Stories from Friday, August 22, 2014

Carolyn J. Ellis March 16, 1943 - Aug. 20, 2014 THORNTON, Colo. -- Carolyn J. Ellis, age 71, passed away at the Virba Long Term Care Facility in Thornton, Colorado, on Aug. 20, 2014. She was born in Callaway, Nebraska, on March 16, 1943, to Morris and Elsie (Armold) Downin. She graduated from Callaway High School in 1961, and attended for two semesters of college at Chadron State, when she met James Ellis...

Leon Dale Beckwith Nov. 23, 1920 - Aug. 20, 2014 LINCOLN, Neb. -- Leon Dale Beckwith, age 93, of Lincoln, died on Aug. 20, 2014 in Lincoln. He was born Nov. 23, 1920, in Culbertson, Nebraska, to Vernard and Iva (Ohlson) Beckwith. Leon graduated from Culbertson High School in 1939...

Donna Verdene Johnson Jan. 14, 1926 - Aug. 19, 2014 BIRD CITY, Kansas -- Donna Verdene Johnson, 88, died Tuesday (Aug. 19, 2014), at Good Samaritan Society in Atwood, Kansas. She was born Jan. 14, 1926, at St. Francis, Kansas. She was a homemaker. Survivors include her husband, Ned T. Johnson of Bird City; children, Stuart Johnson of Bird City, Shelly Wood of Coppell, Texas, Rosalie Ketter of Bird City and Merilie Leach of St. Francis; seven grandchildren and six great-granchildren...

Dennis Powell June 25, 1944 - Aug. 19, 2014 OGALLALA, Neb. -- Dennis Powell, 70, of Ogallala, died Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2014, in Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney. Dennis was born June 25, 1944, in Grant, Nebraska, the son of Sterling and Ella Mae (maiden name: Ray) Powell. He graduated from Grant High School in 1962...

This information is gathered at the McCook Public Safety Center, the McCook office of the Nebraska State Patrol, the Red Willow County Courthouse, the Red Willow County Sheriff's Office and the McCook Humane Society. Police activity Activity log...

30th anniversary The family of Mike and Sally Daffer of Danbury, Nebraska, is requesting a card shower in honor of the couple's 30th wedding anniversary on Aug. 25. They were married 1984 in McCook, Nebraska. Their family includes children, Lisa Seaman of Grand Island, Nebraska, Jennifer Daffer and Justin Daffer, of Danbury and one grandchild, Weston Michael Seaman. Cards of congratulations will reach them at 70354 Road 395, Danbury NE, 69026...

Lepper, Helm Mishae Victoria Lepper and Jaime Jose Helm of McCook, Nebraska, announce their engagement and upcoming wedding. Parents of the bride-to-be are DeWayne Lepper and Brett and Lori Schmidt of McCook. Parents of the prospective bridegroom are James and Yanis Helm of McCook...

85th birthday The family of Rosa Belle Repass of McCook, Nebraska, is requesting a card shower in honor of her 85th birthday Aug 22. Cards of congratulations will reach her at 206 East K, McCook, NE 69001.

Elsie Jo Jarding Mark and Sara Jarding of Bellevue, Nebraska, announce the birth of their daughter, Elsie Jo Jarding, who was born July 2, 2014, at Bellevue Medical Center. She weighed 7 pounds, 6 ounces and measured 20 inches long. She has one brother, Kolbe, 3 1/2, and sister, Jameson, 2. Grandparents are Dick and Kathie Cappel of McCook, Nebraska, and the late Jim Jarding and Margaret Jarding. Great grandparents are Lorna Trupp of McCook and Jim and Edith Jarding of Humboldt, South Dakota...

Susan Doak SW Nebraska Genealogy Society McCOOK, Neb. -- This last week was spent putting up corn and peaches plus making 27 jars of apple butter. Whenever I do these types of activities, my mother seems to be standing next to me prodding me along. It's a good thing, as I told my husband, that those jars and frozen bags of produce will be appreciated this winter, or the work entailed wouldn't be worth it!...

Family Features We all want to eat more vegetables -- and in the summer, when farmers markets and grocery stores are filled with fresh, colorful produce, it's easier than ever. From juicy red tomatoes and yellow sweet corn to vibrant green broccoli, seasonal produce can be even more enjoy­able with the addition of spices and herbs...

