Stories from Tuesday, July 5, 2005

Kayla Newcomb and Scott Smalley, both of Lincoln, announce their engagement and upcoming wedding. The bride to be is the daughter of Kathy Reid and Doug Newcomb of Stratton. The prospective bridegroom is the son of Lyle and Peg Smalley of McCook. Kayla's grandparents are Eldon and Deloras Moore and Bob and Arlene Newcomb of Barley and Great Grandmother Doris Moore of the Cambridge Manor. ...

Colleen Cascio and Matthew Fritsche announce their engagement and upcoming wedding. Parents of the couple are Larry and Cindy Cascio of Bellevue and Randy and Barbara Fritsche of Maywood. The prospective bridegroom's grandparents are Dyle Fritsche and Gail Wesch of Maywood. ...

You would think that Saturday, June 25th was just an ordinary day in Nebraska but this was not true for the Soldiers‚ Grandma! Grandma Budke has sent over 1000 care packages to the military in Iraq and Kuwait since May 2003. This hot sunny day she got to meet these fine soldiers in person. Linnaea Budke was overwhelmed with joy when her dream came true...

Lori Sloan and Josh Arterburn of Lincoln, announce their engagement and upcoming wedding. Parents of the couple are Dan Sloan and Bonnie Sloan of Grand Island and Tom and Cindi Arterburn of McCook. Lori is employed with Bryan LGH and Josh with Lincoln Poultry. The couple plans a Aug. 6, 2005, ceremony at the Resurrection Catholic Church in Grand Island...

The children of Harry and Mary Lebsack are hosting a card shower in honor of the couple's 50th anniversary. The couple was married July 8, 1955. Children of the couple are Connie Meixner, Brenda Bacon, Joni Cantrell and family. Cards of congratulations will reach the couple at 14 South Street, McCook, NE 69001...

Josh and Jessica Vrbas of McCook announce the birth of their daughter, Sabrina Elise on Friday, June 3, 2005, at Community Hospital of McCook. Her grandparents are Dennis and Donna Grafel of McCook and Mary Vrbas and Tom Sughroue of Culbertson. Her great-grandparents are Ray and Barbra Grafel of McCook, Loren and Verona Chapman of Hays, Kan., and Mary Lou Vrbas of Culbertson and the late Don Vrbas...

Tad and Chelsea Lambert of Arlington, announce the birth of their daughter, Charzlie Ann Monique Lambert on June 2, 2005, two days after Tad returned stateside from Iraq. She weighed 8 pounds, 1 ounce and was 21 inches in length. Her grandparents are Doug and Stephanie Lambert of McCook and John and Betty Johnson of Nickerson. ...

OMAHA -- Carrie Elyn Warrick of Fort Calhoun and Tyler David McCarty of McCook were united in marriage Saturday, Jan. 8, 2005, at the Legacy Hall in Omaha. The Rev. Jon Simpson of Atlanta, Ga., officiated at the evening ceremony. Parents of the couple are Gary and Cherry Warrick of Fort Calhoun and Dave and Angela McCarty of McCook...

Jessica Marie Crick and Chad Michael Meyer, both of McCook, exchanged wedding vows Saturday, April 2, 2205, during a ceremony at Memorial United Methodist Church in McCook. The Rev. Douglas A. Delp, of Faith Westwood Church in Omaha, officiated. Parents of the couple are Jeff and Beth Crick of McCook and Ray and Judy Meyer of Elwood. ...

HASTINGS -- The McCook Rebels 16 and under girls fastpitch softball team placed second at the Nebraska Class B state tournament with an 8-2 record. The Rebels started out the tournament Friday night with a win against the Holdrege Heat with a shutout of 7-0...

When the high school fall sports season approaches, Friday night takes on a new meaning to football fans. Traditionally, every year McCook has made their run to the Class B State football finals the offensive line has been the x-factor. Smaller bodies moving larger ones are what makes the battle in the trenches a sight to see...

