Stories from Friday, March 5, 2010

Oct. 22, 1913 - March 3, 2010 Vadna E. Buhler, 96, died Wednesday (March 3, 2010) at the Hillcrest Nursing Home in McCook. She was born Oct. 22, 1913, at Bennington, Neb., the daughter of the late Frederick William and Caroline (Luschen) Cohrs. Her early years were at Bennington where she was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran Church. The family moved to Trenton, Neb., where she graduated from Trenton High School in 1932...

Feb. 1, 1908 - March 2, 2010 CULBERTSON -- Velma Rosetta Steinke, 102, died Tuesday (March 2, 2010) at the El Dorado Manor Home in Trenton. She was born Feb. 1, 1908, at Oxford, Neb., the daughter of the late Charlie and Mollie (Reinheimer) Williams. ...

Orville D. Stewart, 89, died Friday (March 5, 2010) at Hillcrest Nursing Home. Memorial services are Tuesday, 11 a.m., at Memorial United Methodist Church in McCook with the Rev. Lance Clay officiating. Burial to follow at Cedar Grove Cemetery in Indianola...

BENKELMAN -- Marie Sailors, 97, died Feb. 21, 2010, in Colorado Springs, Colo. Memorial Mass is Saturday, 10:30 a.m. (MST), at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Benkelman. Inurnment will follow at the Benkelman Cemetery. The rosary is Friday, 7:30 p.m., at Forch Funeral Chapel in Benkelman...

We pointed out earlier in this space the untenable position of pro-life state senators who say they support the unborn, yet would deny prenatal care to the unborn, just because the mother carrying them was illegally in this country. Now, the powerful Nebraska Right to Life has taken things one step farther, saying it will take senators' vote on the bill, LB110, which it supports, into account when it decides whether to endorse candidates later this month...

One of the greatest tragedies of life in America is that so many people throw away their chances. I've never understood how someone can be born in the greatest country in the world and not avail themselves of the opportunities that people in most other nations of the world would give anything to have. The history books are replete with people who gave up everything and risked everything, even their lives, to come to America while far too many of the people born here were doing nothing...

EDITOR'S NOTE -- March is National Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Month. Understanding what a person suffering with Multiple Sclerosis endures can be an eye-opening experience for those unaware. This little known disease slowly deteriorates the nerve coating (myelin) the signal conduit, in the central nervous system of the brain and spinal-cord. ...

The water level in Red Willow Dam is "about where it's going to be for the next couple of years until we get it fixed," an official said Thursday. Marv Swanda, of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, gave an update of the dam at the 2010 Southwest Water Conference Thursday in McCook...

State Sen. Mark Christensen of Imperial and former state senator Tom Baker of Trenton faced off at a candidate forum Thursday, on how to address water issues in the Republican River Basin. Both are running to represent Southwest Nebraska's 44th district...

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- A U.S. soldier from Indianola who was woun-ded in Afghan-istan in late February is recovering at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington D.C. Dustin "Dustey" Chisholm faces rehabilitation, but is doing well, according to family friend Doug Shadley of Indianola...

Ten McCook Public Schools teachers have accepted one-time early retirement incentives, and their resignations will be discussed at the March board of education meeting Monday. The meeting, in the junior high conference room, begins at 6 p.m. The school district's "Temporary Separation Incentive Policy" program is designed to save personnel costs, replacing a higher-earning long-time teacher/administrator with a younger candidate hired at a lower salary. ...

Planning for financial security and healthcare in our later years is not something we may relish in considering. However, if you take the first steps today, it can be quite a painless process. Protecting the quality of life for yourself and your loved ones can be as simple as opening a Nebraska Long-Term Care Savings Plan (NLTCSP). ...

NORTH PLATTE -- North Platte Community College hosted its annual Inter-High Scholastic Competition and TECH-Knowledge & Skills Discovery Day on Wednesday at the North and South Campuses of the college. Students from 33 area schools took approximately 860 tests during the Inter-High competition and more than 180 students from 26 high schools participated in the TECH Skills competition...

LINCOLN -- Both Gazette area teams competing in the 2010 Nebraska State High School Girls Basketball Championships lost first-round games Thursday, March 4, to end their respective seasons. Hitchcock County dropped a 50-40 decision to undefeated Wynot in Class D-2 action Thursday night at the Lincoln North Star High School gym. Southern Valley bowed out of the C-1 state tournament with a 65-41 loss to Wahoo Thursday afternoon at Pershing Auditorium...

Viewers of NTV and KFXL FOX Nebraska in the McCook area are now able to enjoy programming in HD. NTV's (ABC) HD signal can be found on channel 29.1 and KFXL FOX Nebraska's (FOX) HD signal can be found on channel 29.2. The analog signals for both stations (currently channels 40 and 42) are scheduled to cease broadcasting on March 19...

