Stories from Friday, May 14, 2010

HItchcock County's Laramey Lewis (right) beats Deanna Stanley of Loomis (left) to the tape for a gold in the 100 meter dash. Lewis won gold in the 100 in 12.9, the 200 in 26.8. She teammed up with Jaci Wright, Alexis Bantz and Ashia Love to win the 400 relay in 52.9. Lewis picked up a second in the 400 meter dash in 60.2. The Hitchcock County girls placed second in the NSAA Class D-9 District track and field meet in Benkelman Thursday. Complete results in Friday's McCook Daily Gazette...

HAYES CENTER, Nebraska -- A young girl's voice in phone calls to 911, claiming in one she was "being taken" and screaming in another, sent three counties' sheriff's officers into search mode, FBI agents to the Palisade area and the Nebraska State Patrol's airplane into the skies over a three-county area of Southwest Nebraska Thursday...

Insufficient space is making the police department's job harder and keeping the fire department from replacing vehicles on schedule. McCook Fire Chief, Marc Harpham made that point as he stood in the 24-inch spacing between ambulance and fire truck as he described the 4-foot-plus space that was actually needed to upgrade the ambulance...

Although the official groundbreaking has yet to happen, work is progressing quickly -- weather permitting -- on the new Armed Forces Readiness Center in McCook. It's a reassuring vote of confidence in Southwest Nebraska, both in our future and in our ability to provide the personnel that are vital to our modern system of national defense...

Memorial Day weekend is quickly approaching us once again. The McCook American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars Posts and a number of community volunteers will be setting out flags on our veteran's gravesites at Calvary, Memorial Park and Riverview cemeteries in McCook on Saturday, May 29, 9 a.m...

American education is at a crossroads and where we go from here will, in large part, determine this country's future as a major player on the world stage. In particular, we have fallen behind several countries in educational achievement. The United States is 9th among industrialized countries in producing high school graduates and 7th in producing college graduates. Twenty years ago we were first in both categories...

July 6, 1947-May 12, 2010 ELWOOD, Nebraska -- Gerald W. "Butch" Atterberry, 62, died Wednesday (May 12, 2010), at Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney, Nebraska. He was born July 6, 1947, at Lexington, Nebraska to Allie and Betty J. (Snider) Atterberry. He attended school at Lexington High School and graduated with the Class of 1965. He went on to McCook Junior College, McCook, Nebraska and received his Associates Degree...

Sept. 5, 1961-May 13, 2010 CAMBRIDGE, Nebraska -- Michael C. Perdue, 48, died Thursday (May 13, 2010) at his home in Cambridge. Services will be Monday, 10:30 a.m., at Lockenour-Jones Mortuary in Cambridge. Lockenour-Jones Mortuary is in charge of arrangements...

Family Features -- When getting together with family and friends for cookouts this summer, keep things simple. Simple means less stress and more time to enjoy the good food and good company ... but, it doesn't mean sacrificing great taste. Foods that have great flavor packed into them, such as Johnsonville Sausage, mean you spend less time cooking, and more time enjoying your guests' company. ...

Kimberly Sue Brown of Lincoln, formerly of McCook and Dominic Francis Heimann of Lincoln, formerly of Columbus announce their engagement and upcoming wedding. Parents of the couple are Mark and Patty Brown of McCook and John and Julie Heimann of Columbus. Grandparents of the bride-to-be are Harvey and Clara Dunn of Indianola. Grandparents of the prospective bridegroom are Ed and Joan Heimann of Columbus and the late Frank and Katie Schwartzer...

Kylee McConville of Indianola and Bradley Forch of Stratton announce their engagement and upcoming wedding. Parents of the couple are Thomas and Denise McConville of Indianola and Robert Jr. and Joyce Forch of Stratton. The bride-to-be has a Master's degree in counseling and is pursuing a Specialist degree in school psychology...

