Stories from Monday, June 6, 2005

After a wet week that poured more than six inches of rain on the McCook area, the skies cleared out to make way for the 17th Annual John Mullen Pro-Am on Saturday and Sunday. Jeff Klein finished atop the leaderboard of 32 professionals to take the Pro-Am title. Klein, a former PGA Tour player, fired a 11-under 133 (68-65)...

LEXINGTON -- To be a part of an American Legion baseball team in the summer takes commitment. With 35 plus games to play and many more practices, the players have to be dedicated to the program. The First Central Bank Juniors' dedication is starting to pay off early in the season, as they went 2-1 at the Lexington Tournament on Saturday and Sunday...

One of the features of McCook that people tend to take for granted these days is the fact that most of our alleys are well-lighted. This was not always the case. In the early days after McCook got electricity, there were no streetlights. Houses fronting the street had a special electrical loop on their porch lights that bypassed the meter, with the city's blessing. The city gladly paid the electricity bill as it made for a safer community...

Now that the 2005 session of the Nebraska Legislature has ended, we can sit back and relax, right? No way. Not for a minute. The momentous happenings in this year's Legislature have sparked a series of repercussions, including efforts by "Nebraskans for Local Control" to overturn LB126, the newly passed law requiring all schools to be part of K-12 districts...

**Dear Editor, Thanks for telling the truth about what is a common ploy by this administration ["Whatever happened to the truth?" (http://www.mc-cookgazette.com/story/1098382.html)]. It's scary because millions of people buy into these blantant lies because "he's our president and he wouldn't lie to us and to God."...

**Dear Editor, Thank you, Mike Hendricks, for speaking out about the lies of this administration and their effects. Pat Tillman's father is right. Speaking out against the government when it lies to us is the highest form of patriotism. **Linda Easley,...

**Dear Editor, "The war is an abject and utter failure. What everyone thought would be a quick, decisive victory has turned into an embarrassing series of reversals. The enemy, -- a ragtag, badly-fed collection of hotheads and fanatics -- has failed to be shocked and awed by the most magnificent military machine ever fielded. ...

Coming off the back end of Rodeo Rose's "Texas Express" -- before the eight-second buzzer -- is bull-rider Terry White. The bulls won -- 7-0 -- during two days of rodeo action at the annual Wilsonville Rodeo. Rain Friday dampened only the arena, not the rodeo spirit or competition...

Chase and Lori Beeby of Lebanon announce the birth of their son, Cadde Spencer, born May 23, 2005, at Community Hospital of McCook. He weighed 7 pounds, 9.4 ounces and was 19 1/2 inches. He has a five-year-old sister, Cassiddy. Grandparents are Eugene and Shirley Axtell of Danbury, Tami Thomas of Culbertson, and Randy and Jean Beeby of Marshall, Okla. ...

Stephanie Sue Ankersen and Timothy Christian "Buck" Starnes were married of March 12, 2005 at Peace Lutheran Church in McCook with the Rev. Randy Wahl officiating. Parents of the couple are Russ and Sue Ankersen of McCook, Heidi and Tommy Couch of Tucker, Ga., and Ken and Betty Starnes of Sharpsburg, Ga. ...

Monica Lynn Brown and Shawn Alan Cole were married Feb. 19, 2005, at Memorial United Methodist Church in McCook with the Rev. Dr. Jeff Thurman and Rev. Art Phillips officiating. Parents of the couple are Bob and Deanna Brown of Indianola and Rex Cole and Deb Fritsche of McCook...

CAMBRIDGE -- Shari Stanton of Omaha and Isaac Berg of Wayne, both formerly of Cambridge, were married Jan. 1, 2005 in a candlelight ceremony at the Calvary Baptist Church in Cambridge with the Rev. Tim Burke officiating. Parents of the couple are Richard and Claudia Stanton of Cambridge and Keith and Janeen Berg of York...

Leann Fritsche and Ryan McGrane, both of East Helena, Mont., announce their engagement. The bride-to-be is the daughter of Randy and Barbara Fritsche of Maywood and a graduate of Maywood High School and the University of Nebraska-Kearney. The prospective bridegroom is the son of Karen McGrane of Omaha and the late David McGrane. ...