After almost two weeks of nightly confrontation between black citizens and a militarized police force, some calm has returned to Ferguson, Missouri. It all started in the afternoon of Aug. 9 when a white Ferguson police officer shot and killed a black unarmed teenager, Michael Brown...

McCook is doing a fine job of providing recreational facilities that meet the demand of some local residents according to the City of McCook's recent survey. I agree with the findings of the survey, except for one recreational facility which is needed. "Par Three Golf Course."...

Al Qaeda is afraid of ISIS because they are incredibly brutal. That's like sharks being terrified of a mutant sea animal that can rip them to shreds. A television commentator said that an army that celebrates the carnage of death with Isis' bloodthirsty glee hasn't been seen since the days of the Aztecs. You and I don't remember what that was like, but it must not have been pretty...

A trip to the Trenton Public Library is like dining at a good restaurant. Their menu includes excellent books, DVDs and multiple resources. Volunteers serve its patrons and it operates on private donations. If you want to sample a special appetizer, check out "Killing Kennedy" by Bill O'Reilly and Martin Durgard. It was published 2012 by Holt & Co...

"Greater Nebraskans" who live in our end of the state like to joke that our eastern Nebraska friends think the state ends at Grand Island. We probably shouldn't be too harsh on them, our friends from Scottbluff and Chadron probably feel the same about us...

McCOOK, Neb. -- Road grading in the Calabria Subdivision northeast of McCook, Nebraska, continues to be a topic of discussion for Red Willow County commissioners and the county's highway superintendent. The subject comes up before commissioners and roads superintendent Gary Dicenta at the commissioners' weekly meeting Monday, on the third floor of the courthouse in McCook. The meeting, always open to the public, begins at 9 a.m.; the Calabria subject is scheduled at 10:15 a.m...

McCOOK, Neb. -- The McCook City Council directed city staff to reclassify budgeted funds for a new water slide as "pool improvements," prior to the second reading of the City of McCook 2014-15 Fiscal Year Budget. The change came Monday evening after Councilman Mike Gonzales initially proposed utilizing the water slide funds to bolster budgeted reserves. ...

LINCOLN, Neb. -- Today, Governor Dave Heineman recognized three Nebraska State employees and three Nebraska State agencies for wellness achievements and leadership during this year's Wellness Award Luncheon for state employees. "Wellness is a key component to our daily lives," said Gov. Heineman. "I'm pleased to recognize our state employees and the agencies who are working to keep our workforce healthy and happy."...

LINCOLN, Neb. -- Historian Christopher Rein examines religious violence and "Manifest Destiny" as causal factors of the 1864 Sand Creek Massacre in the summer issue of Great Plains Quarterly. Rein, associate professor of history at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, argues that religious Army officers leading Colorado soldiers saw the extermination of American Indians was an important way of fulfilling their "Manifest Destiny."...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Friends were shocked. Oh, no! Not Nebraska! It's so isolated. It's so hot. But Lola, a native of Mexico, was determined and challenged and full of energy, and her father-in-law encouraged the adventure. So, 4 1/2 years ago, Lola and her husband, Todd Garlick, moved from the Tri Cities of Washington State to a farm 16 miles north of McCook, Nebraska...

Community Hospital CEO Jim Ulrich accepts the "Ice Bucket Challenge" from MNB President Brian Esch, Thursday, to the delight of hospital employees and friends. Donations from the viral video have helped the ALS Association raise $15.6 million so far, nine times what it normally raises. Other charities supporting ALS research say they have raised 10 to 50 times their normal donations this time of year...

LINCOLN, Neb. -- United States Attorney Deborah R. Gilg announced that Vance David Baumbach, 37, formerly of Oxford, Nebraska, was sentenced today in Lincoln, Nebraska, to 15 years in prison by United States Senior District Judge Richard G. Kopf, for receiving child pornography. ...

McCOOK, Neb. -- A McCook man and woman have each been indicted on federal drug charges. The office of U.S. Attorney Deborah Gilg announced Thursday 59-year-old Danny Reed and 38-year-old Tammy Knight have each been charged with possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine...

McCOOK, Neb. -- Following a budget workshop the week prior which attracted no public attendance, aside from city department heads, Monday's first reading of the city budget wasn't much better. The lack of attendance was noticed by at least one City Councilor who said he wished more members of the public would attend the meetings...