Stories from Monday, January 22, 2007

Megan Layne Blank of Gothenburg and Jason LeRoy Phillips of North Platte were united in marriage on Aug. 26, 2006, at the First Congregational Church in McCook, with the Rev. Eddie Wright officiating. Parents of the couple are Larry and Ruth Blank of McCook, Gary and Donna Olson of Culbertson and Arlin Phillips of Casper, Wyo. ...

MIDDLETOWN, Ohio --Lori Rene Harris of Middletown, Ohio, and Troy James Barger, formerly of Palisade, were united in marriage July 8, 2006, at the Breiel Boulevard First Church of God in Middletown with the Rev. David Colp officiating. Parents of the couple are Dr. and Mrs. David Harris of Middletown and James and Cathy Barger of Culbertson...

Bert and Johnne Maxfield of Oakley, Kan., announce the birth of their daughter, Kylee Morgan, born Dec. 15, 2006, at the Citizens Medical Center in Colby, Kan. She weighed 7 pounds, 14.5 ounces and measured 20.5 inches. She has a 3-year-old sister, Taylor Louise. Grandparents are Jim and Connie Maxfield of Wauneta and Louis and Velinda Jacobs of Sublette, Kan. Great-grandparents are Raymond Maxfield of Wauneta, Louis and Georgena Jacobs of Gorham, Kan., and Earl and Dorothy Wyatt of Bolivar, Mo...

HOLDREGE -- Mike Monter and Shelley Johnson of Holbrook announce the birth of a daughter, Mileeya Johnson Monter. She was born Oct. 6, 2006, at Phelps Memorial Health Center in Holdrege. She weighed 7 pounds, 15 ounces and was 19 inches long. Her grandparents are Howard and Betty Johnson and Steve and Debbie Monter, all of Cambridge. Great-grandparents are Velma Smith of Araphoe and and the late Lee Smith, the late Roy and Opal Johnson and Roger and Ruth Monter of Holbrook...

The family of Jimmie and Monta Rae (Pywell) Fuller are requesting a card shower in honor of their 50th wedding anniversary, Jan. 28th, 2007. Jim was born and raised outside of Wilsonville and Monta Rae born and raised near Devizes (state line). They have resided in Bloomington, Calif. for over 50 years. A celebration will be held in Fontana, Calif. Cards of congratulations will reach them at 18456 7th Street, Bloomington, CA 92316...

KEARNEY -- Jeff and Erica Sikes of Kearney announce the birth of their daughter, Lydia Justine Sikes, She was born Dec. 6, 2006 at Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney. She weighed 6 pounds, three ounces nd was 19 and 3/4 inches long. Her grandparents are Dan and Cathy Winder of McCook and Dave and Tammy Sikes of Kearney. Great-grandparents are Dale and Norma Crocker and Ardess Cappel, all of McCook...

The family of Robert and Dorothy Baumfalk are hosting a card shower in honor the couple's 70th wedding anniversary. They were married Jan. 27, 1937. Cards of congratulations will reach the couple at Box 403, Wauneta, NE 69045.

GOTHENBURG -- The McCook High School wrestling team brought home the team title from Friday night's Gothenburg dual tournament. "It was a very intense evening with many close duals all throughout the night," said McCook wrestling coach Nick Umscheid. ...

COLBY -- Junior Cory Gaston scored 20 points and senior John Swanhorst added a season-high 12 to lead the McCook High School boys basketball team to a 66-56 victory Saturday over Beloit, Kan. in the seventh-place game of the 38th annual Paul Wintz Orange and Black Classic...

OBERLIN -- Oakley's girls were named the Oberlin invitational champions and Cambridge's girls finished third in the consolations round on Saturday. The boys championship game and fifth place games were postponed due to the weather. Quinter 's girls won fifth place in the girls division over Hoxie and St. Francis took seventh of Jefferson Academy...

May 30, 1925 - Jan. 15, 2007 GARDEN?GROVE, Calif. -- Shirley June (Hamilton) Grant, born May 30, 1925, in McCook, passed away Jan. 15, 2007, in Palm Desert, Calif. She is survived by her husband, Jim; daughters Linda and Vicky: and grandchildren Justin, Jenae and Gina...

Very often, when speaking of the early-day settlers to McCook and Southwest Nebraska, we speak of the man, the soldier or the plainsman as the ones who opened up the frontiers to civilization. This is unfortunate. The white men who came through Nebraska alone in the early days did not stay. They were buffalo hunters or prospectors, or fur traders or soldiers who were just passing through, or here for a limited time. They were not looking for a place to settle down...

If you're an art connoisseur, you could travel to Santa Fe, San Francisco, or even Paris, to view and ponder the purchase of creative professional paintings and sculptures. Or, you could stay in the Golden Plains of America and see, and consider buying, impressive works of art by local and regional artists...

When Gary Bieganski became administrator of the four-year-old Community Hospital in 1978, it was a 45,000 square-foot facility with about 130 employees and an annual gross revenue of $2 million. By Friday, when friends, c0-workers and well-wishers crowded into the lobby and cafe Friday to honor Bieganski on his transition into retirement, Community Hospital had grown to cover 176,000 square feet, employ about 240 people and have a gross revenue of $37.5 million...

I recall the Christmas I received my first telescope. I was so excited. My parents had given me a microscope the previous year and in years to come there would be the chemistry set (no, I didn't blow the house up) and the physics set and other science related gifts...

City crews were out this past weekend trying to keep on top of the snow, said Public Works Director Kyle Potthoff. But don't expect to see asphalt anytime soon. "We need the help of Mother Nature before that happens," he said. As another five to eight inches fell on the area over the weekend, city crews have been out in force trying to keep up, he said...

Seventy-seven-year-old Lloyd Frandsen heats his home the old fashioned way: using what he has. For him, that means lots of corn. But don't call him an environmentalist. For this Cambridge-area farmer and rancher, it comes down to resourcefulness. "I'm doing what people use to do -- burning what they have," he said...