Stories from Monday, March 27, 2006

Jan. 30, 1921 - March 23, 2006 ARAPAHOE -- M. Ruth (Sherwood Wagner), 85, died Thursday (March 23, 2006) at C.A. Mues in Arapahoe. She was born Jan. 30, 1921, at Hendley, to Edward C. and Salina (Galloway) Thayer. She graduated from Hendley High School. She attended college at Kearney State Teacher's College. She taught school at Port Angeles, Wash., McCook and Oxford...

Jan. 6, 1925 -March 22, 2006 TRENTON-- Elizabeth Rose Colling died Wednesday, (March 22, 2006) at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney at the age of 81. She was born Jan. 6, 1925, on a farm near Culbertson in Hitchcock County, the daughter of the late Charles and Elizabeth (Pope) Marquart. She grew up on the family farm and graduated in 1943 from Culbertson High School...

Sarah Eilizabeth Wilcox and Adam Michael Powers, both of McCook, were married June 4, 2005 at the First Church of the Nazarene with the Rev. Steve Bales officiating. Parents of the bride are Mark and Betty Wilcox of McCook. Parents of the bridegroom are Charlie and Patricia Powers of McCook and the late Peggy Powers. ...

The family of Jim and Bev Foster is hosting a card shower in celebration of the couple's 40th anniversary. They were married April 2, 1966. Children of the couple are Gary and wife, Vicki Foster of Sioux City, Iowa, and Terry Foster of Lincoln. Cards of congratulations can be mailed to 1206 N. Jefferson, Lexington, NE 68850...

Meghan B. Hayes and Aaron R. Smith, both of Omaha, announce their engagement and upcoming wedding. The bride-to-be is the daughter of Stephen and Chyna Hayes of Grand Island, Nebraska. The prospective bridegroom is the son of Robert and Marie Smith of Culbertson. ...

Linda N. Floro and Gary L. Fisher of Curtis announce their engagement and upcoming wedding, April 29, 2006, at the Vineyard Fellowship Church in Curtis. A 7 p.m. ceremony is planned, with a reception to follow. The bride-to-be is the daughter of the Late Mr. and Mrs. Dock Case Floro and the prosprective bridegroom is the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Lenard Fisher...

Jill Hansen and Aaron Purvis, both of Lincoln, announce their engagement and upcoming wedding. Parents of the couple are Fred and Heidi Pinkal, Mike Hansen, and Mark and Kathleen Eiler, all of McCook, and the late Chris Purvis. The bride-to-be is a 2003 graduate of McCook High School and pursuing a degree in Marketing at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. ...

The family of Dean and Faith (Hollars) Weskamp is hosting a card shower in honor of the couple's 50th anniversary. The couple was married in Indianola on April 6, 1956. Children of the couple include Tom and David of McCook, Mike and wife, Kristi of York and Patrick of Omaha; and three grandchildren...

Nick Newman and Angela Senecal of McCook announce the birth of their daughter MaddLyn Reneah Newman on March 13, 2006. Maternal grandparents are Laura and Robert Senecal of McCook. Maternal great-grandparents are Marge and Robert Senecal and Thomas and Rita Millis, all of Saratoga Springs, N.Y. Paternal grandparents are Joyce and Rick Pennington. Paternal great-grandmother is Opal Henke, all of Hastings...

Jason and Tamara Venneman of Beatrice announce the birth of their son, Alexander Joseph, born on Friday, Dec. 30, 2005, at the Beatrice Community Hospital and Health Center. He weighed 6 pounds 4 1/2 ounces. and was 19 1/2 inches long. Alexander has an older brother, Andrew. Grandparents are Ruth Ann Hackenkamp of McCook and the late Earnie Hackenkamp, Mark Venneman of Lincoln and the late Gail Kuhl. Great-grandparents are Fred Toy of King Lake and Betty Venneman of Fremont...

July 25, 1922 - Feb. 9, 2006 ATWOOD -- Louis "Luke" Leonard Prochazka, 84, died Feb. 9, 2006 in Atwood. He was born July 25, 1922 to Frank and Anna (Heble) Prochazka. He graduated from Atwood High School in 1940 and entered the U.S. Navy for active duty in World War II. Upon completion of service he attended the University of Nebraska and Kansas State University...

