Stories from Monday, July 25, 2005

INDIANOLA -- Jill Rebecca Bortner and Carl Wells Koenig were united in marriage April 16, 2005, at St. Catherine's Catholic Church in Indianola with the Rev. Gary Brethour officiating. Parents of the couple are Ben and Ginny Bortner of McCook and Tom and Laura Koenig of Chadron...

CUSTER STATE PARK, S.D. -- Amanda Warne and Kyle Young were united in marriage June 17, 2005, at Sylvan Lake in Custer State Park, S.D., with the Rev. John Roll officiating. Parents of the couple are Tom and Barb Warne of Humbolt, S.D., and George and Eileen Young of McCook...

Christina McMurtrey and Jeremiah Herron, both of Wayne, were united in marriage on June 18, 2005, at the Heritage Senior Center in McCook. President Don Adams, Stake President of the Kearney Nebraska Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, presided and officiated at the ceremony...

PLEASANTON -- Kami (Angle) and Bruce Loeffelholz announce the birth of a daughter, Sarah Linnae Loeffelholz. She was born June 27, 2005. She has an older sister, Hannah, and an older brother, Dalton. Grandparents are Henry Angle of Kearney, Shauna Stanton of Kearney, and Jerome and Pat Loeffelholz of Pleasanton...

BERTRAND -- Kirk and Kaylea Goldfish announce the birth of a daughter, Gentri Denae Goldfish, on July 7, 2005. She has two older brothers, Avery and Seaver. Grandparents are Barbara Goldfish of Kearney and the late Gordon Goldfish and Allan and Darlene Fischer of Trenton...

Vickie Harrison and Heath Ruf announce the birth of a son, Jorden Leroy Ruf on June 30, 2005. He weighed 6 pounds, 14 ounces and measured 21" in length. Grandparents are Gloria Carlock of Bartley and David and Margaret Ruf of Wilsonville.

The family of Ben and Joyce Neuenschwander is requesting a card shower in honor of the couple's 50th wedding anniversary Aug. 1. Their children are Sonjua and Jeff Greene of Auburn, Calif., Sandy Harms of Hayes Center, and Celesta and John Rhodes of Riley, Mich. They have six grandchildren. The children planning a celebration in California at a later date. Cards of congratulation will reach the couple at PO Box 434, Culbertson, NE 69024...

David and Cindy Dame will celebrate their 30th wedding anniversary July 26. Cards of congratulations will reach them at 1303 East F Street, McCook, NE 69001.

Brian and Tami Suiter of Lincoln will celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary. The couple was married August 2, 1980, at the St. Patricks Catholic Church in McCook. Their family includes children Nicole and Tim McGovern of Lincoln, Brian and Danny and one grandson. Cards of congratulations will reach the couple at 7425 Plum Creek Dr. Lincoln, NE. 68516...

The family of Ron and Kathy Casper are requesting a card shower in honor of the couple's 30th wedding anniversary July 26. Their children are Kristin and husband, Albert Unger of Lincoln, Erin and husband, Troy Werkmeister of McCook and Amy Casper of Lincoln. They have four grandchildren. Cards of congratulation will reach them at 1205 Westridge, McCook, NE 69001...

The family of Marybeth and John Roschewski is requesting a card shower in honor of the couple's 25th wedding anniversary July 26. Their children are J.J. and Hannah of Culbertson. Cards of congratulations will reach the couple at RR1 Box 64, Culbertson, NE 69024...

The family of Gary and Rosalie (Cox) Hastings of West Point are requesting a card shower in honor of the couple's 40th wedding anniversary. The couple was married Aug. 7, 1965, in McCook. The family includes children, Kim Loomis of Grand Island, Jodi and Joe Benson of Scottsbluff and Bob and Traci Hastings of Norfolk; and nine grandchildren. Cards of congratulations will reach them at 1140 E. Grove, West Point, NE 68788...

