Stories from Friday, January 27, 2012

This week marks Declan's official graduation from his fear of the schoolyard playground. Gone are the days of him pestering me to walk with him all the way to his class line and wait until the bell rings. Yes, it is true, I did encourage him each morning to partake in the bustling whirlwind of activity around us and overcome his reluctancy to join the other children, but that doesn't mean I can't mourn the loss, for the both of us...

Family Features During the short days and cold nights of winter, many of us crave comfort foods. Unfortunately, the rich dishes we usually think of tend to be low in nutrition and packed with fat and calories. Well, take heart. It's possible to enjoy satisfying dishes that are tasty, hearty and nutritious...

It's too early for me to make any picks for this year's Academy Awards. I have the list of nominees in front of me; sure, there are names on it I don't recognize and a few usual suspects that make what seem to be annual appearances, but I'm waiting for a few more of the guild awards to be announced before I make my (semi-)educated guesses...

KEARNEY,Nebraska --Andrea Leigh Hazlett of Holdrege, Nebraska and Troy Lane Potthoff of McCook, Nebraska, were united in marriage Dec. 16, 2011, at the couple's home in Kearney, with Judge Graten Beavers officiating. The bride's parents are Tom and Mim Hazlett of Holdrege. The bridegroom's parents are Marvin and Florence Potthoff of McCook...

McCOOK Nebraska -- After 75 years of marriage, Robert and Dorothy Baumfalk of McCook have just about seen it all. Dust storms, crop failures, the birth and death of children, the Baumfalk's have survived it all, one day at a time. Making it to 75 years is not for sissies, Dorothy said...

Olivia Klein and Lucas McCain announce their engagement and upcoming wedding. The bride-to-be is the daughter of Doug and Paula Klein of Moorefield. The prospective bridegroom is the son of Scott and Shari McCain of Fremont. The bride-t0-be is a 2007 graduate of Medicine Valley High School, and graduated summa cum laude from Midland University in May 2011, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education. She is employed at Logan View Public Schools...

Makenzie Ann Bennett and Joshua James Coplen, both of Grand Island, Nebraska, announce their engagement and upcoming marriage. Parents of the bride-to-be are Todd and Julie Bennett of Grand Island. Grandparents are Harold and Patty Bennett of McCook, Nebraska and the late Ward and Lois McBee...

90th birthday The family of Gladys (Raichart) Heater is requesting a card shower in honor of her 90th birthday. She was born Feb. 6, 1922 in Dundy county, Nebraska at her parent's home north of Max. Cards of congratulations will reach her at Willow Ridge Retirement Center, 1500 E. 11th, Apt #120, McCook, NE 69001...

We are fortunate in Nebraska to have one of the strongest economies in the country. Our unemployment rate is 4.1% while the national average is more than double at 8.5%. Nebraska is recognized nationally as a top state in which to do business and we continue to grow and create jobs in our state...

Greg Anderson, in his book"The 22 {Non-Negotiable} Laws of Wellness, announced something that could: "If the pharmaceutical industry could bottle and sell a compound that would do all these things, the product would be hailed as the greatest wonder drug of the century," wrote Anderson, a noted cancer survivor, author of several books, speaker and consultant...

Neither society nor the individual may claim authority to divorce objective truth from government. God created the temporal order, therefore the premise that no relationship exist between Church and State defies natural reason -- their mutual support is vital to domestic tranquility. ...

All of us would like to think that we are indispensable. My dog, Harry, thinks I'm perfect and irreplaceable, especially when I feed him his favorite treat. However, a short drive past the cemetery proves the opposite, that we are all replaceable. Dr. ...

It's encouraging to see Nebraska (Marijuana Petitions Have Local Roots, Jan. 23, 2012) joining Colorado, California, Washington, Oregon, Michigan, Missouri and other states in the race to RE-legalize the extremely popular, relatively safe God-given plant cannabis (marijuana)...

Just about everyone is aware of the new construction going on at Community Hospital in McCook. When it's finished, the hospital will be like a brand new entity, providing new hope and care for residents of the area. At the same time, there's another project at the hospital that hasn't received the widespread attention that the new construction project has. ...

McCook, Nebraska -- Nine housing agencies and five multi-unit landlords have achieved smoke free designation for their buildings. Housing directors and landlords have worked diligently to provide this opportunity for tenants, according to officials "Through education from Smoke Free Nebraska, they have emphasized that secondhand smoke migrates," said Teresa Massey, Cambridge Housing Director...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- McCook Police Chief Isaac Brown told Sen. Mark Christensen that he opposed a bill that would turn law enforcement officers into debt collectors. At Thursday's McCook chamber of commerce conference call, Brown told the senator that LB 730, recently introduced by Sen. Heath Mello, would make people who couldn't pay for anything from rental center items to doctor office visits, guilty of theft...

Dorothy L. Powers Aug. 21, 1924 - Jan. 27, 2012 TRENTON, Nebraska -- Dorothy Irene (Godwin) Powers died Friday, Jan. 27, 2012, at the age of 87 at El Dorado Manor in Trenton,Nebraska. She was born Aug. 21, 1924 ,in Almena, Kansas. She was the daughter of the late Melvin and Ruth (Felt) Godwin. She graduated from McCook High School in 1942...