Stories from Monday, September 8, 2008

The family of William J. Trehal is requesting a card shower in honor of his 85th birthday. He was born Sept. 7, 1923, in McCook. His children include David Clyde Williams and wife, Kathy of North Platte, Denny Ray and wife, Robin of Fremont, Judith Ann and husband, Jerald Arehart of Wichita, Kan., William Michael Trehal and wife, Sue of McCook and Peggy and husband, Bill Halverson of Denver, Colo. ...

The family of Vesta Premer of Cambridge is requesting a card shower in honor of her 95th birthday. She was born Sept. 11, 1913. Cards will reach her at 1205 Nelson St., Apt. E11, Cambridge, NE 69022.

Kara Brown of Avon, Conn., and Brian Haverkamp of McCook announce their engagement upcoming marriage. Parents of the couple are Dr. A. Michael Brown and Gail Brown of Avon and Charlene Chittick of Falls City and the late Lou Haverkamp. The bride-to-be received her Bachelors Degree from Notre Dame, Masters Degree from Boston College and is currently pursuing her Doctorate in Sports Psychology at Boston University...

The family of Charles and Mary (Keeney) Vrbas of Palisade is requesting a card shower in honor of their parent's 60th wedding anniversary. They were married Sept. 13, 1948, in McCook. Children of the couple include the late Lawrence Vrbas, daughter-in-law Susan Vrbas-Moreau of McCook, Tom and wife, Ellen of Oak Harbor, Wash., Denny and wife. ...

Layne Perkins and Betsy George of Lincoln announce their engagement and upcoming wedding. Parents of the couple are Gerry and Pam George of Waco and Ron and Jean Perkins of McCook. The bride-to-be is a 2004 graduate of Centennial High School in Utica and a 2006 graduate of Southeast Community College. She is a certified dental assistant for Schoettger Orthodontics...

The family of Marvin Frank is requesting a card shower in honor of his 80th birthday Sept. 11. Cards of congratulation will reach him at 1019 County Club Dr., McCook, NE 69001.

Michelle Brodersen and Craig Martin, both of Kearney, are planning an Oct. 4, 2008, wedding at Mary's Lake Lodge and Resort in Estes Park, Colo. Parents of the couple are Max and Carol Brodersen of McCook and Ron and Kathy Martin of Hayesville, N.C...

Brandon and Hollie Anderson of McCook announce the birth of their daughter, Makayla Elizabeth Anderson on Aug. 19, 2008, at Cambridge Hospital. She weighed 7 pounds, 9 1/2 ounces and measured 20 inches long. She has two brothers, 5year-old, Michael and 3-year-old, Tyler. Her grandparents are John and Julie Wayman of Bartley and the late Michael and Margaret Anderson. Great-grandparents are Andy and Geri Anderson of McCook, Polly Grim of McCook and Betty Wayman of Industry, Kan...

Courtney Korell of McCook and Joe Meysenburg of Omaha announce their engagement and upcoming marriage. Parents of the couple are Van and Jan Korell of McCook and Mike and Mary Meysenburg of Omaha. The bride-to-be received a Master's Degree in early childhood special education from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2002, and is a preschool special education teacher for the Papillion LaVista school district...

The family of Alice Siebrandt of McCook is requesting a card shower in honor of her 80th birthday on Sept. 12, 2008. Cards of congratulations will reach her at Willow Ridge, 1500 East 11, Rm 17, McCook NE 69001.

The family of Roger and Beverly (Stapp) Goltl is requesting a card shower in honor of the couple's 50th wedding anniversary. They were married Sept. 14, 1958 in Herndon, Kan. Their children include Rhonda Carter of McCook, Robert and Lori Goltl of Palisade and Randall and Carrie Goltl of McCook. They have nine grandchildren and two step great-grancchildren. Cards of congratulations will reach them at 38453 Drive 713, McCook, NE 69001...

Jason and Jodi Cobb of Loveland, Colo., announce the birth of a son, Tate James Cobb. He was born Aug. 20, 2008, in Loveland, weighing 8 pounds, 4 ounces and measuring 21 inches. His grandparents are J.P. and Luella Trumble of Cambridge and Dallas and Diane Cobb of McCook. Great-grandparents are Ardyce Bick of Farnam and Eldred Cobb of McCook...

Dec. 25, 1935-Sept. 6, 2008 BENKELMAN -- Vernon "Vern" Ray Beckman, of Benkelman, Neb., died Saturday, Sept. 6, 2008, at the Dundy County Hospital in Benkelman, at the age of 72. He was born in Norfolk, Neb., to Willie and Emma (Stork) Beckman, on December 25, 1935, and grew up on the family farm near Madison, Neb., where he lived until he joined the U.S. Army 82nd Airborne Division...

