Stories from Friday, April 29, 2005

Butler headed to Regis; Goldberg, Deines ink with Black Hills State Academics and basketball were dual priorities for three McCook Community College men's basketball players when making a decision about which four-year school to attend. Brandon Butler, a 6-foot-6 sophomore from New Orleans, will play basketball at Regis University, an NCAA Division II program...

McCook Community College volleyball coach Jenni McConville continued to mine Southwest Nebraska for talent. McConville signed Dundy County High School senior Heather Morris to a letter of intent Thursday. Morris, a versatile 5-foot-7 athlete who can play both hitter and back row, joined an incoming freshman class that will include McCook's Sara Cappel and Denae Owens, Southwest's Brittany McConville, Hayes Center's Mary Gohl, Maywood's Crystal Zwickl and Ansley's Lindsay Hartman...

If the State of Nebraska is going to compete with other states and begin to grow, it's going to be necessary to start looking at ways to improve the methods it uses to entice businesses here. Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Dave Nabity has hit the campaign trail early to ensure that residents across the state understand that message and the importance of supporting economic development...

WASHINGTON -- Sen. Ben Nelson said he is co-sponsoring bipartisan legislation with Sen. Sam Brownback of Kansas to assure that people who live in rural communities will have access to quality, affordable hospital care. The legislation won't be an easy sell in Washington, Nelson said, during a conference call with with administrators from five hospitals that are participating in a demonstration project, since Washington is better at dealing with urban issues than rural...

"Dew" drops on a tulip today started as snow, which melted as soon as it fell, which continued throughout the morning. The McCook Regional Airport received .24 of an inch in the 24 hours preceding midnight, putting McCook at 4.59 inches of precipitation for the year, which is exactly normal...

Nebraskans like to work together for the common good. Nebraskans also like to be able to make a living. That's the Catch-22 that has dogged the state since its earliest settlement. The latest manifestation was before the Nebraska Legislature on Thursday, as senators debated whether to allow public power companies to compete with private telecommunication companies by offering Internet service over existing electric power lines...

**Dear Editor, I as a rider think I should be given the right to ride without a helmet if I so choose. What's next requirement, wearing leather? I guarantee that would lower the motorcycle death and accident rate in Nebraska because it would lead to less riders. ...

Prom season is here for kids as well as adults. Not many people get a chance later in life to attend prom, yet that opportunity has opened up to me several times since my husband is a teacher. If you're ever asked to chaperone a dance, jump at the chance. There are few occasions which are so fulfilling...

Jan. 4, 1950-April 27, 2005 BEAVER CITY -- Gerald "Jerry" Webb, 55, died Wednesday (April 27, 2005) at Phelps Memorial Hospital in Holdrege. He was born Jan. 4, 1950, to Jess and Betty (Short) Webb in Goodland. He grew up in Goodland and graduate from Goodland High School with the class of 1968. ...

INDIANOLA -- Stephanie McConville and Jason Neseth were united in marriage Nov. 27, 2004 at St. Catherine's Catholic Church in Indianola with the Rev. Nicholas Baker officiating. Parents of the couple are Bob and Cindy McConville of Indianola and Ron and Cecile Neseth of Grand Island...

Amanda Rodencal of Mequon, Wis., and Sean Kaufenberg of Grafton, Wis., announce their engagement and upcoming wedding. Parents of the couple are Larry and Sandie Rodencal of Cincinnati, Ohio and Ed and Cheryl Kaufenberg of Darien, Wis. The bride-to-be is a 2000 graduate of Republican Valley High School and plans to graduate from Concordia University-Wisconsin in May 2005 with a bachelor's degree in social work. ...

The family of Charles and Ruth Ann Fickle is hosting a card shower in honor of the couple's 60th anniversary, May 5. The couple married in 1945 in Lima, Ohio. Their children are LeAnn, Dale, Jim and Dick. They have five grandchildren. Cards will reach them at 1307 Missouri Avenue, McCook, NE 69001...

Kristen Marie Wilson and Jonathan Blaine Harris announce their engagement and upcoming wedding. Parents of the couple are Vernon and Jane Wilson of Moorefield and Mike and Lynn Harris of Indianola. The bride-to-be is a 2002 graduate of Maywood Public Schools. ...

Paige Janisha Breinig and Derek Nathan McConville announce their engagement and upcoming wedding. Parents of the couple are C. Douglas and Debra Breinig of Arapahoe and Dennis and Kem McConville of Indianola. Grandparents of the couple are Elmyra Wolf of Arapahoe, the late Don Wolf, Mary Jane Breinig of Arapahoe and the late Charles Breinig, Ida Mae and Jim McBride of Holbrook, Bill and Bernelda Nelson of Bartley and Robert and Kathy McConville of Indianola. ...

