Stories from Wednesday, December 28, 2005

SAN ANTONIO -- Michigan coach Lloyd Carr does not consider the Alamo Bowl a comedown for a program with Rose Bowl appearances the last two years and nine straight New Year's Day berths. Instead, he thinks about the opposition -- Nebraska. "You look back at the last 30 years, and they've won more national championships than anybody in the country," Carr said. "We have a history with Nebraska going back to the (1986) Fiesta Bowl and, of course, the '97 co-national championship."...

By LORRI SUGHROUE McCook Daily Gazette Minda Haas, 17, was able to donate blood for the first time this year, with five other family members who have traditionally given blood during the Christmas season. Raleigh and Kathy Haas of McCook, along with children Jeff, Ryan and Brad, joined Minda at the Community building Thursday to donate to the American Red Cross...

CULBERTSON -- Joylyn Caroline Rippen of Culbertson will celebrate her first birthday Sunday, Jan. 1, and then hand over her "New Year's Baby" title to the first baby born in the new year. Joylyn, the daughter of Kelly and Shane Rippen, was Southwest Nebraska's and Northwest Kansas's first baby born in 2005. The Gazette starts the search for the first baby born in 2006 at 12:01 a.m., Sunday, Jan. 1...

Donations to the Salvation Army Bell Ringing campaign brought in more than a thousand dollars more than last year, according to the coordinator. The Rev. Sam Williams of St. Alban's Episcopal Church, and Red Willow Area Ministerial Association coordinator for the Salvation Army Bell Ringing campaign, said this year's donations of $8,669.90 is an increase of $1,186.55 over 2004...

We changed traditions this year. This was our 34th Christmas together, and in every previous year, we have waited through the long night until Christmas morning to exchange gifts, no matter how plaintive the cry to "please, please, please, let us open just one gift."...

As he prepares to become Southwest Nebraska's newest district judge, David Urbom of Arapahoe has set forth three guiding principles. "First," he said, "I will do my utmost to treat all who comes before me with respect; second, I will work as hard as I can to do a good job; and, third, I will do what the law tells me to do in the cases which come before me."...

Feb. 19, 1908--Dec. 26, 2005 ARAPAHOE -- Herbert Rudolf Wendland, 97, died Monday (Dec. 26, 2005) at the Mitchell County Hospital in Beloit, Kan. He was born Feb. 19, 1908, to Herman W. and Emma E. (Sydow) Wendland in Gosper County. He attended Immanuel Parochial School...

WAUNETA -- Virgil Kerchal, 81, died Sunday (Dec. 25, 2005) at the Johnson County Hospital in Tecumseh. Survivors include three sons, Ken and wife, Loretta of Tecumseh, Duane of Tamarac, Fla., and Rex and wife, Deborah of Wauneta; brothers, Leonard and wife, Frona of Benkelman and Keith and wife, Nona of Wauneta; sister, JoAnn Vicary and husband, Rob of Lincoln; three grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren...