Stories from Monday, October 20, 2003

Bison hold Minutemen to just four first downs

For Jerry Vap of McCook, public service is a way of life. Soon after graduating from the University of Nebraska and returning to the family's seed and hardware business in McCook, Jerry became a member of the board of directors of the Middle Republican Natural Resources District...

If you did not see the hour-long conversation between former Governor Frank B. Morrison and former Senator and Governor Bob Kerrey on Wednesday night, I'm sorry. I am always in awe when Frank tells stories. I mention this NPTV special because I loved it so much and hope that you'll have another chance to see it and was reminded of it because of the headline in the September 21, 1960, Gazette. "Morrison Seals Show in First Debate."...

Two incidents in the past week drew the nation's attention back to the sports arena and left people shaking their heads in wonderment and despair about what's going on. The first situation occurred in the nationally televised Wisconsin-Ohio State game. ...

The story has become a familiar one for many young men and women -- they've been asked to fulfill a duty before continuing with their dreams. Such was the case for Sgt. Ryan Carman of McCook who ran into a slight detour while traveling the road to his well-mapped out future...

VFW Post named after her brother A McCook woman who joined the VFW Auxiliary in its earliest years was presented a 70-year pin during a tea party Thursday at Willow Ridge in McCook. Esther Elbert, 99 years old, is a long-time member of the VFW post named for her brother, U.S. Army Corp. George Bernard Elbert, who died in France in the Spanish influenza pandemic that struck in 1918, near the end of World War I...

The issue of unused property should be addressed quickly.

**School project Dear Editor, My name is Rachel W. I am in fourth grade at Central Grade School. My social studies teacher is Mr. Wiedman and we are involved in a special project. We need your help. If you would publish this letter in your letters column, we would appreciate a postcard from the people of your great town. We hope to receive postcards from different cities across the United States...

HASTINGS -- Dale A. Dack, 85, died Thursday (OIct. 16, 2003) at Mary Lanning Memorial Hospital in Hastings. He was born July 30, 1918, to Frank and Myrtle (Laster) Dack in McCook. He attended school in rural McCook. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II...

Col. Donald W. Eisenhart (USAF, Ret.) passed away Oct. 8, 2003, at age 92. A graduate of the University of Nebraska, Don was born in Culbertson on April 4, 1911. He first came to San Antonio in 1933 to attend the Air Corps Training Center at Randolph and Kelly Fields and began a 33-year career in the United States Air Force. During World War II he served in the Asia-Pacific Theater as Commander, 9th Bombardment Group, 20th Air Force on Tinian and as Operations Officer, 1st Air Division, Okinawa...

NORTH PLATTE -- Shirley Ann Hansen, 66, died Wednesday (Oct. 15, 2003) at the Great Plains Regional Medical Center in North Platte. She was born Oct. 24, 1936, at McCook, to Earl Harold and Cecile Viola (Larrington) Beebe. She attended McCook Public Schools...

IMPERIAL -- Eva Ambrosek, 85, died Tuesday (Oct. 14, 2003) at Chase County Community Hospital in Imperial. She was born May 30, 1918, in Wauneta to Jack and Mary (Vasabel) Tepley. She attended grade school in a small country school and graduated from Wauneta High School in 1936. She took normal training in teaching...

IMPERIAL -- Madeline Cox, 80, died Tuesday (Oct. 14, 2003) at her home in Imperial. She was born Jan. 8, 1923, to Harry L. and Selma (Nelson) Dixon in rural Dundy County. She attended District No. 70 in rural Dundy County and she graduated from high school in Benkelman...

OBERLIN -- Florence Geraldine Hudson, 81, died Saturday (Oct. 18, 2003) at Decatur County Hospital in Oberlin. She was born May 10, 1922, to Walter Roy and Lola Fern (Baugher) Vaughn in Sheridan County, Kan. She was raised on a farm near Selden in Sheridan County. She attended consolidated No. 2 school district and Selden Rural High School...

