Stories from Friday, January 7, 2011

BRECKENRIDGE, Colorado -- Lindsay Janelle Schmidt of Columbus, Nebraska and Talon Shea Darling of McCook were united in marriage on Sept. 10, 2010, at Sapphire Point in Breckenridge, Colorado with Kevin Darling officiating. Parents of the couple are Roger and Linda Schmidt of Columbus, and Kevin and Tami Darling of McCook...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Amanda McCarty and Joshua Neel, both of McCook, were united in marriage on Nov. 13, 2010, at the McCook Christian Church with the Rev. Clark Bates officiating. Parents of the couple are Christopher and Leeann McCarty and Donald and Patricia Neel, all of McCook. Grandparents of the bride are Inger Jacobs of McCook and Nadena McCarty of Sidney, Nebraska. Grandparents of the bridegroom are Margaret Gates of Palisade, Nebraska, and Margaret Neel of McCook...

The family of Joan Gilliam of McCook, Nebraska is requesting a card shower in honor of her 80th birthday, Jan. 12. She was born Jan. 12, 1931, in McCook. Family includes children, Sue and Gary Finke of Ravenna, Nebraska, Jay and Maureen Gilliam of Omaha, Nebraska, Gayl and Gary Korus of McCook, Lee and Jane Gilliam of Oberlin, Kansas, and Gwen amd Jason Fortin of Oberlin; 16 grandchildren; and 19 great-grandchildren. Cards of congratulations will reach her at 914 E. Seventh, McCook, NE 69001...

Family Features If you're hungering for something new to eat, or it's time to put some zip into the same old menus, take heart. These recipes bring two great ingredients together -- Texas Rio Star Grapefruit and USA peanuts -- perking up meal time with fresh and flavorful dishes...

The family of Victor Kisela of Stratton, Nebraska is requesting a card shower in honor of his 86th birthday, Jan. 10. Cards of congratulations will reach him at P.O. Box 232, Stratton, NE 69043.

Kori and Zach Randolph of Omaha, Nebraska, announce the birth of a daughter, Kendall Jayde Randolph. She was born Dec. 22, 2010, at Bergan Mercy Medical Center in Omaha, weighing 6 pounds, 7 ounces and measuring 19.5 inches long. Grandparents are Cheryl Collins of McCook, Nebraska, Duane and Jan Collins of McCook, and Larry and Nancy Randolph of Indianola, Nebraska...

Aaron and Katie Brennan of Callaway Nebraska announce the birth of a daughter, Gracie Ann Brennan. She was born Dec. 22, 2010, in Kearney, Nebraska, weighing 6 pounds, 7 ounces. She has a brother, Bo, 4. Grandparents are Paul and Betty Brennan of Grand Junction Colorado, and Kevin and Joni Drain of Trenton, Nebraska. Great-grandparents are Marge Huble, John Brennan, and Dude Drain of Trenton...

McCOOK, Nebraska --Justin and Laurie Koch of McCook announce the birth of a daughter, Brynley Mae Koch. She was born Jan. 2, 2011, at the Community Hospital in McCook, weighing 7 pounds, 12.8 ounces and measuring 19.75 inches long. She has two siblings, Ashton, 6, and Taydym, 3. ...

Friends and family of Ben and Gail Keeler of Cheyenne, Wyoming, formerly of McCook, Nebraska, is requesting a belated card shower in honor of the couple's 50th wedding anniversary. They were married Dec. 26, 1960, in Valentine, Nebraska. Their family includes daughter, the late Janice Keeler. Cards of congratulations will reach the couple at 2012 Prairie Dog Drive, Cheyenne, WY 82001-6468...

The family of Robert and Geraldine Nemeth of Herndon, Kansas is requesting a card shower in honor of the couple's 60th wedding anniversary. They were married Jan. 16, 1951, in Herndon. Cards of congratulations will reach the couple at 408 Sunfield Ave., Herndon, KS 67739...

The family of Harold and Irene Light of Cambridge, Nebraska is requesting a card shower and celebration in honor of the couple's 50th wedding anniversary. They were married Jan. 7, 1961, at Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Goodland, Kansas. Their family includes children, Debbie (Light) and Doug Pickinpaugh of Elwood, Nebraska, Mitch and Pam Light of Chase, Kansas, Steven Light and Dennis Conway of Belchertown, Massachusetts, Diane (Light) and Chris Rich of Cambridge, Eddie and Jenifer Light of Haysville, Kansas, and Becky (Light) and Donovan Redl of McCook, Nebraska; 19 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. ...

