Stories from Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Dec. 1, 1966-Nov. 28, 2009 Karen Lynn Dicke Reiners was born on Dec. 1, 1966, to Leonard and Shirley Dicke in McCook, Neb. From the moment she entered this world, much to the chagrin of her older sister and brother, she was a pistol. Early on she showed the natural Dicke athletic ability and devoted hours and hours to gymnastics. ...

March 30, 1917 - Nov. 27, 2009 GRANITE BAY, Calif. - Richard R. Hansmeyer, 92, died Friday (Nov. 27, 2009), at Granite Bay, Calif. He was born March 30, 1917, in McCook, Neb., the son of the late William and Elizabeth (Walker) Hansmeyer. He was preceded in death b y his wife Dorothy (Hizel) Hansmeyer on June 28, 2003...

Aug. 5, 1925-Nov. 23, 2009 WaKEENYEY, Kan. -- William Francis Nemechek, 84, died Nov. 23, 2009, at Gove County Medical Center in Quinter, Kan. He was born Aug. 5, 1925, on the family farm south of Ellis, Kan., to Louis and Johanna (Gaschler) Nemechek. In 1931 the family moved to a farm north of WaKeeney where he began his education. He graduated from Trego Community High School in 1943...

Nov. 30, 1934 - Nov. 19, 2009 COCOA, Fla. - Joyce Hicks, age 74, died Thursday, Nov. 19, 2009, from injuries sustained in a car accident. She was born on the family farm between Lebanon and Danbury, Neb. to Klee and Laura (Fisher) Bethel, the youngest of six children...

Stay alert around tracks, stay off railroad property.

Want to be extra environmentally responsible this holiday season? You might want to start with the traditional centerpiece, the Christmas tree. And, no, using an artificial tree may not be the best answer. Most artificial trees are constructed of polyvinyl chloride, which is toxic to manufacture and difficult to recycle...

Dear Editor, As my friends know I've been a staunch Republican all my life, but have always voted for Mr. Nelson. I've always believed that he serve his constituents well and did not sell his vote based on his party affiliation, but instead followed his constituents' wishes...

Dear Editor, In regard to Mr. Trail's article about Mr. Nelson, he wrote what most of us were thinking, but did not say anything. We were betrayed by Mr. Nelson -- he is a Democrat first, a Nebraskan second. All you had to do (was) watch him and listen to what he had to say and you knew he as going to vote YES. ...

Dear Editor, The free will of men, especially in high places, can either have a salutary effect on humanity or wreak havoc and chaos on our species. When administrators such as Milliken, Mauer and Perlman give feeble arguments that they could, and already might have lost "great" scientists for the UNL science department, and by also putting pressure on their regents, especially the likes of a weak-kneed Jim McClurg, who vacillated all week long, knowing all the time that he would vote to please the "big boys," (despite his education in the field of biology).. ...

Ann received nice words this week from FOB (Forward Operating Base) Falcon, Iraq. All ninety packages that Ann and her volunteers sent have arrived. Chaplain Hale's two assistants have been busy sorting the contents and repackaging them into gallon size zip lock bags. ...

CULBERTSON -- The Nebraska State Patrol continues to investigate a two-vehicle accident that sent a Benkelman man to the hospital Monday. Michael A. Geihsler, 44, of Benkelman, is listed in stable condition at Community Hospital of McCook this morning, following the collision of his car with another about 11 a.m., Monday, 1 1/4 miles east of Culbertson on Highway 6 and 34...

Officers of the Red Willow County Sheriff's Department are investigating the unattended death of a McCook man at his home northwest of McCook. Sheriff Gene Mahon said this morning that the body of Gordan E. Huryta, 55, has been sent to Scottsbluff for an autopsy to determine the cause of death. Results should be back Wednesday or Thursday, Mahon said...

The Bison Alumni Association inductees to the McCook High School "Wall of Fame" for 2009 are Robert V. Beneda, class of 1958, and Sharon McDonald Morrison, class of 1955. Robert Beneda Robert Beneda was nominated for the Wall of Fame for more than 40 years of contributions to the structural engineering profession. ...

A couple of weeks ago, Doug Vap was back at work after lunch for about 20 minutes before he noticed the "GOING OUT OF BUSINESS" signs in the big windows of his and his brother Jerry's "Vap's Seed and Hardware" store in downtown McCook. "Jerry was heading back to Lincoln," Doug said, "And he hung the signs before he left."...

Jan. 7, 1937 - Nov. 16, 2009 WAUNETA - Gladys Leona Schaffer, 72, died Monday (Nov. 16, 2009) at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney, Neb. She was born Jan. 7, 1937, at Grant, Neb., the daughter of the late Edward W. and Gladys M. (Pollard) Pankonin. She grew up on the family farm northeast of Grant where she received her high school education...