Stories from Monday, May 3, 2004

McCook tracksters post several personal marks HOLDREGE -- The McCook High School girls track team survived the cold, damp weather to score 79 points at the Holdrege Invitational Friday and finished third. The McCook boys slipped to a fourth-place effort with 82.33 points...

ARNOLD -- The Eustis-Farnam boys track team took the 2004 Central Platte Conference team title Friday with 121 points, while Medicine Valley's Taylor Wolfe swept her four events leading her team to a second-place finish. Maxwell was the boy's runner-up with 111 points, while Medicine Valley placed seventh with 35...

ALLIANCE -- The McCook High School girls tennis team claimed 16-of-24 varsity matches Friday against Alliance and Scottsbluff at Alliance. The Bison posted a pair of 6-3 victories. Winning singles matches against Alliance were Kim Serbousek, Regina Rawlings, Natalie Brooks, Angela Abercrombie, Jennifer Chmiel and Jessica Battreall...

Marty Conroy has accepted a job in the private sector and has resigned as public works director for the city of McCook, the city manager's office announced today. His last day of work is Friday, May 14. Conroy came to work for the city almost 21 years ago as a temporary laborer, and two months later was promoted to full-time employee. He was promoted to the foreman/mechanic position on March 12, 1990, and to public works supervisor four months later...

Commissioners unanimously approved a resolution this morning requesting that Nebraska lawmakers postpone the July 1 implementation date of legislation designed to discontinue benefits for veterans who have earned "general discharges (under honorable conditions)."...

Jolene R. Messinger and Corey M Gill both of Glendale, Ariz., announce their engagement and upcoming wedding. Parents of the couple are Alan and Pamela Messinger of Hayes Center and Michael and Gay Gill of Omaha. The bride-to-be is a 1995 graduate of Hayes Center High School and a 1999 graduate of Doane College with a bachelor of arts degree in business administration with an emphasis on finance and marketing. ...

Approximately 175 residents from Southwest Nebraska and Northwest Kansas turned out for a reception honoring returning soldiers, and all soldiers, Saturday at the National Guard Armory. Organized by Char Hamilton, Shari Haag and Jean Rogers, the event included patriotic songs, presentations and displays of military memorabilia...

These are tough times for Nebraska's university system. Because of the slowdown in the state's economy, the university system has been forced to endure four budget cuts in the last three years. And further challenges lie ahead, as the state struggles to find ways to pay for the nuclear waste site lawsuit and to confront tax collections which have been short of estimates...

Haiti has been much in the news lately, another thorn in the side, for the United States to endure, and this problem is right in our own back yard. U.S. Marines were called in to keep order after the Haitian President/Dictator was de-posed in February 2004...

Melissa Kerr and Eli Frick, both of Denver, Colo., announce their engagement and upcoming wedding. Parents of the couple are Bob and Tammy Kerr of Indianola and David and Norma Frick of Navarro, Fla. Grandparents of the bride are Mr. and Mrs. Maurice Couse of McCook. ...

Melissa Timm and Travis Rickford, both of Manhattan, Kan., announced their engagement and upcoming wedding. Parents of the couple are Cheryl Timm of Ludell, the late Kenneth Timm and Tracy and Pam Rickford of Leoti, Kan. The bride-to-be and the prospective bridegroom are students at Kansas State University. The couple is planning a June 5, 2004, ceremony at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Atwood...

The family of Dale and Clara Adams is hosting an open house in honor of the couple's 50th anniversary May 29, 2-4 p.m., at the First Congregational Church in McCook.

The family of Fern Wolgamott is hosting a card shower in honor of her 91st birthday May 2. Cards of congratulations will reach her at 207 South Seventh, McCook, NE 69001.

The "Good Friends" of Norma Brooks are hosting a card shower in honor of her 75th birthday May 7. Cards of congratulations will reach her at 71443 Drive 395, Indianola, NE 69034.

The family of Erma Harder is hosting a card shower in honor of her 80th birthday, May 5. Cards of congratulations will reach her at 1405 East Circle Drive, McCook, NE 69001.

The family of Ruth Sutton is hosting a card shower in honor of her 80th birthday, May 6. Cards of congratulations will reach her at 201 Seminole Drive, McCook, NE 69001.

The family of Faye Quaduor is hosting an open house in honor of her 90th birthday, May 2, 2-4 p.m., at the Danbury Presbyterian Church basement. Cards of congratulations will reach her at HC 66 Box 29, Indianola, NE 69034.

The family of Bill and Betty Jussel is hosting a card shower in honor of their 50th anniversary, April 25. The couple married in 1954 at the United Methodist Church in McCook. Their family includes Pam and Doug Peters of Grand Island, Robert Jussel of Grand Island, Greg and Tracy Jussel of Doniphan and Jim and Cindy Jussel of Shawnee, Kan. They have 10 grandchildren. Cards of congratulations will reach them at 2109 West 15th, Grand Island, NE 68803...

The children of Ervain and Nadine Friehe are hosting an open house in honor of their 60th anniversary, May 1, 2-4 p.m., 1312 West Fifth, Street. Cards of congratulations will reach them at No. 1 Spyglass Street, McCook, NE 69001.

Chanida Kledplee of Longmont, Colo., and Eric Saunders of Mead, Colo., announce their engagement and upcoming wedding. Parents of the couple are Nittaya and Chanchai Kledplee of Longmont and Margie and Earl Denio of Stratton and Ed Saunders of Harp, Kan. ...

Lindsay Lee Hanchera and Lee Edward McConville, both of Kearney, announce their engagement and upcoming wedding. Parents of the couple are Scott and Kristyl Hanchera of Danbury and Ed and Rita McConville of Kearney. Grandparents of the couple are Don and Mary Jumps of Culbertson, DeWayne and LaVonne Hanchera of Danbury, John and Bernadetta Sis of Indianola and LaMoine and Garnet McConville of McCook. ...

Joely A. Wesch and Alex L. Lewis, both of Lincoln, announce their engagement and upcoming wedding. Parents of the couple are Lloyd and Carmen Wesch of McCook and Les and Helen Lewis of Port Orchard, Wash. The bride-to-be is a 1987 graduate of McCook High School and is a cosmetologist at Creative Reflections in Lincoln. ...

Feb. 17, 1907-May 1, 2004 Jewel Troy Kief died Saturday, May 1, 2004, at Hillcrest Nursing Home in McCook at the age of 97. She was born Feb. 17, 1907, in Hartville, Mo., the daughter of the late James Bradley and Addie (Rose) Fletcher. Her family moved to Arapahoe where she graduated from high school...

OMAHA -- John and Amanda Sutton of Omaha announced the birth of their son, Spencer Kyle, April 8, 2004, at Clarkson Hospital in Omaha. He weighed 7 pounds, 8 ounces and was 20 inches long. He has a sister, Brittany Kay, 10 years-old. Grandparents are Jim and Marilyn Sutton and Ron and Nancy Mousel, both of McCook. Great-grandparents are Viola Koerperich of McCook and Glenn Sutton of Sidney...