Rakowski of Loveland, Colo. The bride-to-be and the prospective bridegroom are employed at Wal-Mart. The couple is planning an Aug. 24, 2002, ceremony at Kittredge Community Bible Church in Kittredge, Colo...

Rajeana Walker and Michael Saathoff, both of North Platte, announce their engagement and upcoming wedding. Parents of the couple are Charles and Sara Mae Walker of Hayes Center and Arthur and Mary Lou Saathoff of North Platte. The bride-to-be is a 1993 graduate of Hayes Center High School. ...

Once again, the people of the Golden Plains have outdone themselves by hosting outstanding community events. This weekend was especially busy, with Decatur and Hitchcock county fairs on tap, as well as Old Settler's Day in Indianola and the Relay For Life in McCook...

Are you sad to see summer drawing to a close; or are you happy that fall -- and the start of school -- are just around the corner? Why are we asking? Because it's August, one of the most bittersweet months of the year. On one hand we're celebrating the lingering summer, making use of the long, warm days for fairs, vacations and leisurely backyard barbecues...

Jessica Ann Stalder and Jeremy Joe Lang, both of Hastings, announce their engagement and upcoming wedding. Parents of the couple are Rod Stalder of Wellington, Utah, Larry and Linda Landwehr of Utica, Kan., and Mike and Roxy Lang of Wilsonville. The bride-to-be is a 2000 graduate of Sumner-Eddyville-Miller Public Schools and a 2002 graduate of Hastings Community College. ...

The friends and coworkers of Thomas and Shirley Volz of McCook are hosting a card shower in honor of the couple's 50th anniversary on Aug. 17. Cards of congratulations will reach the couple at 120 East G, McCook, NE 69001.

Until yesterday, Linda Kruger didn't know her class ring was even missing. If it hadn't been for the a conscientious seventh-grader from Cambridge, it may have been a while before she discovered it. Jacob Langley, 12, of Cambridge brought the McCook Senior High Class of 1978 ring to the McCook Gazette and placed an ad in the paper:...

Debris from the roof of the Dollar General store in Westview Plaza in McCook hangs over the edge of the building and in the parking lot after high winds and rain struck Thursday night and Friday morning. The store was closed until repairs could be made...

One of the 10 crewmen aboard a U.S. Air Force special operations plane crashed in Puerto Rico on Wednesday has ties to McCook. The man's family, however, asked the Gazette not to release the name until all members of the family are notified and official word is received from the military...

Clive and Joy Curtis of McCook plan to meet with officials Monday in their continuing quest to obtain official permission to stay in the United States. Mrs. Curtis said Clive's latest application to extend his visa was turned down, with a note that a different form should have been submitted -- the same form he originally submitted...

Sunya Decker, Harold Decker (left) and Jim Sailors fill sacks with sand in preparation for the Relay for Life, taking place in Norris Park later Friday night and early Saturday. The sand is part of about 1,500 luminarias to be lighted in honor of cancer survivors or those who died from cancer. ...

Lightning strikes and high winds around the McCook area kept Red Willow Western Rural Firefighters, the McCook Fire Department, Indianoa, Danbury, Bartley and Lebanon firefighters busy Sunday night with several reports of grass fires. The McCook Public Safety Center began receiving reports of fires at 7:19 p.m. Sunday night. Of the six calls received, four were fires and the remainder were dust clouds raised by winds brought on by the storm...

Families with a history of heart disease have responded in large numbers to the heart gene study being conducted by Dr. Michael A. Breiner, a retired cardiothoractic and vascular surgeon from Lincoln. In McCook, approximately 50 people gathered Saturday for an introductory presentation by Dr. Breiner at Community Hospital...

The family of Lewis and Dorene Hoschouer are hosting a card shower in honor of the couple's 60th anniversary on Aug. 13. Family of the couple are Sharon and husband, Leland Frakes of Trenton, Karen and husband, Rich Radenslaben of Lincoln, five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Cards of congratulations will reach the couple at 101 Kelly Court, Apt. 15, McCook, NE 69001...

Caveat Emptor is a phrase we've heard for forever it seems. It translates to "let the buyer beware." In today's world, there's probably no piece of advice that is any more sound. Day after day, week after week, we're exposed to on-going shenanigans in the business world. Names that have become household names, not because of their integrity but because of their fraud...

In the 1920s baseball could truly be said to be the national sport. Professional baseball was followed in the newspapers by millions of people throughout the country, and Babe Ruth's exploits, on and off the field made front-page news. True, football was very popular in high schools and colleges, but professional football was still in its infancy. Golf and tennis were played by large numbers of people, but they were sports for rich people...

Indianola's Old Settler's Picnic is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. What a long and proud history that celebration has had! The Old Settler's date for 1942 was Thursday, Aug. 20. Democratic Gubernatorial Nominee Charles W. Bryan was the principal speaker. Foster May, the Omaha radio man-on-the-street newscaster who was running on the Democratic ticket against Sen. George Norris was also booked to speak, "if he returns from Washington in time."...