Stories from Friday, October 23, 2009

Aug. 31, 1933 - Oct. 22, 2009 TRENTON -- Arlin "AI" Limper, 76, died Thursday (Oct. 22, 2009) at Community Hospital in McCook. Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m., Monday at the Church of God in Trenton with the Rev. Johnny Walker officiating...

June 5, 1935 - Oct. 22, 2009 HOLBROOK -- Marilyn G. Jurey, age 74, of Holbrook, died at the Cambridge Memorial Hospital in Cambridge on Oct. 22, 2009. She was born in St. Francis on June 5, 1935, to Melvin G. and Grace L. (Armstrong) Catt. The family moved to Wilsonville where Marilyn attended school for 11 years. Marilyn enjoyed playing sports in High School. She played volleyball, ran track and was on the boys relay team, rode horses and played softball in the summer...

STEVE KODAD Gazette Sports Editor BARTLEY -- Thursday's Class C-2 District 9 football battle between host Southwest and North Platte St. Pat's turned into a game of big plays. Unfortunately for the Roughriders, St. Pat's had too many big scoring plays in a 34-6 win over Southwest...

The Southwest Nebraska Community Theater Association has a long track record for putting together excellent stage productions; there is a level of dedication from the top down in that organization that virtually guarantees playgoers a level of quality...

Newsweek magazine has apologized for featuring Sen. Ben Nelson in its Oct. 12 "Indignity Index," in which it chided him for suggesting healthcare reform wouldn't be "legitimate" without a Senate supermajority when he had won elections with a smaller margin...

I received a very nice letter this week from U.S. Senator Ben Nelson in response to the "Through With Politics" column I wrote a few weeks ago. I'm not going to say much about the contents of the letter because it was personal and private but the senator did make one point I would like to address today. ...

If Dick Trail thinks private operation of functions undertaken by the city is a good idea, he should come to Chicago and see how well that has worked out. Granted, McCook is generally much less inclined to political corruption than this city, but earlier this year the mayor pushed through a long-term lease on city parking meters...

KEARNEY -- A new lecture series honoring the spirit of former Nebraska first lady, Maxine Morrison, takes place at 12:15 p.m. Sunday in the Ponderosa Room of the Nebraskan Student Union at the University of Nebraska at Kearney. Frank Morrison was devoted to his wife Maxine. She was an accomplished singer, teacher, businesswoman and politician who raised a family with a successful husband who was a teacher, a lawyer and served as governor of Nebraska from 1961-67...

CURTIS -- Visitors to the NCTA greenhouse are often surprised to find bananas growing in Nebraska, but, the biggest shock is actually seeing one of the plants in full bloom and producing bananas. Lance Stott, Horticulture Systems Division Chair at NCTA, says it is not a rare occurrence for bananas to bloom in greenhouses, but adds that it does take several months for a banana plant to be large enough to produce fruit. ...

LINCOLN -- Nebraska Cattlemen leaders welcomed the news that Jack Maddux of Wauneta received the 32nd annual National Golden Spur Award in recognition of his contributions to the livestock and ranching industries and his contributions to improving the land and natural resources...

GRAND ISLAND -- Klarissa Rae Bellamy and Joseph Christopher Haag of Kearney were united in marriage on Feb. 21, 2009, at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church Grand Island with the Rev. Todd Philipsen and Deacon Chuck Cantrell officiating. Parents of the couple are John and Bonnie Bellamy of Cairo and Steve and Shari Haag of McCook...

HAYS, Kan. -- Jamie Lynn Zimmerman and Ryan Henry Ruf were united in marriage on June 13, 2009, at the United Methodist Church in Hays, Kan. Reverend Jerre Nolte officiated at the double ring ceremony. Parents of the couple are Calvin and Vicki Zimmerman, of Alta Vista, Kan. and Robert and Sherri Ruf, of Oberlin...

Jean Witte of Cambridge will be celebrating her 80th birthday on Oct. 27. Jean is the wife of Gerald Witte and the mother of 7 children. Barb Phillips, Brenda Miller, Steven Witte, Sharon Witte, Roger Witte, all of Cambridge, Mark Witte of Colorado Springs and the late Janet Davis. Jean has 22 grandchildren and 26 great grandchildren. Cards will reach her at 71435 Hwy 47, Cambridge, NE 69022...

Zach and Anna Hunnicutt of Aurora announce the birth of their daughter, Adeline Ruth Hunnicutt on Oct. 12, 2009, at Mary Lanning Hospital in Hastings. She weighed 7 pounds, 5 ounces and measured 21 1/2 inches. She has a 2-year-old brother, Everett. Her grandparents are Dale and Mary Dueland of McCook and Daryl and Willa (Jo) Hunnicutt of Giltner. Great-grandmothers are Virginia Anderson and Joanne Dueland of McCook...

Heath and Pamela Hamilton of Trenton announce the birth of their son, Rowen Heath Hamilton. He was born Sept. 8, 2009 at McCook Community Hospital. He weighed 8 pounds 15.6 ounces and was 21 3/4 inches long. He has a 10-year-old sister, Jasmine. Grandparents are Frank and Norene Hamilton of McCook and Rod and Lela Daniels of Morrill. Great-grandparents are Darlene Chancellor of McCook and Don and Leona Barkus of Minatare...

TOPEKA, Kan. -- Lora Wendling and Christopher Symington of Overland Park, Kan., were united in marriage July 25, 2009, at Christ the King Church in Topeka, Kan., with the Rev. Francis Wendling OFM and uncle of the bride officiating. Parents of the couple are John and Louise Wendling of Topeka, Kan., Kerrilyn Symington of McCook and John Symington of Shellsburg, Iowa...

In the very near future, Congress will debate in earnest a health care bill which will have major impacts on nearly every industry throughout our economy, especially our nation's small businesses. Small businesses today represent 99 percent of all businesses in our country and provide a source of income for roughly half of the U.S. workforce. They have created more than 70 percent of the American jobs and are -- quite frankly -- the lifeblood of our economy...

LINCOLN -- Grants and loans for the 2009 federal fiscal year have resulted in $5,599,799 awarded to 171 Nebraska recipients for energy efficiency improvements, feasibility studies, energy audits and renewable energy development assistance. "USDA Rural Development in Nebraska continues to be a lead state in promoting and receiving Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) applications for guaranteed loans. ...

LAS VEGAS -- Ward Sauvage, 84, died Oct. 13, 2009, at Las Vegas, Nev. He was born June 6, 1926 at Oberlin, to Walter Ward and Opal (Macy) Sauvage. He was raised in Oberlin and attended Oberlin schools. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II...

There's probably a lot of what ifs spread around the McCook football faithful after Friday night's 13-7 overtime loss to Ogallala. The Bison couldn't capitalize on two scoring chances late in the fourth quarter, then Ogallala scored on its second play from scrimmage in the extra period to claim the win and the Class B-7 District championship...

A man sentenced to the Nebraska Department of Corrections in 2007 for motor vehicle homicide was paroled Thursday by the Nebraska Parole Board. Kyle Serocki, 27, formerly of Olathe, Kan., was sentenced in Red Willow County District Court in Oct. 2007 to not less than two years but not more than five, for the two felony counts of motor vehicle homicide and failure to render aid...