Stories from Friday, February 22, 2002

The children of Dwain and Donna Curtis of McCook are hosting a card shower in honor of the couple's 25th anniversary on Feb. 26. The couple's children are Dan and Cindy Curtis of Kearney and Dustin Curtis of McCook. Cards of congratulations will reach the couple at 1301 East A, McCook, NE 69001...

Phyl and Trish Rippen of Culbertson announce the engagement and upcoming wedding of their daughter, Tonia Jo, to Brent Lee Hazlitt, son of Monte and Mary Hazlitt of McCook and Mick and Scott Minnick of Bartley. Grandparents of the couple are Gordon and Frary Rippen of Culbertson, Maxine Talley of Culbertson, Harold Talley of McCook, Bob and Ann Hazlitt of Sidney, Roberta Brooks of Bartley and the late Geb Brooks. ...

The children of Stanley and Rochelle (Girard) Cox are hosting a card shower in honor of the couple's 48th anniversary on Feb. 25. Children of the couple are Robert and Ernestine Smith, Kevin and Pamela Cox, and Cloyd Cox all of McCook. Cards of congratulations will reach the couple at 308 East 10th St., McCook, NE 69001...

John P. and Luella Trumble of Cambridge announce the engagement and upcoming wedding of their daughter, Jodi Lea, to Jason Duane Cobb, son of Dallas and Diane Cobb of McCook. The bride-to-be graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln from the College of Business Administration with a bachelor of science degree in business administration. ...

Mr. and Mrs. Mike Jones of Colby announce the engagement and upcoming wedding of their daughter, Danielle to Luke R. Bortner, son of Robert and Barbara Bortner of McCook. The bride-to-be is a graduate of Colby High School and is majoring in art at Colby Community College. ...

Melanie Hays and Jeff Alberts of McCook announce their engagement and upcoming wedding. Parents of the couple are Mike and Anna Hays and Jay and Shirley Alberts, all of McCook. The bride-to-be is employed at Burrows Vision Clinic. The prospective bridegroom is employed at Carquest Auto Parts. The couple plans a March 2 ceremony at the Evangelical Free Church in McCook...

BENKELMAN -- Edna N. Stamm, 84, died Wednesday (Feb. 20, 2002) at Sarah Ann Hester Memorial Home in Benkelman. She was born June 16, 1917, to John and Fern (Atcheson) Stamm at Daniel, Wyo., and moved with her family throughout Nebraska, Oklahoma, Wyoming, California, and Colorado. She graduated from high school in Gunnison, Colo...

FORT COLLINS, Colo. -- Evelyn Davis Adams, 80, died Monday, Feb. 11, 2002, while vacationing in Mesa, Ariz. She was born July 5, 1921, to George and Christina Scheierman in Sutton. She was raised in Trenton and graduated from Trenton High School. On Oct. 21, 1934, she married Edward J. Davis. In 1981, she married Ethan Adams. She worked for Denver Public Schools as a secretary from 1954 until she retired in 1991...

What do Post-It notes, toilet paper and the periodic table have in common? All are items which you and I have probably have said so many times, "I could have thought of that." Maybe not the toilet paper, but aren't you glad someone created it? Now, there are several new items on the horizon that you'll be kicking yourself over -- kicking yourself because you didn't invent them yourself or because you can't believe someone actually went to the work to invent...

One of the real paradoxes in our society is the constant conflict between taking risks and playing it safe. It's a paradox because commercial advertising more now than ever before, advocates taking risks if one is ever to get ahead in the world. On the other hand, it seems, at least observationally, that Americans are playing life closer to the vest than we have in recent times. ...

In light of all the discussions about the McCook Municipal pool going on now, there was a related news item in the May 19, 1942, McCook Gazette headlined "Y Members Will Swim At Outdoor Pool." Instead of keeping the indoor pool at the YMCA in operations all summer, an arrangement was worked out where Y members could swim at the city pool...

Dear Editor, Having grown up on the farm, I learned many valuable lessons that helped prepare me for life. One was the preparation of the soil for planting. We raised 35 to 40 bushels of wheat, without fertilizer, in one field, year after year, by plowing the ground...

Dear Editor, The old McCook Army Air Base is nearly as much a part of McCook history as the old Burlington Railroad yard. Its old wooden "overpass," the old water tower at Norris Park, just to name a few. Most of these and many others are gone. What does a community have, if it doesn't have its history?...

Dear Editor, Twenty-three states are considering proposals by governors or legislatures to boost cigarette taxes. Just hold on one minute -- why are they just picking on smokers? I say if you raise taxes on smokers, then raise taxes on liquor, beer and wine, candy and the rest of the group...

A good hunter knows how to read the signs. A broken twig, extra-deep hoofprints indicating a buck with a large set of antlers. Guides through the ages have provided a valuable service, whether they were working for Lewis & Clark, Henry Morton Stanley in search of Dr. Livingstone, or a modern guide helping fishermen find the lunkers or a mountain man showing flatlanders where to locate elk...

BEAVER CITY -- Fay Ann Shackleton, 92, died Thursday (Feb. 21, 2002) at Cambridge Memorial Hospital in Cambridge. She was born June 20, 1909, to Ray and Josephine (Barnes) Smith at Reamsville, Kan. In 1920, the family moved to Almena, Kan. On Feb. 8, 1931, she married Howard Shackleton at Phillipsburg, Kan. The couple lived in Kansas, Wisconsin, and Nebraska. She worked at Wagner's Grocery Store in Arapahoe. In 1971, the family moved to Beaver City and she worked at Beaver City Manor...