Stories from Monday, March 31, 2003

Grand prize winners in the People, Pets and Places photo contest include (top) June Davis, McCook with entry 379, "Lindi feeds the ducks." Second place goes to (left) Shirley Rude of Atwood with entry 1358, "Cowboy Tyler," and third to (below) Clara Uerling of Indianola with entry 56, "Wow -- This is Fun." First place in the contest wins $500, second $350 and third $150...

The family of Clarice Bauer is hosting a card shower in honor of her 86th birthday April 6. Cards of congratulations will reach her at P.O. Box 157, Culbertson, NE 69024.

Jiggs Pate of McCook is celebrating his 84th birthday on April 7. Cards of congratulations will reach him in care of the Western Nebraska Veterans Home, Room 101, 1102 West 42nd Street, Scottsbluff, NE 69361-4711.

Kori King and Bobby DeLeon of Houston, Texas were united in marriage Saturday (March 29, 2003) at First Baptist Church in Houston. Parents of the couple are Vicki King of McCook and the late Brad King and Dante DeLeon and Paquita DeLeon, both of Houston. Trudy King and Neal and Betty Fidler, all of McCook, are grandparents of the bride. The bride is an associate buyer of Stage Store. The bridegroom is employed at Greenport Mortage Firm in Houston...

Don and Mary Lou Vrbas of Culbertson, announce the engagement and upcoming marriage of their daughter, Julie Wagner to Jason Hauxwell, the son of Neal and Margie Hauxwell. A reception for the couple is April 5, 2003, 1:30-4 p.m., at the Lower Shelter House in Kelley Park. In the case of inclement weather, the reception will be at McCook Christian Church, 329 North Cherokee Road...

OMAHA -- Judi Unger and Steven Torneten were united in marriage Feb. 15, 2003, at the Durham Western Heritage Museum in Omaha. Parents of the couple are the late John and Florence Unger and Wendell, Nancy Torneten of Council Bluffs, Iowa and Bonnie Torneten of Las Vegas, Nev. The bride was escorted by her brother, Dave Unger of Culbertson...

The family of Elise M. Grube is hosting a card shower in honor of her 75th birthday April 4. Her children include Judy and husband, Steve Hollers, Ellen and husband, Rick Jackson and Calvin Grube and wife, Brenda. Cards of congratulations will reach her at P.O. Box 273, Indianola, NE 69034...

We hope and pray none of us are ever again touched by terrorism, but, as individuals, communities and a nation, we are doing what we can to be able to respond if we are. The same can be said of a danger which we face every year. We hope and pray we or our loved ones are never endangered by severe weather, but we know we are unlikely to escape...

Coaches and players have been honored with this year's Gazetteland All-Area wrestling and basketball teams, but it isn't hard to keep the honor in perspective. Yes, the players and coaches have worked hard, some for virtually all of their lives, to achieve such honors. And, the recognition -- along with the championships and other honors collected along the way -- is richly deserved...

Anna Beaty and Anthony Kerr announce their engagement and upcoming wedding. Parents of the couple are Mr. and Mrs. Ken Leggette of Castle Rock, Colo., Mr. and Mrs. Michael Beaty of Boise, Idaho and Mr. and Mrs. Bob Kerr of Indianola. Grandparents of the prospective bridegroom are Mr. ...

Greg and Roberta Lockard of Stella and Phil and Judy McDonald of Trenton announce the engagement and upcoming wedding of their children, Karissa Lockard and Austin McDonald. The bride-to-be is a 1996 graduate of Southeast Consolidated High School in Stella and a 2002 graduate of Peru State College. ...

LINCOLN (AP) -- Funding to keep the McCook work ethic camp open likely will be included in the budget plan being crafted by the Legislature's Appropriations Committee, senators told The Associated Press. The $6.9 million to keep the camp operating was removed in a tentative committee plan, but three senators on the committee told the AP that they support returning funding in the final budget plan...

NOAA radio broadcasts reach 95 percent of Nebraska. Despite this life-saving technology, many Nebraska homes are not equipped with NOAA radios. During "Severe Weather Awareness Week," March 31 through April 4, the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency, the National Weather Service and the Red Willow County Sheriff's Office encourage residents to use NOAA radios as their primary warning system...

