Stories from Monday, August 18, 2008

The family of Dick and Kathie (Trupp) Cappel of McCook is requesting a card shower in honor of the couple's 40th wedding anniversary. They were married Aug. 21, 1968. Children of the couple are Todd and Andi Cappel, Mark and Jennifer Kool and Josh Cappel and Mel Jonasen, all of McCook, Paul and Kelsie Sather of Spearfish, S.D., and Sara Cappel of Buckeye, Ariz. They have nine grandchildren. Cards of congratulations will reach the couple at 38083 Rd 717, McCook NE 69001...

Mike and Sandy Kotschwar of McCook would like to announce the engagement of their son, Bret, to Sarah Lawrence-Young, daughter of Tim and Susan Young of Cortland. Grandparents of the prospective bridegroom are Robert and Velma McBride and Cecilia Kotschwar, all of McCook and the late VL "Bud" Kotschwar...

RJ and Kelly Plas of Lincoln announce the birth of their daughter, Samantha Nicole Plas on July 25, 2008, at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Lincoln. She weighed 6 pounds, 14 ounces and measured 20 inches. Her grandparents are Jim and Kay Hollmann of Quincy, Ill., Jim and Patty Phinney of McCook and Jeff Plas of Lincoln. ...

Erica Cartwright of Grand Island and Daniel Douglas of Darlington, Ind., announce their engagement and upcoming marriage. Parents of the couple are Jim and Susie Cartwright of Grand Island, William Douglas of Darlington and Dick and Linda Redding of West Lafayette, Ind...

Avery Lutz of Parks and Shane Bradney of Benkelman announce their engagement and upcoming marriage. Parents of the couple are Scott and Brenda Lutz of Parks and David and Betty Bradney of Benkelman. Grandparents of the bride-to-be are Henry and Jean Krug of Benkelman and Carl and Jean Lutz of Parks. Grandparents of the prospective bridegroom are Inez Stamm of Benkelman and the late Gene Stamm and Mary Bradney of Benkelman and the late Dean Bradney,...

Velda (Wolzen) Hill will celebrate her 80th birthday on Aug. 24, 2008. Cards of congratulations will reach her at 1701 East 2nd, Apt. 117, Ogallala NE 69153-2514.

The family of John and Wilma (DeGarmo) Ferguson is requesting a card shower in honor of the couple's 60th wedding anniversary. They were married Aug. 20, 1948, at the Pilgrim Holiness Church in Haigler. Their children are Wayne and Marlyn Ferguson of Parks, Robert and Jean Beck of Benkelman, and Mark and Julie Ferguson of Imperial. They have six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Cards of congratulations will reach them at 71676 Ave. 327, Parks, NE 69041-9721...

Keri Steinke and Clayton Waddle, both of Red Cloud were married March 15, 2008, at the Memorial United Methodist Church in McCook with the Rev. Dr. Jeff Thurman officiating. Parents of the couple are Jim and Karen Steinke of McCook and Duane and Georgia Waddle of Ericson...

Jennifer Nicole Martinez formerly from North Platte, of McCook and Stephen Nathaniel Peterson of McCook announce their engagement and upcoming marriage. Parents of the couple are the late Nancy Martinez, Ramon Martinez and stepmother, Sherry Martinez of North Platte and Joyce and Larry Peterson of McCook...

The children of Wayne and Sharon Raasch are hosting an open house in honor of their parents' 50th anniversary at the community center in Champion at 6 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 23. They were married Aug. 17, 1958, at the First Christian Church in Ashland. Their children are Mr. and Mrs. Dennis (Dottie) Ridlen of Gillette, Wyo., Mr. and Mrs. Larry Raasch of Champion and Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Fischer of Wauneta. Cards of congratulations will reach them at 385 Broadway, Champion, NE 69023...

The family of Harold and Pamela (Burks) Potthoff of Trenton is requesting a card shower in honor of the couple's 40th wedding anniversary. They were married Aug. 20, 1968, in Stratton. Children of the couple are son, Jon Potthoff and wife, Bobbi of Stratton and daughters, Jennifer Jones of Culbertson, Paula Sandberg and husband, Chris of Stratton, and Angela Barrere and husband, Joel of McCook. They have 16 grandchildren. Cards will reach the couple at 35807 Drive 714, Trenton NE 69044...

