Stories from Friday, August 28, 2009

NORTH PLATTE -- Taxpayers will get a slight break this year, with a proposed budget for Mid Plains Community College area that calls for a reduced property tax request. Under the proposed 2009-10 budget unveiled Wednesday night at the MPCC Board of Governors work session, the property tax request would be decreased by one twentieth of one cent, to 7.5643 cents per $100 valuation, from last year's tax levy of 7.60 cents per $100...

HUGH BUTLER LAKE -- Jim Coady's thankful that Frontier County was having a used tire collection when he needed to remove tires from a bay at Hugh Butler Lake north of McCook. Coady made five trips from the lake to Curtis, hauling 348 tires of every size and condition drug from the banks of the bay marked on the west by a working lighthouse and on the northeast by summer escape mobile homes...

The Nebraska Supreme Court will hear an appeal filed by the man accused of driving drunk and killing an Arapahoe mother of two on Oct. 3, 2007. Furnas County Attorney Tom Patterson said that Nebraska's highest court has removed from the Court of Appeals Herchel H. Huff's appeal of a ruling by Furnas County District Court James Doyle IV in early 2008...

IMPERIAL -- The death Sunday, Aug. 23, of another young person from the Imperial area is the third since the middle of July. Adrian Marquez of Imperial died in a one-vehicle accident 1 1/2 miles north of Imperial just 6 days after his 16th birthday. His passenger, 13-year-old Rachel Carmin of Imperial, suffered an ankle injury, cuts and bruises...

Ask any McCook middle schooler who Joe Biden is and you might get a blank look in return. Ask about "Mr. Bill" and you'll get instant recognition. Candy vendor and sidewalk sage Bill Donze is known for offering bargain treats from his mobile candy stand, parked near the swimming pool during the summer, Norris Park or the schools other seasons or times of the day. ...

Welcome home signs on chain-link fences in Bartley and on Highway 6&34 west of Indianola greet Nebraska National Guard Staff Sgt. Billy Jones and Master Sgt. John Herron, both of McCook, back home today after a year in Afghanistan with the Guard's Agricultural Development Team. John's wife, Pam, said that her daughter, Julie Ellis, honed in on "random chain-link fences on the highway" to create the plastic-cup messages, which residents gladly loaned for the soldiers' "Welcome Home" signs...

The family of Gerald and Jean Witte is requesting a card shower in honor of the couple's 60th wedding anniversary. They were married Aug. 31, 1949. Their family includes their seven children, 22 grandchildren and 26 great-grandchildren. Cards of congratulations will reach the couple at 71435 Hwy 47, Cambridge, NE 69022...

Stacey Worman, formerly of Culbertson, now of Valley and Clint Robinson of Valley are planning a Sept. 19, 2009, wedding at Elkhorn Methodist Church. Parents of the couple are Brad and Julie Worman of Nelson and Mike and Ann Robinson of Valley. Grandparents of the bride-to-be are Donald and Gwen Miller of Culbertson...

The family of Raymond Haag is hosting an open house Saturday, Sept. 5, 2-4 p.m., at the Lebanon American Legion Hall in honor of his 80th birthday. He was born Sept. 4, 1929. Cards of congratulation will reach him at 40363 Road 709, Bartley, NE 69020...

The family of Terry and Jean (Harmon) Hallowell of McCook is requesting a card shower in honor of the couple's 40th wedding anniversary. They were married Aug. 30, 1969, at St. Alban's Episcopal Church in McCook. Children of the couple are Ryan Hallowell and fiancee, Jessica Bowers, and Casey Lashley and husband, Rusty, all of Lincoln and Tye Hallowell of Independance, Kan. They have three grandchildren. Cards of congratulations will reach the couple at 903 W 7th Street, McCook NE 69001...

