Stories from Friday, August 29, 2008

LINCOLN -- Just one practice separates the Nebraska Cornhuskers from their 2008 season opener against Western Michigan after the Huskers worked out for approximately 90 minutes in half pads in Memorial Stadium Thursday. "We had a good practice today, more mental obviously than physical," Pelini said. "We cut it down. There was great attention to detail. I liked what I saw from the guys. They're zeroed in and they're getting ready to go."...

Sen. Barack Obama's acceptance speech Thursday night was a good indication of just what the Republicans and John McCain are up against. Most viewers knew when he spoke at the 2004 Democratic National Convention that he would be a force to be reckoned with in the years to come...

For some reason over the past couple of days, when I've had one or two seconds of peace between deadlines and commitments, I've been thinking about my grandpa, and that the man would be proud of me. Grandma would also be beaming, of course -- she was a story-clipper, to boot, so I don't doubt that she would've picked up two or three more copies for the scrapbooks -- but Grandpa would be the one heading out the front door of the house, and strolling downtown, clutching a rolled-up copy of this very newspaper in his hand, off to brag about one of his "bodyguards" to his friends at the bank or the hardware store or the grocery. ...

The quality of life in Nebraska is high, depending on what you define as quality of life. Life feels good when you feel a high degree of satisfaction and deep personal wellbeing. These feelings are different for everybody. My sense of satisfaction is high when one of my students understands something that was previously confusing. ...

Jan. 29, 1917 - Aug. 22, 2008 FORT WAYNE, Ind.-- Mary Alice Ryman Vette was born to Louis Morton and Cora Ryman on Jan.29, 1917, at Climbing Hill, Iowa. She and her family moved to the Colby and Levant, Kan., area on a farm where she grew up and attended school...

Aug. 7, 1917 - Aug. 28, 2008 HERNDON -- Ann Martin, 91, died Thursday (Aug. 28, 2008) at Decatur County Hospital in Oberlin. She was born Aug. 7, 1917, on a farm near Beardsley, Kan., to Adam and Hester (Rooney) Haller. She grew up on the farm and attended Beardsley Country School...

MAYWOOD -- The Maywood Tigers opened the 2008 football season Thursday with a 30-24 overtime win over the Stapleton Broncos. Dex Dodson scored the game-winning touchdown for Maywood in overtime. The Tigers trailed 24-14 going into the fourth quarter...

BARTLEY -- A retired McCook school teacher and assistant football and track coach was to undergo surgery today for injuries suffered in a one-vehicle accident Thursday afternoon in a pasture northeast of Bartley. Jeff "Big Mo" Mollring was transported from the accident scene by Bartley rescue crews to Cambridge Memorial Hospital, and then taken to Good Samaritan Hospital of Kearney. He is listed in fair condition at the Kearney hospital...

An organization that appeals to the fun-loving side of adults who are "differently-abled" is seeking new members. The McCook chapter of "People First" meets once a month, chapter member Devon Maris of McCook explains, for crafts, snacks and potlucks, "something fun to do." He added, " ... just being there to help people who are like we are."...

Jan. 18, 1917-Aug. 29, 2008 NORTH PLATTE -- Edith L. Sukraw, 91, died Friday (Aug. 29, 2008) at Linden Court in North Platte. She was born Jan. 18, 1917, in Palisade, to Ray and Lilly (Troxel) Colson. She was raised near Hamlet, where she graduated in 1934 from Hamlet High School...

Sept. 6, 1930-Aug. 28, 2008 BENKELMAN -- Laberta Lee Kier, 77, died Thursday (Aug. 28, 2008) at Dundy County Hospital in Benkelman. She was born Sept. 6, 1930, on the Brown family homestead to Albert and Thelma Brown. She was raised in Colorado. On Sept. 12, 1948, she married Richard Lee Kier...