Stories from Monday, September 16, 2002

The first gubernatorial debate in McCook history brought about 300 residents to the Memorial Auditorium on Saturday, to hear how Incumbent Republican Gov. Mike Johanns, Democrat Stormy Dean and Nebraska Party candidate Paul Rosberg stand on issues such as gambling, funding cuts to rural Nebraska, education, corporate tax breaks, water quality, and the state's declining revenue...

EUSTIS -- Kristen Leigh Buell and Nicholas Lee Eschliman, both of McCook, were united in marriage May 18, 2002, at St. John's Lutheran Church in Eustis with the Rev. William Waterman officiating. Parents of the couple are Rodney and Tami Buell of Eustis and Randy and Carmen Eschliman of McCook...

Leona Haller of Stratton will be celebrating her 95th birthday Sept. 18. Cards of congratulations will reach her at P.O. Box 343, Stratton, NE 69043.

Jill Marie Rook and Jason Reinsch, both of McCook announce their engagement and upcoming wedding. Parents of the couple are Vida and Greg Eden, John and Naomi Reinsch and Dale and Diana Sonder, all of Lincoln. The bride-to-be is a 1995 graduate of Northeast High School. ...

Brooke Nichols and Chad Andersen, both of Lincoln, announce their engagement and upcoming wedding. Parents of the couple are Cathy and Dennis Nichols of Culbertson, Colene Andersen of Omaha and Gene Andersen of Henderson. The bride-to-be is a graduate of the University of Nebraska at Lincoln. ...

Jolene Collins and Daniel Troester, both of Lincoln, announce their engagement and upcoming wedding. Parents of the couple are Tim and Jackie Collins of Meadow Grove and Bill and Rae Troester of Greeley, Colo. The bride-to-be is a graduate of Wayne State College. ...

Although live, statewide television coverage was lacking, the people of the McCook area can be proud of how they conducted themselves during the second of the three 2002 Governor's Debates. The debate -- staged Saturday afternoon at the McCook Memorial Auditorium -- was a step-up in quality from the first debate in Omaha...

EDITOR'S NOTE: The following was submitted by Sue Harrison Jewell, a former resident of McCook now living in Fredericksburg, Texas. She is the daughter of Vernie Harrison Hoyt of McCook. It is the year 2002 and Noah lives in the United States. The Lord speaks to Noah and says: "In one year I am going to make it rain and cover the whole earth with water until all is destroyed. ...

The "campus" part of the name appears to be on the way out, but McCook's representatives on the Mid-Plains Board of Governors are still not certain what the college division in McCook is going to be called in the future. After attending a board of governors' retreat Wednesday night in North Platte, Harold Bennett and Dale Poore told the Gazette they have mixed emotions about the discussion...

Glenice (Gaibler) and Kenny Discoe of McCook will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary Saturday, Sept. 21. The couple exchanged wedding vows Sept. 21, 1952, at Banner Methodist Church near Gothenburg. They will celebrate with their children, Barbara and Wilbur Jauken of Lincoln, Connie Jo Discoe of McCook, Tony Alan Discoe of Newport Beach, Calif., and Cindy and Mark Fritsche of Maywood; and three granddaughters and five grandsons. ...

Tai Lynn Angle of Kearney and Christopher Wick of Holdrege announce their engagement and upcoming wedding. Parents of the couple are Henry Angle of Kearney, Sauna (Budke) and Harold Stanton of Kearney and Thomas and Barbara Wick of Holdrege. Grandparents of the couple are Linndea Budke, the late Jim Budke and Marie (Angle) Upton of Trenton. ...

Danica Kae Allacher and Gregg Michael Hauxwell were united in marriage June 29, 2002 at St. Alban's Episcopal Church in McCook, with the Rev. R. Samuel Williams officiating. Parents of the couple are Dennis and Fran Allacher and Richard and Jean Hauxwell, all of McCook...

TRENTON -- Unusually low lake levels have a silver lining for the Bureau of Reclamation's efforts to maintain the dam at Swanson Reservoir, according to officials. A small dike has been built across the shallow channel from the lake to the intake structure so that a conduit between the intake structure and a downstream gate can be drained, officials said...

INDIANOLA -- Because of vacancies on the ballot, four Indianola residents have successfully petitioned on to the general election ballot. Red Willow County Clerk Pauletta Gerver said the names of the four will be printed on the ballot with the designation "By Petition." Gerver said 86 signatures were required for nomination to the office of board member for the Republican Valley school district, and 45 signatures were required for nomination to the office of Indianola city council...

BENKELMAN -- Dundy County voters will decide Wednesday on a bond issue that would provide $150,000 per year for five years to the Dundy County Hospital in Benkelman. The money would be used to purchase capital equipment, and would be in addition to tax support already received by the hospital, according to the Benkelman Post...

The McCook City Council will be informed of an offer by area farmer C.K. Swanson, of rural McCook to sell 837.6 acres of land for $1,750 an acre at its regular meeting Monday night. The land included in the unsolicited offer is located southwest of McCook near the Frenchman Valley-Perry Grain site...

Director of McCook Campus Physical Plant Operations Jon Burkey (left) and McCook Campus Vice President Dr. Richard Tubbs reveal the new sign that sits at the entrance of the McCook College while McMillen Hall is renovated. McMillen Hall officially closed Friday for the renovations and should open back up in the fall of 2003. ...

Five candidates will be listed on the Nov. 4, general ballot for the two-year City Council seat left open with the resignation of the Chris Overman. Jerda Garey, Billy F. Shafer, Dan Sigwing, Phillip "Ben" Gonzales and Rodney Bryan had filed by Friday's 4 p.m. deadline...

The Rev. Harlan Waskowiak, assistant pastor at St. Patrick's Catholic Church, has been busy since his arrival in McCook on June 10. Waskowiak, who was ordained to the priesthood on May 23, 1998, boarded one of two buses July 20 in McCook, traveling with a troupe of pilgrims to see Pope John Paul II at the World Youth Day festivities in Toronto, Canada...

Hillcrest Nursing Home, Hidden Pines Assisted Living and Little Folks Child Care Center had a new sign placed outside that represents all of the services the facility now offers. The sign was designed, built and installed by Swanson Sign Co. It was installed early August...

In the early days of World War II, our government officials made a concerted effort to convince the population that in order for there to be enough fuel for our military forces, for tanks, planes and ships, everyone needed to take part in a major conservation effort...

Charles Jesse "Buffalo" Jones is a part of McCook history that you don't hear about much, unless you hang around with the historical crowd. His time in McCook is associated mostly with his namesake, his buffalo herd. Before I tell you all the wonderful local stuff ... let me tell you what the rest of the world knows of this McCookite...

Things are getting pretty curious in regards to American foreign policy. We just marked the first anniversary of the September 11th tragedy and the nation was exposed to around-the-clock coverage by all of the major television networks. I was at home sick with some kind of bug and spent most of the day and evening watching the coverage. ...

OBERLIN -- Ronald Ray Carlson, 59, died Thursday (Sept. 12, 2002) at Hays Regional Medical Center in Hays, Kan. He was born June 24, 1943, to Raymond and Esther (Olson) Carlson in Oberlin. He was attended Oberlin Elementary School and graduated from Decatur Community High School in 1961. Following graduation, he moved to McPherson, Kan., and later to Salina, Kan., before moving back to Oberlin. He worked as a meat cutter...