Stories from Friday, April 17, 2009

Bikers, from left, Todd Felber, Dennis Shannon, Dallas Hayes and Don Pierce and cyclists Tor Olson, Randy Andrews, Candy Crosby and Harold Beebe were among those escorting Phil Keoghan, front, the celebrity host of the CBS television show "The Amazing Race" from a rally in McCook's Kelley Park to U.S. ...

IMPERIAL -- Don Peterson, 80, died Thursday (April 16, 2009) at Chase County Hospital. Survivors include his sister, Barbara Cline and husband, Harvey of Glendeive, Mont. Memorial services will be Monday, 10:30 a.m., (MT) at United Methodist Church in Imperial with the Rev. Kay Alnor officiating. Inurnment will follow at Mount Hope Cemetery in Imperial...

Nebraska has been slow getting out of the starting blocks, but we're getting into the wind farm race in a big way. The Nebraska Public Power District announced it received 18 proposals from nine developers by Wednesday's deadline, to build 80 megawatts of wind power on sites near Broken Bow and Petersburg...

The cover of the April 13, 2009, Newsweek magazine shouts in bright red words against a black background, "The Decline and Fall of Christian America." The article that addresses this statement is actually titled "The End of Christian America" and reports that the percentage of self-identified Christians has fallen 10 percentage points in the past two decades. ...

There are few things on television that can be accurately deemed as indispensable. Turner Classic Movies, the 24-hour cable channel, is one of those rarities. Now in its 15th year, it stands alone on the pay television landscape as a constant purveyor of art and culture and history, providing its viewers a chance to once again see the world through the lenses of filmmakers that can legitimately be called greats...

Two McCook High School seniors will be among the 250-or-so competitors in the Southwest Nebraska High School Rodeo events Friday, Saturday and Sunday, April 24, 25 and 26 at the Kiplinger Arena on the Red Willow County fairgrounds in McCook. Sarah Krause, the daughter of Tempie and Tim Krause, and Kelcia Kugler, the daughter of Dianne and Mike Kugler, will compete with other cowgirls and cowboys for points to qualify for the state high school rodeo finals, or, ultimately, the nationals...

The Red Willow County Health Department observes "National Infant Immunization Week," April 25-May 2, with 100 percent of its infant clients immunized. The health department's immunization coverage surpasses the goal of "Immunization Healthy People 2010," which aspires to have at least 90 percent of children receive their shots: three doses of diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (Dtap), two doses of polio vaccine, two does of Hib (Haemophilus influenzae Type b) and two doses of hepatitis B, all by 12 months of age.. ...

McCook Community College students in Rick Johnson's Drawing II Class are one of several groups of students featured through April 23 at the student fine art exhibition on campus. Students' pieces will be on display in the Wrightstone Gallery, which is open from 8 a.m.--5 p.m. ...

A bill that would allow offenders/inmates at the Department of Corrections Work Ethic Camp in McCook to work at educational facilities apparently has been lost in the shuffle. LB 429, introduced by State Sen. Mark Christensen, did not make it on the Legislative Consent Calendar as planned, said Christensen Thursday morning at the Legislative conference call at the McCook Area Chamber of Commerce...

Plans for a municipal fire station are moving forward, depending on if the city qualifies for stimulus funds. The McCook City Council will be asked to approve a "Request for Qualifications" for architectural services for the design of a municipal fire station, at its regular meeting Monday night, 7:30, at City Council Chambers in Memorial Auditorium...

A proposed north-south expressway linking I-80 to I-70 would be an economic development boon for western Nebraska and good for the whole state, said State Sen. Mark Christensen. But he's hit a roadblock in convincing other lawmakers of the need for a project study, Christensen said Thursday at the McCook Area Chamber of Commerce Legislative conference call ...

A variety of talented performers from Southwest Nebraska will share the stage for the second annual Hometown Talent Showcase at the historic Fox Theater in McCook. The show, which will benefit the Fox renovation project, will be Friday night, April 24, beginning at 7:30 p.m. Free will donations will be accepted as the cost of admission...

At Tuesday nights McCook school board meeting, board member Shane Messersmith said he and three Central Elementary teachers met during a board-staff liaison meeting, and discussed problems with bullying and the misuse of cell phones. The teachers told Messersmith, he said, that it was difficult with Dennis Berry, the building principal, gone for cancer treatment, but that teachers Mary Dueland and Tim Garcia "really stepped up" to fill in. Berry has finished treatment and has returned to school...

State lawmakers will get a nudge in the form of a resolution that requests a prompt refund of property taxes that were ultimately declared illegal. The resolution was crafted at Tuesday's meeting of the South Platte United Chamber of Commerce with Gov. Dave Heineman as the keynote speaker...

LINCOLN -- The Wireless E911 Advisory Board set a goal for the next year that all Nebraska counties will be Phase II capable with a minimum of one wireless carrier. That was the cornerstone of six goals set by the advisory board which were reported to the Nebraska Public Service Commission at its weekly meeting on April 14. The others were:...

Flowers welcome April showers without waiting for May. Some much-welcome rain is falling and predicted to continue falling in Southwest Nebraska Friday and Saturday.

