Stories from Monday, September 13, 2004

McCook hosts Hastings Tuesday COLUMBUS -- The McCook softball team went 1-2 and finished fourth at the Clumbus tournament on Saturday. After scoring three runs in the second inning, McCook held on to win against Grand Island 3-2. Andrea Soden and Lindsey Lawson both singled in the third...

TRENTON -- Dundy County took first place at the Hitchcock County High School volleyball invite Saturday with a win over Wheatland. Hayes Center claimed third by defeating host Hitchcock County in three sets. The tourney also featured Arapahoe and Cheylin playing in both the Trenton and Culbertson Dundy County went undefeated at the tourney with a two-set win over Wheatland, 25-14, 25-16, in the championship game...

Shawn McMurtrey claims first place BROKEN BOW -- The McCook boys cross country team finished in behind first place Ogallala and runner up Gibbon at the Broken Bow Country Club. Ogallala won the boys title with 22 points, followed by Gibbon 59 and McCook 62...

YORK -- The McCook High School boys tennis team placed third at the York Invitational Friday with 19 points. York won the tournament with 21 points, followed by Elkhorn with 20. Holdrege scored 16 and Waverly 14. Nebraska City also competed but did not pick up any team points...

Josh Korinek, 10, and K.C. race up Wellfleet's main street during the annual fall festival horse race Saturday. Behind Korinek is Zach Leas and Misty. Both riders are from Wellfleet. The winner of the day's races was Sunny Girl, ridden by Mary McQuaid of North Platte. Hundreds of people lined main street for the festival parade, whose theme was "9-11 ... Do you remember? We do." The day's fun included stick-horse team penning, mutton busting, a tractor pull, quilt show, barbecue and dance...

Members of the McCook Fire Department "exercise" the company's ladder truck on Patriot's Day, Saturday. Flags were ordered to half staff in honor of the people who lost their lives in the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States.

St. Patrick's 30th annual fall festival is adding some new items to the celebration, including cow pie bingo and changes to the annual Duct Tape Derby. The festival begins Saturday, Sept. 18 and continues through Sunday, Sept. 19. Saturday events, 7-9:30 p.m., in the church basement at 401 East F Street in McCook, include bingo and fresh barbecued pork sandwiches, sloppy joes, hot dogs, pie and ice cream. ...

The 2004-05 budget will be the main topic of discussion at the September meeting of the Mid-Plains Community College Area Board of Governors. After discussion, the board will be asked to adopt the budget and set the property tax requirements to fund the budget and set the levy at $0.078, up from $0.065 in 2003-04. The budget hearing will begin at 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, in Room 200 at the North Campus of North Platte Community College...

The Nebraska National Guard and the American Red Cross are bringing Project Video Connect to the McCook area on Thursday, Sept. 16. Several agencies have teamed up to provide this service to men and women serving away from home and to their families in Nebraska. The project allows family and friends of military members to send a two-minute video email to their soldier, sailor and airmen...

During 2004 Valmont Manufacturing Co. is celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the birth of the Pivot Irrigation System. In 1954 Bob Daugherty, President of the Valley Mfg. Co. bought the 1952 patent for the Pivot Irrigation Concept from Frank Zybach and his partner, A.E. Trowbridge, of Columbus, Nebraska. Mr. Daugherty immediately began manufacture of the Valley Irrigation systems at his Valley plant...

KEARNEY -- Erica D. Winder and Jeff Sikes, both of Kearney, were united in marriage May 22, 2004, at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Kearney with the Rev. Rob Keifner officiating. Parents of the couple are Dan and Cathy Winder of McCook and David and Tammy Sikes of Kearney. Grandparents of the couple are Dale and Norma Crocker of McCook, Ardess Cappel of McCook, Wayne and Dorothy Sikes of Kearney and Bob and Bonnie Burton of Pleasanton...

Kristie Phinney and Travis Winters, both of McCook, announce their engagement and upcoming wedding. Parents of the couple are Jim and Patty Phinney of McCook, Pat and Larry Hall of Agra, Kan., Ken Winters of Indianola and Vicky and Dan Ground of Juniata. The couple are the owners and operators of Nebraska Concrete Coatings. They are planning an Oct. 9, 2004, ceremony at the United Methodist Church in McCook...

