Stories from Friday, May 29, 2009

LEWELLEN -- The 17th Ash Hollow Pageant, to be held Friday and Saturday, June 12 and 13th at Ash Hollow State Historical Park near Lewellen, portrays the first year of the Oregon Trail when pioneers, in search of a better life and land of their own, left the "States" for Oregon...

What'll ya give me for 20 years of experience? 20 years, 20 years? We've got 50 years -- How about 60 years, 70 years? How about 80 years ... 90 .... 100? What's 120 years worth? What'll ya give me for 140 years? 140 years of experience auctioneering? Not even the best auctioneer in the world can put a price on that much experience...

April 12, 1952 - May 7, 2009 BILLINGS, Mont. -- Jay L. Strang, 57, of Forsyth, Mont., died Thursday (May 7, 2009) at Horizon Hospice in Billings after a battle with cancer. He was born April 12, 1952, to David and Ann (Carroll) Strang in Dickinson, N.D. He graduated from Forsyth High School in 1971 and joined the U.S. Navy during the Viet Nam Conflict...

Lanay Manker, formerly of Indianola, now of Wheaton, Ill., and Dirk Riley formerly of Holdrege, now of Villa Park, Ill., announce their engagement and upcoming marriage. Parents of the couple are Mike and Neva Manker of Indianola and Kirk and Kris Riley of Cozad. The bride-to-be is a 2008 graduate of the University of Nebraska-Kearney, with a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology. She is currently pursuing a Masters Degree in clinical psychology at Wheaton College in Wheaton...

Samantha Jo Harrell of Wahoo and Jeffrey Michael Loeffler of Columbus announce their engagement and upcoming marriage. Parents of the couple are Michael and Melissa (Pollmann) Harrell of Wahoo, Dena and Al Davis of Columbus and Joe and Cindy Loeffler of Columbus. Grandparents of the bride-to-be are the late Dewayne Pollman and Nola Polman, formerly of Stratton...

Jonathan Rohrer and Cassandra Pulley announce the birth of their daughter, Mariah Nicole Rohrer on May 19, 2009 at Phelps Memorial Hospital in Holdrege. She weighed 8 pounds, 1 ounce and measured 19 inches. Her grandparents are Doug and Sheri Rohrer of McCook, Hank and Wanda Pulley of Arapahoe and Heidi Nino de Rivera Salem, Ore. Great-grandparents are Roy and Marilyn Rohrer of Lincoln, Barbara Ford of Lincoln, Les and Linda Trollope of Holdrege and Phyllis Wendland of Arapahoe...

The families of Grace (Guthrie) Joy Hutchins are requesting a card shower in celebration of her 100th birthday. Grace was born in Exeter on June 21, 1909, daughter of John and Louisa (Burlew) Guthrie. The children with her late, first husband, Kenneth "Pat" Joy, are Muriel Eisenach and Dale Joy, both deceased. ...

Sheila Snyder and Albert Hagemann, both of McCook, announce their engagement and upcoming wedding. The bride-to-be works at the Nebraska Department of Corrections Work Ethic Camp in McCook and the prospective bridegroom is self-employed in the construction industry. A private backyard ceremony is planned for June 20, 2009...

Craig and Stacy Olsen, formerly of McCook, now of Lincoln, announce the birth of their daughter, Caitlyn Rose Olsen on April 30, 2009 at Bryan LGH East in Lincoln. She weighed 7 pounds, 13 ounces and was 21 inches long. She has a 9-year-old brother Calen and 5-year-old sister, Corynne. Her grandparents are Keith and Doris Olsen of Grant and David and Connie Spilker of DeWitt...

Maggie Sanders and Jack Latta of McCook announce their engagement and upcoming marriage. Parents of the couple are Mike and Marla Sanders of McCook and Mark and Kathy Latta of McCook. The bride-to-be is a companion animal science student at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln...

The children and families of David and Delma Fischer of Maywood, were the hosts of a surprise dinner and open house/card shower honoring the couple on the occasion of their 50th wedding anniversary May 17, 2009, at the Maywood Community Hall. Musical entertainment was provided by brother-in-law, Robert Keim of Ainsworth and Barbara Boubin (mother of Cindy Fischer) of Clarkson on the harmonica and accordion. ...

Matthew and Drew (Lambert) Sheldon announce the birth of their son, Kenneth Leland Sheldon on April 29, 2009 at Evans Army Hospital in Fort Carlson, Colo. He weighed 6 pounds, 3 ounces and measured 20 inches. He has a 2-year-old sister, Lily Marie. His grandparents are Doug and Stephanie Lambert of McCook and Bob and Darlene Sheldon of Klamath Falls, Ore. ...

Stacy Lynn and Craven David Carvalho Sr., of McCook announce the birth of their son, Craven David Carvalho Jr., on April 23, 2009, at Community Hospital in McCook. He weighed 9 pounds, 15.8 ounces and measured 21 inches. His grandparents are Steve Osterman of McCook, Judy Coil of Hamlet and Modupe Carvalho of Hartford, Conn. Great-grandparents of Mary Osterman of McCook...

The children and grandchildren of Jeanne and Roger Schroeder are hosting an open house, 2-4 p.m., Sunday, June 7, at Holbrook Community Center in honor of the couple's 50th wedding anniversary. Cards of congratulation will reach the couple at P.O. Box 188, Holbrook, NE 68948...

The McCook municipal pool will open for the season Monday, weather permitting. It will be open from 1 to 5 p.m. June 1-7, with free swimming opening day only. Regular pool hours will be 1 to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday at 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $1 a day for baby pool and children 12 and under, $2.50 for children 13 and over...

Red Willow County Judge Anne Paine took under advisement Thursday afternoon a motion to dismiss, asked for time to review 50-plus pieces of evidence and many objections, and said she would submit a written decision within two weeks in the case of the City of McCook verses the owner of the big yellow house that stands empty at 301 E. Second...

The McCook City Council will be asked to raise rates for dispatching services the city provides to the county, at its regular meeting Monday night, 7:30 in City Council Chambers in Memorial Auditorium. Currently the city is compensated $24,000 annually from Red Willow County for dispatching services...

HOLDREGE -- Right now is prime "sleep-with-your-windows- open" weather in the Chicken Dance Trail region of Nebraska says Nebraska Game and Parks Wildlife Biologist T.J. Walker. "I absolutely love sleeping with the windows open, but our weather pattern here in Nebraska doesn't give us much opportunity. ...

Eighty one years after the first detailed statistical study showing that heavy smokers were more likely to develop lung cancer, the state has decided that people shouldn't have to be exposed to cigarette smoke when they go to work or out for a meal...

Jim Nantz, a CBS Sports announcer, mentioned on the air during a golf tournament a couple of weeks ago that he has a severe snake phobia; even to the point of waking up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat thinking snakes are in his bed. John Madden, the former NFL coach of the Oakland Raiders and football announcer has retired from broadcasting Sunday Night Football on NBC because of his fear of flying. ...

"Representatives ... shall be apportioned among the several states which may be included within this Union, according to their respective Numbers...The actual Enumeration shall be made within three Years after the first Meeting of the Congress of the United States, and within every subsequent Term of ten Years, in such Manner as they shall by Law direct."...

As a 34- (going on 35-) year-old man, I am not supposed to be giddy with anticipation for nearly anything in this life, especially for something as silly as a movie. Social mores state that it simply isn't done -- I'm to be emotionally collected at 34 (going on 35). Controlled. Colorless, even. My joys are to be limited to grown-up things, and kept to myself...