The family of Loren and Patricia (Sramek) Egle is requesting a card shower in honor of the couple's 50th wedding anniversary. They were married Sept. 1, 1959. Children of the couple are Larry Egle of Houston, Texas, Kelly Egle and wife, Lisa of McCook, Kenny Egle and wife, Rhonda of Pinedale, Wyo., Lori Stewart and husband, Todd of Lincoln and Lana Sitzman and husband, Tracy of McCook. ...

John Waddell and Peggy Allison, both of McCook, announce their engagement and upcoming marriage. Parents of the couple are Phyllis and Wayne Waddell of Indianola and Irene and Michael Anthony of Longmont, Colo. The bride-to-be is a Walmart deli associate and the prospective bridegroom is a warehouseman for United Suppliers Inc., in McCook...

Shawn and Janie Havlicek of McCook announce the birth of their daughter, Ellie Fay Havlicek on July 12, 2009, at Tri Valley Hospital in Cambridge. She weighed 7 pounds, 5 1/2 ounces and measured 22 1/2 inches. She has two sisters, 8-year-old Cady and 2-year-old Danika and a brother, 5-year-old Logan. Her grandparents are Ron and Cindy Sabin and Andy and Sue Havlicek, all of McCook...

Dick and Carla Quinn were married Aug. 30, 1959, at the Oxford Methodist Church. Their children and grandchildren helped them celebrate Aug. 1, in McCook at the Marian. Children Greg and Gary Quinn of McCook, and Gina Dorwart and husband, Kraig of Lincoln, were present as were grandchildren Sasha and Siera Dowart of Lincoln and Max and Erica Quinn and their mom, Denice Quinn of Rio Rancho, N.M...

The sons of Richard and Anita Graff of McCook are requesting a card shower to celebrate the couple's 40th wedding anniversary. They were married Aug. 31, 1969 at the First Assembly of God Church in McCook. Their family includes Donnie and wife Christina Graff of Omaha, Richie and fiance Shanna Higgs of Omaha. Cards of congratulations will reach the couple at 709 Westridge Parkway, McCook, NE 69001...

Nicholas Winder, formerly of McCook, and Chelsea Holmes, formerly of North Platte,both now of Valparaiso, Ind., announce the birth of a daughter, Rory Paige Winder. She was born July 1, 2009, at Valparaiso, weighing, 6 pounds, 3 ounces and measuring 19 1/2 inches. ...

Working to become one of Nebraska's leading family events, event coordinators of McCook Balloon Fest are working full swing on this year's event that will take place Sept. 12th & 13th, 2009, at the Red Willow County Fairgrounds in McCook. Watch the balloons and enjoy breakfast either at Joltin Jo's or the pancake and sausage fundraiser put on by Cub Scout Pack No. ...

The Buffalo Commons Storytelling Festival kicks off its "First Tuesday" storytelling gatherings this Tuesday, September 1st, at the Bieroc Café, 7 P.M. Everyone is invited. This season's first show will feature H.D. "Jack" Ostergard, Cowboy Poet of Gothenburg, Nebraska...

Adams Central 28, Seward 7 Bellevue East 35, Bellevue West 34 Boys Town 24, Bishop Neumann 6 Bruning-Davenport 28, Diller-Odell 0 Columbus 34, Hastings 9 Columbus Lakeview 34, Columbus Scotus 0 Conestoga 34, Lyons-Decatur Northeast 6 Cozad 20, Southern Valley 8...

Labor Day traditionally celebrates the social and economic achievements of the American worker. Unfortunately, this Labor Day finds our nation's workers in a tough spot with an economy in recession and our country's unemployment rate nearing 10 percent...

Of all the technological advances we've seen in recent years on the Internet, perhaps the most amazing ones are the social networking sites; places like Twitter, My Space, and especially Facebook. I have a page on all three but Facebook is the only one I use daily...

Organizers have We've launched the 2009 photography contest for the upcoming McCook Balloon Fest on Sept. 12-13. Balloon Festivals provide excellent opportunities for photographers to capture some amazing photographic images. Everyone's in for an excellent show this year. Balloon pilots will be coming to McCook from around the country, painting a variety of color across the Southwest Nebraskan sky...