CULBERTSON -- A town hall meeting to discuss the future of the Culbertson schools is set for 6:30 p.m. today at the Culbertson High School Gym. The public is encouraged to attend.

While the final decision on the McCook Work Ethic Camp still rests with the Nebraska Legislature's appropriations committee, the outcome could have national implications. Troy Hoppes, program director at the McCook Work Ethic Camp said Nebraska's program is the first of its kind in the nation. ...

Allen Wilkerson, preaching minister at the McCook Church of Christ, painted a pastoral image of green pastures, fresh spring water and the serenity of a clear blue sky Friday afternoon during the Community Lenten Service at First Congregational Church in McCook...

The family of Art Duckworth is hosting an open house in honor of his 90th birthday, April 5, 2-4 p.m., at McCook Senior Center.

Andrea Brown and Bronson Riley, both of Omaha, announce their engagement and upcoming wedding. Parents of the couple are Ruth and Eric Brown of Johnson Lake and Kim and David Riley of McCook. Grandparents of the couple are Max Brown of Lexington and the late Vera Brown, the late Ida and Vern Hagedon of, Jessie Helus of McCook, the late Louis Helus and the late John and Rae Campbell. ...

Mr. and Mrs. Paul Orman of Maywood announce the engagement and upcoming wedding of their daughter, Margaret Ann Orman, to Brent Thomas Sankey, the son of Kenneth and Lorinda Sankey of Collinsville, Ill. The bride-to-be is a 2000 graduate of Hayes Center High School. ...

Charles "Charlie" B. Boehm, 69, died Thursday (March 27, 2003) at his rural McCook home. He was born May 29, 1933, at McCook, to Fred and Etta (Dwyer) Boehm. He attended McCook Public Schools. He entered the U.S. Army on May 21, 1953, and served during the Korean Conflict. He was honorably discharged on May 13, 1955...

SAN ANGELO, Texas -- Lois McGowne, 73, died Thursday (March 27, 2003) at her home in San Angelo, Texas. She was born Sept. 10, 1929, in Decatur County, to Phillip and Laura May (Gilbert) Hackney. She was raised in Decatur County and graduated from Decatur Community High School in 1947. She earned a bachelor of arts degree from Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kan...

BENKELMAN -- Elizabeth Emma (Brown) Phillips, 93, died Tuesday (March 25, 2003) at the Dundy County Hospital in Benkelman.  She was born June 18, 1909, to Ellen Louise Breedon and John William Brown on the homestead north of Max.  When she reached the eighth grade, she moved to Ashland, and stayed with her uncle and aunt, Louis and Ola McReynolds, and attended country school.  She then attended high school in Lincoln, where lived with families and worked as a nanny.  She moved to Eagle, and continued to work as a nanny and graduated from Eagle High School in 1927.. ...

The title of today's column comes from a great hit of the same name by the Spinners, a great Motown group from a few years back. One of the compelling things about music is that every song tells a story about life. In fact, there are few aspects of life that haven't been captured in song. That's why music is so infectious...

Adolph Hitler celebrated his 54th birthday quietly on April 20, 1943, but one McCook businessman had other ideas about the direction Hitler's life should take. Dave Skoumal, owner of Reliable Typewriter Co., at 105 West C Street (east part of the Law Office) ran an ad the next day, "NOTICE-My office will be closed on the day of HITLER'S FUNERAL. ...

In September 2003, the Smithsonian Institution will send a traveling exhibit to McCook, one of a few favored communities in Nebraska to receive this show. This will be a program on par with the popular Smithsonian "Barn Again!" exhibit that came to McCook a year ago. ...

ARAPAHOE -- L. Fern Johnson, 96, died Saturday (March 29, 2003) at the C.A. Mues Good Samaritan Center in Arapahoe. She was born Aug. 27, 1906, at Arapahoe, to Oscar F. and Grace L. (Horton) Moore. She grew up and attended school in Arapahoe and graduated with the class of 1924. After graduation she attended college at Hastings. She then taught several years in Gosper and Furnas Counties...