Stories from Friday, June 18, 2010

Family Features Bananas aren't just for breakfast or lunch anymore. By grilling this popular fruit, you can add a whole new flavor dimension to a dinner­time recipe and turn a basic dessert into something wow. Adding bananas to your summer grilling routine is a fun way to eat fruit. You can grill them in their peels while the BBQ coals are...

I will never be content with my performance as a parent. Constantly critical of myself and always striving to be better, as it should be. Maybe it's because I have been in the position of being a single father with full custody of my son since he was an infant. ...

Amy L. Cox and Joseph L. Frecks announce their engagement and upcoming wedding. Parents of the couple are Mick and Marlene Cox of Hayes Center and Mark and Nancy Frecks of Culbertson. Grandparents of the bride-to-be are Robert and Norma Karre of Hayes Center and Darrel and Norma Cox of Hayes Center. Grandparents of the prospective bridegroom are Nora Lewis of McCook and the late Robert J. Lewis and Pauline Frecks of Culbertson and the late Alvere "Butch" Frecks...

Lindsey Peterson and Craig Neddenriep, both of Lincoln, announce their engagement and upcoming wedding. Parents of the couple are Roland and Mary Jo Peterson of Broken Bow and Gene and Rita Neddenriep of Lincoln. Grandparents of the bride-to-be are the late Byron and Joanne Morris, formerly of Lebanon...

Angela Marie Phillips, formerly of Cambridge and John Allen Annon, now of Norton, Kansas, announce their engagement and upcoming wedding. Parents of the couple are Duane and Barbara Phillips of Cambridge, Robert Annon of Norton and the late Gail Davis. Grandparents of the bride-to-be are Gerald and Jean Witte of Cambridge...

The family of Phil Phares, formerly of Palisade, is requesting a card shower in honor of his 95th birthday. He was born June 16, 1915, at Hayes County. His family includes his children, Carol and Lou Kraus of Brule; Richard and Melanie Phares of Hygiene, Colorado; Alan Phares of Columbus; and Barbara and Larry Malicky of Columbus; eight grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. Cards of congratulations will reach him at 1100 West Second, Oshkosh, NE 69154...

Alicia Watkins and Ryan Strope of Elm Creek announce their engagement and upcoming wedding. Parents of the couple are Wayne and Lori Watkins of McCook and Floyd and Rhonda Strope of Winnetoon. Grandparents of the couple are Frank and Betty Potthoff of Palisade, Darlene Rosane of Kyle, South Dakota and Ray and Betty Oltjenbruns of Creighton, Nebraska...

The family and friends of Dorothy Ankenman of Cambridge is requesting a card shower in honor of her 80th birthday, June 21. Cards of congratulations will reach her at 1111 Dolan, Cambridge, NE 69022.

The family and friends of Emma Jean Maris is requesting a card shower in honor of her 85th birthday, June 24. Cards of congratulations will reach her at PO Box 71, Wauneta, NE 69045.

The family of Bill and Susan (Dethlefsen) Weber of Culbertson is hosting a celebration in honor of the couple's 50th wedding anniversary, June 26, 2010, 4 p.m., at Hitchcock County Fairgrounds in Culbertson. They were married June 23, 1960, in Marysville, California and moved to Culbertson in November 1971. ...

Matt and Kayla Berry of Hays, Kansas, announce the birth of a daughter, Jayde Rayann Berry. She was born May 22, 2010, at Hays, weighing 7 pounds, 4 ounces and measuring 20 inches long. Grandparents of the newborn are Steve and Kerry McConville of Bartley and Jeff and Linda Berry of Grand Island...

The family of Andrew F. and Christel W. Lakatosh is requesting a card shower in honor of the couple's 50th wedding anniversary. They were married on June 25, 1960, at the United Methodist Church in Oak Park, Illinois. Their family includes Greg and Debbie Arp and David Lakatosh. The couple resides in Centennial, Colorado, and is moving to McCook in July. Cards of congratulations will reach them at 7324 S. Dexter Way, Centennial, CO 80122...

The family of Harlan and Bernita Reiners of McCook would like to congratulate the couple for their upcoming 50th wedding anniversary. They were married June 19, 1960, at Peace Lutheran Church in McCook. Family of the couple includes Rick and Kim Reiners of Holdrege; Mark and Cindy Reiners of McCook; Jon and Angie Reiners of McCook; nine grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren...

