Stories from Tuesday, August 21, 2007

CAMBRIDGE -- Shelby Schultz, a senior middle hitter/blocker from Cambridge High School has given a verbal commitment to play volleyball next year at Wayne State College. Wayne State is a NCAA Division II school located in Wayne. The signing will be made official this fall, on the national letter of intent signing day...

This year's above average precipitation has been a good year for lawns -- but not so good for water rate payers. That's because, due to the rain, less water was sold and water and sewer rates will have to be increased more than anticipated, Public Utility Director Jesse Dutcher told the McCook City Council Monday night at its regular meeting...

As LB701, designed to deliver water owed to Kansas, continues to make waves in Southwest Nebraska, the McCook City Council declined to support a lawsuit questioning the constitutionality of the measure at this time. But that doesn't mean the issue is over. ...

Red Willow County commissioners will mail a letter to the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality asking that the county's concerns over waste management be addressed before a dairy in Red Willow County is allowed to build a new waste lagoon. "We want mismanagement of waste resolved" and fines assessed if applicable, commission chairman Earl McNutt told Greg Wolford of W Design, engineer/designer of an expanded lagoon system for Red Willow Dairy. ...

There was a time when farmers took their best guess when it came to applying fertilizer. They applied the chemical, then waited to the end of the season to see how their yields turned out. They had no way of knowing if they could have achieved the same number of bushels per acre with less fertilizer, or if applying just a little more could have had dramatic effects...

Recent comments by Kansas Attorney General Paul Morrison at the Republican River Compact meeting have created some concern in Nebraska about the future. Keeping in mind that no one can predict the future, here is the history of the compact and the legal landscape as it exists today.  ...

Rather than provide a valued service to it's citizens the "new" government of Nebraska has decided to seize control of the water supply 'Friends of the River' to challenge LB701" (http://www. mccookgazette.com/story/1247687.html). Rather than deal with 200 years of established water law the new centralized government has grown an admistrative branch that is more than likely illegal under constitutional scrutiny...

It is a sad commentary to the American way when an individual becomes so impatient and feels slighted when they are not attended to like they are the only ones around. [Meeting a few new characters" (http://www.mccook gazette.com/story/1247291.html)]...

SAINT JOSEPH, Mo. -- Lesley Kristine Nelson of McCook and Erik Anderson Borger of Saint Joseph, Mo., were united in marriage on June 23, 2007, at Word of Life Church in St. Joseph, with the Rev. Brian Zahnd officiating. Parents of the couple are Wayne and Kris Nelson of McCook and Linda Degrote and Andy Borger of St. Joseph...

Red Willow County commissioners want to delve deeper into the proposed 2007-2008 budgets prepared by the fair secretary, the sheriff and the veterans' service officer. Hearings on these three budgets will be scheduled during the commissioners' regular meeting Monday, Aug. 27...

Viaero Wireless's third attempt to install a cell phone tower on West Fourth finally met with approval by the McCook City Council Monday night. The Council approved the special exception requested by Viaero Wireless to install a 100-foot tall microwave tower on a vacant land north of West Fourth and west of Washington Street, zoned medium residential. ...

Red Willow County commissioners are talking about changing the designation of about 150 miles of their county roads -- they are not closing or abandoning them. That's the distinction commissioners made to concerned citizens at the commissioners' regular weekly meeting Monday morning...

The McCook Quasquicentennial Committee, in partnership with the George W. Norris Foundation, is pleased to announce plans for a prestigious Governor's Ball scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 8, in McCook. The formal event is being planned as the grand finale of the activities that have taken place throughout 2007 wherein the community has celebrated its 125th Anniversary...

LEXINGTON -- Kinsey DeBoer of Smithfield and Krae Dutoit of McCook were united in marriage on June 16, 2007, at the Westmark Evangelical Free Church with the Rev. Rick Smith officiating. Parents of the couple are Byron and Jolene DeBoer of Smithfield, Gary and Robin Reh of McCook and Kurt and Diane Dutoit of Pratt, Kan...