Some basketball followers will always say it's tough to beat a team three times during the season. The McCook Community College men's squad hope that doesn't ring true Saturday. The Indians head to Sheridan, Wyo., to compete in the annual National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Region IX Men's Tournament. ...

The future of our nation's fuel supply just might come in a tiny package. Microscopic, in fact. Algae -- the green pond scum which has frustrated gardeners for generations -- are being considered by many as a promising fuel source to meet our country's energy needs...

The McCook Community College women's basketball team doesn't have the most shining season record entering the Region IX Tournament. That won't stop head coach Benjamin Smith and his squad from seeking success at the tough post-season tournament. The Region IX women's tournament was scheduled to open a five-day run Friday, March 5, at the Jackson and Edwards Arena on the Northeastern Junior College campus in Sterling, Colo. ...

MAUI, Hawaii -- Corinne Clough and Daniel Kaeding were united in marriage Jan. 15, 2010, on Paipu Beach at Maui, Hawaii. Their parents attended the ceremony. The bride is the daughter of Sara (Unger) Johnson, formerly of McCook. Her grandparents are Duane and Doris Clough of McCook and the late John and Florence Unger...

Candace Klein of Fremont and Nick Broz of Hastings announce their engagement and upcoming wedding. Parents of the bride-to-be are Doug and Paula Klein of Moorefield. Parents of the prospective bridegroom are James and Katherine Broz of Hayes Center...

The family of Gerald and Rosemary (Moran) Corey of Culbertson is requesting a card shower in honor of the couple's 50th wedding anniversary, March 7. Family of the couple includes three children, Beverley Curia of Santa Clara, Calif., Deanna and Bob Zdunich of Farmington, Utah, and Jan and Gerald Corey Jr. of Murray, Utah; eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Cards of congratulations will reach the couple at 37609 Road 718, Culbertson, NE 69024...

The children and grandchildren of Dorothy Baumfalk are requesting a card shower in honor of her 90th birthday, March 13. Her children are Dick Baumfalk of McCook and Ronald and wife, Nancy Baumfalk of Aurora, Colo. She has four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Cards of congratulation will reach her at 1500 East 11th, McCook, NE 69001...

The family of Tena Larson Wimer is requesting a card shower in honor of her 95th birthday. She was born March 16, 1915 at Macon. Her family includes her children, Joan Larue of Oberlin, Kan., and late husband, Bernard, Jeanette McConnell and husband, Robert of Strasburg, Colo., Ona F. ...

Matthew and Angela Blomstedt of Lincoln announce the birth of their son, Erik Matthew Blomstedt. He was born Feb. 20, 2010, at LGH East in Lincoln weighing 7 pounds, 13 ounces and measuring 20 1/2 inches long. He has four sisters, Emily, 7, Megan, 5, Kaitlynn, 3 and Claire, 20 months. Grandparents are Don and Sandy Ohlman of Central City and Dennis and Frances Blomstedt of Palisade...

The family of Thelma (Tucker) Walter is requesting a card shower in honor of her 83rd birthday March 7. Her family includes her husband, Richard; Gary and wife, Sue Brown of Fortuna, Calif.; Steve and Deb Walter of McCook, Tim and Brenda Walter, also of McCook, the late Sandra Brown; four grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Cards of congratulation will reach her at 1009 Westridge, McCook, NE 69001...

Fely Dillera of Kennewick, Wash., and Jim L. Robinson, formerly of Wellfleet, currently of Kennewick, announce their engagement and upcoming wedding. Parents of the prospective bridegroom include Mary J. Robinson of Gibbon. A March 6, 2010 informal wedding is planned at the Senior Center in McCook at 4 p.m. Potluck dinner to follow the ceremony...

Barricades, high and formidable, fashioned by the letter of law rather than wood or concrete, stood between the untouchable leper and Jesus the healer. The barricades were a part of his day-to-day existence, and had been ever since his diagnosis of leprosy had been confirmed. ...

KEARNEY -- The largest gathering of sandhill cranes in the world happens right here in Kearney, Nebraska. ESU 10 and Audubon's Rowe Sanctuary are teaming together to provide educational programs to schools and the public. One of the collaborative projects is the Crane Cam, which goes live on Saturday, March 6, 2010. ...

For those that know me, you know that when I say "it is with great excitement that I take over as editor of the weekend menu page," it is said with the utmost sincerity. From my family members that know how easy I am to shop for each holiday season, cook books never get old to me, to my coworkers that must listen to my daily babbling about what I cooked the night before in my endless quest to find balance between healthy food and what my 4-year-old son, Declan, deems good food for him. ...