Stories from Monday, August 25, 2003

McCook High School softball player Andrea Soden (4) gets ready to play defense at first base in Saturday's scrimmage. The Bison softball team opens the season Thursday at Miden and competes at the Holdrege Tournament Saturday.

A total of 1,978 students started school on Sept. 1, 1960 in five McCook city schools. Enrollment in the McCook system was up by 111 students over the previous year. The Junior High had the largest increase, thanks to my class hitting the seventh grade. ...

Most of my friends are having affairs and their dedication and loyalty to their mistresses is absolute and unyielding. They think about it and talk about it almost constantly. They're always doing everything they can to make the relationship better, more satisfying and more complete. They daydream during their waking hours and have vivid dreams when they're asleep. They commit to their mistress 100 percent and put them ahead of most other things in their life. They are literally obsessed...

Computer technicians are scrambling to clean up the mess caused by the latest e-mail infections which swarmed through the Internet last week. Private computer users were lined up at local computer service stores, and institutions such as schools, colleges and even the State of Nebraska found out just how good their firewalls were...

In its effort to bring history and culture to the communities of America, the Smithsonian Institution has found a real live wire in McCook, Nebraska. First was the "Barn Again!" exhibit, which brought rave reviews for the success of the showing at the Museum of the High Plains in McCook...

Posse grateful Dear Editor, The Red Willow County Sheriff's Posse would like to thank the following for their support through the year: Burlington Northern and the Nebraska Department of Roads, safety vests; and for support at the Red Willow County Fair: Burlington Northern, Culligan Water, Eagles Club, Wal-Mart, water; SunMart, water and ice; Taco John's, ice; Budke Motors and Southwest Implement, 4-wheelers...

Marjorie R. Knedlik, 85, died Friday (Aug. 22, 2003) at Bryan LGH East Hospital in Lincoln. She was born July 31, 1918, to August and Margaret (Janmes) Schattenburg in Riley, Kan. She grew up in Riley where she graduated from high school in 1934. She graduated from Kansas State College in Manhattan, Kan. She taught in Woodruff, Kan. During World War II, she worked for Trans World Airlines. She returned to teaching in Greenleaf, Kan...

CAMBRIDGE -- Opal Lena Appleyard, 75, died Friday (August 22, 2003) at Cambridge Memorial Hospital. She was born Jan. 24, 1928, to Michael George and Rozella (Wolfe) Truck in Yuma County, Colo. She graduated from Indianola High School in 1946. She continued her education at the University of Vienna in Austria and graduated with an English major from El Camioro College in 1963...

BENKELMAN - Mabel J. Hansen, 90, died Friday (Aug. 23, 2003). She was born May 13, 1913, to Elmer and Pearl (Paul) Edwards in Benkelman. She was a graduate of Benkelman High School. On March 22, 1936, she married Thomas J. Hansen at the Willard Croft residence in Benkelman. The couple made their home on a farm northwest of Benkelman. In 1990, after suffering from the effects of a stroke, she moved to Sarah Ann Hester Memorial Home...

HOLBROOK -- Rhonda Arlene Brown, 48, died Saturday (Aug. 23, 2003) at her home after a long illness. She was born Jan. 15, 1955, to Richard and Loretta (Cochran) Morgan in Norton, Kan. She grew up in the Norton area. She worked for the family owned cafe, The Lucky Strike Grill, from age 14-22...

Kenneth Brenning, 76, died Friday (Aug. 22, 2003) at his home in rural McCook. He was born May 27, 1927, to John and Katherine (Walters) Brenning in McCook. He attended school in Indianola and Culbertson, where he graduated from Culbertson High School in 1945...

HAYES CENTER -- Nettie May Lawson, 95, died Wednesday (August 20, 2003) at the Great Plains Medical Center. She was born May 1, 1908, to Ralph Dean and Effie Starling in Cambridge. She lived with her grandparents in Cambridge during her early years following the death of her mother...

McCook, the place and its people, has a special feeling about it. It is the sum of many things -- our geographic location in the exact center of the country, our population (or lack thereof), our climate, our upbringing, and we have been influenced by our forefathers...

