Stories from Monday, August 19, 2002

Citizens and businesses in McCook will have another opportunity to experience a "first" for Alzheimer's research by participating in the first-ever McCook Memory Walk, Sunday, Sept. 8, at Norris Park from 2-4 p.m. Alzheimer's disease robs people of their memory, one of our most cherished possession. Eventually, it robs people of the ability to take care of themselves in anyway...

Brenda Kay Crocker and Robert Jacob McConville, both of Indianola, announce their engagement and upcoming wedding. Parents of the couple are Bill and Lorie Crocker and Bob and Cindy McConville, all of Indianola. The bride-to-be is a 1999 graduate of Republican Valley High School and a 2001 graduate of McCook Community College. ...

Dusty Dawn Owens and Eric Wayne Coulter, both of North Platte, announce their engagement and upcoming wedding. Parents of the couple are Larry and Marcia Owens of Curtis and Lynn and Teresa Coulter of Ravenna. The bride-to-be is a 1999 graduate of Medicine Valley High School in Curtis. ...

Larry and Marty Nash of Dubois, Wyo., and Dennis and Shelia Pfeiffer of Wauneta, announce the engagement and upcoming wedding of their children, Carrie Alexander Nash and Eric Vernon Pfeiffer, both of Lincoln. Grandparents of the couple are Evelyn Nash of Kalispell, Mont., the late Joseph M. ...

Stephanie Kaye Linner and Ron Chloupek, both of Papillion, announce their engagement and upcoming wedding. Parents of the couple are Doug and Kaye Linner of Hendley and J.W. and Diana Chloupek of Omaha. Grandparents of the couple are Wendell and Goldie Wentling of Hendley and James and Ethel Prohaska of Ravenna. ...

Amy Ahlers and Jason Downing, both of Kearney, announce their engagement and upcoming wedding. Parents of the couple are Don and Pam Ahlers of McCook and Greg and Geraldine Downing of Stratton. The bride-to-be is a 1995 graduate of McCook High School and a 1999 graduate of the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Nursing in Kearney. ...

Christine Cappel of McCook, Sharon and Rodney Brown of Stratton and David Michael of College Park, Md., announce the engagement and upcoming wedding of their children, Amanda Cappel and Jason Michael. Grandparents of the couple are Julia Cappel, the late Robert Cappel and Ina Nelson. ...

Lynette Hock and Patrick Smith, both of Omaha, announce their engagement and upcoming wedding. Parents of the couple are Brad and Mary Hock of Culbertson and Bill and Onie Smith of Council Bluffs, Iowa. The bride-to-be is a graduate of the University of Minnesota. ...

OMAHA -- Jeremy and Shannon Bryant of Omaha announce the birth of a daughter, Ariana Lynn, 6 pounds, 1 ounce, on Monday (Aug. 12, 2002). Grandparents are Lory and Gary Power of McCook; Jerry and Chris Bryant of Lincoln; and Scott and Sharon Nowells of Omaha...

Since the start of time, we've had trouble dealing with wrongdoers. We have punished them. We have imprisoned them. We have tried to rehabilitate them. But, for the most part, we have failed. The reason? As a society, we haven't figured out an effective way to stop the cycle of crime...

Every day in the news you hear about another town in Nebraska having well problems or restricting water use. Last week after McCook received one or two inches of rain, depending on what part of McCook you live in, underground water sprinklers were running less than eight hours later. Can't these systems be shut off?...

Why is the Red Willow County taxpayers involved in financing a half of the Kipplinger Horse Arena. It was reported by the Gazette to be a 100 percent gift. Does Red Willow County earn 6 percent on the balance due until Kipplinger or the Red Willow County Fair Board pays us off...

I know why the terrorists killed all those innocent people on September 11-- hurting people hurt people. The Muslim terrorists do not know Jesus Christ, therefore they have the need to inflict pain on innocent people.

Dear Editor: Everyone has a god or God. Everyone tithes to their god or to God. Whatever is first in our lives is our god or God. If money is your god, you will never have enough. If some kind of sin is your god, sin is progressive and you will sin a bit more every day and sin will make you stupid...

Give a man a fish, and you'll feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you'll feed him for a lifetime. The 3rd District needs help, in the form of aid in dealing with low commodity prices and drought. But how much better would it be if the 3rd District could learn how to become less dependent on the vagaries of the weather or the prices far away packers and processors?...

The children of Denis and Deb League of Stratton are hosting a card shower in honor of the couple's 25th anniversary, Aug. 20, 2002. Children of the couple are Derik League of Denver and Dustin League of Stratton. Cards of congratulations will reach the couple at P.O. Box 204, Stratton, NE 69043...

The family of Winston and Debby Lafferty of McCook is hosting a card shower in honor of the couple's 25th anniversary, Aug. 21. The couple has two sons, Wynn of Lincoln and Ty of Kearney. Cards of congratulations will reach the couple at 1722 W. Second, McCook, NE 69001...

IMPERIAL -- Nebraska State Patrol officers issued tickets to 30 minors for possession of alcohol Friday and Saturday evenings during the Chase County fair in Imperial. State Patrol Sgt. Ted Mashek said most of those MIP citations were issued to under-aged drinkers in the parking lots at the county fair. Mashek said officers also ticketed five adults for procuring liquor for minors, four of whom were on the fairgrounds...

The Nebraska State Patrol is investigating an accident that happened late Friday afternoon on South U.S. Highway 83. A 59-year-old Champion man was taken to Community Hospital in McCook. More information on the accident will be released as the investigation continues...