Sara Michelle Brown of McCook and Rhett Aaron Rogers of Indianola announce their engagement and upcoming wedding. Parents of the couple are Linda Dethlefsen of McCook, Cory Brown of Omaha and Bill and Debra Rogers of Bartley. The couple is planning an Oct. 16, 2004, ceremony on Carnival Cruises in Miama, Fla...

Julie Marie Westhusin and Michael Douglas Downing announce their engagement and upcoming wedding. Parents of the couple are Ronald and Shirley Westhusin of Plainville, Kan., Doug Downing and Diana Downing of Atwood. The bride-to-be is a 1996 graduate of Plainville High School. ...

Chelsey Baumbach and Dillon Cerny, both of Lincoln, announce their engagement and upcoming wedding. Parents of the couple are Bill and Lynda Baumbach of Indianola and Allen and Janice Cerny of Ogallala. The bride-to-be is a student at Bryan LGH School of Health and Science. She is employed with St. Elizabeth's Hospital in Lincoln. The prospective bridegroom is employed with Husker Auto in Lincoln. The couple is planning an Oct. 16, 2004, ceremony at St. Catherine's Catholic Church in Indianola...

The family of Howard and Lila (Miller) Runge of Culbertson is hosting a card shower in honor of the couple's 45th anniversary Sept. 12. The couple wed in 1959 in McDonald. Cards will reach them at Rt. 1 Box 126A, Culbertson, NE 69024.

The family of Murel and Helen McNutt is hosting a card shower in honor of the couple's 50th anniversary Sept. 19. Their children are Diana and Bruce Gartrell, Earl and Deb McNutt and Peggy and Andy Ruppert. They have seven grandchildren. Cards of congratulations will reach the couple at 502 North Cherokee, McCook, NE 69001...

The family of Russell and Lavena (Stock) Marks is hosting an open house in honor of the couple's 50th anniversary Sept. 19, 2-5 p.m., at the TCDC Building in Trenton. Their children are Zita and John Rundel, Bill Marks and Laura Parde and Dennis Marks. Cards will reach the couple at PO Box 494, Trenton, NE 69044...

June 30, 1909-Sept. 11, 2004 ARAPAHOE -- Edna Genevieve Burton-Cole, 95, died Saturday (Sept. 11, 2004) at CA Mues Good Samaritan Center in Arapahoe. She was born June 30, 1909, to Carl and Anna (Ubben) Watson in Oxford. She graduated from Oxford High School in 1926. After high school she attended Hastings Business College to take secretarial courses. She then worked in Broken Bow, Alma and Oxford as a secretary...

Aug. 23, 1919-Sept. 10, 2004 HOLDREGE -- Norma Esther James, 85, died Friday (Sept. 10, 2004) at Phelps Memorial Hospital in Holdrege. She was born Aug. 23, 1919, to Chester and Wanda (Catt) McConnell in Wilsonville. She attend rural school south of Wilsonville...

April 3, 1920-Sept. 10, 2004 BEAVER CITY -- Francis D. Burton, 84, died Friday (Sept. 10, 2004) at the Beaver City Manor in Beaver City. He was born April 3, 1920, to William Arthur and Elma Etta (Hodgekin) Burton near Bartley. He attended country school then graduated from Bartley High School in 1937. He farmed north of Bartley...

Nov. 27, 1923-Sept. 9, 2004 GEM, Kan. -- James J. Gilbert, 80, died Thursday (Sept. 9, 2004) at his home in rural Gem, Kan. He was born Nov. 27, 1923, to James E. and Ethel A. (Meyers) Gilbert on a rural farm near Gem. He was raised in the Achilles community and lived there all of his life. He attended District 25 country school and graduated in 1943 from Decatur Community High School. Her served in the Army in the 16th Tank Battalion...

Mike and Lesa Tines announce the birth of their son, Landon Michael, Aug. 12, 2004, at Community Hospital of McCook. He weighed 7 pounds, 3 ounces and was 19 inches long. Grandparents are Lee and Barb Miller of Culbertson and Dude and Alice Tines of Venango. Great-grandparents are Mary Walz of Indianola, Dorothy Tines of Cambridge, Catherine Blume of McCook and Ray and Alma Miller of Culbertson...

Brett and Lori Schmidt announce the birth of their daughter, Lainey Dee, Aug. 31, 2004, at Community Hospital of McCook. She weighed 7 pounds and was 19 1/2 inches long. She has two sisters, Brettani and Laurel. Her grandparents are Peggy Schmidt of McCook and the late Cliff Schmidt and the late Victor and Geraldine Gonzales...