Stories from Monday, June 2, 2003

WICHITA, Kan. -- Atwood's Jeff Horinek took his winning ways to the Kansas State Track and Field Championships this weekend, bringing home two gold medals plus a meet record. Horinek set a Class 2A meet record in the discus, throwing for 181 feet, 10 inches during the field events at Cessna Stadium at Wichita State University...

McCook Elementary School Track Meet TUESDAY, MAY 20 W=West Ward; N=North Ward; E=East Ward Kindergarten Results Girls Rope Jump (heat 1) -- 1.Kerrigan Klein,W; 2.Emily Karr, N; 3.Jessica Premer,N; 4.Kristen Dike, E; 5.Kelli Andersen, N; 6.Haley McRae, W...

Submitted by Amy Carfield of McCook. Entry No. 1637.

The family of Edward and Beverly Smith of Bartley is hosting a card shower in honor of the couple's 50th anniversary, June 7. Children of the couple are Kathleen and Mark Webb of Lincoln, Tom and Patricia Smith and Kristy Jo and Michael Kreiling of Bartley. The couple hasseven grandchildren. Cards of congratulations will reach the couple at P.O. Box 219, Bartley, NE 69020...

Lewis and Doris Leibbrandt will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on June 5. They plan to celebrate in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Cards of congratulations will reach them at RR 3 Box 111-A, McCook, NE 69001.

Lisa Lilienthal and Brady Ternes, both of Hays, Kan., announce their engagement and upcoming wedding. Parents of the couple are Mr. and Mrs. John Lilienthal of Culbertson and Mr. and Mrs. Mikael R. Ternes of Conway Springs, Kan. Grandparents of the couple are Mrs. ...

Lori Steinbrecher and John McArthur, both of Kearney, announce their engagement and upcoming wedding. Parents of the couple are Larry and Debbie Steinbrecher of Bridgeport and John and Paula McArthur of McCook. The bride-to-be received her bachelors degree from the University of Nebraska at Kearney. ...

Krista Simonsson and Brian Gutchewsky, both of Lawrence, Kan., announce their engagement and upcoming wedding. Parents of the couple are Brian and Pam Simonsson of Oberlin and Jack and Mary Gutchewsky of Herndon. The bride-to-be is a 2001 graduate of Decatur Community High School and plans to attend the Kansas University School of Nursing in Kansas City, Kan., this fall. ...

The family of Duane and Edna (Peacock) Smith of Omaha is hosting an open house in honor of the couple's 50th anniversary, June 7, 2003, at the First Christian Church, 6630 Dodge Street in Omaha. The couple married May 15, 1953, in Pawnee. Children of the couple are Patty Wokurka of Omaha, Verlyn Smith of Omaha, Donald and Teresa Smith of Jacksonville, Fla., Doug and Kathy Smith of Burlington, N.J., Verneal Rogers of Exceisior Springs, Mo., Kevin and Nancy Smith of Omaha and Kim and Bill Sanwick of Omaha. ...

CULBERTSON -- Devin and Kasey Allen of Culbertson announce the birth of a daughter, Kailee Jayde, born Thursday (May 29, 2003). She weighed 6 pounds, 2 ounces and was 19 1/2 inches long. She has two brothers, Klayton and Kaleb. Grandparents are Bob Allen of Culbertson, Charlene Young of Fairbury and Sue Cafferty of McCook. Great-grandparents are Sid and Judy Allen of McCook and Jim and Esther Needham of Cambridge...

During the summer of '48 I joined a crew of Anthropologists who were unearthing an Upper Republican site on Prairie Dog Creek, east of Alma. Later in the summer we joined a crew of Paleontologists at Medicine Creek, north of Cambridge. Both crews were hurrying to complete their work before lakes covered those sites. Both groups were distinguished by interesting and colorful characters -- none more so than Jim (Howie) Howard...

Some of my good friends report that the BB King concert at the Lied Center in Lincoln a couple of weekends ago was excellent. I understand that McCook was well represented at the concert. I last heard B.B. King live at a Cotton Bowl party in 1965 or 66. ...

Bob Hope celebrated his 100th birthday this week, but do you realize that there is a McCook connection to Hope? The photo this week shows Bob Hope and Frances Langford entertaining the troops in front of one of the large hangars here at the McCook Army Air Base in 1943 or '44...

On the last day of the budget-dominated 2003 session of the Nebraska Legislature, the state's lawmakers took action to assure the continuance of the Nebraska Rural Development Commission. The decision was a long time coming, in large part because Gov. Mike Johanns and members of the Nebraska Legislature had different ideas about how rural development matters should be handled...

Sometimes, we -- the voting and taxpaying citizens of this state and nation -- make the mistake of thinking that elected leaders are egotistical and unfeeling, entirely motivated by politics and self-promotion. Sure, there are elements of that, otherwise the long-standing stereotype of the glad-handing, pork barrel politician would not be so prevalent...

HOLBROOK -- Clarence "Bud" Rogers, 78, formerly of the McCook area, died Saturday (May 31, 2003) at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney. He was born Jan. 5, 1925, at McCook, to Clarence Henry and Sylvia (Mitchem) Rogers. He grew up in the McCook area...

OBERLIN -- Esther Irene Lindquist, 72, died Tuesday (May 27, 2003) at her home in Oberlin. She was born Aug. 18, 1930, in Denver, Colo., to Albert Louis and Nelle (McKinzie) Lindquist. She was raised in Oberlin and graduated from Decatur Community High School in 1948. She was an elementary school teacher...

A Trenton author encouraged young writers to "do what I did not do," during the "Wind on the Buffalo Grass" writing camp at McCook Community College. Dr. Mary Ellen Goodenberger, author of "Letters for the Literate and Related Writing," told inspiring authors, "Do get your family stories written down. When we lose those people, we lose their stories as well."...

