Stories from Friday, August 14, 2009

New walkways at the Jaycee Sports Complex will be completed this fall. Travis Sund of T.L. Sund Constructors, Inc. said the project will take his crew two weeks and will use more than 400 square yards of concrete. Gerhold Concrete is the concrete provider and Miller and Associates is handling the engineering. ...

The McCook Animal Control Review Committee has issued a press release to clear up some misconceptions regarding the proposed animal ordinances they have recommended to the McCook City Council. The council will consider approving the ordinances on its third and final reading at the City Council meeting on Monday...

The McCook City Council will be asked to set water and sewer rates for the upcoming year, with city staff recommending no increases, at the regular meeting Monday night, 7:30 at City Council Chambers in Memorial Auditorium The council will also be asked to approve on its third and final reading amended ordinances regarding dogs and cats in the city and to consider the creation of an Ordinance Officer to provide animal control duties...

The McCook Farm & Ranch Expo will return to the Red Willow County Fairgrounds on Wednesday and Thursday, Nov. 18-19. The show opens at 9 a.m. both days and closes at 7 p.m. the first day and 4 p.m. the second. Admission and parking are free. "It's a great place to come see the newest and latest in farming and technology practices," said Darren Dale, show manager. "We are expecting 300 vendors from 20 states and Canada."...

Wayne Stroot's cartoon depicting Sen. Ben Nelson as a "swing vote," offending conservatives by voting for Sonia Sotomayor for Supreme Court justice, and the left by dragging his feet on health care reform, is not an unusual take on Nelson's position...

If there was ever an opportune time for a big, crowd-pleasing television comedy to come along, it might just be now. A half-hour (or more, to be honest) of hearty laughs on primetime TV every week would certainly lighten moods from coast to coast and border to border...

Thank You for the editorial On Dr. Robert Stear. "Doc" Stear as he was known to the many Headstart families from Furnas County he opened up his farm to for the yearly fishing parties, and to the other families who he allowed to use his facilities, never at a charge...

The wind turbines sprouted on our horizon last year, utterly changing the look of it. A nacelle the size of an RV sits atop a tower as tall as a football field is long, slinging three fiberglass blades as long as semi trailers. Multiply that by 75, strung out over 10 miles along the bluffs above the river...

Maggie Sanders and Jack Latta of McCook were united in marriage June 27, 2009, at Bolles Canyon in McCook with the Rev. John Strecker-Baseler officiating. Parents of the couple are Mike and Marla Sanders and Mark and Kathy Latta, all of McCook. Grandparents of the bride are Verda Wegener of McCook and the late Milton Wegener and the late Mary Walker. The bridegroom's grandparents are Phil and Marilyn Goodenberger of McCook, Arda Latta of Stratton and the late Bill Latta...

COLUMBUS -- Erica Reitz and Jeremy Zywiec were united in marriage May 16, 2009, at St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Columbus with Rev. LaDel Lape officiating. Parents of the couple are Jerry and Deb Reitz of McCook and Edward and Margo Zywiec of Columbus...

Jill Ann Oiler and Nicholas "Nick" Howard, along with their parents, announce their engagement and upcoming marriage. Both are graduates of McCook High School. The bride-to-be is employed at Community Hospital in McCook. The prospective bridegroom is employed at Walmart...

Kevin and Tara Gross of Holbrook announce the birth of their son, Colton Robert Gross on June 12, 2009, at Cambridge Memorial Hospital in Cambridge. He weighed 7 pounds, 9 ounces and measured 22 1/2 inches. His grandparents are Robert and Rosiette Gross of Holbrook, Noretta Johnson of Holbrook and William and Diane Trado of Bel Air, Md...

Todd and Deidre Shafer of McCook announce the birth of a daugher, Abbiegail Dawn. She was born June 2, 2009, weighing 6 pounds, 7 ounces and measuring 19.5 inches. She has two older brothers, Bryce and Gary. Grandparents are Mike and Val Kircher and Rick and Dianne Shafer, all of McCook. Great-grandparents are Allan and Barbara Anderson, Karen Hodson, Pauline Shafer, also of McCook and Art and Willa Mae Hawkinson of Grove, Okla...

