Stories from Monday, August 18, 2003

OBERLIN -- Marty Clark, Russell, Kan., and Troy Attwood, Blue Hill, both picked up their first wins of the season at Oberlin Speedway Saturday. Clark took the lead at the drop of the green of the 20-lap IMCA Modified main event and led wire-to-wire. Four cautions kept the field close but each time Clark was up to the task. Doug Holzmeister of Colby worked his way to second on lap 7 and stayed within a car-length of Clark most of the race...

The family of Don and Betty Potthoff is hosting a card shower in honor of the couple's 40th anniversary Aug. 20. Their family includes Craig and Kris Potthoff of Papillion and Roger and Geana Potthoff of Lincoln. They have two grandchildren. Cards of congratulations will reach the couple at P.O. Box 96, Trenton NE 69044...

The family of Robert and Kathy McConville of Indianola celebrated their 50th anniversary Aug. 1. The couple married Aug. 24, 1953 at St. Catherine's Catholic Church in Indianola. They have four sons and their wives, 19 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren...

The family of Stan and Judy Spomer is hosting a card shower in honor of the couple's 40th anniversary, Aug. 24. Their children include Trish Kind of Ft. Collins, Colo., and Tracy Falconer of Kearney. They have five grandchildren. Cards of congratulations will reach the couple at 402 Seminole Drive, McCook, NE 69001...

Lewis "Bud" and Betty Harmon will be celebrating their 65th wedding anniversary Aug. 20.  Their children are Linda Boone, and husband Barry of Dixon, Calif.; Mike Harmon of McCook; Kirby Harmon of McCook; Teresa Harmon of Fort Worth, Texas; and Jean Hallowell and husband, Terry of McCook...

Recently in these pages, a Gazette columnist, Mike Hendricks, speaking of funerals, lamented that in today's society, we "deny the uniqueness of the person by using) a formalized, bureaucratized ritual." Mike feels that "We need to personalize someone's final recognition by the people in the world they lived in." Mike would have highly approved of Bob and DeLoris Scott...

It seems strange to not be talking about aspects of World War II, but this week we are moving to fall of 1960. This was an exciting time for Southwest Nebraska, the oil boom was on and every day seemed to bring new discoveries. It had been a long road to this point in petroleum exploration though. ...

As a new academic year rapidly approaches, excitement is always high, especially for those students leaving for their first year of college. A part of their life has been completed and a new one is about to begin. In the frenzy of preparing for college and in the anticipation of meeting and making new friends, living away from home, socializing, partying, and all the other things associated with college life, there is one thing that most students don't give much thought to, if any thought at all, and that is college classroom instruction. ...

Observers across the state and nation will be keeping a close watch on two meetings in McCook, Neb., this week. The sessions -- scheduled Wednesday and Thursday -- will deal with community drinking water standards and state transportation needs. The meetings are commanding attention because both have the potential to influence future decisions by lawmakers in Nebraska and the United States...

In the early 1960s, Noel Mues gained an appreciation for education as a vocational agriculture student at Holbrook High School. "I started out raising shorthorn cattle on my parents' farm, then developed an interest in education through the vo ag classes and the FFA chapter in Holbrook," he said. That interest spawned a career in agricultural education which has spanned more than three decades and brought Noel to the pinnacle of recognition in the cooperative extension field...

Thoughts on Iraq Dear Editor, The president was quoting British intelligence when he stated that there was evidence of Iraq trying to purchase uranium from an African nation and said as much in his state of the union address. And as of today British intelligence stands by this claim...

BENKELMAN -- Mabel N. Hansen, 85, died Thursday (August 14, 2003) at Dundy County Hospital in Benkelman. She was born Jan. 28, 1918, to Frank and Gladys (Williamson) Little on their farm north of Doane. She attended school at District 36 near her home. She graduated from Benkelman High School in 1937...

Rose Mary Stritt, 41, of Oberlin, died Friday (August 15, 2003) at Bryan LGH Medical Center West in Lincoln as a result of a motorcycle accident. She was born on Oct. 5, 1961, to Donald Ray and Charlotte Rose (Sayer) Myers at St. Francis, Kan. She attended school at Benkelman and then Wauneta graduating in 1980. ...

MANHATTAN, Kan. -- Shayleen Jo (Wederski) Brown, 33, died Friday (Aug. 15, 2003) at Mercy Regional Health Center in Manhattan, Kan., following an extended battle with cancer. She was born Aug. 3, 1970, to Carl and Cheryl (Grabenstein) Wederski in Colby, Kan. She resided in Manhattan since 1989. She graduated from Atwood High School in 1989. She graduated from Kansas State University in 1994 with her bachelor of science degree in biology and chemistry...

OSHKOSH -- Douglas Charles "Fitz" Simmons, 58, died Friday (August 15, 2003) at his home. He was born Jan. 5, 1945, in Limon, Colo., to Ruleiph Charles and Fannie Caroline (Tracy) Simmons. He grew up and received his education in Agate, Colo., graduating in 1963. ...

The family of Margaret Heskett is hosting a card shower in honor of her 80th birthday, Aug. 24. Cards of congratulations will reach her in care of Imperial Heights, PO Box 1050, Imperial, NE 69033.

Erin Casper of McCook and Troy Werkmeister of Palisade announce their engagement and upcoming wedding. Parents of the couple are Ron and Kathy Casper and Roger and Janet Werkmeister, all of McCook. The bride-to-be is employed with McDonald's and the prospective bridegroom is employed with the Kugler Company in Culbertson. The couple is planning a Sept. 13, 2003, ceremony at St. Patrick Catholic Church in McCook...

