Stories from Friday, October 3, 2014

Ronald R. Decker June 21, 1951 - Sept.30, 2014 GARDEN CITY, Kan. -- Ronald R. Decker, 63, died Tuesday, Sept.30, 2014, at his home in Garden City. He was born June 21, 1951, in Imperial, Nebraska, the son of Harold L. and Shirley (Follett) Decker. A resident of Garden City since 1985, he was a stocker for Wal-Mart and a U.S. Navy veteran...

CRAWFORD, Neb. -- Alicia Brown of Wilsonville, Nebraska, and Dawson Moody of Crawford, Nebraska, were united in marriage June 7, 2014, at an outdoor ceremony at Fort Robinson State Park with the Rev. Keith Theobald officiating. Parents of the bride of Gary and Karen Brown of Wilsonville...

Susan Doak SW Nebraska Genealogy Society MCCOOK, Neb. -- My daughter has the dubious honor of being mistaken for me quite frequently. That identity problem is enhanced by the fact that our voices sound the same. It is not that she looks so much like I do now, but rather she resembles how I looked at her age and most people who think that she is me are long time acquaintances whom I see infrequently...

80th birthday The family of Janice O'Grady of McCook is requesting a card shower in honor of her 80th birthday Oct. 12. She is the daughter of W.R. "Smitty" Koetter and wife, Emma, and was born and raised in McCook. She worked at the family grocery store, Koetter's Grocery in east McCook, which was started by her grandfather and operated by him and his son, Smitty. ...

Bryce Lee Fornoff Kyle and Morgan Fornoff of Gothenburg, Nebraska, announce the birth of their son, Bryce Lee Fornoff, who was born July 10, 2014, at Great Plains Regional Medical Center in North Platte, Nebraska. He weighed 8 pounds, 13 ounces and measured 20 inches long. ...

Schmitt, Parks Katie Ann Schmitt and Nathan Lee Parks of Omaha, Nebraska, announce their engagement and upcoming wedding. Parents of the bride are Tom and Cindy Schmitt of Murdock, Nebraska. Grandparents are are Gene and Peggy Meyer of Louisville, Nebraska and Dan and Martha Schmitt of Omaha...

It's too early to say they've found a cure, but there's reason to hope scientists are on to something when it comes to Alzheimer's disease. At the very least, research begun by UCLA scientists should be expanded to many more test subjects. The California team subjected 10 Alzheimer's patients to a personized regimen including a comprehensive diet change, brain stimulation, exercise, sleep optimization, specific drugs and vitamins and other steps affecting brain chemistry...

We're at war once again without boots on the ground or without an affirmation by Congress. Obama didn't send it to Congress because they didn't want it. That way if it fails, they can blame the President, if it succeeds they can say they were behind him. That's the state of politics in our country today...

LINCOLN, Neb. -- Immigration and the Keystone XL pipeline were two of the biggest areas of disagreement in Thursday night's Nebraska gubernatorial debate. Democratic nominee Chuck Hassebrook said the issues of illegal immigration shouldn't fall on the shoulders of children who had no choice. Nebraska is currently the only state that doesn't provide driver's licenses to children brought to the U.S. illegally...

McCOOK, Neb. -- A McCook man arrested in September on a domestic assault charge which resulted in a disturbing the peace conviction and probation sentence, had his probation revoked recently and was sentenced to time served after he failed several drug tests and informed his probation officer he no longer wished to participate...

McCOOK, Neb. -- City of McCook police, fire and administration operations are settling into their new headquarters at the McCook Municipal Center and the Red Willow County Sheriff's Department is similarly up and running in the recently completed Red Willow County Law Enforcement Center...

McCOOK, Neb. -- Comments made by Democratic candidate for governor Chuck Hassebrook during a recent McCook visit didn't sit well with at least one state official, Gov. Dave Heineman. Heineman said Hassebrook was out of touch and added he was disappointed in the priorities the candidate listed during the campaign stop at the Bieroc Cafe last week...

Pamela "Mo" Morello, center, and Deanna Johnson, warden and assistant warden, respectively, of the Nebraska Department of Corrections Work Ethic Camp in McCook, Nebraska, present a framed photograph and certificate of appreciation to Red Willow County Sheriff Gene Mahon and Sheriff-Elect Alan Kotschwar, left, to honor the memory of "R.C.," the sheriff's department's K-9 officer who died Aug. ...

Marlene Foster of McCook, Nebraska, planted and watered three pumpkin seeds last spring, and this fall she has pumpkins growing out of her trees. With abundant rain and the supplemental watering, Marlene's pumpkin vines bolted throughout her backyard garden, up over the fence to the alley, and into and throughout the lower branches of an ornamental tree, producing some massive orbs along the way. ...

40th anniversary The family of Ben and Ginny Bortner of McCook is requesting a card shower in honor of the couple's 40th wedding anniversary. They were married Oct. 4, 1974, in Indianola, Nebraska. Their family includes children, Jill and Carl Koenig, Wayne and Lisa Bortner and Blaine Bortner, all of McCook; and grandchildren, Becca, Addison, Lance and Katelyn Koenig and Kyler, Riley and Zoey Bortner, all of McCook. Cards of congratulations will reach them at 72142 Drive 388, McCook, NE 69001...