Stories from Monday, June 5, 2006

Chris Wiemers conquered an elite field of golfers Friday evening to win the third "Horse Race" of his career. Wiemers, who grew up at Heritage Hills, took the title by subduing a field that included two past Horse Race champions, Greg Ernst and Ted DiGiacomo, and one former John Mullen tournament champion, Shane Zywiec...

CHADRON -- The McCook National Bank Seniors American Legion baseball team played three games decided by one run at the Chadron Tournament Saturday and Sunday. The Seniors went 1-2 and dropped to 5-6 on the summer. On Saturday, the Seniors lost to Ainsworth 5-4 and defeated Valentine 9-8. Sunday, MNB lost to Gordon 4-3 in nine innings...

In a way, it's just another state office building. But housing all three branches of Nebraska government, it's one of the most visible symbols of the state. The famed Capitol spire, designed by architect Bertram Goodhue, was built as the money was available, beginning in 1922 and not completed until 1932, for a total of $10 million...

I read Mike Hendrick's article, "Dictators and Police States," with much interest and found much with which I agree. The Constitution is the greatest document of its kind ever written but is not without its weaknesses as he describes. I do not agree with his premise of "Pandering to the majority." Surely that is the very foundation of what the whole principle of democracy rests...

Looking back, it's hard for me to believe it's been 10 years since the first Buffalo Commons Storytelling Festival took place in McCook. But it has been. I know, because I just thumbed through 10 years of programs, listing some of the top storytelling talent in the United States. What inspiring stories they told at the first nine festivals ... and what uplifting stories they are going to be telling at the tenth, which will take place this coming Friday and Saturday in historic downtown McCook...

In a recent story in this column we reported on an amazing brush with death during the Vietnam War by a local man, Dr. Warren Jones (A Close Encounter of the Helicopter Kind). Jones was reluctant to discuss that incident, but thanks to the efforts of his crew chief, we were able to learn "the rest of the story."...

Jon Graff and sons Alex, from left, Andrew and Eric carry the Cornhusker Games torch north of McCook on Sunday, for their one-mile leg of the torch run across the Nebraska. The run began May 24 near the Wyoming border and will cover 11,000 miles across Nebraska, ending in Lincoln June 21. ...

July 5, 1935 - May 29, 2006 SCOTTSBLUFF -- Delores T. Dougherty, 70, died Monday (May 29, 2006) at her home. She was born July 5, 1935, at McCook, to Mike and Mary (Luevano) Cuellar. She grew up at McCook and graduated from the McCook High School in 1953. She graduated from MCC, attended college at Lincoln and taught school at St. Theresa's Catholic School in Lincoln...

Oct. 29, 1932 - June 3, 2006 E. Mabel Nielsen died Saturday (June 3, 2006) at Community Hospital in McCook. She was 73 years old. She was born Oct.29, 1932 in Longmont, Colorado to Floyd Herbert and Juanda Irene (Johnson) Morgan. She grew up and graduated from Longmont High School in 1950. She attended Hastings College and graduated in 1955. She lived most of her life in Hastings and had moved to McCook a year and a half ago...

Nov. 6, 1927 - June 2,, 2006 STRATTON -- Mabel Betty Parsons, 78, died Friday (June 2, 2006) at her home in Stratton. She was born November 6, 1927, at Max, the daughter of Elbert and Elizabeth (Whistler) Daniels. She attended school in Max and was a graduate of Max High School...

Chris Wiemers celebrated his 32nd birthday in style Sunday with a "hat trick" at the 18th annual John Mullen Pro-Am golf tournament at Heritage Hills Goilf Course in McCook. Wiemers, a McCook High School alum who is now the golf pro at Eagle Run in Omaha, captured the pro individual title with two-day score of 133 and won Friday night's Horse Race...