Stories from Monday, July 6, 2009

Last summer we saw firsthand the consequences of a short-sighted energy policy handcuffed by Washington bureaucrats. Families faced record high gas prices, grocery bills were higher than ever, and even charities such as Meals on Wheels felt the impact...

The McCook American Legion Junior B Red and Blue baseball teams split with Frontier County Friday night at home. Both pitchers -- Drew Bredvick for McCook and Stefan Peterson for Frontier County -- were in control right from the start. In this quick-moving game, Frontier County got on the board first when Marty Warnke scored on a fielders choice...

CULBERTSON -- For the third weekend in a row, weather has affected the racing in Southwest Nebraska. The races scheduled for last Thursday at Culbertson Speedway were canceled. The next race scheduled for the track is Aug. 7 during the Hitchcock County Fair. Track points gained that night will go towards the track points at McCook Speedway...

McCook's Hannah Swanhorst and Brianna Watkins were named to the Class B Girls Tennis All-State Team for their play during the spring 2009 season. McCook tennis coach Matt Wiemers made the announcement. Class B Girls Tennis All-State Team First Team Alexis Kaiser, Skutt Catholic (Captain)...

Feb. 13, 1923 - July 4, 2009 STRATTON -- Arletta Marie Hunkins, 86, went home to be with her Lord on July 4, 2009, at El Dorado Manor in Trenton. She was born to Edward J. and Anna W. (Ahlert) Wittwer on Feb. 13, 1923, in Hayes County. She was baptized April 1, 1923, at Black Wood Country Church and later confirmed into the Lutheran faith. ...

Aug. 4, 1923 - July 5, 2009 INDIANOLA -- Garnet Irene McConville died Sunday, July 5, 2009, at Community Hospital in McCook. She was 85 years old. On Aug. 4, 1923, she was born at Indianola to Paul and Ruby L. (Wolf) Fritsch. She graduated from Havanna High School in 1940. In 1973, she graduated from LPN school in Kearney...

Jan. 12, 1926 - July 1, 2009 BARTLEY -- Martha E. Brooks, 83, died Wednesday (July 1, 2009) at her home in Bartley. She was born in Cambridge on Jan. 12, 1926, to Leo and Edith (Baker) McKillip. She attended Cambridge High School and graduated in 1944...

1917-2009 HILTON HEAD, S.C. -- Frances Real Bailey, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, died May 31, 2009. Fran was born to Frank and Mary Eloise Real in McCook in 1917, the second youngest of six sisters, including Julia Colgan, Margaret Hoole, Eloise Skidmore, Willa Bailey and Florence Jeffries. A leading business man in McCook, Frank Real was a city councilman, three term mayor, Chamber of Commerce member and a Director of the Nebraska Society for Crippled Children...

Jon and Gloria Kennedy are celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary with an open house Sunday, July 12, 1-3 p.m., at St. Catherine's Catholic Church hall in Indianola.

Tai Rae of Danbury and Corey Thomas of Indianola, announce their engagement and upcoming wedding. Parents of the couple are Carl and Tina Rae of Danbury and Rich and Penny Thomas of Indianola. Grandparents are Rose Day of Danbury, Mitsy Rae of Marion, Betty Davis of McCook and Betty Rodie of Wakeeny, Kan.The prospective bridegroom is employed by Buff 'n Vac Auto Detailing in Indianola. A July 11, 2009, ceremony is planned at the Assembly of God Church in McCook...

CAMBRIDGE -- Prayer and miracles really do work. Just ask Jennifer Hoard and her family of Cambridge. "Its a miracle she's alive," said Jennifer's mother Lori Leibbrandt. She also believes in the power of prayer, since nearly two months ago Jennifer was in a coma from blood clots in her brain and was not expected to regain consciousness...

A small crowd rallied together early Saturday night before the annual McCook Fireworks display just southeast of the Jaycees ball field. It was the perfect time to gather as a concerned group of citizens like millions across this great nation to have a Tea (taxed enough already) Party...

Did you hear that Michael Jackson died? The talented, troubled entertainer's death is only the latest example of the world's tendency -- not to mention unprecedented ability -- to take adulation to extremes. Some 66,500 Twitter messages sent on the evening of June 25 included the phrase "Michael Jackson," crashing the system under the load. About 30 percent of the tweets sent that evening were related to Michael Jackson's death...

In 1890 the citizens of Indianola were in a high state of excitement. Ochre had been discovered on land owned by John J. Lamborn, of the 1st National Bank of Indianola. The ochre was said to be of the finest quality of any mine in the U.S. Mr. Lamborn, himself, bankrolled the early work in establishing the mine...