Stories from Tuesday, January 2, 2007

WALLACE -- Krystle Anne Christner and Joshua David Friesen were united in marriage at the Wallace United Methodist Church on Aug. 5, 2006 with the Rev. Anne Gatobu officiating. Parents of the couple are Wayne and Noreen Christner of Hamlet and Vern and Carol Friesen of Wallace. Grandparents of the bridegroom are Alfred and GladysClaassen of Akron, Pa., and Marie Friesen of Henderson...

Jason and Valerie Loop of McCook announce the birth of their son, Reid Creighton Loop. He was born Nov. 18, 2006 at Community Hospital in McCook. He weighed 6 pounds, 15 ounces and was 20 inches long. He has one brother Riley, nine and a sister, Haiden, six. His grandparents are Jerry and Annette Bauer and Gale and Becky Loop, all of McCook...

The family of Irene Kolbet is hosting a card shower and open house in honor of her 90th birthday on January 4. The open house will be Jan. 7, 2007, from 2-4 p.m. at Hillcrest Nursing Home in McCook. Cards of congratulations will reach her at Hillcrest Nursing Home 309 West 7th, Room 118, McCook, NE 69001...

Nellie McConville will be celebrating her 90th birthday Jan. 3, 2007. Birthday wishes can reach her at 502 Missouri Ave. Circle, Apt. 16, McCook, NE 69001

Alyssa Gwen Hutchins and Timothy Douglas Spulak of McCook announce their engagement and upcoming wedding. Parents of the couple are Timothy and Janice Hutchins of McCook and Steve and Lorie Spulak of Columbus. Grandparents are Winston and Geraldine Hutchins of Rapid City, S.D., Robert and Fern Rasmussen of Davenport, Iowa, Karla Dyer and the late Richard Dyer of Omaha, Jon and Deloris Shannon of Columbus, and Rey Spulak of Columbus...

SOUTHERN VALLEY -- The Southern Valley boys basketball team fought off the Axtell Wildcats 66-53 Friday at the Southern Valley gymnasium. Brock Einspahr led Southern Valley with 17 points, Gaven Fults added 14. Jacob Becker was 6 for 6 from the free throw line finishing with 12 points...

Martin James "Jim" Jordan, 66, died Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2006 at his home in Springfield, Mo.. He was born April 28, 1940 at Sioux City, Iowa, the son of the late Martin Glen and Marian Von (Ross) Jordan. He grew up in McCook where he attended St. Patricks School and graduated from McCook Senior High in 1958. He graduated from the Milford Trade School where he became an accomplished carpenter and cabinet maker...

Feb. 13, 1920 - Dec. 28, 2006 Raymond 'Ray' George Stramel, 86, of McCook, died Thursday (Dec. 28, 2006) at Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney. He was born in Topeka, Kan., to Clement and Anna Marie (Gibler) Stramel. He grew up in Hays, Kan. where he graduated from Hays High School in 1938, and from Fort Hays Kansas State College in 1942, as a physical education teacher and coach...

Aug. 13, 1928 - Dec. 28, 2006 HAYES?CENTER -- Marilyn Gladys Rucker, 78, of Hayes Center died Thursday (Dec. 28, 2006) at Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney. She was born Aug. 13, 1928, in Hayes County to David and Gladys (Repass) Alexander. She graduated from Hayes Center High School and attended Kearney College. She taught elementary school for a short time...

Feb. 4, 1950 - Dec. 27, 2006 SALINA, Kan. -- Frederick C. Chesbro, 56, died Wednesday (Dec. 27, 2006). He was born Feb. 4, 1950, in Coos County, N.H. He worked in floor remodeling. He was preceded in death by his father, Floyd Chesbro in 1996, step-father, Lawrence Jolls in 1997, and a grandson, Anthony Scott Chesbro in 2000...

Feb. 23, 1921 - Dec. 30, 2006 BEAVER?CITY -- Elsie Clason Dunlap, 85, formerly of Arapahoe, died Saturday (Dec. 30, 2006) at the Beaver City Manor. She was born Feb. 23, 1921, at Orleans to Theodore and Millie (Noren) Christensen. She grew up in Edison, where she attended school...

While Southwest Nebraska received more than a foot of snow, it escaped the ice and snow that caused massive power outages in other parts of Nebraska. McCook received an inch and a quarter of moisture in the weekend storm in more than a foot of snow, leaving it with 20.89 inches of precipitation for 2006, .73 of an inch below the normal amount of 21.62 inches...

Shary Skiles today became the sixth publisher in the 96-year-history of the McCook Daily Gazette. She advanced to the leadership position after 18 years of service as the Gazette's business manager and general manager. Skiles succeeds Gene Morris, who retired from the publisher's duties at year's end to devote time to writing and special projects...

It's a new year on the calendar, and with more than a foot of snow, not to mention the leftover ice, there's certainly a new look to the Southwest Nebraska and Northwest Kansas landscape. It's a new era for the McCook Daily Gazette as well, as a story on page one indicates...

For the sake of anyone that may be offended by the following opinion, please do not take what I am about to say personal, as it is addressed at those persons who do not have to do the work, let alone work on a weekend or Holiday, all they have to do is lead...

Happy New Year! Here's a New Year's Resolution that is easy and satisfying to the soul: Wash out and save: Store them unsorted somewhere out of the way -- I use a big old-style washtub downstairs in the laundry room that has the four legs so you don't have to bend over when gathering it all up. I save the newspapers upstairs in a basket. If you have kids, get your kids to help you in this good daily project...

In the name of saving money, some stupid mistakes have been made. And -- in my opinion, and this is strictly my opinion -- one of the dumbest moves in McCook was when the school administration and the board of education cut back the school's art program...

Robert Henry Sell March 11, 1926 - Dec. 29, 2006 Robert Henry Sell, known as "Bob," 80 years of age, passed away on Friday (Dec. 29, 2006) at Community Hospital in McCook.?? He was born March 11, 1926, to Rudolph and Hazel Sell at Huntley.  He and his sister, Betty Jo, were both born in the same house and bedroom as their father Rudolph.??He attended elementary school in Huntley. ...

Stacie Odgers and Dustin Dold, both of McCook, were married May 27, 2006, at McCook Christian Church, with Mike Roth officiating. Parents of the couple are Cherie and Dan Sigwing and Allen and Teri Dold all of McCook. Grandparents of the couple are Bud (Glen) and Julie Lytle, Maxine Sigwing all of McCook, and Neva Vochesyke of North Platte...