Stories from Friday, June 26, 2009

Here are McCook Midget Baseball League Cubs Division games fro June 22-24: D&T Electric Giants 15, McCook National Bank Astros 1 The Giants sent 10 batters to the plate in the first inning and scored nine runs. The Astros bats struggled against Giants pitching throughout most of the game...

Former State Sen. Tom Baker of Trenton is making sounds like he'd like to reclaim his seat in the Nebraska Legislature. But nothing is official yet and Baker said if he decides to run again, he'll make a formal announcement in fall. Elected in 1998, Baker was term-limited out in 2006 and Sen. Mark Christensen was elected as Southwest Nebraska's 44th district senator...

CULBERTSON -- Culbertson residents will dedicate their new walking trail foot bridge during Independence Day celebrations Saturday, July 4. Twin Rivers Walking Trail volunteers expect the ceremony to take place right after the duck races, some time between noon and 1 p.m...

The Nebraska Supreme Court ruled against the City of McCook concerning tax increment financing proceeds garnered from the redevelopment of the former YMCA into Landmark Apartments. In a ruling issued today, the Nebraska Supreme Court upheld the decision by District Court Judge David Urbom in Red Willow County, who said the TIF proceeds from the redevelopment belong to a company that purchased the project, PRP Holdings...

Sept. 7, 1907-June 26, 2009 Susie Alberta Galusha died Friday, June 26, 2009, at Hillcrest Nursing Home in McCook. She was 101 years old. Susie was born on Sept. 7, 1907, at the family farm near Marion in Red Willow County to Albert Hiland and Flora Dena (Martin) Wagy. She lived in a sod house as a child and attended rural school near Marion...

The family of Fay Sherriff is requesting a card shower for her 90th birthday July 3. Card of congratulation will reach her at PO Box 188, Stratton NE 69043.

Say cheese -- but don't smile too much. Beginning July 17, the state is installing in all counties new cameras with facial recognition technology, that will be used to take pictures for driver's licenses, permits and state IDs. Marleen Garcia, Red Willow County Treasurer, said normal smiles will be accepted but excessive facial expressions will trigger the camera to reject the picture...

City editor Lorri Sughroue has been writing stories about The Greatest Generation, interviewing several veterans who received long-overdue recognition for their service and sacrifice by being treated to "Heartland Honor Flight" trips to Washington to the World War II memorial...

COZAD -- The McCook American Legion Seniors blasted Cozad 12-0 and the Juniors won 14-3 Thursday night at Cozad. The Juniors extended their winning streak to five games. Chris Conroy threw a complete game for the Juniors with eight strikeouts. Justin Terry continued his hot streak by hitting his second home run of the year on the first pitch he saw...

I'm trying to avoid the more maudlin aspects of life in my column. I promise. No one wants me to get back to writing about TV -- the good, the bad and the ho-hum -- more than me. It's just that I've been distracted. Mother's Day. Father's Day. And for my latest diversion, well, my little brother is getting married next week, so you'll have to indulge me, just once more...

Continuing where I left off in my last column, my son Michael picked me up at Tulsa International Airport and we headed for Arkansas. The drive is a little under three hours and it went by pretty quickly because we had a lot of things to talk about. Linda, my ex, had KFC and all the fixings waiting on us when we got there and after dinner and a couple of glasses of wine, I turned in after a long, somewhat harrowing, day...

LINCOLN -- Calling Swanson State Recreational Area the "Best Kept Secret in Southwest Nebraska Recreation," five local citizens met with Gov. Dave Heineman and Nebraska Game and Parks officials in Lincoln on Wednesday to discuss the future of this well-kept secret...

April 16, 1920- June 19, 2009 CHEYENNE, Wyo. -- Letha R. Hoffman, 89, of Cheyenne, Wyo., died June 19, 2009, at Mountain Towers Healthcare.

She was born April 16, 1920, in McCook, Neb., and had lived in Cheyenne since 1943.

