Stories from Friday, July 23, 2010

Family Features If busy schedules and digital distractions are getting in the way of family time, help is on the way. Unilever, maker of many leading food brands, recently unveiled The Family Dish, a program aimed at helping busy families discover the joys of cooking together...

LINCOLN, Nebraska -- Brooke Hiatt of McCook and Brian Robinson of Lincoln were united in marriage, June 12, 2010, at Antelope Park Bandshell in Lincoln with the Rev. Steve Smith officiating. Parents of the couple are Dennis and Karen Hiatt of McCook and James and Cheryl Robinson of Lincoln. Grandparents of the bride are Bill Schenck of McCook and the late Mary Schenck; Betty Hiatt of McCook and the late Red Hiatt; and Dennis and Dixie Kofler of McCook...

NORTH PLATTE, Nebraska -- Candace Klein of Fremont and Nick Broz of Hastings were united in marriage on May 28, 2010, at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in North Platte with the Rev. Jim Golka officiating the nuptial Mass. Parents of the couple are Doug and Paula Klein of Moorefield and James and Katherine Broz of Hayes Center. ...

Kelsey Marie Kathman and Jake Dean Thieszen, both of McCook, announce their engagement and upcoming wedding. Parents of the couple are Ken and Mary Kathman of Lawrence and Todd and Shariel Thieszen of McCook. Grandparents of the bride-to-be are Bertha Kathman of Lawrence and Rita Kohmetscher of Lawrence. Grandparents of the prospective bridegroom are Dean Thieszen of Aurora, Nebraska, and Ruth Ann Barr of Weatherford, Texas...

The family of Zilah N. Powell is requesting a card shower in honor of her 96th birthday, July 27. Cards of congratulations will reach her c/o Grandview Senior Center, RR 2, PO Box 8202, Stratton, NE 69043.

SMITHFIELD, Nebraska -- The family of Marie (Wilcox) Kuck is requesting a card shower in honor of her 80th birthday, August 2. Cards of congratulations will reach her at Box 212, Smithfield, NE 68976.

The family of Roy and Greta Stratton of Trenton is celebrating the couple's 64th wedding anniversary. They were married July 20, 1946, in Hiawatha, Kansas. Their family includes two sons, Jim and wife, Ann of St. Mary's, Georgia and Rick and Susan of Holmen, Wisconsin; five grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren...

Alissa Marie Herron and Tyler Dale Richardson of McCook announce their engagement and upcoming wedding. Parents of the couple are Lawrence and Rita Herron and Doyle and Julie Richardson. Grandparents of the bride are Cliff and Annie Oakley of McCook. Grandparents of the prospective bridegroom are Wayne and Jolarson Vernon, Jeanette Diederich and great-grandmother Donna Eskew, all of Oberlin...

Jessica Deck and Collin Lutz announce their engagement and upcoming wedding. Parents of the couple are William and Janette Deck of Sioux City, Iowa, and Scott and Brenda Lutz of Parks, Nebraska., Grandparents of the couple include Paul and Marie Deck of Sioux City, Jaqueline Hahne of New Smyrna Beach, Florida, Carl and Jean Lutz of Parks, and Henry and Jean Krug of Benkelman...

Jeremy and Liz Yilk of McCook announce the birth of a son, Nolan Jeremy Yilk. He was born June 22, 2010, at Community Hospital in McCook weighing 9 pounds and measuring 21 and 1/4 inches long. He has a 2-year-old sister, Camryn Yilk. Grandparents of the newborn are Kyle and Michele Hoehner of Lexington and Dan and Donna Yilk of Gothenburg. ...

The family of Gerald and Arlan (Kircher) Huntwork of Curtis is requesting a card shower in honor of the couple's 50th wedding anniversary. They were married Aug. 27, 1960, at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in McCook. Family of the couple includes their children, Barb Laughlin of Nora, Nebraska, Denise Foster of Berwyn, Nebraska, James Huntwork of Grand Island and Jay Huntwork of Gretna, Nebraska; 11 grandchildren; and 1 great-grandhchild. ...