The family of Ronald and Barbara Schneider is hosting an open house in honor of the couple's 50th anniversary, Aug. 31, 2-5 p.m., at the Red Willow County Community Building on the fairgrounds.

Lewis "Bud" and Betty Harmon celebrated their anniversary Aug. 20. They were married in 1938. Children of the couple are Linda and husband, Barry Boone of Dixon, Calif., Mike Harmon and Kirby Harmon, both of McCook, Teresa Harmon of Ft. Worth, Texas, and Jean and Terry Hallowell of McCook...

With offensive coach Ron Coleman looking on, Tony Purvis (second from front) prepares for the snap in a scrimmage following Saturday's photo day for the McCook High School Bison. Purvis is one of four sophomores vying for the backup quarterback slot...

Initially, the symptoms are fleeting. A missed appointment. A forgotten name. A misplaced set of keys. It seems so innocent and at first is easily dismissed. But it keeps happening. The memory of daily activities and how to accomplish them diminishes by degrees with each passing day. Familiar tasks, once accomplished without a second thought, become a land mine of potential danger...

While a movement to close municipal air fields and replace them with regional airports is gaining momentum, that drastic step could be averted with a good marketing plan. Doug Vap, McCook Airport Advisory Board chairman, told a five-member legislative committee, Friday morning, many people don't realize they have options other than Denver or Omaha when traveling to Nebraska...

Kidz Zone Preschool, 914 East F Street, will open its doors Tuesday, Sept. 2, to area three- and four-year olds, offering a learning experience in a colorful and welcoming atmosphere created by the teacher, Sharriea Burke. Little footprints lead the way down the sidewalk path to the doorway of the preschool and into the classroom...

A new horse riding school will open at the Kiplinger Arena beginning Wednesday, Sept. 3. Deb Frasier and her 11-year-old daughter, Shelby, of Benkelman, will offer horse riding classes every Wednesday through May. "We'll train anyone with an interest in learning new skills or sharpening existing ones,"Deb said...

CURTIS -- Margaret Ann Orman and Brent Thomas Sankey were united in marriage June 7, 2003, at St. John Lutheran Church in Curtis with the Rev. Paul Warneke officiating. Parents of the couple are Paul and Delores Orman of Maywood and Kenneth and Lorinda Sankey of Collinsville, Ill...

Lesa Kathryn Miller and Michael William Tines, both of Culbertson, were united in marriage June 20, 2003, at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in McCook with the Rev. Jerel Scholl, assistant pastor, officiating. Parents of the couple are Leland and Barbara Miller of Culbertson and William "Dude" and Alice Tines of Venango...

TRENTON -- Katie Drain and Aaron Brennan were united in marriage June 14, 2003, at the United Methodist Church in Trenton with the Rev. Dan Spearow officiating. Parents of the couple are Kevin and Joni Drain of Trenton and Paul and Betty Brennan of Grand Junction, Colo...

The family of Robert & Erna Stuver, formerly of McCook, is hosting a card shower in honor of the couple's 60th anniversary Sept. 3. Their children are Bob Stuver, Linda and husband, Marshall Tracy, Susan and husband, Robert Peterson and Donna and husband, Glenn Martin. They have six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Cards of congratulations will reach the couple at 5800 Hartley, Lincoln, NE 68507...

The children of Rod and Lana Wiese are hosting a card shower in honor of the couple's 30th anniversary, Aug. 31. Their children are Travis Wiese of McCook, Trent Wiese of North Platte and Leann Wiese of Lincoln. The couple has two grandchildren. Cards of congratulations will reach the couple at PO Box 159, Benkelman, NE 69021...

The children of Harley and Elda Shields are hosting an open house in honor of the couple's 40th anniversary, Aug. 30, 7-9 p.m., at the Red Willow County Community Building on the fairgrounds.

Ten Commandments In answer to this question, I for one do not like taxpayers footing the bill for this kind of nonsense, but let's lay the blame where it belongs. I don't care what kind of religious emblem it is, it does not belong in a public building. ...