Stories from Monday, January 8, 2007

Branigan Dame and Arnold Baumann, both of McCook, were united in marriage June 30, 2006 at St. Patrick's Church with Rev. Thomas Bush officiating. Parent of the couple are Roger and Linda Dame and Earl and Evelyn Baumann, all of McCook. Grandparents of the bride are Robert and Verna Dame and Claudine Hickert of McCook and the late James Hickert. The bridegroom's grandparents are Richard and Carla Thieben of McCook, Agnes Baumann of Culbertson and the late George Baumann...

Elmer and Tally Case of Max announce the engagement of their daughter, Heather, to Billy Walker, son of Johnny and Rosemary Walker of Trenton. The bride-to-be is a 1999 graduate of Dundy County High School and a 2003 graduate of Wheaton College in Wheaton, Ill. She is teaching Spanish at Norris High School in Lincoln...

Lewis McFarland celebrated his 82nd birthday Jan 4. He was born in Wilsonville in 1925. Cards of congratulations can reach him at 1106 West L, McCook, NE 69001

The family of Loren and Ellen (Conroy) Griffin of McCook are hosting a card shower in honor of the couple's 45th wedding anniversary. They were married Dec. 30, 1961, in Denver, Colo. Their children are Brenda Walter and husband, Tim of McCook, Linda Brewster and husband, Johnnie of McCook, Margo Schnell and husband, Tim of Lincoln, Mary Tolliver and husband, Rick of McCook, Laura Johnson and husband, Ryan of Lincoln, Tim Griffin of Halsey, Paul Griffin of McCook, and Jim Griffin of McCook. ...

Jason and Melissa Stewart of Lexington announce the birth of a daughter, Delaney Dawn Stewart. She was born Dec. 14, 2006 at Tri County Hospital in Lexington. She weighed 7 pounds, 9 ounces and was 19 1/2 inches long. She has a one sibling, 2 year-old Hunter. Her grandparents are Deanna Miller of Arapahoe, Dick Haag of Indianola and Dale and Cheryl Stewart, also of Indianola...

SCOTTSBLUFF -- On Saturday, the McCook High School wrestling team competed at the Scottsbluff Invitational. The Bison sent eight wrestlers to compete on the varsity level with three individuals taking home medals. On the JV side, Chris Schleeman won the 189-pound title with two convincing victories...

Sept. 11, 1923 - Dec. 26, 2006 WICHITA, Kan. -- Ethel E. Rogers, 83, died Dec. 26, 2006) at Larksfield Place in Wichita. She was born Sept. 11, 1923, in Topeka, Kan., to Neil and Edna (Randall) Rogers. She grew up on the family farm near Oberlin. She graduated from Decatur Community High School in 1941, Kansas State University with a degree in Mathematics, and from Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill., with an MBA...

Oct. 7, 1926-Jan. 6, 2007 OBERLIN -- Donald D. Scott, 80, died Saturday (Jan. 6, 2007) at Decatur County Hospital in Oberlin. He was born Oct. 7, 1926, to George Henry and Gladys (Waldo) Scott on a farm northwest of Oberlin. He grew up on the farm and attended East Liberty Grade School and graduated from Decatur Community High School in 1944...

Nov. 16, 1910 - Jan 4, 2007   STRATTON -- LeNeve Marjorie Kyle, 96, died Thursday (Jan. 4, 2007) at the Sarah Ann Hester Memorial Home in Benkelman. She was born Nov. 16, 1910, in Stratton, to Henry Wilson and Nellie May (Reed) Kyle, and grew up in the Stratton area.  She was a member of the graduating class of 1929, at Stratton High School and attended Doane College for two years, graduating in 1932...

May 10, 1922 - Jan. 5, 2007 ARAPAHOE?--?Genevieve Ann Schievelbein Wendland, 84, died Friday (Jan. 5, 2007) at Creighton University Medical Center in Omaha. She was born May 10, 1922, at Arapahoe to Frederick and Elfreda (Monter) Hermes. She graduated from Arapahoe High School in 1939. ...

SIDNEY -- The McCook High School varsity boys and girls basketball teams were swept on the road at Sidney Saturday. The Bison varsity boys dropped to 5-6 with a 60-51 loss to the Red Raiders. The McCook varsity girls lost a 65-61 decision in overtime and fell to 3-9...

BCI, "Bus & Coach International," welcomes visitors to its new facility in Jennings and unveils the "Falcon 45," the new motor coach bus that the company will build to break into the new bus industry in the United States. Every new bus sold will mean a used bus to refurbish, company president Bob Oldridge told the 300-or-so people at Saturday's grand opening, and it will be in the Jennings facility -- the community's former school building -- that used buses will be refurbished, "good as new, or even better." Oldridge said that his and his company's dream is to move its corporate offices to Jennings and to construct a new 20,000-square-foot facility to also build new transit buses. ...

McCook High School and University of Nebraska-Lincoln track standout Aaron Plas had his jersey retired as he was inducted to the McCook High School Wall of Fame on Friday night. According to the nomination: "Aaron Plas left his mark on MHS for being one of the most decorated track and field athletes in the school's history. ...

As more of us visit the Holdrege and Kearney area, or at least see photos or video of the area, the question becomes not why the lines went down there, but "why didn't they all go down?" And we should again be grateful the temperatures were such that the moisture that did fall over Southwest Nebraska was in the form of snow, instead of the inches of ice that coated everything to the northwest of us...

One of McCook's most beloved merchants is leaving one era behind and is preparing to embark on another. I'm talking about the dean of downtown retailers, Dick Mitchell. After more than a quarter of a century as the owner-operator of McCook's Ben Franklin Store, Dick is looking for a new way to serve. "Know of any good jobs?" he asked Friday...

This letter is in response to the column written by Gene Morris in the Jan. 2 issue. Bravo to Mr. Morris. As an artist, Art Guild member and mother, I was thrilled to read about his beliefs regarding art in our schools. I felt compelled to write and add that there are many careers that involve knowledge of the "art process," a way of thinking that the arts teach...

I would like to be given the opportunity to address the recent grouse to my public expression of concern. To those of you that find it necessary to revert to a middle-school level of disagreement and name calling, please sit back, grab a cup of coffee, and remember to put on your glasses, as I most certainly do not want you to misconstrue what I have to say...

Dan Smith, manager of the Middle Republican NRD, wrote a very good letter to the editor on Jan. 5, 2007. He gave an accurate report of the history and challenges we face. If you haven't read it, you can see it in the McCook Gazette or read it online via a link on WaterClaim...

Aug. 9, 1946 - Jan. 1, 2007 DENTON, Texas -- James E. Claussen, 59, died Monday (Jan. 1, 2007) at Denton, Texas. He was born Aug. 9, 1946, in McCook, to Donald and Genola A. (Waldo) Claussen. He was raised in Oberlin and graduated from Decatur Community High School in 1964...