Stories from Friday, December 4, 2009

Tenants of St. Catherine's Apartments, the former hospital-turned-rental property that will close by Feb. 1, are requesting the owner work with them to keep the facility open. Jane Ruth Johnson, who has lived at St. Catherine's since 1999, has written and is circulating among residents a petition that recognizes St. Catherine's vital role in providing "non-discriminatory" and "adequate, reasonable rental properties" for the McCook community...

The McCook City Council will be asked to cancel state funding and instead use $60,000 of city funds to construct a sidewalk along U.S. Highway 6-34, at the regular council meeting Monday, 7:30 p.m., at City Council Chambers in Memorial Auditorium. The project has been in the works since 2007 as part of the McCook Trails system and would consist of a sidewalk along U.S. Highway 6-34 on the west end of town to Wedgewood Drive...

McCook firefighters Carson Kain, left, and Luke Rinehart carry away a washtub of smoldering firewood after creosote in a chimney caught fire at 12:20 p.m., Thursday, in the home of Paul Gonzales, at 1309 East A. Firefighter/paramedic Rick Metcalf said that Gonzales had extinguished most of the flames before firefighters arrived to find "a light haze" hanging in the house. ...

The desire for recognition is as old as humanity itself, but new media has expanded it to a worldwide scope. From the old "Candid Camera" to the modern manifestations like YouTube, the desire for recognition has reached new heights. It started with MTV in 1992, when seven strangers were boarded in one house, their every move videotaped for "The Real World."...

Mike Hendricks' column fell victim to computer troubles this week.

IMPERIAL --The McCook High School girls are probably still trying to find out who snuck out at halftime and nailed a lid on their basket at Chase County High School gym Thursday evening. The Bison girls went without a point for more than 12 minutes in the second half as Chase County beat McCook 40-25. Thursday's game was the season-opener for both varsity teams...

IMPERIAL -- McCook High School put its cast of boys basketball characters on stage for Act One Thursday night at Chase County. Several members of the Bison supporting cast played key roles in a 58-42 victory over the host Longhorns. McCook head coach Tim Garcia is hoping to have a solid team this season, with a veteran headliner and a host of steady performers, including a pair of big men to patrol the paint and talent in the backcourt...

Sara Richelle Cappel of Goodyear, Ariz. and Mark Edward Jarding of Luke Air Force Base in Glendale, Ariz., announce their engagement and upcoming wedding. Parents of the bride-to-be are Dick and Kathie Cappel of McCook. Parents of the prospective bridegroom are Jim and Margaret Jarding of Sioux Falls, S.D...

Matt and Laura (Wilcox) Clause announce the birth of their son, Noah Mark Clause, who was born Sept. 22, 2009, at Community Hospital. He weighed 8 pounds, 8.4 ounces and was 21.5 inches long. He has a 2- -year-old sister, Isabelle. Grandparents are Mark and Betty Wilcox of McCook, and Mark and Joyce Clause of Gering. Great-grandparents are Lyle and Jean Wilcox of McCook, Helga Binkey of McCook, Earl and Carol Binkey of Trenton, Shirley Ward of Alliance, and May Clause of Gering...

Aaron and Marci (Zahl) Sis of Englewood, Colo. announce the birth of their son, Luke Michael Sis, who was born Oct. 14, 2009 at Parker Adventist Hospital in Parker, Colo. He weighed 7 pounds, 11 ounces and was 20.5 inches long. Grandparents are Bill and Linda Zahl of Stratton and Michael and Diane Sis of Atwood, Kan. Great-grandparents are John and Virgie Burk of Atwood and Sarah Myers of Cairo...

AMELIA ISLAND, Fla. --Sara Ann Beckenhauer and David Michael Hageman, both of Denver, Colo. were united in marriage Oct. 17, 2009 on the beach in Amelia Island, Fla. with Sherman Reed officiating. Parents of the bride are Bill and Jill Beckenhauer of Cozad, formerly of McCook. Grandparents are Steve and Bethine Vontz of McCook and Don and Pat Olsen of Columbus...

Jennifer Tines and Deon Hampton of Lincoln, announce their engagement and upcoming wedding. Parents of the couple are William "Dude" and Alice Tines of Venango and Don and Teresa Hampton of Mullen. The bride-to-be is a 2001 graduate of Grant High School and has numerous relatives and friends in Southwest Nebraska. She is a surgical technician at Lincoln Surgical Hospital...

AUSTRALIA -- Kelsey Adams and Jason Beatty, both of Scottsdale, Ariz. were united in marriage Sept. 1, 2009 in Queensland, Australia within the Daintree Rainforest. Parents of the bride are Robert C. and Vickie Adams of Trenton. Parents of the bridegroom are John Beatty Jr. of Butler, Pa. and Gwendolyn Scott of Colorado Springs, Colo...

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis once said, "Sunlight is the best disinfectant." For too long the federal government has gone about its business in secret. Congress has added special-interest provisions to bills behind closed doors, spent millions with no regard to fiscal reality, and purposely passed bills no one had the chance to read...

NORTH PLATTE -- The U.S. Census bureau will launch community operations this week to conduct the 2010 Census in the North Platte area. A local Spirit of Community Celebration will feature North Platte Mayor Marc Kaschke, Lt. Governor Rick Sheehy, Buffalo Bill Cody (Bruce Richman), and Ben Franklin (Michael Davis) who will talk about the power of community members to bring about a complete census, the largest peacetime operation conducted for the federal government. ...

Recently the Nebraska Association of School Board and I honored four school districts with the 2009 Governor's Education Initiative Award for Parental Involvement. The Cozad, Kearney, Millard, and Sutherland Public School Districts were recognized for efforts to engage parents in daily school activities and their child's education...

Nov. 6, 1921-Dec. 4, 2009 OBERLIN -- Isolene Carmie Wickham, 88, died Friday (Dec. 4, 2009), at Decatur County Hospital in Oberlin. She was born Nov. 6, 1921, at Crawford County, Mo., to George W. and Julia F. (Hilgers) Evans. She was raised in Plainville, Kan., and graduated from Plainville High School...

BIG SKY, Mont. -- Caroline Cole Walburn and Thomas Joseph Swartz were united in marriage in a mountainside ceremony on August 22, 2009, at Moonlight Basin Resort in Big Sky, Mont., followed by a reception at the Moonlight Basin Lodge. The bride is the daughter of Dr. John and Kathy Walburn of Omaha and the granddaughter of Pauline Walburn of Cambridge, the late Norman Walburn and the late John and Doris Malloy...