McCook Community Chorus invites area singers to join them for their Classic Choral Christmas 2002, featuring choral master-works from Bach up through the 20th century. One of the group's directors, Jon Wacker, says "This year's concert will be "doubly" exciting because the group will combine forces with the Imperial Community Chorus. ...

A two-session CPR/First Aid class, is set for Wednesday, Sept. 4 and Wednesday, Sept. 11, 6-10 p.m., at Walsh-Brady Hall, Room 31 on the McCook Community College campus. Those completing the course will be eligible for certification in accordance with the American Heart standards in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and first aid. ...

OBERLIN -- For two years the citizens of Oberlin and those traveling on U.S. Highway 36 through the Northwest Kansas community have passed by what was once a vibrant and active church. It remained empty, waiting for a new day and a new opportunity to come...

Michelle Adcock, 35, and Heather Love, 21, have put their heart and soul into the 1.5 acre garden. They work hard, kneeling, digging, planting and watering. They get dirty and they are rewarded in the end with the vegetables and fruits of their labor...

Top Office Products, located at 319 Norris Avenue, is sporting a new look. On Aug. 9, the office supply store had new double-pane insulated windows installed on both floors, new awning and a new sign that resembles the sign the store previously had when it was Montgomery Ward. Top Office is open 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday through Friday and 9 a.m.-12 p.m. on Saturdays...

McCook farmer Dale Dueland has been invited to testify at a Senate Agriculture Committee field hearing on the economic impact of the drought that has devestated Nebraska agriculture. With the economic cost of the drought mounting, U.S. Sen. Ben Nelson has announced that he will chair the meeting, set for Tuesday in Grand Island...

HOLDREGE -- Ann Schlatz and Shane Martin, both of McCook, were united in marriage June, 1, 2002, at All Saints Catholic Church in Holdrege with the Rev. Stephen Cooney officiating. Parents of the couple are Garold and Elizabeth Schlatz of Holdrege and Vernon and Mary Martin of Arapahoe...

LINCOLN -- Kathy Wilmot of Beaver City has introduced a resolution calling for the State Board of Education to support the "Pledge of Allegiance" as it is currently written and recited, included the words "under god." The resolutions also called for the board to strongly encourage all schools in Nebraska to "lead their students in the daily recitation" of the Pledge...

NORTH PLATTE -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development agency has awarded $15,700 in grant funds to the village of Trenton. The funds, in conjunction with $37,400 provided by the village, will finance a new fire hall for the community of 507 and surrounding area...

The drought and high utility costs this summer have affected everyone's budgets.When food budgets are tight, taking steps to make the most of your food dollar can pay off in multiple ways. You can feed your family well when you plan carefully and save dollars that you might otherwise spend at last minute grocery store trips, take-out meals or eating out, reports Mary K. Warner, Extension Educator...

A love of history and the outdoors took two Indianola men on a trip to Lewiston, Wash., in July to be a part of a re-enactment of one leg of the Lewis & Clark Expedition. Jim Gaster and his son Jeremy made the trip to Washington as part of a two week trip to follow the same course as the famous Lewis & Clark Expedition -- The Voyage of Discovery. ...

The McCook City Council will hear a request from McCook resident and developer Joe Giorgione regarding a desired street development of West 14th between O and Q Street. Giorgione is asking the city to open and maintain the undeveloped road as an unimproved public dirt/gravel street...

Milton J. Sytsma of McCook passed away on Saturday (Aug. 17, 2002) following a lengthy battle with heart disease and Parkinson's. He was 83. He was born Feb. 7, 1919, in a sod house on the family farm south of Brady to Henry and Ivie (Brown) Sytsma, the second of five children, and the only son. ...

OBERLIN -- Grace Hoppas, 84, died Saturday (Aug. 17, 2002) at Cedar Living Center in Oberlin. She was born March 23, 1918, to Walter and Gertrude (Oxley) Castle at Pleasant Dale. She grew up in Oberlin and attended Hillsdale Country School before graduating from Decatur Community High School in 1937...

BEAVER CITY -- W. Clark Wanner, 77, died Sunday (Aug. 18, 2002) at Cambridge Memorial Hospital at Cambridge. He was born March 13, 1925, at Oxford to Leo and Florence (Cunningham) Wanner. He was raised on a farm east of Beaver City. He attended Beaver City Schools through the 11th grade and graduated from Oxford High School with the class of 1942. ...

It's been a long time since I heard from Virgil, my friend in Arkansas. On the other hand, he usually only calls when he's either got a problem or a complaint so it's good that I don't hear from him more often. I was watching the first round of the PGA on TNT yesterday when the phone rang and his name and number came up on Caller I.D...

The final contracts had been let on Sept. 19, 1942, for work at the McCook Army Air Base and McCook was finally taking on the look of a "boom" town. In an editorial in the Sept. 19, 1942, Gazette, Harry Strunk writes with relief that the gravel and cement were being moved directly from the gravel pits near Perry north to the Air Base site. ...

Roy Thomas moved his family to Plainview, Neb., from South Dakota in about 1940. The weather and the economy had been very bad in Nebraska in the 30s, but as bad as they were, they were even worse in the Dakotas, and Mr. Thomas considered himself lucky to find a job at the Lumber Yard. ...

LIBERAL, Kan. -- Erek Alexander, 7, died Saturday (Aug. 17, 2002) at Hutchinson Hospital in Hutchinson, Kan. of a sudden illness. He was born June 11, 1995, to Kevin and Julissa Alexander at Liberal, Kan. He was attending 2nd grade at McKinley Elementary School in Liberal. He had attended 1st grade at Southlawn Elementary and Kindergarten at Turpin Grade School in Turpin, Okla...