Stories from Friday, June 19, 2009

The 18th Annual Sertoma All-Star Volleyball Classic gets underway at 7 p.m. on Saturday when 21 of the area's recently graduated volleyball stars meet at McCook High School. Three players who were selected -- Cambridge's Traci Keyser and Maxwell's Audrey Feeney for the East Team and Hitchcock County's Ashley Garner -- will not play because they underwent knee surgery recently...

May 18, 1919 - June 17, 2009 Oma Orvilla Stott died Wednesday, June 17, 2009 at Community Hospital in McCook. She was 90. She was born in Benkelman to Justin Evans and Zella Leona (Rickard) Davis on May 18, 1919. She graduated from McCook High School in 1937...

Red Willow County sheriff's officers have issued two summons for the neglect of a horse whose stable mate died. Sheriff Gene Mahon said Thursday morning that his office has cited the owner of the horses with abandonment and the owner of the stable with cruel neglect...

Honolulu -- Former news reporter and anchor Angela Keen is one of 51 Americans to receive the 2008 National Medal of Honor Society's Above and Beyond Citizen Award. Keen represents the state of Hawaii as a national finalist. She is the daughter of Wallace and Elfrieda Keen of McCook...

The new playground equipment in Norris Park is almost ready for business, awaiting only the addition of two semi-trailer loads of pre-engineered mulch before it can be opened for use. Some $100,000 in city sales tax money was set aside for the project...

Summer is a great time to get away with the family, and although gasoline prices are inching upward again, they're far below what they were last summer. Still, one doesn't always have to drive to the mountains or other distant location to find an attraction worth the visit. Nebraska has many such attractions, but a new one caught our eye this week with a dedication Friday...

A fellow I've known for a long time told me not long ago to stay away from writing about my trips and expeditions because people don't care about them. He thought I should only write about substantive topics that stimulate thought, discussion, and conversation. On the other hand, other people tell me they look forward to reading about my journeys, either for vicarious reasons or to see what foibles I experienced because something bad usually happens when I venture outside of McCook...

(Preface: Since I wrote something about my mom for Mother's Day, I don't want my dad grousing about not getting "equal time" on his day. So here you go, Pop.) My dad's Superman in my universe, and I mean it. He is a brave, intelligent and good-hearted man -- my hero, really -- and I am frequently amazed that he continues to put up with me and my shenanigans...

Misty Howerter and Jason Houston of Omaha announce their engagement and upcoming marriage. Parents of the couple are Greg and Cindy Howerter of Cambridge, Jeff and Vicki Houston of Kearney and Pam and Jon Petersen of Hastings. A June 26, 2009, ceremony is planned at The Fountains Ballroom in Glenwood, Iowa...

Melissa Hruby and Ty Lafferty along with their parents, Mike and Joyce Hruby of Ord and Winston and Deb Lafferty of McCook announce their engagement and upcoming marriage on Aug. 15, 2009, at Kelley Park in McCook. The bride-to-be is a 2003 graduate of Ord High School and a 2007 graduate of the University of Nebraska at Kearney. She is teaching in Houston, Texas...

Nathan and Michelle Baumbach of Omaha announce the birth of their son, William Hugo Baumbach on June 4, 2009, at Methodist Hospital in Omaha. He weighed 6 pounds, 10 ounces and measured 19 inches. His grandparents are Bill and Lynda Baumbach of Indianola and Hugo and Magali Giraud of Orlando, Fla. Great-grandparents are Howard Baumbach of Cambridge, Moises and Aurora Collazo of Puerto Rico and Elba Lopez Giraud of Puerto Rico...

Brandon and Bradette Varilek of Raymond announce the birth of their son, William Wesley Varilek on May 27, 2009, at St. Elizabeth's Medical Center in Lincoln. He weighed 7 pounds, 5 ounces and measured 20.25 inches. His grandparents are John and Carol Varilek of Culbertson, Rema Hemmerling of Kearney and the late Bradley Hemmerling. Great-grandparents are Patricia Hemmerling of Gibbon, Elaine Meeks of Worland Wyo., and Ed and Mildred Varilek of Stuart...

The family of Madeline Coburn is hosting an open house, 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m., Sunday, June 28, in the 4-H building on the Red Willow County Fairgrounds in honor of her 80th birthday. Cards of congratulations will reach her at 1221 West 10th, McCook, NE 69001...

The family of Terry and Marge (Burke) Paisley is requesting a card shower in honor of the couple's 40th wedding anniversary. They were married on June 27, 1969. Children of the couple are Troy, Chris, Jonathan, Daniel Paisley and Charity Carbaugh. Cards of congratulations will reach the couple at 510 Dolan Ave. Cambridge, NE 69022...

Geoff and Brenda Gillen of McCook announce the birth of their son, Jackson Lee Gillen on May 12, 2009, at Community Hospital in McCook. He weighed 7 pounds, 12 ounces and measured 21 inches. He has two brothers, Matthew and Brendan Gillen. His grandparents are Dixie and Gene Geihsler, Janet and Greg Hepp and Clarence and Lexie Gillen, all of McCook. Great-grandparents are Max and Ruby Hallowell from Erie, Pa., and Betty Gillen of McCook...

Brianne and Adam Bartlett of Castle Rock, Colo., announce the birth of their son, Jonah Timothy Bartlett on April 2, 2009, at University of Colorado Hospital in Aurora, Colo. He weighed 7 pounds, 7 ounces and measured 20 inches. His grandparents are Faith and Doug Hyde of McCook, Russell Schaffert of Culbertson and Eilleen and Sam Bartlett of Castle Rock. Great-grandparents are Betty and Leo Rousselle of Culbertson...

LINCOLN, Neb. -- While the number of irrigated acres is dropping in many parts of the country, it continues to rise in Nebraska, which now ranks first in the nation. Some areas of the state are over-irrigated, however, and significant limitations on future irrigation are looming, said Bruce Johnson, University of Nebraska-Lincoln agricultural economist...

This is my first letter since the end of the 2009 Legislative Session. We adjourned Sine Die on Friday May 29 finishing three days early, yet addressing many important and controversial issues. Serving District 44 these last three sessions has been an honor, a privilege, and a blessing for which I am deeply grateful. I look forward to being back home with you all during our break...

City crews barely finished Friday unloading two tons of wood mulch underneath the new playground equipment at Norris Park, before kids swarmed the area. We asked a few kids if they liked the new equipment and what their favorite part was, and here is what they said...

Walkers circle the main floor of the Gateway in Oberlin while the Decatur Area Community Band performs Friday night. The event was set to continue through 7 a.m. Saturday following a closing ceremony and final lap. Other activities included a barbecue, introduction of survivors and survivors victory lap, survivors and caregivers lap, release of balloons, Relay For Life teams walk, luminaria ceremony, survivor talk by Doyle and Kay Brown and a Fight Back Ceremony. ...