Stories from Monday, October 25, 2004

COZAD -- Several area teams competed at the Cozad Volleyball Invitational Saturday. Southwest took second place, falling to Gothenburg in the final match. In first round action, Gothenburg defeated Eustis-Farnam 25-14, 25-18; Sutherland defeated Alma 25-10, 25-22; Southwest defeated Grant 25-8, 25-10; and Cozad defeated Cambridge 27-29, 25-17, 25-20...

Football playoffs begin for Classes C, D Thursday Several area Class C and Class D teams begin the state playoffs by hosting games on Thursday. In Class C1first round action, Chase County (7-1) hosts Hershey (4-4). The Longhorns' only loss came at the hands of Chadron...

Fire Chief Marc Harpham (from left), Chane Smith and Lt. Steve Renner demonstrate the new exhaust system, which went into operation at the Public Safety Center in McCook on Thursday. "The McCook City and Volunteer Fire Department would like to thank all the businesses, organizations, and individuals who made a donation toward the purchase of our exhaust system," according to a release issued today. ...

Recently we were privileged to take in the Cowboy Days Celebration in Las Cruces, N.M. It was a great spectacle, complete with Cowboy Poets, Western bands, demonstrations of riding and roping, and shootouts between bandits (in black hats) and good guys (in white hats). Everything was geared to recall and pay tribute to earlier days in New Mexico's colorful history...

When Nebraskans are wading through the amendments at the general election next Tuesday, they will have more to consider than whether to legalize casinos and other forms of gambling. Voters will also have to decide questions about historic renovation, the lieutenant governor's role in the legislature and lottery funding for the Nebraska State Fair. In the Gazette's view, two of these amendments are worthy of passage; the other is not...

Christopher Lewis said he knew. "Nobody but Bill could make anything out of these pieces," he said, confidently. What Christopher was so confident of was that Bill Stewart, "Head Elf" at the McCook Toy Box, could take hundreds of parts and pieces of bicycles and turn them into real, honest-to-goodness, ridable bikes...

Feb. 25, 1927-Oct. 18, 2004 BREWSTER, Kan. -- Ruth Marie Briney, 77, died Monday (Oct. 18, 2004) at Citizen Medical Center in Colby, Kan. She was born Feb. 25, 1927, to Ward A. Marshall and Bertha (Smith) Marshall in Clay Center, Kan. She graduate from Salina High School, Stephen's College in Columbia, Mo., and attended Kansas State University...

GOTHENBURG -- Doug and Katy Snyder of Gothenburg announce the birth of their son, Conner Lee, Aug. 31, 2004, in Gothenburg. He was 7 pounds, 14 ounces and was 21 3/8 inches long. Grandparents are Victor and Nancy Knutson of Wilsonville and Lee and Linda Snyder of McCook. Great-grandparents are Meredith and Pauline Knutson of Grand Island, Lawrence and Camilla Orvis of McCook, Vern Jorgensen of Curtis, Ben and Darlene Russell of Moline, Ill., and Delma Snyder of McCook...

Nov. 1, 1929-Oct. 15, 2004 HERNDON -- Raymond Virgil Wahrman, 74, died Friday (Oct. 15, 2004) at his home in Herndon. He was born Nov. 1, 1929, to Joe and Mary (Brown) Wahrman in Herndon. He was a farmer in Red Willow County and Rawlins County. He was a member of the St. Mary's Assumption Catholic Church and St. Patrick's Catholic Church in McCook...

Jill Margaret McConville and Brad Michael Lauer were united in marriage Sept. 4, 2004, at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in McCook with the Rev. Gary Brethour officiating. Parents of the couple are Bill and Sandy McConville of Culbertson and Ron and Deb Lauer of McCook...

Sharla Hess and Bill Bieck were united in marriage Aug. 14, 2004, at the Evangelical Free Church with the Rev. Brian Gregg officiating. Wilma Bieck of Fremont, mother of the bridegroom, was an honored guest. Guests were the attendants. Ryan Bieck of Missouri Valley, Iowa, Tyler Bieck of Lincoln and Tony Bieck of McCook, all sons of the bridegroom, were ushers for the ceremony...

Amber Reynolds of Oberlin and Derick Lorentz of McCook announce their engagement and upcoming wedding. Parents of the couple are Lyn and Marci Reynolds of Oberlin and Rick and Mary Lorentz of McCook. Grandparents of the couple are Louise Coburn of McCook, Stan and Jeanine Reynolds of McCook and Clarence and Evelyn Lorentz of Herndon. ...

The friends of Chauncey Hafner are hosting a card shower in honor of his 85th birthday, Oct. 28. Cards of congratulations will reach him at Rt. 1 Box 5, Herndon, KS 67739.

The family of Don Adams is hosting an open house in honor of his 80th birthday Nov. 7, 1:30-4:30 p.m., at the Ella Missing Community Center, 411 Sixth Street, Arapahoe.

ARLINGTON, Va. -- Jeff and Susan (Kircher) Knight announce the birth of their son, Robert Gayle, Sept. 28, 2004, in Arlington, Va. He weighed 8 pounds, 5 ounces and was 20 1/2 inches long. He has one sister, Caroline Patricia, who is two years old. Grandparents are Gayle and Caroline Kircher of Indianola...

Timothy Jon Miller and Leanne Marie Miller announce the birth of their son, Joel Ephraim Miller, Oct. 8, 2004. He was 7 pounds, one ounce and was 18 inches long. Grandparents are Craig and Cheryl Christner of McCook and Kenton and Joan Miller of Grand Junction, Colo...

Dec. 27, 1910-Oct. 22, 2004 Frances M. "Fritz" Hormel, 93, died Friday (Oct. 22, 2004) at Community Hospital of McCook. She was born Dec. 27, 1910, at Trenton, to Charles H. and Willa (Benjamin) Hinkle. She attended Trenton High School and the University of Nebraska where she was a member of the UNL Rifle Team and Kappa Delta Delta Sorority...