KEARNEY -- Lori Steinbrecher and John McArthur, both of Kearney, were united in marriage July 11, 2003, at First Lutheran Church in Kearney with the Rev. Mark Price officiating. Parents of the couple are Larry and Debbie Steinbrecher of Bridgeport and John and Paula McArthur of McCook...

Top: Athletes participating in the McCook Community CollegeVolleyball Setter's Camp Friday morning weren't practicing new dance steps. They were working on a two-step drill. Nine girls signed up for the camp. Not listed in order as shown in the photo are Kelsey Coolidge, Republican Valley High School; Stephani Padilla, Wauneta-Palisade; Megan Potthoff, Republican Valley; Kendra Solko, Herndon; Anne Wasson, Oberlin; Madison Scott, Arapahoe; Michelle Slater, Culbertson; Allyx Brown, Culbertson; and Kaitlyn Stapp, Oberlin.. ...

The McCook City Council will be asked to approve the city's budget for fiscal year 2003-04 and approve an increase in sewer rates to pay for wastewater treatment plant improvements, both on second reading, during its regular meeting Monday. The city's budget, which will take effect Oct. 1, calls for a tax levy of 31.9045 per $100 valuation -- the same levy the city requested last year...

Air conditioning was popular in Nebraska as temperatures hit 100 degrees in many areas during the weekend, but records remained unbroken. McCook remained under the century mark, but that was little consolation for football players turning out for their first day of practice in Nebraska and Kansas...

Cast and crew of "Treasure Island" (above) celebrate during a curtain call following Saturday's first performance. Colorful pirates (at left) include Tyler Cobb (front, from left) as "Big Ol' Blue," Wyatt Carson as "Whitey," Ethan Poore as "Rosie Red," Sara Hagemann (back) as "Goldie the Hun," Abi Burrows as "Sing Sing Sam," Chris Owens as "Wee Davey The Letter Man" and Nathan McCarty as "Captain Patches." It was announced at Saturday's second performance that the Missoula Children's Theatre would bring another production to McCook next year.. ...

Economic development through entrepreneurship will be the topic of discussion at this year's Tri-State Initiative Conference in McCook. The conference, scheduled for Thursday and Friday, Sept. 11 and 12, will be in conjunction with the ribbon cutting and dedication of McMillen Hall, the Hormel Technology Center and the Center for Advance Studies at McCook Community College at 10 a.m. Thursday...

GRAND ISLAND -- Funeral services are Tuesday for an Oberlin woman who died Friday from injuries she received in a motorcycle accident. Rose Stritt, 41, was a passenger on a motorcycle driven by her husband, Gerald Stritt, 41, which collided with a car in Grand Island on Thursday...

Individuals, community leaders, organizations and regional groups are urged to testify at a hearing by the Governor's Transportation Task Force next week in McCook. The hearing is set for 7 p.m. Wednesday in the Weeth Mini Theater in Tipton Hall on the McCook Community College campus...

Members of the Decatur County Racing Association accept a check for $4,534 from Marie McKisson, representing Oberlin's chapter of the Modern Woodmen of America fraternal life insurance society. Raising funds to install lights at Oberlin's new 3/8-mile stock car race track was the chapter's annual community improvement project, McKisson said. Standing under the Speedway sign with McKisson are association members (from left) Scott Dolan, Lee Martin, Jack Metcalf, Mick Barth and Lee Don Scott...

INDIANOLA -- The coordinator of the Old Settlers Celebration car show simply ran out of superlatives to describe the second annual Classic and Custom Car Show Aug. 9 in Indianola. "Wow! It was incredible!" said Doug Shadley of Indianola. "It was fantastic ... awesome ... unbelievable -- we had cars lined up for blocks!"...

Laura Rundback (above) and her red steer run the "critter course" and Staci Hogsett (right) dresses a lamb during fun at the the Chase County fair in Imperial on Friday morning. The critter course required exhibitor and animal to cross logs, run a weaving barrel pattern, cross a green carpet and wave at members of the overstuffed "Ben Dover" family, on their way to the finish line. ...

BIRD CITY -- The whole idea is to stop the steam engine in its tracks. The newer, less-experienced tractors -- young whipper-snappers, really -- can't handle the weight, or the pressure of competing in the antique tractor and steam engine pull at the annual Tri-State Antique Threshers Show in Bird City...

Culbertson High School cheerleaders Melissa Ward (from left), Alyssa Cook, and Nikki Brown scrub off a pickup truck in the Wal-Mart parking lot. The cheerleaders were conducting a car wash to earn money for new uniforms.

Cassie Renee Miller and Rick Dee Spencer, both of McCook, were united in marriage May 31, 2003, at St. Ann's Catholic Church in rural McCook with the Rev. Gary Brethour officiating. Parents of the couple are Mel and Jerry Miller of McCook and Rod and Deb Spencer of Culbertson...

CURTIS -- Margaret Ann Orman and Brent Thomas Sankey were united in marriage June 7, 2003, at St. John Lutheran Church in Curtis with the Rev. Paul Warneke officiating. Parents of the couple are Paul and Delores Orman of Maywood and Kenneth and Lorinda Sankey of Collinsville, Ill...

RAYTOWN, Mo. -- Robert Kent Lehmer, 33, died Friday (August 15, 2003) at his home in Raytown, Mo. He was born Sept. 2, 1969, in Stratton to James Richard and Nici J. (Nicholson) Lehmer. He moved with his family at an early age to the Kansas City, Mo., area where he lived most of his life, and was employed as a computer programmer...