Stories from Monday, March 3, 2008

Danielle Dueland of McCook and Henry Angle of Kearney announce their engagement and upcoming wedding. Parents of the bride-to-be are Daniel and Peggy Dueland of McCook. Parents of the prospective bridegroom are Henry Angle and Shauna Stanton, both of Kearney...

The family of Seth D. Ragan of Stratton, is hosting a card shower in honor of his 80th birthday. He was born March 8, 1928. His family includes his wife,Vonna Ragan of Stratton and five children, Elizabeth and husband, Terry Burr of Wichita, Kan., Larry and wife, Gail Ragan of Elizabeth, Colo., Connie and husband, Dennis Renfro of Stratton, Deborah and husband, Denis League of Stratton and Linda and husband, Mark Schinnerer of Carlsbad, N.M. ...

Dennis and Jessica Ferguson of Hampton announce the birth of a son, Lofton James, who was born Jan. 11, 2008 at Memorial Hospital in Aurora, missing his older brother Grant's birthday by one day but with both boys sharing the honor of being New Year's babies for Hamilton County. ...

James and Annette Long of Wauneta along with Jon Sparrow of Iowa City, Iowa and Kim York of Shueyville, Iowa are pleased to announce the engagement of their children Julie Long and Jon Sparrow. Grandmothers of the couple are Violet Long of Wauneta and Violet Williams of Cedar Rapids, Iowa...

Trevor and Megan Taylor of McCook announce the birth of a son, Quinn William Taylor on Jan. 23, 2008, at Community Hospital in McCook. He weighed 9 pounds, 4 ounces and was 20 3/4 inches long. He has an older sister, Ainsley, 4. His grandparents are Linda Taylor of McCook and Bill and Joyce Ferguson of Tekamah. His great-grandmother is Ann Rieger of McCook...

Sarah and Josh Krueger announce the birth of their sons, Harrison Josiah and Jack William, on Feb. 6, 2008, at Omaha. Harrison weighed 6 pounds, 7 ounces and was 19 inches long and Jack weighed 4 pounds, 14 ounces and was 18 inches long. Their grandparents are Don and Carey Harrison of rural Wauneta and Gerry and Sherri Krueger of Pierce. ...

Movie Review - Semi-Pro Starring Will Ferrell, Woody Harrelson, Andre Benjamin, and Will Arnett. Rated R for language and some sexual content. Run time of 85 minutes. Semi-Pro is the latest in a string of Will Ferrell movies that place him in the world of sports. ...

Feb. 22, 1916 - Feb. 29, 2008 Vernon Thomas Mitchem of McCook, died on Friday, Feb. 29, 2008, at Heritage Nursing Home of Wauneta. He was 92 years old. Vernon was born on Feb. 22, 1916, at Simla, Colo., to Jess Albert and Viretta (Bales) Mitchem. He attended McCook Public Schools...

June 3, 1923 - March 1, 2008 INDIANOLA -- Frances Eva Allen died Saturday, March 1, 2008, at St. Francis Medical Center in Grand Island. She was 84 years old. Frances was born June 3, 1923, in a sod house north of Indianola to Francis Wilford and Johanna (Schutte) Sughroue. She attended country school her first eight grades and graduated from Indianola High School in 1940...

Sept. 16, 1953 - Feb. 29, 2008 IMPERIAL -- Kenneth Werner, 54, died Friday (Feb. 29, 2008) at Chase County Community Hospital in Imperial. He was born Sept. 16, 1953, in Colorado Springs, Colo., to Art "Shorty" and Rose (Oeseau) Werner. He attended school until the eighth grade and self taught himself in auto body work and truck driving...

May 27, 1918 - Feb. 28, 2008 Elsie Kessler, 89, died Thursday (Feb. 28, 2008) at Chase County Community Hospital in Imperial. She was born May 27, 1918, at Hiawatha in Dundy County to Joseph Guy and Ella O'Tillie (Talmon) Hendrix. She attended District No. 12 school at Hiawatha. She married Michael Andrew Kessler on Oct. 11, 1937, at Imperial. They moved to a farm in the Hiawatha community. Due to failing health, she moved to Heritage of Wauneta Care Center and lived there until her death...

April 23, 1917 - Feb. 29, 2008 CAMBRIDGE -- Albert W. Farr, 90, of Cambridge died Friday (Feb. 29, 2008) at the Cambridge Memorial Hospital. He was born April 23, 1917, in Frontier County near Eustis to Fred and Francis (Schieber) Farr. The family then moved to a farm north of Cambridge. He attended Prairie Bell grade school before attending Cambridge High School for one year. He then began farming with his father on the family farm...

March 13, 1920 - Feb. 26, 2008 ELWOOD -- Aline Opal Beck, 87, died Tuesday (Feb. 26, 2008) at Elwood Care Center in Elwood. She was born March 13, 1920, at Lexington to Warren and Gertrude (Mowry) Seaman. She grew up in the Lexington area and graduated from Lexington High School in 1937...

McCook Elementary kindergartener, Miguel Gonzalez wrinkles his nose after eating his mixture of green eggs and ham this morning during Read Across America Day. Donning Dr. Seuss hats, students were served the infamous green eggs and ham and will read Dr. Seuss and other stories throughout the day...

Farming is among America's most dangerous occupations, with 28 deaths per 100,000 farm workers, according the Bureau of Labor Statistics. There are others more dangerous; nearly 118 timber cutters are killed per 100,000 workers, followed by fishermen, pilots and navigators, structural metal workers, drivers-sales workers, roofers and electrical power installers...

I can't believe the arm-chair quarterbacking going on over the trees in Norris Park. Mr. Frasier is right, maybe a lot of citizens do need a botany lesson, especially the ones who think these trees are fine. Let me say first, as a life - long resident of McCook ... I love Norris Park, I love those stately trees, and I love spending time there with my kids. I hate to see those trees go as much or more than the next person. You're all right too, it won't be the same, at least not for a long time...

McCook lost a friend recently. Wayne Allen was a descendent of early settlers in Southwest Nebraska and was one of McCook's most colorful characters -- a true entrepreneur. Wayne was proud of his ancestors. His paternal grandparents, Joe and Effie Allen, settled on a homestead, north of Red Willow. They were adventurous, making long trips to their ranch in Northern Nebraska, and also to do custom harvest work each summer in Northern South Dakota -- in a covered wagon, pulled by horses...