Julie Morris and Chris Laflan, Lee's Summit, Mo., announce their engagement and upcoming wedding. The bride-to-be is the daughter of Kenteth and Christie Morris of Oberlin, and is a Decatur Community High School graduate. She graduated from Hastings College majoring in elementary education, and is employed with Lee's Summit school district teaching second grade. ...

Kelly Hollmann and R.J. Plas announce their engagement. The bride-to-be is from Omaha and the daughter of Jim and Kay Hollmann. She attended the University of Nebraska Medical Center's Nursing Program in Lincoln. She will graduate in December with a bachelor of science and nursing, and is employed with Pioneers Golf Course. ...

Gerald and Roberta (Schmidt) Spilinek announce their 50th anniversary. The couple was married June 21, 1955 in the Catholic Church in St. Paul. The couple are having a reception at the Knights of Columbus Hall, 308 East 9th, in McCook on Saturday, June 11 from 2-4 p.m. ...

The family of Darrel and Elda (Wagoner) Youngs are hosting on open house, including a video presentation at 2:30 p.m., in honor of their parents' 50th anniversary on Sunday, June 12, from 1-4 p.m. The event will be at the Red Willow County Fairgrounds Community Building, West 5th and O street in McCook. The couple was married June 12, 1945, in Lenora, Kan. Cards will be received at 38602 Ravenswood Rd., McCook, NE, 69001...

The children of Robert and Marjorie Warner are hosting a card shower in honor of their parents' 60th wedding anniversary June 10. Cards of congratulatin will reach them at 42432 Main Street, Arapahoe, NE 68922.

The family of Delphine Spencer is hosting a card shower in honor of her 80th birthday, June 11. Cards of congratulations will reach her at 38005 Rd. 719, Culbertson, NE, 69024.

The family of Russ Dowling will celebrate his 90 birthday on June 8. His family includes Fern, Sharon, Carol, and Roger.

Sean and RaeAnn Conroy of Omaha announce the birth of their son, Finley James Conroy. He was born May 20, 2005 at the Creighton University Medical Center in Omaha weighing 8 pounds, 6 ounces, and was 21 inches long. Grandparents are Stephen and Sharon Conroy of Indianola and James and Laurel Miller of Neligh, Neb. Great-grandparents are William and Anita Conroy of McCook, Paul and Mildred Miller of Columbus, Ohio, and Alma Smucker of Archibold, Ohio...

Scott and Angela Garey, of Omaha, announce the birth of their daughter, Olivia Margaret Mae, born March 16, 2005 at Lakeside Hospital in Omaha. She weighed 6 pounds, 11 ounces, and was 19 1/2 inches long. Grandparents are Dave and Pat Unger, Cordell and Jerda Garey Svengalis, and Angus and Verjean Garey all of McCook. Great-grandparents are Emory and Lucy Putz and Melvin and Glenva Unger all of McCook, the late Don and Marie Thompson and Margaret Ludlow...

BAUMHOLDER, Germany -- Chris and Amanda Barth of Baumholder, Germany announce the birth of their son, Tristen Joseph. He was born April 10, 2005 at the Landsthul Medical Center in Germany. He weighed 7 pounds, 8 ounces, and was 20 1/4 inches long. He has two older brothers, Phoenixx, age 5, and Bryton, age 3...

OGALLALA -- Jake and Laci Mueller of Ogallala, announce the birth of their son, Maxwell Charles Mueller. He was born at Great Plains Regional Medical Center in North Platte, on May 10, 2005, weighed 6 pounds, 7 1/2 ounces, and 18 1/2 inches long. Grandparents are Dawn Siegfried and Mark and Kathleen Eiler all of McCook, and Marty and Bonnie Mueller of Ogallala. ...

The family of Gary and Lori Metzger of Arapahoe announce their 35 anniversary. Their children are Brian Metzger of Lincoln and Jeff Metzger, and wife, Sonya of Holbrook.

(April 28, 1921 - June 2, 2005) WAUNETA -- Jack William Sandman, 84, died Thursday (June 2, 2005), at the Chase County Community Hospital. He was born April 28, 1921 at Beatrice to Ralph and Gertrude (Richards) Sandman. The family resided in Harbine until moving to Wauneta in 1934. He graduated from Wauneta Rural High School in 1939...