Stories from Monday, October 13, 2003

TRENTON -- A Palisade mother found guilty of felony child abuse in October 2002 will be retried in January. Renae N. McDaniel, wearing a bright-orange two-piece jail uniform, sat in the courtroom in the Hitchcock County courthouse Friday morning as District Judge John Battershell scheduled a new trial for Jan. 27, 28, 29 and 30...

In October there are many people, who are not ordinarily baseball fans, who tune in for the post-season games, and especially the World Series. The talk over coffee frequently centers on baseball. And whenever baseball fans get together, there usually is someone who mentions that baseball was a lot more fun when Bill Veeck was around...

NORTH PLATTE -- The North Platte women who published her first book when she was 90 years old is enjoying being alive again, and has written a second book. Billie Lee Snyder Thornburg, now 91, said she was "sitting around waiting to die," when her cousin's daughter encouraged her to write stories of her childhood on a Nebraska Sandhills ranch in the early 1900s. Those stories became a book called, "Bertie and Me."...

When the McCook Bison softball team takes the field Thursday in the state Class B tournament, hundreds of people in the McCook community will share in their success. Because -- to build a team of this quality -- it took many years and many people, working together. ...

Arnold Schwarzenneger says Bush has promised him all kinds of help as the new governor of California. If Bush asks Congress for $38 billion more, we know where that is going, don't we?

KEARNEY -- The McCook High School boys tennis team wrapped up the regular season Saturday with a second-place showing at the Kearney Catholic Invitational. Grand Island Central Catholic won the team title with 38 points, followed by McCook with 33. McCook's Jordan Bass posted a 6-0 record to capture the first-place medal in No. 1 singles. He improved his record to 25-9 and the six wins could earn him a seed at the state tournament, which takes place Thursday and Friday at Lincoln...

KEARNEY -- Harold M. Stevens, 85, of Lexington, died Thursday (Oct. 9, 2003) at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney. He was born April 13, 1918, to Joseph Morgan and Elsie (Browitt) Stevens in Madrid. He graduate from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln with a degree in vocational education and animal science in 1943...

OGALLALA -- Beulah Olmsted, 103, died Friday (Oct. 10, 2003) at Indian Hills Manor. Survivors include three sons, Fred W. Olmsted Jr. and wife, Delpha of Ogallala, Gene E. Olmsted and wife, Natalie of Powell, Wyo., and John I. Olmsted and wife, Karen of Gothenburg; one daughter-in-law, Patsy Hanvey of Alabama; 12 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild...

WAUNETA -- Eleanor Petr, 88, died Wednesday (Oct. 8, 2003) at the Heritage of Wauneta Nursing Home in Wauneta. She was born Jan. 1, 1915, to Albert and Clara (Jirousek) Janda in Lawrence. She attended country school and was only able to attend one year of high school...

WAUNETA -- Raymond Miller of Wauneta died Wednesday (Oct. 8, 2003) at Chase County Community Hospital in Imperial. He was born Sept. 3, 1919, to Hiram and Ida Miller in Havre, Mont. When he was two years old, the family moved to Emmett, Idaho where he attended school. He joined the Army in 1940 and was later discharged in October of 1945. His last year of service was spent in France...

OMAHA -- The McCook Bison softball team is the No. 2 seed at the Class B state tournament. The state tournament takes place Thursday and Friday at the Seymour Smith Complex. The Bison, who have a 29-1 record, will face a familiar foe in Lexington at 10 a.m. Thursday and then will play the winner or loser of the Beatrice-Blair first-round game at 12:30 p.m...

The family of Bob and Anita Montgomery is hosting a card shower in honor of the couple's 50th anniversary Oct. 11. Their children are Roberta Shuler and family of McCook, Ron and Gina Montgomery of Jennings, Kan., Renee and Ron Harman and family of Norcatur, and Rusty Montgomery of Oberlin. Cards of congratulations will reach the couple at 111 East Washington, Oberlin, NE 67749...

The family of Vadna Buhler is hosting an open house in honor of her 90th birthday, Oct. 25, 2-4 p.m., at the Trenton Community Building. Cards of congratulations will reach her at Box 192, Trenton, NE 69044.

The family of Christina Current is hosting a card shower in honor of her 90th birthday, Oct. 20. Her family includes Elaine Current of McCook, Arlene Sass of Stockville and Leonard Current of Hershey. Cards of congratulations will reach her at Sunset Haven, Route 1 Box 401, Curtis, NE 69025...

The children of Richard and Claudia Stanton of Cambridge are hosting a card shower in honor of the couples 25th anniversary Oct. 14. Cards of congratulations will reach the couple at RR 2 Box 154, Cambridge, NE 69022.

Karen Helmick and Adrian Halferty were united in marriage Sept. 26, in Omaha, with Judge Jack McGrath officiating. Parents of the couple are David and Teresa Helmick of Roseland and Dan and Alison Halferty of Doniphan. The bride is a 1997 graduate of Silver Lake High School and a 2002 graduate of the University of Nebraska at Kearney. ...

HAYS, Kan. -- Lisa Lilienthal and Brady Ternes were united in marriage June 21, 2003, at St. Nicholas of Myra Church in Hays, Kan., with the Rev. Bill Surmier officiating. Parents of the couple are Mr. and Mrs. John A. Lilienthal of Culbertson and Mr. and Mrs. Mikael R. Ternes of Conway Springs, Kan...

INDIANOLA -- Maria Yanis Helm and Derek Stephen Downer were united in marriage July 19, 2003, at St. Catherine's Catholic Church in Indianola with the Rev. Nicholas Baker officiating. Parents of the couple are James and Yanis Helm of Danbury and Stephen and Patricia Downer of Bartley...

The family of James and Leota (Porter) Brown of Trenton is hosting an open house in honor of the couples 50th anniversary, Oct. 18, 2-4 p.m., at 119 West D Street, Trenton. The couple married Oct. 22, 1953. Children of the couple are Rodney and Sharon Brown, Bernice and David Gil, Brenda Brown and Robin and Chris Klein. They have 20 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. Cards of congratulations will reach the couple at PO Box 8, Trenton, NE 69044...

Dave and Jan Smith of McCook announce the engagement and upcoming wedding of their daughter, Neleigh Nicole, and James Richard Korth, the son of Michael and Jean Korth of Hastings. The bride-to-be is a 1996 graduate of McCook Senior High School, a 2000 graduate of Hastings College and a 2003 graduate of the University of Nebraska College of Law in Lincoln. ...