Billy and Amanda Davidson of McCook announce the birth of a son, Lee Bernard Davidson. He was born July 17, 2008, at Community Hospital in McCook, weighing 9 pounds, 8.6 ounces and measuring 22 inches. His grandparents are Carol Hock of Culbertson, Suzanne Davidson of McCook and Dave and Connie Davidson, also of McCook. Great-grandparents are Mary Colling of McCook, Betty Davidson of Indianola and Kenneth Luther of McCook...

We've enjoyed some great sleeping weather here in Southwest Nebraska and Northwest Kansas, but a lot of us aren't taking advantage of it. That's because we're staying up late to watch the Beijing Olympics. Most of us can overlook the lip-synching singer, the obviously underage Chinese girl gymnasts and other deceptions to feel the joy and pain of young athletes giving it their all...

Each four years, when the Olympics come around, memories, some good and some not so good, stream back for one McCook man, who had strong ties to many of the athletes who competed in the Olympic Games during the '60s and '70s. Gary Power, now of rural McCook, was a standout track performer at Gothenburg High School in the early '60s, after which he competed two years for Hastings College (in basketball as well as track and cross-country) and at Oklahoma State University, before graduating from the University of Omaha.. ...

Feb. 26, 1919 - Aug. 15, 2008 Verna Irene Heskett died Friday, Aug. 15, 2008, at Cambridge Manor Home in Cambridge, Neb., at the age of 89. She was born Feb. 26,1919, in Red Willow County, Neb., the daughter of the late Charles Louis and Pearl Mae (Simpson) Heskett. She grew up on the family farm northwest of McCook and graduated from McCook High School in 1937...

Nov. 20, 1919 - Aug. 17, 2008 Lois Virginia Brant died Sunday, Aug. 17, 2008, at Community Hospital in McCook, Neb., at the age of 88. She was born Nov, 20, 1919, at Stratton, Neb., the daughter of the late Samuel Clayton and Eva Mae (Parrot) Cobb. She received her elementary education at Stratton, until the family moved to McCook where she continued her education...

Feb. 5, 1911 - Aug. 15, 2008 Alma Sophia Korb died Friday, Aug. 15, 2008, at Hillcrest Nursing Home in McCook, Neb., at the age of 97. She was born Feb. 5, 1911, in Antalope County, Neb., the daughter of the late Edmond and Mercedes (Haskins) Hubbard. She grew up in Wyoming where she graduated from Fort Laramie, Wyo., High School in 1929...

April 12, 1927 - Aug. 3, 2008 CASTLE ROCK, Colo. -- Paul "Bud" Joseph Luebbers, 81, passed away Sunday, Aug. 3, 2008. Born April 12, 1927, in Marienthal, Kan., he was the eldest son of John and Teresa (Werner) Luebbers. Bud was a member of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, American Legion Post 138, and a lifetime member of the Knights of Columbus. He was an Army veteran, Artillery division. He served in Korea...

DENVER -- Colorado State Engineer Dick Wolfe has ordered the Bureau of Reclamation to release approximately 2,000 acre feet of water from Bonny Reservoir. The reservoir, located on the South Fork of the Republican River near Burlington, Colo., just west of the Kansas border, has increased its pool due to heavy rains over the last week...

Bill Haag of Danbury drives his father's 1924 Ford Model T pickup in Danbury's annual celebration of summer, "Danbury Days," Saturday. Behind him are Will Haag on a vintage McCormick Farmall H tractor and Gene Axtell on a John Deere. A grinning Calista Day of Danbury, 21⁄2 years old, peeks around a University of Wyoming Cowboys flag flying from her trike. Other highlights of the day included a bake sale, pool tournament and karaoke...

Alert Southwest Nebraska residents got a glimpse of America's military might when a trainload of M1 Abrams main battle tanks passed through, stopping in McCook Sunday evening. Each of the tanks weighs in at more than 60 tons and lists at $4.3 million. They get about .6 mile per gallon with their 1,500 horsepower turbine engines, with a top speed of about 42 mph...