BAGHDAD, IRAQ -- Staff Sgt. Christopher Wayne Swisher, 26, of Fort Polk, La., died Thursday (Oct. 9, 2003) in Baghdad, Iraq. He was born May 5, 1977, to Bruce and Sharon (Kathman) Swisher in Lincoln. He is a 1995 graduate of Lincoln Northeast High School. He was a former employee of King's Drive Inn and Kess Drywall...

he family of Earnest and Donna Huff is hosting an open house in honor of the couple's 50th wedding anniversary, Oct. 26, 2-5 p.m., at the Golden Age Center in Oberlin.

The family of Ron Cumming is hosting a card shower in honor of his 80th birthday, Oct. 22. He was born in McCook. His family includes his wife, Vera; his children, Tom and Kathy Cumming of Highlands Ranch, Colo., Rhonda and Bill Berger of Kearney, Rick Cumming of Danbury and Scott and Sue Cumming of Kansas City, Mo.; 10 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. ...

The family of Lester Tirrill is hosting an open house in honor of his 80th birthday, Oct. 26, 2-4 p.m., at the Ag Complex building at the Red Willow County Fairgrounds in McCook. His children are Tom and Kelly Tirrill, Linda and Jerry Hall and Kathy and Terry Doyle. Cards of congratulations will reach him at 1604 West Fourth No. 73, McCook, NE 69001...

Plans for the future development of McCook Community College will be on the agenda for the Mid Plains Community College Area Board of Governors at its regular meeting Tuesday, 5 p.m., in McMillen Hall Room 213 at the MCC campus in McCook. College President Dr. Michael Chipps will recommend the board authorize school administrators to solicit bids from architectural funds to develop a Master Campus Site Plan for the college. The project would be funded from the college's plant fund...

Micheal and Barbara Langley of Cambridge and Ray and Lucille Lewandowski of Litchfield announce the engagement and upcoming wedding of their children, Amy Langley and David Lewandowski. The bride-to-be is employed with Great Plains Regional Medical Center in North Platte as a licensed practical nurse. The prospective bridegroom is employed with Paulsen Inc., in Cozad as the asphalt division manager. The couple is planning a Nov. 8, 2003, ceremony at the Congregational Church in Cambridge...

Bud and Norma Lashley of Curtis and Paul and Pat Schaffert of Indianola announce the engagement and upcoming wedding of their children, Dora Lashley and Kris Schaffert. The bride-to-be is administrative director of nursing for Advance Renal Services LLC of McCook. The future bridegroom is employed with Schaffert Manufacturing and Farms. The couple is planning a November wedding...

CULBERTSON -- Jill Rippen of Lincoln and Jon Eberspacher of Beaver Crossing were united in marriage June 14, 2003, at United Methodist Church in Culbertson with the Rev. Brian Houston officiating. Parents of the couple are Ted and Nancy Rippen of Culbertson and Rich and Karen Eberspacher of Valparaiso...

KEARNEY -- Amanda Little of Kearney and Grant Mollring of Cambridge were united in marriage June 7, 2003, at St. James Church in Kearney. Parents of the couple are Gary and Marg Little of Kearney and Jeff and SueAnn Mollring of McCook. Grandparents of the couple are Pauline Macke of Mullen and the late Edgar Macke, Paul and Goldie Little of Mullen, Sam Walkington of McCook and the late Anna June Walkington and the late JR and Betty Mollring...

HASTINGS -- Tina Ann Reiman and Tom Patrick Rowland were united in marriage Aug. 2, 2003, at St. Michael's Church in Hastings with the Rev. Dennis Hunt officiating. Parents of the couple are Dwayne and Connie Reiman of Lawrence and Don and Korrine Rowland of McCook...

For most of the 20th Century DeGroff's Store, on the corner of Norris and B, was McCook's Department Store. The store was opened in 1890, as the J.C. Allen Store. In 1896, Louis Suess, who had been retained as manager of the firm acquired the interests of DeGroff and Weller, the previous owners, but retained the name of DeGroffs for the business. Under that name the firm sold general merchandise, groceries, clothing, and appliances at various times over the years...