Stories from Monday, June 25, 2007

SALINA, Kan. -- Ashley Diercks and Juston Grafel were united in marriage on May 19, 2007, at Jerry Ivey Park in Salina, Kan. Parents of the couple are Jonilyn Campbell of Beloit, Kan., and the late Bruce Diercks and JR and Phyllis Grafel of Herndon...

Katherine Brawner of Evans, Colo., and Anthony Davis of McCook, announce their engagement and upcoming marriage. Parents of the couple are Howard Brawner, and Vickie and Randy Randall of Evans, Colo., and Bill and Paula Davis of McCook. The bride-to-be is a 2003 graduate of Greeley West High School and a 2005 graduate of McCook Community College. She is employed at the Child Development Center at McCook Community College...

April Ritta of Marquette and Adam Dueland of McCook announce their engagement and upcoming wedding. Parents of the couple are Don and Judy Ritta of Marquette and Dan and Peggy Dueland of McCook. The bride-to-be is a 2002 graduate of Central City College and a 2005 graduate of Bryan LGH College of Health Sciences in Lincoln where she earned her RN degree. She is a registered nurse at the Grand Island Surgery Center...

Elliot and Stefanie Hoefs of Arapahoe announce the birth of their son, Landen Daniel Hoefs, born on June 11, 2007. He weighed 6 pounds, 13 ounces and was 21 inches long. His grandparents are Lynn and Laura Becker of Beaver City and Larry and Connie Hoefs of Arapahoe. Great-grandparents are Lynn Nelson of Norton, Kan., Jeanine Wragge of Pierce and Doroles Hoefs of Bertrand. His great-great-grandmother is Myrtle Wrage of Pierce...

Family and friends of Zila McCollam are requesting a card shower in honor of her 80th birthday June 27. Cards are congratulations can reach her at 37089 Drive 719, Culbertson, NE 69024

The children and grandchildren of Elaine Potts will host an open house July 6, from 4-8 p.m., at the Town Talk Restaurant in Cambridge in honor of her 80th birthday. Children are Gloria and Dennis Kersey, Rick Ruby, Tom and Barbara Ruby, Susan Ruby, Stuart and Heidi Ruby, Judy and Don Long and 14 grandchildren. Cards of congratulations can be sent to 1015 Niobrara, Cambridge, NE 69022...

HASTINGS -- The McCook Rebels 18 and under girls fastpitch softball team placed fourth at the Nebraska Class A state tournament Friday through Sunday at Hastings. McCook Rebels 4, Twin Rivers Viper Softball 2 The Rebels had 9 hits and made six errors in the first game. Leading hitters were Marissa Wallace,...

NORTH?PLATTE?-- Bobby Dean Williamson, 70, of Herndon died Thursday, (June 21, 2007) at the Great Plains Regional Medical Center in North Platte. He was born Oct. 23, 1936, in Breckenridge, Mo., to Leo and Agnes (Hollingsworth) Williamson. He attended JC Penny High School in Hamilton, Mo., and served in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Korean Conflict...

The family of Bill and Bettye Stewart is hosting a card shower in honor of the couple's 60th wedding anniversary on June 27. Cards of congratulations will reach the couple at 610 E. Sixth, McCook, NE 69001.

OBERLIN -- Saturday afternoon's sweltering summer heat and an elevator platform 100 feet in the air over downtown Oberlin created a tough rescue situation for Oberlin first responders. Oberlin Fire Chief Bill Cathcart said this morning that a 30-year-old Oberlin man was most likely performing maintenance duties when he suffered a seizure and collapsed on an elevator platform 100 feet in the air at the Hansen Mueller Grain Co. on South Penn Ave...

Through a rare set of circumstances I was able to fulfill a lifelong dream of visiting Berlin. It was after World War II had ended, but during the time when there was still a Wall between East Germany and West Germany. This was a time of peace and booming prosperity in West Berlin, and a time of peace, but not prosperity in East Berlin...

Is this a great country, or what? That's a line which we hear a lot, especially after something good and unexpected happens. Just ask Ted Chancellor and Christina Houghtelling, who are grateful they are living life to the fullest in the USA. Both are in the midst of memorable experiences...

Johnny Carson, Dick Cavett, Ben Nelson. Ben Nelson? It's not fair to lump McCook's own U.S. Sen. Ben Nelson with the two most famous Nebraska comedians, but it's clear that the same fertile plains that produced their brand of subtle humor had a similar affect on the former Nebraska governor...