Dec. 8, 1935-Sept. 6, 2008 Barbara Joan Hinz died Saturday, Sept. 6, 2008, at Community Hospital in McCook. She was 72 years old. Barbara was born in McCook on Dec.8, 1935, to Roland R. and Doris L. (Redd) Hollars. She graduated from McCook High School in 1953. She continued her education at McCook Junior College and graduated with an Associate's Degree...

Feb. 1, 1924-Sept. 4, 2008 ARAPAHOE -- Harold Foster Smith, 84, died Thursday (Sept. 4, 2008), at the C.A. Mues Good Samaritan Center in Arapahoe. He was born in Utica, Kan., on Feb. 1, 1924, to William and Grace (Smith) Smith, and grew up in the Utica area...

June 13, 1916-Sept. 5, 2008 FORT MORGAN, Colo. -- Viola Pauline (Richers) Wright, formerly of Bird City, died Friday (Sept. 5, 2008), at Eben Ezer Lutheran Care Center in Fort Morgan, Colo. She was born June 13, 1916, at Cheyenne County, Kan. She was a homemaker...

1938-2008 ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- Janet Mary Colgan Smith, a beloved mother, grandmother, and friend, died Sept. 1, 2008. Janet was born to John Gilbert and Julia Frances Colgan in McCook, Neb. in 1938, the youngest of four, including brother Jack, and sisters Geraldine and Margaret...

LINCOLN -- Until Niles Paul's 85-yard kick return for a touchdown, San Jose State was threatening to leave Memorial Stadium with more than just the $800,000 it was due for showing up Saturday. Not content to play the patsy role, the 26-point underdog Spartans pulled within two points after a field goal early in the fourth quarter and had the momentum...

CAMBRIDGE -- The Cambridge Trojans knocked Blue Hill out of the Nebraska Class C-2football rankings Friday night with a 19-2 win. Trojan quarterback Haden Eckberg completed 6 of 7 passes for 84 yards and 2 touchdowns with 1 interception. Eckberg connected with Taylor Lewis for a 18 yard touchdown in the second quarter...

Cambridge's Brian Custer, DCS' Gabby Mullanix place first CAMBRIDGE -- The Chase County-Imperial boys and Eustis-Farnam girls cross country teams won the team titles at the Cambridge Invitational Friday. The Chase County boys scored 22 points. Dundy County-Stratton finished second with 46, North Platte-St. Pat's 48, Cambridge 51, Eustis-Farnam 66 and Arapahoe 81...

LEXINGTON -- The Chase County-Imperial volleyball team defeated McCook 25-21, 28-25 in the third-place match of the Lexington Invitational Saturday. In the first round, Chase County defeated Holdrege 25-12, 23-25, 25-19; Lexington defeated Broken Bow 25-8, 25-20; McCook defeated Cozad 25-16, 23-25, 25-13; and St. Paul defeated Hershey 25-15, 25-14...

NORTH PLATTE -- The McCook High School girls golf team placed third out of eight teams at the North Platte Invitational Friday. Sidney won the tournament with a 387 score, followed by Gering 416, McCook 438, Ogallala 465, Gothenburg 476, North Platte 481, Lexington 482 and Cozad 527...

Balloons heat up for a night glow, above, Saturday morning as a rainstorm approaches from the northwest, but both other scheduled flights came off as scheduled Saturday night and Sunday morning as part of the McCook Balloon Fest 2008. Other scenes, clockwise from top left, include Kathy McCoy of Cozad's "Good Morning Sunshine" floats eastward into Sunday morning's sunrise; later, Don Dougherty of Colorado Springs' "Suzie Q" is reflected in the water at Barnett Park before settling down near the Parker Hannifin plant to call it a day. ...

We had to admit a little trepidation about moving the Balloon Festival to the Red Willow County Fairgrounds, what with power lines and light poles, not to mention the west city water tower in close proximity. But the rolling grassy field to the south of the grandstands, usually home to carnivals, turned out to be a cozy, comfortable choice, offering shelter for the inflating balloons...

Bill Lyons was an attorney and businessman in McCook for many years, until his death in 1992. Bill was a popular figure in the community, and knowledgeable on a good many subjects. A Democrat, Bill enjoyed his status as maverick in McCook, which he called "A Republican bastion on the banks of the Republican."...

I am so tired of hearing about how we are all either "Red" or "Blue," as if Democrats do not want a small government or Republicans do not want a better society. Regardless of the media spin or the Party rhetoric, Nebraskans have crossed party lines and voted strongly for both Ben Nelson and Chuck Hagel in past elections; we are not so dyed-in-the-wool red and blue as these groups would have us believe...

I do not know if Paul Schneider, the man who wrote this article, is someone local or from a syndication -- it matters not. But I can tell you that I read the message at least three times and never did understand how the title connected at all with the writing. What I saw in his chosen title was inflammatory, racist (unless he plans similar writings for the other three candidates in the presidential contest), and pretty ugly...