Stories from Friday, July 9, 2010

Dec. 1, 1916-July 7, 2010 LINCOLN, Nebraska -- Tofy John Toomey, 93, formerly of Arapahoe, died on Wednesday (July 7, 2010). He was born on Dec. 1, 1916, in Kearney to Lebanese immigrants George and Katie (Abood) Shada. The family lived in Kearney until George died during the flu pandemic of 1918. His mother then remarried to William Toomey, another Lebanese immigrant. He was raised on a farmstead in Gosper County north of Arapahoe...

Dec. 7, 1914-July 8, 2010 MADISON, Wisconsin -- Susanna Maria Sophia (Esslinger) Leibbrandt, 95, formerly of McCook, Nebraska, died on Thursday (July 8, 2010) at Hebron Oaks Nursing Home, Oakwood Village in Madison, Wisconsin. Susanna was born to Rudolph and Alma A.K. (Helms) Esslinger on Dec. 7, 1914, in Gosper County, near Arapahoe, Nebraska. She was baptized at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Arapahoe, and was also confirmed at Immanuel on June 12, 1929...

CAMBRIDGE, Nebraska -- Jayde Theresa Deterding, infant daughter of Bart and Reba (Renner) Deterding, died Thursday (July 8, 2010) at the Cambridge Memorial Hospital. She is survived by her parents Bart and Reba; two sisters, Autumn and Brenna at home; paternal grandparents, Bill Deterding of Cambridge, and Shauna and husband, Bill Wiegerfe of Omaha; maternal grandparents, Warren and Becky Renner of North Bend, Nebraska; great-grandparents, Helen Spath of North Bend and Pauline Renner of Dodge, Nebraska, and Mervin and Jo Zysset of Cambridge.. ...

Dear Editor, Many citizens of Southwest Nebraska want their elected officials held accountable for their actions, and if you're one of them, the Tea Party Patriots of SW Nebraska want to hear from you! The Tea Party Patriots of SW Nebraska are having a public information and membership drive July 12th at 6:30 p.m., at the Community Building at Red Willow Fairgrounds...

I was a pretty good athlete in high school and college and played all sports, except golf and tennis. After college, I picked up tennis and got good enough to represent the Tulsa police department in the Police Olympics held in Phoenix, Arizona with my doubles partner, Sgt. Jack McFarland. We didn't win but we held our own in the first round against the team from the Los Angeles police department and then the New York City police department team in the loser's bracket...

First come, first served applies; procrastinating may be costly.

Fifth grader Dallas Fletcher enjoys the swing at Elk's Park Thursday afternoon, but says he does't like the idea of new play equipment, proposed in the City of McCook budget tor 2010-11. City staff has proposed improvements to Elk's Park as part of the preliminary budget, suggesting $20,000 be utilized for park play equipment and an additional $8,000 to replace the fence. Fletcher is concerned that changes would restrict his use of the park as his "football training grounds."...

Family Features Italian food is at the top of many people's list of favorite cuisines -- and for good reason. Chef Fabio Viviani, "Top Chef" contestant and Owner and Executive Chef of Firenze Osteria Italian Restaurant and Martini Bar in Los Angeles, knows that the combination of fresh ingre­dients, flavorful herbs and healthy, high quality olive oil makes Italian cuisine a...

Dennise Margaret Pfeifer and Cody Andrew Daniels, both of Kearney announce their engagement and upcoming wedding. Parents of the couple are Donald and Lana Pfeifer of Bassett, Nebraska, and Byron and Peggy Daniels of Trenton. Grandparents of the bride-to-be are John and Melva Fletcher of Bassett. Grandparent of the prospective bridegroom is Manota Daniels of Stratton...

Taryn Rachelle Placzek and Joel Thomas Arterburn announce their engagement and upcoming wedding. Parents of the couple are Rich and Tonya Placzek of McCook and Tom and Cindi Arterburn of McCook. Grandparents of the bride-to-be are Gene and Jan Mahon of McCook and Clarence and Delta Placzek of Loup City. Grandparents of the prospective bridegroom are Bob and Teresa Purvis of McCook and Kermit and Charlene Arterburn of McCook...

Mallory Jean Williams and Zachary Lee Carfield, both of McCook, announce their engagement and upcoming wedding. Parents of the couple are Randy and Stephanie Williams of Benkelman, Brenda Lavery of Culbertson and Darin Carfield of McCook. Grandparents of the bride-to-be are William Wall of Benkelman, Betty Sis of Benkelman and Gene and Sherryl Williams of Grant. ...

BELLEVUE, Nebraska -- Mary Ellyn Chapin and Steven Lee Wisnieski, both of Bellevue, Nebraska, were united in marriage on April 24, 2010, at the Historic Presbyterian Church in Bellevue with the Rev. Ryan Brons of Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church of LaVista, Nebraska, officiating...