The children of Steven and Sharon (Mullinex) Kircher are requesting a card shower in honor of their parents' 25th anniversary. They were married Aug. 17, 1984 at Memorial United Methodist Church in McCook. Their children are Jennifer and Logan Kircher. Cards of congratulation will reach them at 70609 Rd. 390, McCook, NE 69001...

David and Holly Gleasure of Logansville, Ga., announce the birth of a son, Max Enzo, on July 17, 2009. He weighed 7 pounds, 10 ounces and measured 21 inches. He has a brother, Sammy, 2. Grandparents are Carl and Cindy Schneider of Logansville. Great-grandparents are Mel and Virginia Campbell of Stratton and Paul and Delores Schneider of McCook...

The family of Rosa Belle Repass is requesting a card shower in honor of her 80th birthday on Aug. 22. Cards of congratulations will reach her at 206 East K, McCook, NE 69001.

The family of Don and Betsy Coolidge of Fall City, formerly of Indianola, is requesting a card shower in honor of the couple's 25th wedding anniversary. They were married Aug. 18, 1984, in Chadron. Children of the couple are Kelsey Coolidge of Kearney and Jaime and Matthew Sallman of Lenexa, Kan. Cards of congratulations will reach the couple at 1223 Stone Street...

Mark and Stacy Schleusener of Gladstone, Mo., announce the birth of their daughter, Aubrey Lynn, on June 11, 2009. She weighed 7 pounds, 2 ounces, Grandparents are Joey and Myra Large of Wauneta and Keith and Vada Schleusener of Utica, Neb. Great grandparents are Marvin and Arlene Large of Imperial, Eva Felzien of McCook and Irene Friebus of Phillipsburg, Kan...

Hayden Terene Sitzman, daughter of Joe Sitzman and Stacia Foster of Bartley was born July 28. Grandparents are Brian Foster and Missy Jens of Bartley, Robin and Rick Anderson of McCook, Gary and Barbara Sitzman of Kearney and Karen and Tom Mohr of Indianola...

Joltin' Jo's Sarah Craw poses with the Chevelle Special, created in preparation for the Mid Plains Community College raffle car tour visit on Aug. 28. McCook host Joltin Jo's created the custom drink designed and named just for the car. The Chevelle Special is an Hawaiian Orchid colored drink-and matches the color of the paint used on the car. ...

August is traditionally a time when Congress adjourns to allow members a valuable opportunity to return to their districts and meet with constituents. For districts as large as Nebraska's Third Congressional District, which is 65,000 square miles, having several weeks to allow me to travel and host meetings is an absolute must...

LINCOLN -- Approximately 780 students will receive degrees at University of Nebraska-Lincoln commencement exercises Aug. 14 and 15. Barbara Couture, senior vice chancellor for academic affairs, will preside at the ceremonies at the Bob Devaney Sports Center, one for graduate and professional degree recipients Aug. 14 and one for baccalaureate degrees Aug. 15...

LINCOLN -- Seventy-four Nebraska recipients have been selected to receive $2,556,363 in loans and grants as announced by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack this week. The funds will make energy efficiency improvements. "We are enthusiastic about the energy dollars Nebraska is receiving," said Nebraska State Director Maxine Moul, USDA Rural Development. ...

COLUMBUS, Neb. - More wind energy is expected to be added to Nebraska Public Power District's energy portfolio in the near future. Friday, NPPD's Board of Directors authorized entering into power purchase agreement (PPA) negotiations with Midwest Wind Energy/Edison Mission Midwest. NPPD will seek an agreement for 80 megawatts of wind-powered generation from a site near Petersburg, Neb...

COLUMBUS -- Nebraska's public power utilities routinely work together in and out of storms, but one fair-weather project that has 14 different power districts and municipalities excited about the future is a potential and collaborative "smart grid."...