"New Harmonies: Celebrating American Roots Music," a traveling exhibition developed by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibit Service and presented in the state by the Nebraska Humanities Council (NHC), opens May 1 in Cambridge. The exhibit will be housed through June 6 in the Cambridge Museum...

NEGRIL, Jamaica -- Cari Anne Mashek and Dustin Lee Acton of Wauneta were united in marriage on March 14, 2009, in Negril, Jamaica with the Rev. Trevorton Fergueson officiating. Parents of the couple are Ted and Jenny Mashek of Curtis and Randy and Cindy Acton of Wauneta...

Kelly Norrie of Geneva and Tim Sladek of Bartley announce their engagement and upcoming marriage. Parents of the couple are Shari Lovegrove of Geneva, Rod and Donna Norrie of Geneva and Dean and Ann Sladek of Bartley. The bride-to-be graduated from Fillmore Central High School in 2004 and earned a bachelor of science in business adminstration degree in marketing from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2008. She is employed at SCORR Marketing in Kearney...

Michala Foster and Brian Wilson announce the birth of their son, Braylon Lee Wilson on March 25, 2009. He has a sister, Ashland of Garden City, Kan. His grandparents are Brian Foster and Missy Jens of Bartley, Robin and Rick Anderson of McCook and Leroy and Carolyn Wilson of Garden City. Great-grandparents are Larry and Linda Foster of Bartley. His great-great-grandmother is Dorothy Foster...

Steve and Jessica Herndon of Central Point, Ore., announce the birth of their son, Ezekiel James Herndon on Dec. 27, 2008. He weighed 6 pounds, 9 ounces and measured 18 1/2 inches. His grandparents are Tony and Barbara Hartzer and Randy and Gwen Herndon, of Central Point. Great-grandparents are Harold and Bethann Hartzer of Culbertson, Wes and Peggy Pietsch of Portland, Ore., and Kenneth and Jean Boylan of Anaheim, Calif...

The family of Lyle Moskal is requesting a card shower in honor of his 80th birthday. He was born April 29, 1929. Cards will reach him at 1602 Norris Ave., McCook NE 69001.

The family of Rosalie (Teel) Weskamp will host an open house in honor of her 80th birthday Saturday, April 25 in Broomfield, Colo. She was born April 25, 1929. Her children include Craig and Polly Weskamp of Aurora, Colo., Rose Weskamp of Truckee, Calif. and Mara Lee (Weskamp) and Fred Ebert of Sonoma, Calif. She has six grandchildren. The open house is at 14425 Snowcrest Drive from 1:30 -10 p.m. Cards of congratulations will reach her at 709 E. Second, McCook, NE 69001...

Daniel and Lisa (Beckenhauer) Pomajzl of Seward announce the birth of their son, Gabe Daniel. He was born March 31, 2009 at Seward Memorial Hospital. He weighed 7 pounds, 11 ounces and measured 20 ½ inches. His grandparents are Jerry and Cheri Beckenhauer of McCook and Alvin and Rosemary Pomajzl of Crete. Great-grandparents are Arvene and Mildred Myers of McCook, the late Neva Myers, Howard and Dorothy Beckenhauer, Lumir and Lillian Pomajzl and Lon and Rose Johnson...

COLUMBUS, Neb. -- Nebraska Public Power District has revised the number of proposals submitted for its latest wind-energy related Request For Proposal from the previously announced number of 18 to 20 proposals. Technical issues in transmitting two proposals electronically to NPPD were resolved Friday morning, bringing the total proposals to its new number...

"When KNGN went on the air April 8, 1990, no one knew if KNGN would still be in existence 15 years later," wrote interim station manager Mike Nielsen, in his 2005 letter addressing the Christian radio station's "Festival of Grace Share-a-thon." Four years later, KNGN is still going strong and now Good News Radio is broadcast not only in Nebraska and Kansas but around the world, with online streaming available at www.kngn.org...

May 26, 1911-April 14, 2009 TEMPLE, Texas -- Berniece Agnes "Bee" James, loving, devoted and prayerful wife, mother and grandmother went to be with Our Lord on April 14, 2009, at Temple, Texas. Berniece was born on May 26, 1911, in Beaver City, Neb. Over the 97 years she was on this earth, she lived in McCook, Neb., Temple, Texas and Kerrville, Texas. Berniece was a wonderful role model for her family. She had a joyful and positive outlook in everything she did...

WASHINGTON -- Sen. Mike Johanns today announced that he is co-sponsoring legislation to protect livestock producers from onerous regulations proposed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which today moved one step closer to becoming reality...

LINCOLN -- Most players who change positions in the spring attract little fanfare. Latravis Washington isn't one of those guys. Washington finished last season as a linebacker, agreed to move to quarterback two days before spring practice opened and will go into Nebraska's Red-White Game on Saturday as a legitimate contender for the top backup job...

OMAHA -- Former Husker football star Trev Alberts is among four finalists to be athletic director at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Chancellor John Christensen announced the finalists Friday. The others are: -- Bill Danenhauer, athletic director and football coach at Dana College;...

Shoppers were asked what they thought of the "Tax Day Tea Parties" on April 15, when people demonstrated against excess government spending such as the stimulus funds and bail-outs. Here's what they had to say: --- It's time for people to stand up and speak their mind...