Stories from Monday, February 23, 2004

MVM Rattlers take 4th place LINCOLN -- Yet again, Chase County has brought home a state champion. For the last two years, it had been Jay Wood. This year, it was Taylor May's turn as he dominated the Nebraska Class C 160-pound weight class. Two other area wrestlers were in the finals for Class C...

RV's Haag places third at 130 pounds LINCOLN -- Six medals were earned by area wrestlers in the Nebraska Class D state tournament at Lincoln Saturday. Twenty-six wrestlers from the area qualified for the Class D state tournament. Cambridge qualified seven grapplers for the tournament, but six lost their opening match...

Marc 1, 1934-Feb. 18, 2004

March 25, 1929-Feb. 22, 2004

April 8, 1942-Feb. 19, 2004 KEARNEY -- Geraldine Turpin, 61, of Stratton, died Thursday (Feb. 19, 2004) at Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney. She was born April 8, 1942, to Leo F. and Doris L. (Sparks) McEvoy in Benkelman. She attended school in Benkelman and graduated from Benkelman High School in 1960...

WEST BEND, Wis. -- Tom and Kristie Randel of West Bend, Wis., announce the birth of their son, Gabriel James, Feb. 7, 2004. He weighed 7 pounds and 12 ounces. He has an older sister, Sydney Paige. Grandparents are the late Gary and Sandra Randel and Darwin and Linda Peterson of West Point. The Randels once lived in McCook...

Kelly Lynn Hitt and Bryan Lee Regier, both of McCook, were united in marriage Dec. 20, 2003, at the Evangelical Free Church in McCook with the Rev. Bruce Lester officiating. Parents of the couple are John and Lois Hitt of McCook and Russell and Nancy Regier of Henderson...

Christina Ruggles and Bret Abney were united in marriage Jan. 17, 2004, in Kansas City, Mo. Parents of the couple are Bob Ruggles of Mesa, Ariz., John and Sheryl Havens of McCook and Ogie and Arminta Abney of Kansas City. Coryelle Abney, daughter of the bridegroom and the late Lisa Peter, and Mercedes Abney, daughter of the couple, were the honored attendants. The couple is making their home in Kansas City where the bridegroom is a forklift operator and the bride is a teacher...

Tammy Gutchewsky and Kendal Neal announce their engagement and upcoming wedding. Parents of the couple are Jack and Mary Gutchewsky of Herndon, Varlan and Catherine Neal of Oberlin and the late Irma Joy Neal. The bride-to-be is a 1995 graduate of Decatur Community High School and a 1998 graduate of Colby Community College with a business degree. ...

Erika L. Seaquist and Seth R. Ryser, both of Papillion, announce their engagement and upcoming wedding. Parents of the couple are Paul and Bonnie Seaquist of Papillion and Randy and Shirley Ryser of McCook. The bride-to-be is a family support worker with Visinet, Inc. The prospective bridegroom is a science teacher at LaVista Junior High School. The couple is planning a May 29, 2004, ceremony at St. Paul's United Methodist Church in Papillion...

The children of Harvey and Ramona (Hinz) Hofman of Indianola are hosting a card shower in honor of the couple's 50th anniversary, Feb. 28. They were married in 1954 in Hastings. Their children are Peggy and Cal Stoltenberg of Norman, Okla., Tammy and Todd Hlavaty of North Platte and Brent and Deb Hofman of Indianola. They have seven grandchildren. Cards of congratulations will reach the couple at Route 1 Box 132, Indianola, NE 69034...

The family of Bruce and Susan (Ruppert) Hagan are hosting a card shower in honor of the couple's 25th anniversary. They were married Feb. 24, 1979, in McCook. Their children are Bruce Jr., and wife, Dawn, Bryan and wife, Althea, Bryce, Bret, Brandt and Brittney. They have four grandchildren. Cards of congratulations will reach them at PO Box 85, Culbertson, NE 69024...

The family of Leona Ruppert is hosting an open house in honor of her 80th birthday, Feb. 29, 1:30-3:30 p.m., at the VFW Hall in Culbertson. Her children are Allen and Gloria Ruppert of Maxwell, Clinton and Della Fox of Holdrege, Wilber and Sue Ruppert of Culbertson, Bernard and Pam Ruppert of McCook and Merna Benson of McCook. She has 20 grandchildren and 40 great-grandchildren. Cards of congratulations will reach her at Hillcrest Nursing Home, Room 103, 309 West Seventh, McCook, NE 69001...

The family of Rachel Burke is hosting an open house in honor of her 95th birthday Feb. 29, 2:30-5 p.m., at the Gothenburg Senior Center, 410 20th Street. She was born Feb. 28. Cards of congratulations will reach her at 515 Park, Cambridge, NE 69022.

Lynn Salyer (top) and Roger Wilson scoop into pots of chili, during the fourth annual Dick Driml Memorial Chili Cook-Off, sponsored by Driml's coffee buddies and the McCook Community College Boosters. The judges selected Matt Sehnert's chili for first place, and the "People's Choice" award went to Max Brodersen. ...

The Red Willow County Ministerial Association is again sponsoring the annual Community Lenten services. St. Alban's Episcopal Church, 519 W. First, will host each event, beginning Friday, Feb. 27, 12:05 p.m., with the Rev. Dr. Mark Taylor of First Congregational Church offering the homily. The Rev. Charles Hooton of First Assembly of God Church will serve as presider...

CURTIS -- Dr. Don A. Woodburn has announced that he will resign as dean of the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture, a position he has held for nine years. "It is time for me to move on," Woodburn said. "We have completed many of the goals that were set for the College, and it is time for me to pursue a new challenge."...

Here's who will Dear Editor, I would like to comment on Mr. Stramel's last couple of sentences ("If not W, who?" He says "In the next U.S. election re-elect George W. If he doesn't kill all the evil, wicked people dead, then who will?" To answer that question I would start by saying it won't be George W. ...

In 1980, the United States was going through a difficult time. Though we were technically at peace, the Cold War with the Soviet Bloc was at its peak, there was a petroleum crisis, with long lines at the gas pumps. Seemingly, the OPEC nations had us by the throat, and gas prices seemed to be going up with no end in sight. ...

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