Sarah Elizabeth Wilcox and Adam Michael Powers, both of McCook, announce their engagement and upcoming wedding. Parents of the couple are Mark and Betty Wilcox of McCook, Charlie and Pat Powers of McCook and the late Peggy Powers. The bride-to-be is a 2004 graduate of McCook High School. ...

The family of Lucille Weber is hosting an open house in honor of her 90th birthday May 7 at the Heritage Senior Center, 1312 West Fifth Street, McCook. Cards of congratulations will reach her at 1500 block of East 11th, Apt. 30, McCook, NE 69001.

The family of Sylvia Coppin is hosting a card shower in honor of her 85th birthday May 3. Cards of congratulations will reach her at PO Box 86, Culbertson, NE 69024.

Misty Sallinger and Aaron Guthrie, both of Lincoln, announce their engagement and upcoming wedding. Parents of the couple are Sue and Don Sallinger of Lincoln and Jane and Marty Guthrie of McCook. The bride-to-be is a elementary teacher at Lincoln Public Schools. The prospective bridegroom is a communications technician at OneLnk. The couple is planning a June 4, 2005, ceremony at Capitol City Christian Church in Lincoln...

Gina Gatto and Troy Swanda, both of Washington D.C., announce their engagement and upcoming wedding. Parents of the couple are Ralph and Mary Gatto of Placentia, Calif., and Marvin and Margaret Swanda of McCook. The bride-to-be is a 1997 graduate of Mater Dei High School. ...

Marci Ann Zahl and Aaron Michael Sis announce their engagement and upcoming wedding. Parents of the couple are Bill and Linda Zahl of Stratton and Michael and Diane Sis of Atwood. Grandparents of the couple are Sarah Myers of Cairo, the late Franklin Myers, Eulah Adkinson of Stratton, the late Willard Zahl, the late Harold Adkinson, John and Virginia Burk of McDonald and the late Charles and Eleanora Sis. ...

The family of Lillian E. Schaal is hosting a card shower in honor of her 102nd birthday May 5. Cards of congratulations will reach her at Hillcrest Nursing Home, 309 West Seventh, McCook, Room 424.

April 10, 1950-April 28, 2005 HOLDREGE -- Nancy L. Fitz, 55, died Thursday (April 28, 2005) at Community Hospital of McCook. She was born April 10, 1950, to Robert and Arvidene (Guthrie) Fitz in Holdrege. The family lived in South Central Nebraska communities including Beaver City. She graduated from Holdrege High School in 1968. She was then employed by Becton Dickinson in Holdrege for 37 years in the production area...

The family of Melva Gohl is hosting a card shower in honor of her 85th birthday May 4. Cards of congratulations will reach her at Route 1, Box 42, Culbertson, NE 69024.

FREMONT -- Mabel DeLong, 84, died Thursday (April 28, 2005) at Arbor Manor in Fremont. Survivors include her son, Russell DeLong of McCook; two grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. Services are Monday (10 a.m.) at First Baptist Church in Fremont. Interment will be in Memorial Cemetery in Fremont...

Nov. 11, 1926-April 29, 2005 Marion Alberta Follett, 78, died Friday (April 29, 2005) at McCook Community Hospital. She was born Nov. 11, 1926, in Bird City to Frank H.L. and Hertha Rose Pettit. She attended Baker Rural School. On March 18, 1949, she married George Warren Follett at Beaver City, Nebraska. ...

If approved by the McCook City Council, people who have had to postpone and delay plans for new housing in McCook will get a reprieve from the moratorium on sewer connections within the city limits. According to the council's agenda, the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality has agreed to allow additional sewer connections, if in so doing, the city does not exceed its current flow into the sewer plant...

"Fill 'er up!" was a common request at the Trails West Sinclair station in Trenton Friday morning as drivers from around Southwest Nebraska and Northwest Kansas showed up to take advantage of a 20-cent discount and take the opportunity to meet Nebraska's governor...

Gov. Dave Heineman seemed to be enjoying himself as he pumped gasoline in Trenton on Friday morning, part of a promotion to spotlight the use of ethanol to ease our dependence on foreign oil. Heineman, one of four Nebraska governors to have called McCook home, pointed out that not only does ethanol help farmers by improving the corn market, give drivers a price break and create jobs at ethanol plants -- it also provides construction plants when the giant alcohol stills are built...

Appropriately, members of the Legislature reached Legislative Day 70 (Thursday) morning in addition to reaching a cloture vote on Legislative Bill 70 earlier in the week. Both of these significant accomplishments have come a long way from where they initially began...

Another academic year has come and gone at colleges and universities all over the country and the same holds true for McCook Community College. It's a transition period for thousands of young people and, in some cases, not so young people, as they prepare to open up a new chapter in their lives. This graduation season will be especially poignant for me because of the exceptional sophomore graduating class at MCC this year...