Stories from Monday, December 1, 2008

Dave and Katie Anthony of McCook announce the birth of their son, Brody Michael Anthony on Nov. 5, 2008, at Community Hospital in McCook. He weighed 9 pounds, 1 ounce and measured 20 3/4 inches. He has two older siblings, 10-year-old Logan and 4-year-old Alex. His grandparents are Loren and Geri Anthony of Sidney, Roger and Susan Vrbas-Moreau of McCook and the late Larry Vrbas. Great-grandparents are Charles and Mary Vrbas of Palisade and Dorothy Fritzler of Alliance...

The family of Maribeth Augustyn of McCook is requesting a card shower in honor of her 80th birthday. She was born Dec. 2, 1928. Her family includes Kathy and Chris Robles of Kearney, Mike and Joyce Augustyn of Kuwait, Charles and Marilyn Augustyn of Lincoln, Peg and Randy Andrews of McCook, Sue Augustyn and Sandy Pointe, both of Idaho and Carol and Bill Reed of Dallas, Texas. She has 12 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Cards will reach her at 119 West O, McCook, NE 69001...

Jennifer Sayer of Cambridge and Kim Evans of Indianola announce their engagement and upcoming marriage. Parents of the couple are Larry Sayer and Gina Williams of Broomfield, Colo., and Sharon and Kelly Evans of Cambridge. A Dec. 20, 2008, ceremony is planned at 6:30 p.m., at St. Catherine's Catholic Church in Indianola. A reception will follow at 8 p.m., at the community building in Cambridge...

The family of Larry and Linda Foster of Bartley will host an open house Dec. 7, 2-4 p.m., at the Bartley Community Building in honor of the couple's 45th anniversary. They were married Dec. 1, 1963 in Denver, Colo. Their children are Jim and Jane Foster, Brian Foster and Missy Jens, all of Bartley. They have five grandchildren and one great-granddaughter. Cards of congratulations will reach the couple at PO Box 125, Bartley, NE 69020...

The family of Darlene Leibbrandt of Danbury is requesting a card shower in honor of her 80th birthday. She was born Dec. 1, 1928, in Culbertson. Her family includes her husband, Dale; children, LaVern and wife, Laurie, Rocky and wife, Judy and Luann Leibbrandt. She has six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Cards will reach her at Box 68, Danbury, NE 69026...

GIBBON -- April Earlley and Jerry Ondrak of Shelton were united in marriage at the George Spencer Vineyard in Gibbon on Sept. 6, 2008. Chaplain Frank Parrington of Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney officiated. Parents of the couple are Elden and Mariann Earlley of Wilsonville and Nadine and Jim Nutter of Shelton and the late Bernard (Skinner) Ondrak...

Erik and Amy Schlimmer of Volga, S.D., announce the birth of their son, Jackson Charles Schlimmer on Nov. 21, 2008, at Brookings Hospital in Brookings, S.D. He weighed 8 pounds, 5 ounces and measured 20 inches. His grandparents are Leon and Marita Portschy of Herndon and Leland and Virginia Schlimmer of Volga...

Chris and Molly Blickenstaff of Hendley announce the birth of their son, Carter Bruce Blickenstaff on Nov. 21, 2008, at Cambridge Memorial Hospital. He weighed 8 pounds, 8 ounces and measured 22 3/4 inches. His grandparents are Bruce and Sue Helms of Holbrook and Bruce and Darla Blickenstaff of Hendley. Great-grandparents are Clarence and Lois Helms of Arapahoe, Jim and Carolyn Park of Wilsonville and Barbara Blickenstaff of Arapahoe...

Dec. 3, 1916 - Nov. 27, 2008 ATWOOD -- Alden Herbert Rogers, 91, died Thursday (Nov. 27, 2008) at his home. He was born Dec. 3, 1916, to Henry and Elma Oyster Rogers. He attended school in Atwood and graduated from Rawlins County High School in 1936. He lived and worked on the family farm until October of 1940, when he moved to Vernon, Calif., to work...

BEAVER CITY -- The man accused of killing an Arapahoe mother of two little girls has pleaded guilty to a new charge of manslaughter and has requested that the testimony of a law enforcement officer be suppressed. During a pretrial hearing Wednesday, Herchel Huff, 35, of Holbrook/Grant, pleaded not guilty to motor vehicle homicide, driving while intoxicated (fourth offense), tampering with a witness, refusal to submit to a chemical test and no proof of insurance...

One of the secrets for success in business -- and life -- is to do what you love. Proof of this is provided by a growing McCook business, Cowboy Up Tack. "The cowboy life has been a passion of mine since I was a young boy on a ranch in Banner County," said Bob Harvey. That's why -- in 2002 -- Bob jumped at the chance to start a cowboy tack business...

John Hanson, from left, Sandy Kotschwar, Joan Koch and Duane Tappe paint the kitchen and living room Saturday at the Lucero Habitat for Humanity home on West Fairacres. Numerous delays have postponed moving day repeatedly for the family of five and work will continue each Saturday until the house is finished. For more information on how to help, contact Elda Shields at (308) 345-3452...

They sound like pretty good rules. But the banks the regulations were aimed at didn't think so. "These mortgages have been considered more safe and sound for portfolio lenders than fixed rate mortgages," one banker said. Lenders should be free to take risks under free market conditions, said another...

Recently the McCook YMCA completed a successful fund drive to renovate and improve the aquatic facilities at the Y. The drive was successful because of widespread support from a great many people in the McCook area. From the very beginning, in 1917, when the idea of a YMCA for McCook was first suggested, the Y has been one of the programs that has enjoyed near universal support from the community...

A north central Nebraska woman's brother will be among more than 13,000 bicycle riders who will participate in the BP MS 150, a 180-mile, two-day bike event to raise funds for research and other efforts for people suffering from Multiple Sclerosis. 'I have multiple sclerosis," said Kim (Grosshans) Shaw, "MS does NOT have me." Shaw will cheer on her brother Gregg Grosshans of Norman, Okla., who will ride for her because she cannot...