Stories from Friday, January 20, 2012

McCOOK, Nebraska -- A McCook man was convicted of disturbing the peace and sentenced to 14 days in jail stemming from his arrest for assaulting his 95-year-old father in September. The man, 61-year-old Jon W. Leitner, was originally charged with third degree assault but that charge was reduced at the request of the victim, according to court documents...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Area businesses and residents alike have shown their support and enthusiasm for the McCook Community College Events Center by purchasing naming rights to be placed on anything from rooms of the facility to gymnasium seats. Officials expect the events center to not only make MCC more attractive to area athletes and provide opportunity for an expansion of programs at the college, but to offer potential for conferences and sports tournaments that will benefit the community directly.. ...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Red Willow County Commissioners will consider more steps toward construction of a new jail at Monday's weekly meeting. In an item scheduled for 11:45 a.m. in the commissioners room at the courthouse, the board will meet with Wes Bradish and Nate Eckloff, RBC Capital Markets, on financing for the proposed jail project...

Most of us have a lot of good memories associated with our education -- gaining knowledge, learning skills, making good friends, picking the brains of wise teachers -- but dealing with textbooks isn't one of them. Perhaps the quality has improved today, but we remember when it seemed like writers went out of their way to make the content dry and boring...

The fall semester at MCC ended peacefully and we all went home, blissfully ignorant of the sea change that would occur in the spring semester's first week. The first news we received during our all-campus meeting the week before classes started was that our president was leaving for a similar position at Northeast Community College in Norfolk, all the way across the state from us. ...

Janet Deloris Fidler May 26, 1955 - Jan. 19, 2012 McCOOK, Nebraska -- Janet Deloris Fidler, age 56, departed this life on Jan. 19, 2012, after a courageous battle with cancer. She was born on May 26, 1955, to Robert L and Doris (Eaton) Crocker in McCook...

William Frerichs Jan. 17, 1929 - Jan. 20, 2012 McCOOK, Nebraska --William Henry Frerichs, age 83, passed away on Jan. 20, 2012, at the Golden Living Center, Cozad, Nebraska, only 3 months after having been diagnosed with terminal cancer. William was born Jan. ...

Dorothy LaVern Nordine July 21, 1931 - Jan. 18, 2012 CAMBRIDGE, Nebraska --Dorothy LaVern Hill McRorey Nordine, 80, of Kearney and formerly of Cambridge, died Wednesday (Jan. 18, 2012), at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney. Funeral services will be Saturday, Jan. 21, 2012, at 10:30 a.m. at the Evangelical Free Church in Kearney with the Rev. Mike Shields officiating. Burial will be at the City of Lubbock Cemetery in Lubbock, Texas...

Family Features One of the easiest ways to make better-for-you recipes is to swap out some ingredients. In these recipes, mayo, high-calorie dressings and heavy sauces get swapped out for creamy guacamole or flavorful fat-free salsas. Swaps like these make it easy to enjoy your favorite recipes even when you're cutting back on fat and calories...

Dale L. Brunk April 7, 1919 - Jan. 19, 2012 OBERLIN, Kansas -- Dale L. Brunk, 92, died Thursday (Jan. 19, 2012) in Oberlin. He was born April 7, 1919, to To Eddie N. and Dollie (Logan) Brunk in Norcatur,Kansas. He was raised in rural Norcatur where he attended country school. He served in the U.S. Army in World War II...

Sidney R. TroBaugh Aug. 16, 1949 - Jan. 17, 2012 BARTLEY, Nebraska -- Sidney R. TroBaugh, age 62,died Tuesday (Jan. 17, 2012), at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney, Nebraska. He was born in Geneva, Nebraska on Aug.16, 1949, to Sidney D. and Jancis (Willcock) TroBaugh. He graduated from Wilsonville High School in 1967...

MCCOOK, Nebraska -- Starla Michelle Teel of McCook, Nebraska and Kyle Dean Werkmeister of Maywood, Nebraska were united in marriage Sept. 10, 2011, at the McCook Christian Church in McCook with the Rev. Mike Parsh and PMA Fred Werkmeister officiating...

90th birthday The family of Viron E. Baxter of Palisade, Nebraska is requesting a card shower in honor of his 90th birthday. He was born Jan. 27, 1922 in Palisade. He is a life-long resident of Palisade and served during World War II in the Army Air Corps. ...

90th birthday The family of Lillian (Lebsack) Smart is requesting a card shower in honor of her 90th birthday. She was born Jan. 31, 1922 in McCook, Nebraska. She was a 1939 graduate of McCook High School. Her family includes her son, Steve (Sandy) Smart of Pensacola, Florida, two grandchildren and sister, Norma (Dale) Crocker of McCook. Cards of congratulations will reach her at Hillcrest Nursing Home, 309 W. Seventh, McCook, NE 69001...

Hansen, Fischer Hollie Elisabeth Hansen and Marshall Dean Fischer, both of Lubbock, Texas, announce their engagement and upcoming marriage. Parents of the bride-to-be are Thomas and Jill Hansen of Wellfleet, Nebraska. Grandparents are Lawrence and Jeannie Hansen of North Platte, Nebraska and Marie O'Gorman of Greeley, Nebraska...

80th birthday The family of Paul Martin is requesting a card shower in honor of his 80th birthday He was born Jan. 25. Cards of congratulations will reach him at 1704 W. Second, McCook, NE 69001

90th birthday The family of Helen Helm is requesting a card shower in honor of her 90th birthday. She was born Jan. 29, 1922, in Frontier County. Her children include Jim and Yanis Helm of McCook, Nebraska, John and Pam Helm of Redmond, Washington, Mike and Deb Helm of Norcatur, Kansas, Kathy and Robert Hezzy Brashears of Curtis, Nebraska, Ceanne and Martin Rinehart of Colby, Kansas and Laurie Helm of St. ...

Declan has been refusing to get his hair cut and I haven't had much of a problem with it, I miss the longer baby blonde he once had, but have had more than a few chuckles after seeing his hair once he removes his snow cap. I worry sometimes how he looks throughout the day at school and often catch myself trying to pressure him into a haircut, just to satisfy my insecurities pertaining to how he looks to other people. ...

The family of Elsie (Bartels) Berker is hosting an open house in honor of her 100th birthday. She was born at home on the family home in Enders, Nebraska on Jan. 24, 1912. The open house is Saturday, Jan. 21, 2-4 p.m.at the Wauneta Senior Center. Cards of congratulations will reach her at P.O. Box 520, Wauneta, NE 69045...

Braydon Jase Bryant Jason and Bridget Bryant of North Platte, Nebraska announce the birth of their son, Braydon Jase Bryant, who was born Dec. 29, 2011 at Great Plains Regional Medical Center. He weighed 7 pounds, 14 ounces and measured 21 inches long. ...

McCook, Nebraska, firefighters dump water on the two-story frame house at 108 E. Fifth in McCook. Occupants discovered smoke in the house about 8 p.m. Firefighters from McCook, Red Willow Western and Indianola were on the scene throughout the night. McCook Fire Chief Marc Harpham will release information on the fire when an investigation is complete. Utilities were cut to the house and the American Red Cross was call to assist the homeowners...