Stories from Friday, July 17, 2009

The McCook High School Bison Cheerleaders attended the Overton UCA Camp on July 13 -14. The girls competed in Camp Championships, placing 2nd in their cheer and 1st in their dance.

Red Willow County Commissioners will hear property valuation protests at 1 p.m. Monday, meeting as a board of equalization in the commissioners'' room in the courthouse. Meeting as commissioners', the board will discuss modification of the loan agreement with Accents Etc., sign documents required to receive stimulus funding on the McCcook North and McCook West projects, and discuss dispatch service fees charged by the City of McCook...

Funds are being set aside in the city's 2009-10 budget for renovations to the Norris Park bandshell, thanks to special revenue. $36,454 from the Public Alliance for Choice Gas, the ACE revenue sharing program, will be put toward restoring the Norris Park bandshell. Keno funds in the amount of $80,000 are also earmarked for renovations...

Simply Reike is open at Renalle's Classic Hair Design and Spa. Constance "Connie" Lawless is a second degree Reike Practicioner. What is Reike? Reike is an ancient Japanese energy /healing system that encourages physical, mental and emotional healing. Reiki can relieve pain and loosen blocked energy. Reike promotes total relaxation...

Rex Nelson, director of the McCook Economic Development Corp., said that the MEDC program administration was increased by $15,000 to $110,000 in the 2009-10 city budget, to partially fund the addition of a business coach position. The position has been funded by a grant and these funds have since run out...

The Mid-Plains Community College Board of Governors will be asked to approve additional funding for athletic scholarships, at its regular meeting Wednesday, 6:30 p.m., at the McCook Community College campus, Weeth Theater in Tipton Hall. President Dr. ...

Construction on J Street, from West 10th to Norris Avenue, will begin on Monday and will require parts of the street to be closed to traffic. This is the second part of the J Street reconstruction and is divided into three phases, according to a press release from the McCook Public Works Department...

Anyone who took political science classes in the early 1970s probably came across the book "Victims of Groupthink" by Irving L. Janis. The 1972 book focused on the Kennedy administration's failures during the Bay of Pigs fiasco, as well as its effective and competent handling of the Cuban Missile Crisis that followed...

Most of us are familiar with the phrase, "Be careful what you wish for, you might just get it." I had a girl tell me that once. I understand its meaning, but I've never quite been won over to its value. Certainly we might someday end up regretting wanting something, pining for something, perhaps even obsessing about something and then our prayers seem to be answered and we actually get what we wanted and end up regretting that we did...

Jorge Dimas and Joanna (Sawyer) Dimas of Lincoln announce the birth of their son, Elijah Ramon Dimas, who was born June 30, 2009 at St. Elizabeth's in Lincoln. He weighed 6 pounds, 10 ounces and was 19 1/2 inches long. Grandparents are Eulogio and Magdalena Dimas of Hayes Center and Steve and Donna Sawyer of Muscatine, Iowa, formerly of McCook. ...

Jay and Kim (Miller) Schilling will celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary. They were married July 21, 1984, at Trinity United Methodist Church in Culbertson. Children of the couple are Nic, Ben and Morgan Schilling of McCook.

Mindy Ackermann and John Hernandez of McCook announce the birth of their son, Bryndan John Hernandez on July 8, 2009, at Community Hospital in McCook. He weighed 6 pounds, 11 ounces and measured 19 1/4 inches. He has a 2-year-old sister, Briauna Hernandez. His grandparents are Scott and Karen Ackermann of McCook, Dan Hernandez of Big Springs and Sharon Kealy of Ogallala. Great-grandparents are Harvey Ackermann of McCook and Steve and Bethine Vontz of McCook...

The family of Bob Hawkins formerly of McCook, now of Trenton is requesting a card shower in honor of his 85th birthday. He was born July 22, 1924. His family includes his children, Steve Hawkins of Greeley, Colo., Chris Breazier of Pender and Julie Hawkins of McCook. He has two grandchildren. Cards will reach him at PO Box 484, Trenton NE 69044...

Kate Wolford of McCook and Jacob Wawrzynkiewicz of Papillion, announce their engagement and upcoming marriage. Parents of the couple are Greg and Pam Wolford of McCook and John and Patricia Wawrzynkiewicz of Papillion. Grandparents of the bride-to-be include Wayne and Marcey Wolford, Linda Linke of Cozad and the late Dale Linke. Grandparents of the prospective bridegroom are Paul and Joan Wawrzynkiewicz and Frank Popelka, of Omaha and the late Bernice Popelka...