July 25, 1935-March 24, 2005 ATWOOD -- John Frank "Jack" Ruda, 70, died on his farm while tending cattle. His body was found Friday, March 24, 2006. He was born July 25, 1935, on the family farm northwest of Atwood to John E. and Rose E. (Sis) Ruda...

March 28, 1919 - March 22, 2006 WRAY, Colo. -- Opal Rosella (Myer) Collicott, 86, a long-time resident of Haigler, died Wednesday (March 22, 2006) at the Wray Community Hospital. She was born March 29, 1919, in Franklin, to James Laird and Bertha Lureen (Martin) Myer. ...

April 20, 1925 - March 23,2006 BENKELMAN -- Charles "Charlie" Lee Sandman, 80, died Thursday (March 23, 2006) at Dundy County Hospital in Benkelman. He was born April 20, 1925, to Ralph Gerhard and Gertrude May (Richards) Sandman at Beatrice. The family moved from Harbine. He grew up near Wauneta and graduated from Wauneta High School...

Aug. 2, 1924-March 26, 2006 McPHERSON, Kan. -- Annette Pearl Wood, 81, died Friday (March 24, 2006), at Memorial Hospital in McPherson, Kan. She was born Aug. 2, 1924, at Sterling, Colo., to Glenn and Bertha V. (Holtzman) McBride. She graduated from Oberlin High School in 1942...

Feb. 14, 1926 - March 24, 2006 ELSIE -- Dorothy Fuehrer, 80, died Friday (March 24, 2006) at Chase County Community Hospital in Imperial. She was born Feb. 14, 1926, in Elsie, to Frank and Bertha Osler. She grew up on the family farm. She attended high school in Imperial, graduating with the class of 1943. She attended Denver University for two years, and then graduated from the University of Nebraska in 1947 with a degree in education...

Every season has its special rituals and traditions and spring is no exception. As the snow begins to melt and the days grow longer, we start to think about outdoor activities. Whether you are getting ready to till the garden or wash the windows, spring is the time to freshen the home and yard after the long winter months. It's the traditional spring-cleaning time. While there is still a chill in the air, you might want to tidy some areas indoors...

We sometimes wonder if people know what that little stem on the left side of the steering wheel is for. Crossing a through street, it's wise not to believe your eyes. If the car's turn signals are dark, there's a 50-50 chance it's going to turn anyway. If the closest one is blinking, there's a slightly higher chance that the car will actually turn...

Since moving to this community, I have heard and read about the wonderful things the men and women from the Work Ethic Camp have done and continue to do for the community of McCook. I would like to add another that compliments the integrity of these workers. I had friends from Iowa last fall staying at Karrer Park with another couple on their way to Colorado...

The council has one more chance to redeem itself and vote to withdraw the contract offered to our ex-City Manager. Any of the three members who voted to rehire John Bingham can simply "move to reconsider the motion to hire," get a second, and then vote a majority and the deed is done...

I want to comment on Jean Lacey's Open Forum of March 23 about the Red Willow County Commissioners and their decision to do away with the opening ritual of prayer before the meeting. I agree with Mrs. Lacey; we are becoming a godless country. The United States government and our Constitution were founded on religion and freedom of speech, for God and country...

The war apparently continues in Iraq. There are a growing number of persons becoming farther skeptical of President Bush's intellect. Before becoming judgmental, we must face the facts: Everything he says is totally coherent. In recent months and years, many bombed-out businesses and homes in Iraq and elsewhere have been littered with the corpses of women and children...

Dr. Warren Jones is known in McCook as a mild mannered dentist -- freely giving of his time and talents to the community and as a fellow who extends his philanthropic works to the poor in third world countries. But in another lifetime, more than 30 years ago, during the Vietnam war, he was known as Mr. Jones, Warrant Officer, pilot of helicopters. (According to Mike Guard, Jones' Crew Chief in Vietnam, Jones was "The World's Best Gunship Pilot!")...

Sept. 22, 1949 - March 18, 2006 GREENWOOD -- Terry Ann (Hatch) Ahlman, 56, of Greenwood, died Saturday, (March18, 2006) at St. Elizabeth Regional Medical Center in Lincoln. She was born Sept. 22, 1949. She grew up in the McCook area and graduated from McCook HIgh School in 1969...