Stories from Monday, April 14, 2003

East Ward fourth grader Kyle Craw performs a dive Tuesday during a special swimming session at the Ed Thomas YMCA given as an award for students who qualified for monthly goals set by teachers under the Accelerated Readers program. Kyle is the son of Kent and Sue Craw of McCook...

It's time to get outdoors. Time to exercise. Time to sharpen up the mower blade, think about those summertime fixup projects and prepare to endure some sunshine. Those of us who exercise year-round will find ourselves going outside to walk, run or ride our bicycles, instead of putting in laps at the YMCA, healthclub or in our basement...

Editorials are a two-way street. The message starts with the newspaper and, to the best of our writing ability, we try to speak about issues which are important to the citizens of Southwest Nebraska and Northwest Kansas. But, even more important than the words we write, are the actions they inspire among you, the readers...

ALLIANCE -- Jami Lynn Brennemann and Adam Donald Helmbrecht were united in marriage Oct. 12, 2002, at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Alliance with Rev. Richard Mueller officiating. Parents of the couple are Sharon Brennemann of Alliance, Will Brennemann of Fairbanks, Alaska and Don and Shirley Helmbrecht of McCook...

The family of Elvin and Helen Goodson is hosting a card shower in honor of the couple's 60th wedding anniversary on April 17. Cards of congratulations will reach them at 1003 West Fourth Street, McCook, NE 69001.

The family of Zalia Nitsch is hosting an open house and card shower on April 19, in honor of her 80th birthday. The open house is from 1-4 p.m., at the Senior Center in Hayes Center. Cards of congratulations will reach her at Box 115, Hayes Center, NE 69032...

Jennifer M. McMichael and Casey J. Springer announce their engagement and upcoming wedding. Parents of the couple are Larry and Donna McMichael of Douglas, Wyo., and Charlene Springer of Lebanon and the late Lyle Springer. The bride-to-be is a 1997 graduate of Douglas HIgh School and a 2000 graduate of Chadron State College. ...

Jamie Leigh McCracken and Pard (Justin) Lovitt (formerly of McCook) of Decatur, Ark., announce their engagement and upcoming wedding. Parents of the couple are Mary Ann McCracken of Bentonville, Ark., Richard A. McCracken of Mountain Home, Ark., Ron and Nell Dent of Bentonville and Bud and Margie Lovitt of Decatur. ...

FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. -- Alyssa Corey of McCook and Zachary Mader of Healy, Kan., were united in marriage March 15, 2003, at Specker Chapel in Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., with Cmdr. M.S. Neubert officiating. Parents of the couple are Tom and Nancy Corey of McCook, Tamara Piccone of Healy and Jeff Mader of Garden City, Kan. ...

ST. EDWARD -- Jennifer Smith and Jeremy Walgren were united in marriage Nov. 16, 2002, at St. Edward Catholic Church in St. Edward with the Rev. James Novotny officiating. Parents of the couple are Tom and Carol Smith of St. Edward and Rex and Kathy Walgren of Wauneta and the late Diane Walgren. ...

Southwest Nebraska Habitat For Humanity is ready to build its first house in McCook. A family of five has been selected and a four bedroom house is planned. The Construction Committee would like to invite area contractors and interested people to an informational meeting on Habitat for Humanity and the house they plan to build...

LINCOLN -- The publisher of the McCook Daily Gazette is the first winner of the statewide Francis L. Partsch Award for Editorial Leadership. Gene Morris, who returned to the Gazette as publisher in 1990, was honored for "exemplifying the highest standards of opinion writing" and for "responsibly exercising the community leadership role of newspapers."...

Southern Baptists from Western Nebraska are ready to play a bigger part in meeting the needs of those victimized by the next major disaster. The Oregon Trail Baptist Association recently gave approval for the construction of a 3,000-meal, mobile feeding unit to be stationed in western Nebraska...

LINCOLN -- The newspapers of Southwest Nebraska captured more than 35 awards and brought home the small weekly and daily grand prizes for Corn Editions from the 2003 Nebraska Press Association convention. Sharing the awards for outstanding accomplishments during the past year were the McCook Daily Gazette, the Hitchcock County News, the Wauneta Breeze, the Imperial Republican, the Grant Tribune-Sentinel, the Benkelman Post and the Beaver City Times-Tribune...

INDIANOLA -- Red Willow County deputies wrote about 15 citations for minor in possession and trespassing late Friday night as they broke up a teen beer party in a canyon southwest of Indianola. Deputy Tom Johnson said this morning a female "gate keeper" told officers she had permission to be in the canyon, but bolted from officers as she was leading them to the scene. ...

The exclusivity of Christianity made its way to the forefront Friday as the Rev. Sam Williams of St. Alban's Episcopal Church quoted the "I Am" statement of Christ, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No man comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6) at the Community Lenten service at First Congregational Church...

The Family Fun Night Thursday evening at the Community Building was a "tremendous success," according Mary K. Warner, Extension Educator. An estimated 430 adults and children attended the free evening event sponsored by the Southwest Nebraska Early Childhood Coalition and the University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension...

Harry Strunk was one of the most influential people who ever lived in McCook. He was also one of the most colorful. After a disagreement with the local schoolmaster in his native Pawnee City, Harry dropped out of school. At age 14, with only an 8th grade education, he landed a job as "printer's devil" on a local paper. ...

Duplex housing in McCook got a big boost during World II from Carl C. Wilson, real estate broker from Omaha. It was announced in the Friday, April 30, 1943, McCook Daily Gazette that Wilson had made arrangements to construct 12 new duplex apartment houses in the city. Work on the new homes would start within 30 days if Wilson could get the materials. Locally purchased materials and local labor would be used if available...

One of the things we talk about in the sociology classes I teach is how trust has decayed in our society in recent decades. When I was growing up, it was not at all uncommon for million-dollar deals to be sealed with a handshake. No references needed, no credit checks, no contracts signed, just a handshake. ...