CULBERTSON, Nebraska -- The family of Charles and Karen Cline of rural Culbertson is requesting a card shower in honor of the couple's 50th wedding anniversary. They were married Jan. 7, 1961, in Harrisburg, Nebraska. Their family includes children, Terry Cline of Culbertson and Teena Jones of Golden, Colorado; and two grandchildren. Cards of congratulations will reach the couple at 37479 Road 722, Culbertson, NE 69024...

May 3, 1925--Jan. 5, 2011 OBERLIN, Kansas -- Francis M. Ritter, 85, formerly of Dresden, Kansas, died Wednesday (Jan. 5, 2011), at Decatur County Hospital in Oberlin. He was born May 3, 1925, in rural Leoville, Kansas, to Bernard and Philomenia (Kruse) Ritter. He was raised on a farm near Leoville and graduated from Leoville High School in 1943...

BENKELMAN, Nebraska -- Vivian L. Osborn, 89, died Thursday (Jan. 6, 2011), at Dundy County Hospital in Benkelman. Funeral services are Monday, 10:30 a.m., at Forch Funeral Chapel in Benkelman with Marcine Farmer, PMA, officiating. Interment will follow services at the Benkelman Cemetery...

INDIANOLA, Nebraska -- Graveside inurnment for Donald "Dean" Musgrave, who died Nov. 15, 2010 in Cambridge, Nebraska, is Saturday, 1 p.m., at the Indianola Cemetery with the Rev. Clark Bates officiating. Military honor guard will be provided by the Indianola Veterans. A time of sharing with coffee and cookies will be held at the Indianola Community Building following the committal...

Nebraska has never been shy about going its own way, from establishing the only one-house Legislature, to being one of the few states which can split its electoral votes -- President Obama benefitted from that ability in the 2008 election. One law proposed in the Unicameral this week would bring the state back into step on electoral votes, but another would set us apart...

Two news stories hit the wires this week and although not related, (at least I don't think they are) are pretty interesting. The first involves Nebraska head football coach Bo Pelini (yea again) and his conduct at a luncheon held on the USS Ronald Reagan on Dec. ...

McCook, Nebraska --The public is invited to Community Hospital's ribbon cutting and grand opening of the new 25-bed patient wing, Sunday at 2 p.m. The event is in celebration of the completion of the hospital's Facility Master Plan -- Phase 1. It will be held in a large event tent which was erected yesterday, complete with lighting, a solid wood floor and heat...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Nebraska's drivers started getting new license plates Jan. 1, and throughout the week, state officials have heard them called "too busy" and maybe even "the worst license plate ever." Someone getting his new plates in the Red Willow County treasurer's office said he thinks the design is "girly." And he "sneezed" at the goldenrod...

LINCOLN, Nebraska -- A University of Nebraska-Lincoln soil environmental chemist and several of his students have developed an apparently effective and low-cost solution to groundwater contamination at a former central Nebraska landfill. For the past year and a half, Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources soil environmental chemist Steve Comfort and several of his Environmental Restoration Science graduate and undergraduate students have been working at an abandoned landfill near Cozad to clean up groundwater contaminated with toxic trichloroethylene, a once commonly used solvent and degreaser.. ...

We have good news to share about the state's wellness program. This year, the State of Nebraska will receive the Well Workplace Award presented by the Wellness Council of America for its wellness program for state employees. Nebraska is one of only two state governments to win the award...

OBERLIN, Kansas -- A Long Island, Kansas, man has been charged in connection with a deer poaching incident in early December in Decatur County, Kansas. Jake Swisher, age unknown, of Long Island now faces charges similar to those filed against five Wisconsin men after a hunting excursion ended with 12-16 dead deer -- many of them trophy size -- loaded onto a Kansas game warden's trailer and parked outside the courthouse in Oberlin during the Wisconsin men's arraignment on Dec. 8...

Layne and Betsy Perkins of Lincoln, Nebraska, announce the birth of a son, Braylon Reid Perkins. He was born Dec. 19, 2010, weighing 5 pounds, 9 ounces, measuring 18 inches long. His grandparents are Ron and Jean Perkins of McCook, Nebraska, and Gerry and Pam George of Waco, Nebraska. Great-grandparents are Gerald and Gladys Cole of Curtis, Nebraska, Richard and Janice Long of Waco, and Robert and Melba Liedtke of Stromsburg, Nebraska...