Harlan and Fran Drain will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary Aug. 24, 1957. They were both raised in Trenton and were longtime residents of Benkelman. Their children are Tammy and Tony Williams of Sidney, Jana and Terry Bloedorn of Leoti, Kan., Loree Kier of Minneapolis, Minn. and Jeff Drain of San Diego, Calif. They have five grandchildren and one great grandchild. Cards of congratulations will reach them at 1315 16th Ave., Sidney, NE 69162-1916...

Tom and Tina Rowland of Hickman announce the birth of their daughter, Kylie Ann. She was born Aug. 4, 2007, at Bryan East Hospital in Lincoln.  She weighed 8 pounds, 1 ounce and was 21 inches long.  Grandparents are Don and Korrine Rowland of McCook and Dwayne and Connie Reiman of Lawrence.  Great-grandparents are Bob Clark of McCook and Reemt and Hermina Stromer of Glenvil...

JoAnn Sueper of Humphrey and Brian Hageman of McCook announce their engagement and upcoming wedding. Parents of the couple are Betty Sueper of Humphrey and Don and Wendy Hageman of McCook. The bride-to-be graduated from Chadron State College and the University of Nebraska Medical Center and works at Southcrest Emergency Physicians in Tulsa, Okla. as a physician's assistant...

Jennifer Houser of Cambridge and Anthony Martin of Wilcox announce their engagement and upcoming wedding. Parents of the couple are Doug and Barb Brooks of Cambridge, Mike and Sonjia Houser of Elwood and Theron and Brenda Martin of Wilcox. The couple is planning Sept. 8, 2007, wedding ceremony in Holdrege...

Deanna Moody and Matt Sellers, both of McCook, announce their engagement and upcoming wedding. Parents of the couple are Jeanne Moody of McCook and Brad Moody of Lemars, Iowa, Pam Sellers and Paul Sellers of McCook. Grandparents of the couple are Nadine Moody of McCook, the late Gerald Moody, Victor and Mary Ellen Monzon of McCook, Art Koetter of McCook, the late Patricia Koetter, Esther Sellers of Maywood and the late Mutt Sellers...

Amber Rodencal of Cincinnati, Ohio, formerly of McCook, announces the birth of her son, Brody Overton, who was born May 19, 2007 at Good Samaritan Hospital in Cincinnati. He weighed 7 pounds, 6 ounces and was 19 3/4 inches long. Grandparents are Larry and Sandy Rodencal of Cincinnati, formerly of McCook. Great grandparents are John and Jenette Rodencal of Cincinnati and Bob and Dora Pieper of Belvidere, Ill...

An open house in honor of Wayne Doak's  80th birthday will be Saturday, Aug. 25th, at the Lighthouse Marina, 11 miles north of McCook at Hugh Butler Lake, from 5 to 8 p.m.  Hosting the event are Mrs. Wayne Doak (Vonda) and their children: Sandy Budzinski, Steve, Sid and Spencer Doak, and Shonda Grant.  Wayne, a long time resident of McCook, is the founder of Doak Construction and was the driving force behind starting girl's fast-pitch softball in the 1980s.  Cards of congratulations will reach him at:  P.O. ...

Tim and Bonnie Jenkins of Stratton, announce the birth of their daughter, Zoie Rose on Aug. 13, 2007, at Dundy County Hospital in Benkelman. She weighed 3 pounds, 12 ounces and measured 17 1/2 inches in length. Grandparents are Dave and Vickie Thornbrugh of Stratton. Notes of congratulations and well wishes will reach Zoie at Good Samaritan Hospital, in care of the NICU, PO Box 1990, Kearney, NE 68848-1990...

Greg and Stacie Coyle of Rossville, Kan., announce the birth of their son, Kaidyn Richard, born July 28, 2007, at Stormont Vail Hospital in Topeka, Kan., He weighed 7 pounds, 1 ounce and was 21 inches long. He has one sister, Emily, 6, and one brother, Rodney, 4. Grandparents are Marilyn Gamblin of Oberlin, Kan., and Bill and Penny Coyle of Boone, Colo. Great grandparents are Alvina Gamblin of Oberlin, Norman and Peg Smith of Pueblo, Colo. and Bill and Mary Lou Coyle of New Mexico...