Stories from Friday, December 22, 2006

Rawlins County's John Terry earns coaching recognition ATWOOD -- Rawlins County-Atwood track coach John Terry has been named as one of the 2006 Kansas Cross Country and Track and Field Coaches Association Coaches of the Year. Coaches were selected on basis of achievement over the past year and their careers...

LINCOLN -- Kelsey Griffin scored a game-high 20 points on 9-of-10 shooting to lead Nebraska to an 80-42 win over Nicholls State at the Bob Devaney Sports Center on Thursday night. Nebraska, which improved to 10-2 with the victory in front of 2,431 fans, bolted out of the locker room on an 11-0 run to start the game and never led by fewer than eight points the rest of the way...

EDITOR'S NOTE -- This is a special edition of "Life on the Plains," which is usually published on Monday's Opinion Page. The song says, "Only the Good Die Young," and in the case of Kevin Gilmore that is certainly true. "He was a wonderful young kid," said Pat Keitges, Kevin's backfield coach at McCook Junior College in 1967 and 1968. "Kevin was an outstanding, all-around leader who was respected by both players and coaches."...

McCook residents who have had power restored to their property may still be in the dark. That's because they may need to contact an electrician before service can be turned on for their house, according to the Nebraska Public Power District. The "meter loop" may have become detached from some homes and is the connection point between NPPD's service wire and the customer's house electrical cable, said a press release from NPPD. ...

It will be interesting to see how the county stands in next year's line-up, but Red Willow County taxpayers haven't done too poorly when compared to others in Southwest Nebraska and elsewhere around the state. On average, local governments are in line to collect an average of 7 percent more in property taxes than they did this year, and most of the money will come from owners of existing property, according to a state agency...

Thanks to the ice and snow, most of students in the area received an early Christmas present: school being called off, the majority until the new year after Christmas break. Even if a child struggles to get up every morning of the school year, he or she will pop right out of bed if there is any chance they need to check the radio for school cancellations...

I just want to compliment Mrs. Weigel and the students on the wonderful program they gave Tuesday evening. The singing and decorations were beautiful. They all looked and sang like professionals. Mrs. Weigel and cast did a wonderful job. McCook...

Oct. 7, 1930-Dec. 19, 2006 ARAPAHOE -- Frederick Louis "Fritz" Haussler, 76, of Holbrook, died Tuesday (Dec. 19, 2006), at Cambridge Memorial Hospital in Cambridge. He was born Oct. 7, 1930, at Holbrook to Frederick A.C. and Martha L. (Rodenbeck) Haussler. He was baptized Nov. 2, 1930, and confirmed June 11, 1944, at St. Matthew's Lutheran Church in Holbrook. He attended country school near the family's home northwest of Holbrook. He graduated from Holbrook High School in 1948...

Oct. 6, 1933-Dec. 19, 2006 IMPERIAL -- Vesta Marie Fuller, 73, died Tuesday (Dec. 19, 2006), at Chase County Community Hospital. She was born Oct. 6, 1933, on a ranch south of Lamar, Colo., to Carl and Pearl (Pierce) Hill. She attended grammar school at Rural District No. 53. She graduated from Chase County High School in 1953 and attended one year of college at Kearney...

The children of Charles and Christina Coleman are requesting a card shower in honor of the couple's 35th wedding anniversary. They married Dec. 26, 1971, at Peace Lutheran Church in McCook. Their children are Chad Coleman of North Platte, Craig Coleman and Cinda Coleman, both of Kearney. Cards of congratulation will reach them at 601 Missouri Ave., McCook, NE 69001...

Bert and Paula Harris celebrated their 35th wedding anniversary Dec. 19. They married in 1971 at First Congregational Church in McCook. Their children are Kim Lauritsen and husband, Chad of Shaker, Ohio, Britton Harris of Opelika, Alaska, and Sam Harris of Lincoln. They have one grandchild. Cards of congratulation will reach then at 468 Lee Rd., No. 176, Opelika, AL, 36801...

MAYWOOD --Jamie Lynn Wilson and Casey Gugelman, both of Maywood, were united in marriage on July 1, 2006 at the United Methodist Church, with Rev. Stan LaRue officiating. Parents of the couple are Kevin and Marilyn Wilson and Marty and Christy Gugelman, all of Maywood...

Gabrielle Layne Smith of McCook and Joel Scott Bednar of Miller were united in marriage on Aug. 5. 2006 at the McCook Evangelical Free Church with the Rev. Bruce Lester officiating. Parents of the couple are Dave and Jan Smith of McCook and Bob and Sandy Bednar of Miller. Grandparents of the bride are Gene and Dorothy Smith of North Platte. Grandparents of the bridegroom are Richard and Arlys Kleckner of Miller and Iona and Don Schafer of Sumner...

David and Summer Graham of Atlantic, Iowa announce the birth of a son, Austin Ryan Graham. He was born Dec. 3, 2006, at Cass County Memorial Hospital in Atlantic. He weighed 8 pounds, 7.9 ounces and was 20 3/4 inches long. He has one sibling, Petyon, 6. His grandparents are Floy (Hedke) Graham formerly of Trenton, of Atlantic and Weldon and Pam Ewing of Griswold, Iowa. His great-grandparents are the late Floyd and Wauneta Hedke...

Dean and Andrea Biberstein of Stratton announce the birth of a son, Jason Andrew Biberstein on Dec. 7, 2006, at Community Hospital in McCook. He weighed 8 pounds, 2.6 ounces and was 21 inches long. He has two sisters, Rebecca and Carissa and a brother, Scott. His grandparents are Philip and Carol Kinne of Stratton and Stan and Delilah Biberstein of Decatur, Ind...

Ella Wilson of Wilsonville will celebrate her 75th birthday Dec. 28. Cards of congratulations and handwritten poems can reach her at 41143 Drive 709, Wilsonville, NE 69046

Jennifer Lee Faimon and Michael Jeffrey Anderson, both of Arvada, Colo., announce their engagement and upcoming marriage. Jennifer is the daughter of James and Mary Faimon of Stratton. Her grandparents are Rudy and Rose Faimon of North Platte and the late Hank and Helen Hunter. The bride-to-be is a student at Metropolitan State College in Denver, majoring in music education.  She will graduate in May 2007 and is employed at Music and Arts in Arvada...