Stories from Monday, December 20, 2004

HOLDREGE -- Amy Johnson and Kyler Haines, both of Highlands Ranch, Colo., were united in marriage Aug. 14, 2004, at the First United Methodist Church in Holdrege with the Rev. Melva Tranmer officiating. Parents of the couple are Roger and Rhonda Johnson of Holdrege and Dan and Linda Haines of Culbertson...

Carrie Elyn Warrick and Tyler David McCarty, both of Omaha, announce their engagement and upcoming wedding. Parents of the couple are Gary and Cherry Warrick of Ft. Calhoun and Dave and Angela McCarty of McCook. Grandparents of the couple are Earl and Letha Svoboda of McCook, Larry McCarty of McCook, the late Marilyn McCarty and Johnny and Anna Siebert of Lincoln. ...

The family of Gwen Riemer is hosting an open house in honor of her 80th birthday Dec. 26, 2-4 p.m., at the Hillcrest Nursing Home Hidden Pines Assisted Living dining room. Cards will reach her at 309 West Seventh, McCook, NE 69001.

The family of Dr. Wanda G. Mindt, formerly of Benkelman, is hosting a card shower in honor of her 80th birthday, Dec. 26. Cards will reach her at 1716 West Fifth, North Platte, NE 69101.

VALENTINE -- The McCook wrestling team had two medalists on Saturday at the Valentine Invitational. Jon McCart took second place at 103 pounds, improving his record to 10-2 on the year. Dallas Korus was also a runner up for McCook, finishing second at 130 pounds...

HOLDREGE -- The McCook boys basketball team fell behind by 10 points after the first quarter, on its way to a 60-47 loss at Holdrege on Saturday. The Dusters extended the lead to 14 after the second to lead 29-15 at halftime. "We struggled in the first quarter," said McCook coach Steve Nicholson...

July 23, 1909-Dec. 17, 2004 Vernice Mary Weskamp, 95, died Friday (Dec. 17, 2004) at Hillcrest Nursing Home in McCook. She was born July 23, 1909 to Henry Joseph and Mabel (Williams) Weskamp at Indianola. She graduated from Danbury High School in 1927 and lived in this area all her life...

Aug. 29, 1912-Dec. 17, 2004 INDIANOLA -- Nellie J. Newberry, 92, died Friday (Dec. 17, 2004) at Cambridge Memorial Hospital in Cambridge. She was born Aug. 29, 1912, to Paul and Charlotte (Crocker) Jussel in Red Willow County. She attended Red Willow School and lived all her life in this area...

March 15, 1946-Dec. 17, 2004 HEBRON -- Patricia A. Ireland, 58, formerly of Benkelman, died Friday (Dec. 17, 2004) at Thayer County Health Services in Hebron. She was born March 15, 1946, in Benkelman to Charles A. and Donna A. (Hofer) Morrison and attended school in Benkelman...

Dec. 13, 1921-Dec. 19, 2004 IMPERIAL -- V. Jean Stute, 83, formerly of Benkelman, died Sunday (Dec. 19, 2004) at Chase County Hospital in Imperial. She was born Dec. 13, 1921, in Stratton to Lee and Hannah (Russell) Maxwell. She attended Stratton High School where she was a member of the graduating class of 1940...

Nov. 2, 1924-Dec. 16, 2004 ATWOOD -- Cecil Max Tumblin, 80, died Thursday (Dec. 16, 2004) at Hays Medical Center in Hays, Kan. He was born Nov. 2, 1924, in Grand Island to Ray J. and Elizabeth A. (Blevins) Tumblin. He served in the Navy during World War II...

June 18, 1909-Dec. 17, 2004 OBERLIN -- Neva J. Townsend, 95, died Friday (Dec. 17, 2004) at Decatur County Good Samaritan Center in Oberlin. She was born June 18, 1909, to Clare G. Crook and Himla Gusafson in Ainsworth. She was raised in Brown County and then moved to Decatur County. She attended Mount Center country school in Sherman Township and Danbury High School...

Red Willow County Commissioners approved a $300,000 loan from the Community Development Block Grant revolving fund for a Colorado company which plans to begin construction of helicopter kits in McCook. Commissioners voted unanimously in favor of the loan, after a hearing that included testimony from Dick Trail, retired Air Force pilot and former county commissioner and city councilman, and Bob Chambers of McCook, who asked several questions about the proposal...

Frontier towns in Nebraska were established for a variety of reasons, but few towns can attribute their birth more to the railroad than McCook. McCook railroad historian, H.E. (Harry) Culbertson referred to the railroad as "Father Burlington." By 1880, the Burlington Missouri River Railroad had pushed into Southwestern Nebraska as far as Indianola, and surveys had been made for an extension to Denver...

When the Work Ethic Camp in McCook first opened April 30, 2001, there were many distractors. It even reached the point, in 2003, that there was an attempt in the Nebraska Legislature to close the camp located on the northwest edge of McCook. But, as time goes by, the camp is getting more time to prove itself. As it does so, a growing number of Nebraskans are discovering the value of a work ethic approach to criminal rehabilitation...