Stories from Monday, November 14, 2005

McCook squad overcomes tragedy, injuries, tough opponents to reach championship The fourth straight trip to the Nebraska Class B state championship was an against-the-odds scenario for the McCook Bison football team. McCook had to overcome the tragedy of the death of beloved assistant coach Ron Coleman...

CAMBRIDGE -- Anthony Lytle ran for 147 yards and a touchdown and No. 8 Cambridge defeated third-ranked Thayer Central 29-9 in a Class C2 semifinal Saturday. Cambridge (10-2) returns to the state finals after a year's absence. The Trojans won the 2003 championship...

CANCUN, Mexico -- Kaylee Rhae McCollam and Jason Richard Guretzky, both of Lincoln, were united in marriage Saturday, July 23, 2005, at the Moon Palace Resort in Cancun, Mexico. Parents of the couple are Doran and Cindy McCollam of Culbertson, Jerry and Ruth Maresh of Dodge and the late John Guretzky...

Cori Lynn DeVaughn, of McCook, and Travis Wade Hughes, of Elwood, announce their engagement and upcoming wedding. Parents of the couple are Chet and Donna DeVaughn of McCook and Judy Frerichs of Elwood. Grandparents of the couple are Vern and Doris Wentling of Beaver City and Hazel DeVaughn of McCook. ...

Todd and Andrea Cappel of McCook announce the birth of a son, Grant Richard, on Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2005, at Community Hospital of McCook. He weighed 7 pounds, 9.8 ounces and was 19 1/2 inches long. Grandparents are Dick and Kathie Cappel of McCook, Dick and Mary Ambrose of North Platte and Jackie and Dennis Ginther of Lafayette, Colo. Great-grandparents are Lorna Trupp, Loretta Cappel, Dorothy Roth and Garnett Ginther, all of McCook, and Phyllis Ambrose of Fairbury, Ill...

The children of Lisa Marie Hinton, of McCook, and Phillip Edward Pfortmiller, of Stuttgart, Kan., announce the engagement and upcoming wedding of their parents. The bride-to-be is the granddaughter of the late Betty Sayer. The prospective bridegroom is the son of Leonard Pfortmiller and the late Lorine Pfortmiller. The ceremony is planned for May 26, 2006...

As the numbers flow in for irrigation water use during 2005, Dan Smith becomes more and more impressed with how good a job farmers did in conserving water during this year's growing season. "We're about 60 percent of the way through the meter readings," said Smith, who is manager for the Middle Republican Natural Resource District. ...

**Dear Editor, I am a true believer in the McCook school system and the McCook community. I see that a name for the new elementary school is being talked about. How about this idea. Name the school Coleman Elementary after the late Ron Coleman who taught so many kids PE and was a man of respect in the community that no one ever doubt why his name would be attached to the school...

**Dear Editor, Thank you for the number puzzle (Sudoku) you have daily in the Gazette. I have been addicted to it. Thank you for having more of the very easy and easy puzzles until we get used to doing them. I look forward to getting the paper more now...

As Veterans Day (for many years known as Armistice Day) approached once again, we tended to reflect on family and friends who fought in past wars in the protection of our country. This year, in addition to thinking about family and friends who fought in the war, it seems like a good idea to reflect on the military service of the fellow who was America's most decorated service man of World War II, Audie Murphy...

Nov. 17, 1950--Nov. 11, 2005 GOTHENBURG -- Richard L. Blase, 54, Nebraska Funeral Director of Gothenburg, died on Friday, Nov. 11, 2005, at his home. Rick was born on Nov. 17, 1950, at Stromsburg to Harold and Shirley (Thomas) Blase. He grew up on the family farm near Hordville and attended Hordville High School, graduating in 1969...

HASTINGS -- Daniel Allen, infant son of Chris and Mackenzie (Cole) Allen, died Thursday (Nov. 10, 2005) at Mary Lanning Hospital in Hastings. Survivors include his parents, Chris and Mackenzie Allen; a brother, Steven Allen of Hastings; grandparents, Robert Allen of Culbertson, Charlene (Offner) Young of Cambridge and Kenneth "Butch" and Margaret Cole of Indianola; great-grandparents, Jim and Esther (Offner) Needham of Cambridge, Kenneth and Marianne Cole of Indianola, Jean Case of Culbertson and Sid and Judy Allen of McCook; relatives; and friends.. ...

**Dear Editor, "Chamber launches Xmas promotion." Please put the Christ back in Christmas. There is no such thing as Xmas. It's a lazy, disrespectful way to treat the most blessed event in the Christian world. Actually, there is nothing in the article that would lead one to believe it is a Christmas promotion. It's a weather promotion. ...

**-- EDITOR'S NOTE -- This is the first in a series of stories on the McCook Work Ethic Camp. The Nebraska Department of Corrections Work Ethic Camp in McCook reached an unofficial milestone recently, admitting its 1,000th offender since the doors to "Don't Look Back" and "Second Chances" opened in April 2001...