Renee Nichole Fuller and William Andrew Zehr, both of Glenwood Springs, Colorado, announce their engagement and upcoming wedding. Parents of the couple are Greg Fuller of Rifle, Colorado, Rose and Dwayne Pitt of Savannah, Georgia, and Andrew and Sharon Zehr of Castorland, New York. Grandparents of the bride-to-be are Elden and Max Fuller of McCook and Leo and Janice Russ of Silt, Colorado...

The family of Esther Wissbaum is hosting a card shower in honor of her 100th birthday May 18. Cards of congratulations will reach her at Hillcrest Nursing Home, 309 W. Seventh, McCook, NE 69001.

The family of Andrew C. and Charlene M. Weskamp of Norton, Kansas, is requesting a card shower in honor of the couples 50th wedding anniversary. They were married May 18, 1960, at St. Patricks Catholic Church in McCook after graduating from McCook High School in 1959. ...

Justin and Lori Malleck of McCook announce the birth of a daughter, Juliet Elizabeth Malleck. She was born April 1, 2010, at Community Hospital weighing 5 pounds, 6 ounces and measuring 18 1/4 inches long. She has a 9-year-old sister, Hope and an 8-year-old sister, Charity. ...

Jeremy and Rylee Shaw of McCook announce the birth of a son, Corbin Stanton Shaw. He was born April 5, 2010, at McCook weighing 6 pounds 5 ounces and measuring 19 inches long. He has a 6-year-old sister, Karragan and a 5-year-old-brother, Caleb. Grandparents are Sid and Teresa Peterson of Bushnell and Gene and Linda Shaw of Hastings...

The family of Letha Sailors of Hamlet is requesting a card shower in honor of her 91st birthday, May 19. Her family includes Karla and John Herrmann of McCook; Jaunetta and Harry Strohmyer of California; five grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. Cards of congratulations will reach her at 302 Buffington, Hamlet, NE 69031...

Scott and Amanda Felker of McCook announce the birth of a daughter, Cassidy Elaine Felker. She was born March 19, 2010, at Community Hospital weighing 6 pounds, 12.8 ounces and measuring 18.5 inches long. She has a 2-year-old brother, Caleb. Granparents are Calvin Vincent of Trenton, Bob Felker of McCook and Betty Felker of McCook...

Curtis and Emily Lashley of McCook announce the birth of their son, Lance Patrick Lashley. He was born March 17, 2010, at Community Hospital weighing 7 pounds, 14.4 ounces and measuring 21.25 inches long. He has a two year old brother, Alexander. Grandparents are Cliff and Phyllis Bach from Noorvik, Alaska, and Randy and Carol Lashley of Trenton. Great-grandmother is Arda Bach of Bethany, Missouri...

Saturday, May 15 is National Armed Forces Day; A day to celebrate and commemorate the continued sacrifice and bravery of our men and women in uniform. According to the Department of Defense, Nebraska currently has over 17,000 men and women in service. ...

I want to highlight the accomplishments of some students I've had the pleasure of meeting during special events this week. They represent some of the outstanding young people in our state who have distinguished themselves both in and out of the classroom...

July 4, 1954-May 14, 2010 SELDEN, Kansas -- Rick Hickert, 55, died Friday (May 14, 2010), at his residence in rural Selden. He was born July 4, 1954, to Quinten Joseph and Patricia Ann (Campbell) Hickert at Norton, Kansas. He was raised in Clayton, Kansas, attending school in Clayton and Jennings, Kansas. He graduated from Jenning High School in 1973...

April 6, 1921-Jan. 26, 2010 FORT WASHINGTON, Maryland -- Col. Delbert Leroy Townsend, USA (Ret.), 88, died Jan. 26, 2010. He was born April 6, 1921, in Norcatur, Kansas, and was raised in Danbury, Nebraska. He enrolled at Kansas State University with the dream of becoming a veterinarian. However, following graduation, he enlisted in the U.S. Army. His distinguished 30-year Army career included tours in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam and concluded with his retirement in 1973...