The family of Leonard and Rose Sitzman is requesting a card shower in honor of the couple's 50th wedding anniversary. The were married July 17, 1960, at McCook. Family of the couple include Angie Sitzman of Lincoln; Dave and Shawna Rischling of Alliance; Steve and Janine Marker of Seward; and five grandchildren. Cards of congratulations will reach the couple at 1627 N. Columbia, Seward, NE 68434...

The family of Katherine Atteberry of Arapahoe, is requesting a card shower in honor of her 98th birthday July 16. Cards of congratulation will reach her at 908 Cherry St., Arapahoe, NE 68922.

The family of Lynn and Sharon Riley of North Platte, formerly of Trenton, is requesting a card shower in honor of the couple's 50th wedding anniversary. The couple was married July 24, 1960, at Trenton. Family of the couple includes their children, Kim Aden of North Platte, Deryl Riley of Arapahoe and Debbie Wolfram of Las Vegas; six grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. ...

Josh and Sarah Krueger of Omaha announce the birth of a son, Cael Samuel Krueger. He was born June 27, 2010, at Bergen Mercy Hospital weighing 8 pounds 8 ounces and measuring 20 and 3/4 inches in length. He has two siblings, Harrison and Jack, both age 2. Grandparents of the newborn are Don and Carey Harrison of Stratton and Gerry and Sherri Krueger of Pierce. Great-grandparents are Erwin and Joyce Cushing of Stratton, and Don and Fredora Harrison of Clinton, Oklahoma...

Brian and Lori Armstrong of Brule, Nebraska, announce the birth of a daughter, Emalee Mae Armstrong. She was born June 25, 2010, in North Platte, weighing 8 pounds, 4 ounces and measuring 19.5 inches long. Her siblings are Darren, 12, Hannah, 9, Luke, 8, and Tyler, 2. Grandparents are Darrel and Darlene Armstrong of Brule and John and Peg Ahlemeyer of Wilsonville. Her great-grandmother is Bea Willey of Arapahoe...

The family of Norma Crocker of McCook is requesting a card shower in honor of her 75th birthday. She was born July 15, 1935, at McCook. Her family includes husband, Dale Crocker of McCook; four daughters, Cathy Winder and husband, Dan of Kearney, Barb Henwood and husband, Chuck Henwood of Fort Worth, Texas, Lisa Horsley and husband, Rod Horsley of Kearney and Karen Wilhelm and husband, Darrell of Lincoln; 11 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. ...

Gwen Lanae Rhinehart and Jarrett Edward Buresh announce their engagement and upcoming wedding. Parents of the couple are Jim and Lora Rhinehart of Arapahoe, Wayne Buresh of Loveland, Colorado, and Cindy Buresh of Gordon. The couple works at Cabela's in Kearney, the bride-to-be is the systems trainer and prospective bridegroom is the hardlines manager...

Several upsets highlighted first-round action Thursday, July 8, in the McCook Midget Baseball Association's Cubs Division Tournament. The post-season tournament for players entering grades 5-7 next fall is being played at Felling Field. The ninth-seeded Collicott Taxidermy Orioles topped eighth-seed Janssen-Kool Honda Mets, 13-4. The Orioles advance to second-round action Friday at 5:30 p.m. against top-seeded D & T Electric Yankees...

There are a few universities that would be on the list of "dream jobs" for college athletic coaches. Football, perhaps Nebraska would be high on that list. Basketball, maybe Kansas or North Carolina. Wrestling, probably the University of Iowa. Not too many coaches would turn down an opportunity to work at one of the nation's top programs in their respective sport. ...

Ryan and Shandra Minary of Henderson announce the birth of a daughter Sophie Anne Minary. She was born June 21, 2010, at Aurora, Nebraska, weighing 9 pounds 11 ounces and measuring 21 and 1/4 inches long. She has three siblings, Shelby 11, Sidney 11, and Savannah 4. Grandparents of the newborn are Todd and Denise Ogorzolka of Henderson, Nebraska; Tim and Mary Williams of Cambridge; and Roger Minary of Blue Hill, Nebraska. Great-grandfather is Dennis Barnett of Holbrook...

Tuesday evening the McCook City Council received the city staff's 2010-11 preliminary budget which includes a "4.5 percent across the board cost of living adjustment for all employees." City Manager Kurt Fritsch said in the introductory letter for the budget "We feel that it is important to make these increases so that we may stay in line with our compensation practices." The letter also stated that "state funding has been reduced by about 5 percent in revenue sharing to cities in Nebraska" and in another section that "unless there is improvement in revenues and the state funds cities at their full share we will seriously have to consider some increase in the property tax rate in 2011-12.". ...