Stories from Monday, August 4, 2008

INDIANOLA -- Danica Hamilton and Andrius Babusis of North Platte, received the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony June 20, 2008, at St. Catherine's Catholic Church in Indianola, with the Revs. Mark Seiker, Val Bartek and Gary Brethour presiding. Parents of the couple are Lynn and Charlynn Hamilton of Hayes Center and Dr. Sigitas and Danute Babusis of McMinnville, Ore...

Calista Harris of Fort Collins, Colo., and Justin Schuetz of Loveland, Colo., announce their engagement and upcoming marriage. Parents of the couple are Andy and Jane Harris of Fort Collins and Tami Rice of Cambridge and Lyle and Carol Schuetz of Loveland, Colo...

Tom and Michelle (Morris) Spieker of San Juan Capistrano,Calif., announce the birth of their son, Nathaniel Kai, born May 19, 2008, at Saddleback Memorial Hospital in Laguna Beach, Calif. He weighed 9 pounds, 6 ounces and measured 20.3 inches. He has an older sister, Ella McKenzie. Grandparents are Gene and Barbara Morris of McCook, LaJune Goss of Eufaula, Okla., and Mr. and Mrs. Leroy Spieker of Fremont...

Richard and Bernadine Samson of Ludell, Kan., will celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary. They were married Aug. 7, 1968, at First Christian Church in Atwood. Their son is Jamie Samson and fiancee, Sara Bishop of Lindsborg, Kan. Cards of congratulations will reach the couple at RR 2 Box 76-A, Ludell KS 67744...

Daniel Duckworth, formerly of Indianola and Amanda Smith announce the birth of their son, Drake Robert Duckworth. He was born July 7, 2008, at Banner Baywood Medical Center in Phoenix, Ariz. He has an older brother, Levi. His grandparents are Bob and Deb Duckworth of Indianola...

Randy and Sabrina Decker of McCook announce the birth of their daughter, Elina Danika Autumn Decker, on June 25, 2008, at Community Hospital in McCook. She weighed 7 pounds, 9.2 ounces and measured 21 inches long. Her grandparents are Dennis and Cathy Shannon of McCook and Gary and Patty Hanken of Palisade...

Jasmine and Dan Hogan of Tempe, Ariz., announce the birth of their son, Kelson Patrick Hogan. He was born June 19, 2008, at Scottsdale Healthcare Shea weighing 9 pounds and measuring 21 inches. His grandparents include Vicki League of McCook. His great-grandparents are Jack and Bettye Pursley of Benkelman and his great-great grandmother is Leone Frenzen of Benkelman...

Amy Grasz and Jaime Votava of Lincoln announce their engagement and upcoming marriage. Parents of the couple are Roger and Kelly Grasz of North Platte, John and Gaylene Stinman of Maywood and Russ Votava of Lincoln. Grandparents are Carol and Gary Smith and Harvey and Marie Grasz of North Platte, and the late Milo Jo Foust Sr., Carl and Muriel Yonkers of Maywood, Donald Votava of York and the late Marlene Votava...

The family of Lester and Leona Webb of McCook is hosting an open house in honor of the couples' 50th wedding anniversary. They were married Aug. 9, 1958 at Memorial United Methodist Church in McCook. The open house is Saturday, Aug. 9, 1-3 p.m., in the fellowship hall at Memorial United Methodist Church. Their children are Richard and Christine Webb of McCook. They have three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Cards of congratulation will reach them at 1010 West L, McCook, NE 69001...

Aaron and Shannon Pike of Salt Lake City, Utah, announce the birth of a son, Morgan Douglas Pike. He was born April 11, 2008, at Intermountain Medical Hospital in Salt Lake City. He weighed 7 pounds, 1 ounce and measured 19 inches. Grandparents include Randy Andrews of McCook. His great-grandparents are Merlyn Andrews of Grand Island and the late Howard Andrews...

The foursome of Brian Michaelis, Kevin Michaelis, Darrin Samway and Ryan Vlasin captured the Heritage Hills Golf Course Optimist Club Scramble Sunday. The foursome posted a 50 to win the tournament title and First Flight by seven strokes. The team of Mitch Lyster, Jeff Shaddock, Kent Hardin and Jay Johnson placed second with a 57...

Feb. 1, 1932 - Aug. 2, 2008 Lucille M. Putz of McCook, Neb., died Saturday, Aug.2, 2008, at the Community Hospital in McCook. She was 76 years old. Lucille was born in Blue Hill on Feb. 1, 1932, the daughter of Donald and Ida Hoppen Leetsch. She graduated from Blue Hill High School in 1949...

Oct. 18, 1916 - Aug. 2, 2008 OBERLIN -- Geneva M. Morford, 91, died Saturday (Aug. 2, 2008) at Cedar Living Center in Oberlin. She was born Oct. 18, 1916, in Decatur County, Kan., to Harry and Mabel (Adamson) Counter. She grew up on the family farm southwest of Oberlin in Decatur County. She graduated from Decatur Community High School in 1935 and attended Kansas State University for one year...

Movie Review - The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor Starring Brendan Fraser, Maria Bello, Jet Li, and John Hannah. Rated PG-13 for action adventure and violence. Running time of an hour and forty minutes. From beginning to end, the new Mummy movie fails to bring anything new or entertaining to the screen. It is nonstop action with nonstop stupidity thrown around so abundantly that it's hard to understand why anyone would think that this was a good idea for a third Mummy movie...

An aging population, two-income households, declining populations and distractions are all combining to decimate rural emergency response systems. McCook is blessed with a strong combination of paid and volunteers for fire and ambulance protection, but smaller communities in Nebraska and Kansas are struggling with a shortage of volunteers...

Here we go again. Social Security is being scrutinized for its longevity. In the first place, monies paid into the account were to be set aside into an account of its own. That was all well and good, until it had amassed a sizeable amount. Sooo, what happened? The government thought it looked good, so they moved it into another department, trying to use it to make our national debt look smaller. ...

This a thank you note for the story on our old barn. You all do a great job, but a special thanks to Connie Jo. We have had many comments and compliments on that story. Pat Redfern, a former Marion resident, asked me to save some of the wood from the barn to make a frame for the Gazette story to place in our Danbury Depot Museum...

During the school year, 1958-59 the Red Willow Zephyrs won Nebraska State High School Championships in football, basketball, and track -- the first time that a Nebraska school had achieved such a record. Since then only a handful of schools have equaled that record -- perhaps no one else in the three "major" sports of football, basketball, and track. (Note: Red Willow is now a part of the Southwest School System.)...

The economy of Nebraska is so far escaping the recession woes that are plaguing other states. That was the message Gov. Dave Heineman said he's getting from his constituates across the state. The governor stopped briefly in McCook on Monday to feel the business pulse of the community.,...