Zane Starks of Haigler takes aim Friday, the first day of the Nebraska State 4-H Muzzleloader Championship at the Pawnee Free Trapper Range five miles west of McCook. The shoot features classes for traditional and modern guns for 4-H members and non members, age 11-18. Participants will continue the activities Saturday and Sunday when contestants and officials will be dressed in period costumes...

Cedars Southwest Nebraska Youth Services has announced expansion of services the organization offers for youth in Red Willow and the surrounding counties. Building on the successful Juvenile Pre-trial Diversion program, Cedars will begin focusing efforts on the prevention of alcohol and drug use by youth...

LEXINGTON -- McCook National Bank Senior pitcher Matt Beckenhauer went the distance Friday night to defeat the Lexington Pinnacle Bank Seniors 12-6. Beckenhauer stuck out eight batters and gave up six runs on eight hits. MNB coach Tye Hallowell said he was very pleased with Beckenhauer's game...

CENTRAL CITY -- The McCook National Bank Seniors swept a doubleheader against the Central City Seniors Sunday. MNB won the first game 3-2 over Central City. Coach Tye Hallowell sent Quinton Pohl to the mound. Pohl pitched for three innings before he suffered an injury to his middle finger on his throwing hand by a line drive hit by Central City...

GRAND ISLAND -- The McCook American Legion Juniors baseball team dropped both ends of a doubleheader Saturday to Grand Island Five Points. The twinbill was played at Grand Island. The Juniors, now 4-4, lost the first game 15-13 and the second game 8-5...

McCook High School football coach Jeff Gross and his staff will conduct the McCook Bison Football Camp for grades 9-12 Monday through Thursday. Anyone wishing to play football at McCook Senior High during the 2003 season is encouraged to attend. Camp sessions will be 7:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. daily. The camp will be at the McCook Senior High practice field behind the high school...

NORTH PLATTE -- The McCook Rebels 16 and under girls fastpitch softball team split a pair of game Thursday night at North Platte. The games were played the Wayne Dowhower Softball Complex in North Platte. The Rebels lost to the North Platte Sensations 2-1 and clipped the North Platte Twister 3-2...

Lindsey Dame, a junior at McCook High School, has been included in the 2002-03 High School Edition of Who's Who in Sports, a national publication which honors outstanding achievement in high school athletics. The daughter of Doug and Brenda Dame of McCook, Lindsey has varsity letters in both softball and basketball and has been named to the Greater Nebraska Athletic Conference All-Academic Team in both sports...

LEXINGTON -- The McCook Rebels 10 and under fastpitch softball team placed second at the Lexington Memorial Day Fast pitch Softball Tournament last Sunday and Monday. The Rebels posted a 3-2 record. The Rebels were defeated 0-3 by the Gothenburg Angels 10 and Under...

As lifelong journalists, three of the panelists at a Saturday session of the Buffalo Commons festival are professional storytellers. That didn't keep them from being surpassed by Frank B. Morrison, a former governor who at 98, can hold his own with the best of them...

A van plows through water on B Street on Sunday evening, as a downpour floods one of only two lanes open during the construction project. Mary Hlavinka, 304 West P, looks over a limb knocked down by a lightning bolt during Sunday evening's thunderstorm. ...

Youth ages 8-12 are invited to participate in 4-H Day Camp on Monday, June 23, at the Red Willow County Fairboard Community Building. "Along The Trail" is the theme of this years day camp to be held from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Youth will participate in workshops making rope knots, learning flag etiquette, blacksmithing, beads, storytelling and square dancing. The cost is $5 per person. The fee includes lunch, snacks and workshop materials...

The Toasted Ponies perform bluegrass music at Saturday night's Grand Reception at the High Plains Museum, the final official event of the Buffalo Commons Storytelling Festival. Storytellers Deb Carpenter and Linda Hasselstrom also performed, as did Barbara McBride-Smith, who received Storyteller of the Year honors. For more photos of Buffalo Commons and other weekend activities, see Page 10...

Pam Wolford (top) helps Kids Festival participants make dragon masks Saturday afternoon in Norris Park. Storyteller Barbara McBride-Smith (second from top, right) added her tales for children. Alpha Delta Kappa Women Educators and Southwest Nebraska Reading Council conducted the special event. ...

Car buffs of all ages drool over the cars displayed during the second annual Decatur County Museum Summerfest and Car Show in downtown Oberlin Saturday. This 1962 Austin Healy 3000 MKII, owned by Steve Peres of McCook, seemed to be a favorite.

A firefighter reaches out to a "victim" of an car accident and explosion staged for a disaster practice in Arapahoe Friday evening. The scenario involved a car struck by a van -- inside which occupants were mixing up a batch of methamphetamine.

City Manager John Bingham intends to address several issues raised over the past few weeks, including an editorial and a poll conducted by the McCook Daily Gazette, when the McCook City Council meets Monday. The city manager's report indicates that the status report was prepared "to clarify the city's status on the city's water system improvement package."...

Joshua Nichols, (front) Travis Nielsen, Levi Wood, Keith Adams and Randall Jacobs join 19 other Work Ethic Camp offenders in helping staff and faculty from McCook Schools relocate classes. The group began moving ninth grade classrooms from the Junior High to the Senior High on Wednesday morning. ...

GRAND ISLAND -- Sandra "Sandi" J. Foight, 55, of Grand Island, died Saturday (May 31, 2003) at her home after a lengthy battle with cancer. Services will be Wednesday, 11 a.m., at Faith United Methodist Church with the Rev. Richard Karohl officiating. Burial will be at the Grand Island City Cemetery...