Kelli L. Nelms and Justin T. Jensen, both of North Platte, announce their engagement and upcoming wedding. Parents of the couple are Dann and Sue Nelms of Benkelman and Jerry and Gail Jensen of North Platte. Grandparents are Richard and Yvonna Hayes of Cambridge and Don and Shirley Nelms of McCook...

Amber Michelle Baker of McCook and Paul Allen Hernandez Jr., of Lawrence announce their engagement and upcoming marriage. Parents of the couple are Todd and Marie Baker of McCook and Paul Sr., and Nancy Hernandez of Lawrence. Grandparents of the bride-to-be are the late Ervin and Sandy Maris of McCook, the late Bill Baker of Alaska and Virginia Baker of Cambridge...

The family of Zilah Powell is hosting an open house Saturday, July 25, 3-5 p.m., at the Grandview Senior Center in Stratton, in honor of her 95th birthday. Cards of congratulation will reach her at Rt. 2, Box 82202, Stratton, NE 69043.

Bob and Amanda Wellman of Omaha announce the birth of their twins, Carson Kenneth and Ashlyn Reese on May 29, 2009. Carson weighed 5 pounds, 12 ounces and was 19 inches long and Ashlyn weighed 6 pounds, 4 ounces and was 19 1/2 inches long. Their grandparents are Ken and Mary Wellman of Lincoln, formerly of McCook and Shelly Thomas of Beatrice. Great-grandparents are Doug and Naomi Grupe of Deshler...

The family of Roy C. Mustion a World War II veteran, is requesting a card shower in honor of his 85th Birthday on July 19, 2009. His children are Richard Mustion and wife, Linda, Margie Hauxwell and husband, Neal, Jean Hester and husband, Richard and Barb Petersen and husband, Brian. He has 39 grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Cards will reach him at Willow Ridge Retirement Community, 1500 E. 11th St. McCook, NE. 69001...

Becky Benson of Central City and Matthew Howe of Wood River announce their engagement and upcoming marriage. Parents of the couple are Patrick and Janelle Benson of Central City and Bruce and Cindy Howe of Wood River Grandparents of the bride-to-be are John Benson of Hildreth and Earl and Zenetta Schenck of Ogallala. The prospective bridegroom is the grandson of Eugene and Beverly Witt of Danbury...

Bulls and steers and sheep are center-stage at the Furnas County Fair rodeo Thursday evening in Beaver City. Bull-fighters Aaron "Freight Train" Bethel of Holbrook, top, and "Flyin' Ryan" Davis of Beaver City move in to help bull-rider Trey Kerner of Sutherland, after he earned 80 points on the back of the Rodeo Rose Productions bull named "Alpo." Russ Wubbenhorst of Heartwell and Justen Nokes of McCook (right) team up to snag a steer in 7.1 seconds. ...

Horses keep an eye on an approaching rainstorm in Southwest Nebraska. The area has been treated to a cool, wet summer compared to recent summers past.

In less than two decades, the use of the Internet and networking-based technologies has exploded and is now part of our everyday lives. Ensuring a secure cyberspace will only become more important as our nation increases its reliance on communication technology...

ELSIE -- The mother of a baby boy, returning from her son's 6-month medical check-up, died in a collision of her van and a farm sprayer near Elsie on July 13. The Imperial Republican reported that Debra Palser, 28, of Elsie died at the scene of the accident about 2 1/2 miles east of Elsie at the intersection of Highway 23 and a country road. ...

PALISADE -- Fire investigators blame an extension cord on a refrigerator for the fire July 11 that destroyed the home of a Palisade couple. Extreme heat and humidity caused overheating in several of the firefighters who responded to the blaze at Colleen and Mel McVicker's home a block west of Palisade's Main Street...

HERNDON, Kan. -- APAC Kansas, Inc. of Emporia, will begin a road construction project next Tuesday, July 21 on K-117 Highway north of Herndon, Kan., reports the Atwood Area Two Office of the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT). A seal will be placed on K-117 from the US-36 Junction north to the Nebraska State Line -- approximately 12 miles in length. ...

Heritage Nebraska has hired two preservation field staffers to assist groups and individuals in their efforts to save historic places and revitalize communities. Laurie Richards of Lincoln and Gene Morris of McCook will begin their new half-time jobs in August, said Heritage Nebraska Executive Director J.L. Schmidt. Field staff will provide assistance in four primary ways: information services; technical assistance; program review and input; and identification of emerging issues...