She was a clerk for the Cheyenne Credit Bureau retiring in 1984.

She was a member of Zion Congregational Church, the Eagle's Auxiliary and the Memorial Hospital Auxiliary.

She is survived by her son, Fredrick Hoffman of Cheyenne; three sisters, Betty Brauer of Westminster, Colo., Joann Troyer of Northglenn, Colo., and Lila Liebrandt of McCook; four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Fredric Hoffman; parents, Arthur and Gladys Burton; a brother, Cecil Burton and three sisters, Ethel Crocker, Pauline Esch and Leona Mathena.

Memorial services will be 11 a.m. ...

Cristina Richendifer and Christopher Conour of Sterling, Colo., announce their engagement and upcoming marriage. Parents of the couple are Rob and Mary Henry of McCook, John Richendifer of Sterling, John and Karen Conour of Sterling, Jerry Walker of Casper Wyo., and Kathie Schurch of Davenport Iowa...

The family of Verna Mackey is requesting a card shower in honor of her 95th birthday July 4. Her family includes Neva Jane Korell, James Mackey and Julie Gentry, nine grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild. Cards of congratulations will reach her at 204 Park Ave., McCook, NE 69001...

Ryan and Brooke Amateis of Broadwater announce the birth of their daughter, Kambrey Lynn Amateis, born April 1, 2009 at Regional West in Scottsbluff. She weighed 6 pounds, 12 ounces and was 20 1/2 inches long. Grandparents are Kenny and Christie Korell of Hayes Center and Phil and Carol Amateis of Broadwater. ...

Miranda Kathleen Carter and Zachary Christian Cole of St. Louis, Mo., announce their engagement and upcoming wedding. Parents of the couple are Mr. and Mrs. Randy Carter of Lebanon, Mo., Deborah Lundberg Cole of McCook and the late Richard W. Cole. The prospective bridegroom's grandmother is Flora Lundberg of McCook...

Mitch and Nicole Hardwick announce the birth of their daughter, Bristol Dallas Hardwick on June 19, 2009, at Faith Regional Health Services in Norfolk. She weighed 7 pounds, 3 ounces and measured 201/4 inches. She has a 3-year-old brother, Thane. Her grandparents are Dr. ...

The family of Yvonna (Price) Hayes is requesting a card shower in honor of her 75th birthday. She was born July 3, 1934. Cards of congratulation will reach her at 819 Penn St., Cambridge, NE 69021.

Heather Teel and Jamie Helm of Indianola announce the birth of their daughter, Bella Grace on May 9, 2009, at Community Hospital in McCook. She weighed 6 pounds, 6 ounces and measured 19 inches. Her grandparents are Yanis and Jim Helm of Danbury and Mike and Sandy Teel of Indianola. ...

The family of John and Paula (Jones) McArthur are requesting a card shower in honor of the couples' 41st wedding anniversary. They were married June 28, 1968, in McCook. Their family includes Angela McArthur, of Houston, Texas, John McArthur III and wife, Lori of Kearney, Jeff McArthur and wife, Barb of Saratoga, Wyo., Denise Stringfellow and husband, Lamont of Houston, Amanda McArthur also of Houston, and Becky Bauer and husband, Jake of Fairbury. ...

Dorothy Olsson, formerly of McCook, of St. Joseph, Mo., will celebrate her 80th birthday on July 3. Her children include Linda Raridon of St. Louis, Jeri Brush of Sutherland and Susan Abbey of St. Joseph. She has five grandchildren and four great-grand children. Cards of congratulations will reach her at 1616 Weisenborn Road, Room 321, St. Joseph, MO 64507...

The daughter of a McCook businessman is Nebraska's newest "Miss Nebraska." Brittany Jeffers of Lincoln was crowned "Miss Nebraska" during the state pageant June 6 in North Platte. Brittany is the daughter of Lisa and Scott Jeffers of Ogallala. Jeff commutes to McCook where he is an agent for Shelter Insurance...