ARVADA, Colorado -- The family of Eldon Spears of Arvada, Colorado, formerly of McCook, is requesting a card shower in support of his recovery at Lutheran Medical Center. Get well cards will reach him c/o Lutheran Medical Center, 8300 West 38th Street, Wheatridge, CO 80033...

Andrius and Danica Babusis of Hillsboro, Oregon, announce the birth of a daughter, Aušra Terese Babusis. She was born June 24, 2010, in Portland, Oregon, weighing 8 pounds, 8 ounces and measuring 20 and 3/4 inches long. Grandparents of the newborn are Lynn and Charlynn Hamilton and Sigitus and Danute Babusis of McMinnville, Oregon. Great-grandmothers are Linnaea Budke of McCook and Stace Gricius of California...

Willie and Kelsey Wynn of WaKeeney, Kansas, announce the birth of a daughter, Paiton Jo Wynn. She was born July 6, 2010, at Hays Medical Center, weighing 8 pounds, one ounce and measuring 21 inches long. Grandparents of the newborn are Bill and Sarah Berry of McCook and Bill and Patty Wynn of WaKeeney...

June 15, 1935-July 18, 2010 FINGER, Tennessee -- Neil Otis Hardy, 75, died Sunday (July 18, 2010) at Jackson General Hospital in Jackson, Tennessee. Mr. Hardy was born and reared in Stratton, Nebraska, the son of the late Frank Kenneth and Lola Myra Henderson Hardy. He graduated from Stratton High School in 1953 and attended Abilene Christian College for two years...

In the 1960s, music was huge in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Students attending the University of Arkansas joined old bands needing new members or formed bands of their own and played every weekend at one of the many clubs located around town. Some of the bands went on to enjoy national success, some broke up after band members graduated, but because of the camaraderie that exists between musicians, many stayed in touch with each other. ...

The McCook Mayor and City Manager have a concern with the way news has been reported in "the local print media." The City Manager feels that "the local print media" has confused the public on certain aspects of the proposed city facility, and the Mayor has written a letter to the editor, published Wednesday, claiming our coverage was misleading...

Feb. 28, 1909-July 22, 2010 CAMBRIDGE, Nebraska -- Rachel L. Burke, 101, died at the Cambridge Memorial Hospital on Thursday (July 22, 2010). Rachel was born north of Wilsonville on the family farm on Feb. 28, 1909, to Charles and Mary (Van Cleave) Meyers. ...

CURTIS, Nebraska -- Middle Republican Natural Resources District officials have inspected wells owned by an irrigator who bypassed water meters on wells in another district and found no violations, MRNRD officials said in a release today. "As in the Upper Republican NRD case, some wells within our district were also dug up to be inspected," Middle Republican NRD manager Dan Smith said. The inspections found no violations...

BERKELEY, California -- Oberlin native Philip P. Frickey of Moraga, California, a professor at University of California Berkeley and one of the nation's foremost experts on public law and federal Indian law and policy, died Sunday, July 11. He was 57...

CURTIS, Nebraska -- The Middle Republican Natural Resources District will collect no property taxes to make up for a property tax collected in 2008 that was later ruled to be unconstitutional. The NRD levied the 2008 tax to fund a $9 million bond fund, to buy surface water to keep Nebraska in compliance with the Republican River Compact, but a state court ruled the tax unconstitutional...

Too much can never be said when encouraging people to search for unclaimed property. In Nebraska, there is still some $80 million in unclaimed assets that sits and waits to be claimed. While a search database for Nebraska's unclaimed property can be accessed from treasurer.org, there is also a nation-wide site which allows visitors to search unclaimed assets in all 50 states. Missingmoney.com works in conjunction with state governments in helping to promote unclaimed property searches...

On July 21 what many hoped would be a bipartisan effort to reform Wall Street and ensure our economy avoids another fiscal meltdown ended on a partisan note. As a result, the financial regulatory reform bill President Obama signed into law will cost jobs, hurt our economy, and was passed with very little Republican support...

LINCOLN, Nebraska -- Nebraska fairs and festivals showcase the best of Nebraska. Every summer Nebraskans have the opportunity to join together for fun and fellowship as they celebrate our state's agricultural heritage and achievements at county fairs all across Nebraska...