Michelle Anne McGeorge and Robin Matthew Burton, both of Kearney, announce their engagement and upcoming wedding. Parents of the couple are M. Michael and Deann McGeorge of Craig, and Robert and Janice Burton of Maywood. The prospective bridegroom is the grandson of Delma Snyder of McCook...

Amanda Fries and Bradley Osborn, both of Lincoln, announce their engagement and upcoming wedding. Parents of the couple are Richard and Valerie Fries and Jim and Lynne Osborn, all of Benkelman. Grandparents of the couple include Guy and Melba Fries, Gene and Linda Jones, Glen and Vivian Osborn, all of Benkelman, the late Paula Jones, and Floyd and Gloria Sutherland. ...

Sandy Lynch of Blair and Seth Bates of McCook announce their engagement and upcoming wedding. The parents of the couple are Elizabeth Lynch of Blair and Clark and Dawna Bates of McCook. The bride-to-be has an associate's degree in general studies from Nebraska Christian College in Norfolk and will be pursuing a degree in social work at Columbia College in Columbia, Mo. ...

LEXINGTON -- Pinpoint accuracy were key words to describe Phil Hayes' controlling performance against Holdrege on Sunday night. Hayes struck out seven Holdrege batters as the McCook National Bank American Legion Seniors defeated Holdrege 9-1. With the win, the Seniors force a final championship game Monday night against Holdrege for the American Legion B-6 district crown...

Nov. 20, 1921-July 22, 2005 RUSSELL, Kan. -- Raymond B. Ritter, 83, died Friday (July 22, 2005) at Russell Regional Hospital. He was born Nov. 20, 1921, at Dresden, to Bernard and Philomena (Kruse) Ritter. He was raised in the Dresden area and received his education at Leoville...

Jan. 13, 1916-July 23, 2005 CAMBRIDGE -- Elma F. Shifflet, 89, died Saturday (July 23, 2005), at Cambridge Memorial Hospital in Cambridge. She was born Jan. 13, 1916, north of Holbrook, to Charles and Cecil Lathorp. She attended school in Cambridge and was stricken with polio in her sophomore year...

A Red Willow County sheriff's deputy was treated and released and a Bartley man was still hospitalized today following a two-car accident early Sunday morning east of McCook. Both men were transported to Community Hospital of McCook after a car driven by Joshua A. Fritz, 27, of Bartley, struck the rear end of a sheriff's patrol car driven by Deputy Clyde Bolin, 67, of McCook...

Sparks light up the night sky at the antique thresher show last year in Bird City. The 2005 show opens with a community potluck meal Wednesday, at 6 p.m. and Thursday, Friday and Saturday start with parades of farm and harvest equipment at 10:45 a.m. ...

The latest Nebraska Rural Poll confirms what most of us know: Small towns are struggling, and the houses are old, but most of us own our own home and are proud of them. Summertime is the time for outdoor projects that can't be accomplished in cold weather -- although they aren't so easy when the thermometer's north of 100, either. ...

In 1804 President Jefferson assembled a talented and dedicated crew of men, under the leadership of Jefferson's Secretary, Merriweather Lewis and Captain William Clark. Jefferson wanted to find out all he could about the huge unknown area that covered most of the western part of the United States (including the newly acquired Louisiana Purchase). Much of this was territory that few if any white men had ever seen...

Jan. 30, 1917-July 23, 2005 Zelma "Pauline" Esch, 88, died Saturday (July 23, 2005) at Hillcrest Nursing Home in McCook. She was born Jan. 30, 1917, to Arthur E. and Myrtle Gladys (Branscom) Burton in Furnas County. She grew up in the Zion Hill area, attended country school and graduated from Red Willow High School in 1935. She taught in a country school in Red Willow County for two years...

Dora (Wicke) Michel, formerly of Atwood, will celebrate her 100th birthday Aug. 2, with a card shower. An open house planned for Sunday, July 31, 2005, has been canceled due to family health issues. Her family includes children, Berniece Morgan of Mayetta, Kan., Cathi Michel of Newton, Kan., Richard and Judy Michel of Ludell, Kan., and Sylvia and Bill Meyer of Topeka, Kan. ...