The family of Roy and Ila League of Stratton, Nebraska is requesting a card shower in honor of the couple's 60th wedding anniversary. They were married June 25, 1950. Their family includes their children Gary and Reta League of Elbert, Colorado; Denis and Deb League of Stratton; four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Cards of congratulations will reach the couple at PO Box 37, Stratton, NE 69043...

Feb. 19, 1981-June 13, 2010 KASILOF, Alaska -- Merlin Leon Vacura, 29, died Sunday (June 13, 2010) in Kasilof. He was born Feb. 19, 1981 to Bernie Vacura and Carol Bryan and raised on the family farm near Jennings, Kansas. He attended Prairie Heights in Jennings and graduated from Decatur Community High in Oberlin, Kansas...

The families of William and RanDee (McNew) Barger are celebrating their marriage of 40 years on Saturday, June 19 at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in McCook. They have six children and eight grandchildren. The couple lives in rural Culbertson. William is a farmer and RanDee is an elementary teacher for Wauneta-Palisade Schools. A card shower is requested to Route 3 Box 54, Culbertson, Nebraska, 69024...

The family of Keith and Norma Boner is requesting a card shower in honor of their 60th anniversary on June 24. Family of the couple includes their children, Bob and Linda Boner, Linda and Scott McConnell, and Sharon and Joel Bedore. They have eight, grandchildren, and 11 great-grandchildren. Cards of congratulations will reach the couple at 72317 Drive 387, McCook, Nebraska, 69001...

Politicians, ever cognizant of the election calendar, were lining up to take turns flogging BP because of the Deepwater Horizon disaster, making sure they have the political capital to counterbalance the thousands of dollars each of them has accepted from BP and other oil companies over the years to stay in office...

John Wooden, the legendary UCLA basketball coach who died last week at the tender age of 99, was known for summing up the problems we have in life with short little catch phrases and, even though most of them made a good point about a particular problem or situation, that's not how we live our lives...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Sometime in the late afternoon or early evening hours Monday, a team of bicyclists will make their way into McCook. But this is not just any team. This is a team of exceptional athletes, many of whom are wounded Iraq and Afghan-istan veterans representing all military branches. The cyclists departed from the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, California, on May 22, for World T.E.A.M. Sports' inaugural bike trek across America called the State Farm "Sea to Shining Sea."...

Over the last year, I have shared columns with you about the work of state agencies. This is the twelfth column in the "Get to Know" sequence. This week's article is about an agency that is essential in our response to challenges we face in emergency scenarios...

One of several facets of the State Treasurer's Office is the Nebraska State Disbursement Unit, which handles the collection and disbursement of all child support payments made throughout the state. Each month, nearly 23 million dollars is processed through our department and disbursed to custodial parents and primary caregivers. We have taken great strides to streamline our efforts, and to reach new levels of efficiency...

As we move into summer and higher energy prices hit Nebraska families, small businesses, farmers, and ranchers it is becoming increasingly clear we need a real, comprehensive energy plan. The onset of the summer travel season traditionally means an increase in the demand for fuel as families take to the road for vacations. ...

LYONS, Nebraska -- Today, the USDA announced the publication of a new draft rule regarding how meatpacking corporations must deal with farmers and ranchers in the procurement of livestock and poultry. The administrative rule covers a number of reforms to help restore competitive markets and contract fairness to livestock and poultry markets, including establishing a definition for what constitutes an "undue or unreasonable preference."...

Kent Nutrition Group, Inc. (KNG) is voluntarily recalling some Kent Feeds swine feed products due to insufficient vitamin D levels in premixes it purchased from Tri Ag Supply, Inc. that were used in those swine feed products. The recall is being implemented in order to prevent health problems in swine consuming feed products where there is a vitamin D3 deficiency...

Serves, spikes and sets take center stage in McCook Saturday night in the 19th annual Sertoma All-Star Volleyball Classic. The all-star volleyball contest matches many of southwest Nebraska's top senior players from the 2009 season. The match is set to begin Saturday at 7 p.m. at the McCook Senior High School gymnasium...

Feb. 13, 1938-June 15, 2010 ATWOOD, Kansas -- Anne Jeanette Ratcliff Schalker, 72, died at her home on Tuesday (June 15, 2010) in Atwood. She was born Feb. 13, 1938 in Atwood. She was the younger daughter of Dewey and Ona Mae Ratcliff. She studied piano and flute at the Juilliard School of Music and graduated in 1962 with a degree in piano performance...