Stories from Monday, May 13, 2002

When Gregg Roberts reached the top of the viewing platform above Ground Zero, all he could think to do was pray. "The sight surprised me," Gregg writes in his journal. "No smoking, twisted steel, no flashing lights or ambulances, no fire engines with hoses strung out over the site...

Danielle Ele and Jeramy Oberding, both of Beatrice, announce their engagement and upcoming wedding. Parents of the couple are Bob Ele of Lincoln, Shirley Ele of Holland, and Jerry and Janice Olberding of Fairbury. Grandparents are Pat and Maxine Ele and Gladys Crocker of McCook. ...

Rami Quigley of Indianola and Shawn Hanes of Trenton, announce their engagement and upcoming wedding. Parents of the couple are Steve and Cindy Quigley of Indianola, Ed and Virginia Hanes of Trenton and Connie and Tom Bryant of Wayne, Okla. The bride-to-be is a 1997 graduate of Republican Valley High School and a 2001 graduate of Hastings College with a degree in elementary education and special education. ...

The children of Joe and Nadine Green are hosting an open house in honor of the couple's 40th wedding anniversary May 19, 1-3 p.m., at the Senior Center in Herndon. Their children are Connie Reitcheck, Dave Green, Jeanne Tuma, Patti Chartier and Deb Unger. Cards of congratulations will reach the couple at RR 2 Box 102, Herndon, KS 67739...

Tangie Fassler and Darin Carfield, both of McCook, announce their engagement and upcoming wedding. Parents of the couple are Lloyd and Karen Lapp of Hamlet and Jan Carfield of McCook. The bride-to-be is a student at McCook Community College. The prospective bridegroom owns a construction business and attends McCook Community College. A May 25, 2002, ceremony is planned at First Baptist Church in McCook...

Robin Maddie Schiffelbein and Matthew Lane Campbell, both of McCook, announce their engagement and upcoming wedding. Parents of the couple are Michael and Linda Schiffelbein of McCook and Dennis and Nancy Campbell of Cambridge. The bride-to-be is employed at Hamilton's Hair Creations and The Buckle in McCook. The prospective bridegroom is employed at Besler's Industries in Cambridge. A June 8, 2002, ceremony is planned at St. Albans Episcopal Church in McCook...

Mr. and Mrs. Michael L. Sis of Atwood, would like to announce the engagement of their daughter, Kathryn Marie, to Mike Jude Schroeder, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Daniel S. Schroeder of Colby. The bride-to-be is a 1997 graduate of Atwood High School. She is a senior at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, College of Dentistry in Lincoln. ...

The family of Myrlin and Donna Burton, of Bartley, are hosting an open house in honor of the couple's 50th wedding anniversary. They were married May 10, 1952, at the Christian Church in Bartley. The open house is May 18, at the Legion Hall in Bartley, 2-4 p.m. Children of the couple are Patricia and husband, Tom Smith of Bartley and Bill and wife, Cori Burton of McCook. The couple has five grandchildren. Cards of congratulations will reach the couple at HC 68 Box 17, Bartley, NE 69020...

The family of Darwin and Shirley Yonkers, of Maywood, are hosting a card shower in honor of the couple's 50th wedding anniversary. They were married May 21, 1952. Children of the couple are Christy and Jim Helberg of Hamlet, Mark and Diana Yonkers of Amherst and Millie and Dan Corey of McCook. The couple has seven grandchildren. Cards of congratulations will reach the couple at P.O. Box 167, Maywood, NE 69038...

The family of Dale and Nelma Pugh, of Palisade, are hosting a card shower in honor of the couple's 60th wedding anniversary. They were married May 16, 1942. They have two daughters, four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Cards of congratulations will reach the couple at P.O. Box 321, Palisade, NE 69040...

The American Legion has created a special card to send to military family members and friends during Armed Forced Day, May 18. As the war on terrorism continues, the American Legion wanted a way for local citizens to connect. To get a card, visit the American Legion's web site at http://www.legion.org, with the serviceperson's e-mail address. There is a E-Card link from the main page. Type in the information, select the appropriate branch of service song, add a message and click "send."...

Red Willow County Clerk Pauletta Gerver said voter registration here has increased from 7,617 in the 2000 election to 7,856 in 2002. Of those voters registered in Red Willow County, 4,581 are registered Republicans compared to 4,421 in 2000. Voters in the Republican party will be asked to vote for Chuck Hagel for the U.S. Senate, Tom Osborne for the House of Representatives and Robert Wicht or Mike Johanns for Nebraska governor...

A boat rests inside the picture window a house at 608 Sunset in McCook. McCook Police Chief Ike Brown said this morning a 20-year-old McCook man faces charges of driving under suspension, driving while intoxicated, minor in possession, open container of alcohol and a variety of traffic violations following an accident at 5:24 p.m., Saturday. ...

Lincoln -- Approxi-mately 1,950 students were scheduled to receive degrees from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in commencement exercises Saturday at the Bob Devaney Sports Center. That number includes 98 bachelor's degree recipients who have successfully completed the University Honors Program and 105 who will receive law degrees in separate Law College commencement exercises beginning at 3 p.m. ...

CULBERTSON -- The Culbertson alumni carry-in dinner will be in the Culbertson High School gym, Saturday, May 25, 2002. A tour of the school will start at 5 p.m. with dinner following at 6 p.m. Please bring your own table service. Drinks will be furnished...

McCook's First Baptist Church youth group plans to clean headstones as part of a community outreach program for the fifth year. The cost of the service, which will be completed in time for Memorial Day, is $15 for small stone, $20 for large stones, $25 for extra large stones and $5 for each foot stone...

How important is it to vote? Consider the words of Frank B. Morrison, former governor of Nebraska, who will celebrate his 97th birthday a week from today: "Voting is tremendously important for our democracy," Gov. Morrison said from his McCook home this morning. "In the violent, terroristic world of today, our votes express the importance of responsible government."...

For the past two years, Glenda Bartholomew of the Benkelman Post & News-Chronicle has featured a column titled "When God Made Moms" in the issue preceding Mother's Day. "I received it from a pastor by e-mail," she said. "I don't know who wrote it, but I like the message. ...

Penney's had the grand opening of their new modernized basement store on the southwest corner of Main and West C Streets in early August 1942. J.B. Seelhammer, manager of the J. C. Penney's Store since 1939, said that the area was formerly storage space and would provide over 2200 square feet additional shopping space...

Antiquing was a hobby for my mother, and indirectly for my dad as well, for many years. She had a few pieces of china that were handed down through the family, but for the most part, she picked up most of her "treasures" from garage sales and farm auctions. Over a period of time antique dealers heard about her and began to stop on their way through Plainview, to chat a bit, and to buy or trade antiques from her collection...

Politicians are responsible to the constituents that elect them. They are, in fact, beholden to those citizens who cared enough to take part in the political process and cast a vote, whether that vote was cast for the winning candidate or not. A politician who represents an area represents EVERYONE in that area but does not represent ANYONE outside the area...

INDIANOLA -- Eldon Gerald "Gus" Guthrie, 64, died Thursday (May 9, 2002) at Cambridge Memorial Hospital in Cambridge. He was born Feb. 25, 1938, at Stratton, to Carl Willard and Ruby Viola (Zeigler) Guthrie. He graduated from Indianola High School in 1956...