After the McCook National Bank American Legion Seniors dropped two games to Beatrice on Friday night, they rebounded to get two big wins on Saturday. The Seniors were victorious over Nebraska City 8-4, and they had their way with Syracuse 11-3. During game one against Nebraska City, McCook was held scoreless until the third inning when they erupted for six runs, with two outs, to lead the game 6-1...

The McCook National Bank American Legion Seniors found out for another time that no lead is safe when playing a high caliber team such as Beatrice. McCook got off to a three-run lead in both of the games with Beatrice, but were unable to hold them off as they lost both games of the doubleheader 11-3 and 11-6 on Friday night...

HAYS, Kan. -- The First Central Bank American Legion Juniors finished off their five-day stretch of seven games on Sunday at the Hays, Kan., Tournament. The Juniors lost all five games, but according to head coach Steve Cochran he felt like his team improved while playing some tough competition across the state line...

The McCook Rebels 10 and Under squad won two games against the North Platte Junior Sparks on Thursday night. In the opener, the Rebels won 6-3. Kaylee Samway was awarded the victory on the mound and struck out nine in her dominating performance. Kassidy Gillen was the Rebels' leading hitter with a double and a single. Samway and Rachel Leitner had singles. Gillen and Leitner drove runs home...

PALISADE -- Hail in drifts like snow and corn as flat as the ground drove Susan Howard to tears. An early-evening thunderstorm Monday hurled hail at about a two-mile area of land east of Palisade near the junction of Highways 6 and 25. "It was as deep as snow, and it leveled everything," Susan said. "It's so sad. I was in tears."...

**Dear Editor, The response of Owen McPhillips perfectly illustrates the real drug problem in the U.S. First, he starts with false assumptions. Let me assure Mr. McPhillips that I do not earn my living as an activist on any issue. In fact, I work a regular job like anyone else. Some of us just have an honest interest in a better approach to a major social problem, and we are willing to put some of our own time and money into the effort...

**Dear Editor, Pretending to speak for "rural Nebraskans," Owen McPhillips wrote: "The drug legalization lobbyists can say whatever they want," and "They can cite statistics until the cows come home." Clearly, McPhillips has made up his mind and is not about to disturb it with any inconvenient facts...

**Dear Editor, In response to Mr. McPhillips' letter of July 1: I am neither a "doper" nor a person who makes a living as a drug legalization lobbyist. I am the mother of four, the Gamma of four. I am a nurse of 32 years who has invested the last 13 years working in the fields of HIV/AIDS, homelessness, and substance use as a street nurse -- much of it in small towns in middle America...

Dec. 11, 1910-July 2, 2005 SHREVEPORT, La. -- Graveside services for Mr. C.F. "Sonny" Bass, 94 of Shreveport, La., will be held at 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 5, 2005, in Centuries Memorial Park. Officiating will be Pastor David Daniel of Broadmoor Assembly of God where Mr. Bass was a member. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service in Centuries Memorial Funeral Home...

The family of Carl Miller is hosting a card shower and an open house and reception in honor of his 95th birthday July 10. The open house is at Hillcrest Nursing Home, 1-2:30 p.m., and cards of c0ngratulation will reach him in care of the nursing home at 309 W. Seventh St., McCook, NE, 69001...

It wasn't a pleasant Fourth of July for those in a strip of land near Palisade, where it looked more like Christmas, thanks to several inches of hail piled on the highway by a passing storm. Glass was broken, cornfields were stripped and wheat farmers who were able to get their crops out of the field before the storm rolled through thanked their lucky stars...

Aug. 8, 1927-July 3, 2005 ATWOOD -- Dorothee Marie Margarethe Wolters, 78, died Sunday (July 3, 2005), at Rawlins County Hospital in Atwood. She was born Aug. 8, 1927, in Ludell, Kan., to Gustav J. and Bertha P. (Castens) Wolters. She attended parochial school at Trinity Lutheran School in Ludell and was an avid quilter...