Stories from Monday, July 20, 2009

LINCOLN -- The Nebraska Department of Motor Vehicles has announced that all driver licensing services will be suspended in all locations today and until further notice. A power surge occurred during the implementation of the new driver licensing system. The surge created a technical problem that the DMV is working to resolve...

ALMA -- The 2009 summer season came to an end for the Furnas County Juniors American Legion baseball team with an 11-6 loss to Overton Sunday in the semifinal game of the Class C-7 area tournament. The tournament was played at Alma. The Furnas County Juniors committed eight errors, which led to seven unearned runs for Overton...

The 2009 McCook Football League season started Friday night at Weiland Field and continues Tuesday with four more games, starting at 6 p.m. 5th-6th Grade Division Yellow Blaze 19, White Express 0 1st quarter Bret Baumbach 48 yard run (Riley Loop run)...

Jan. 20, 1937 - July 16, 2009 GLAZIER, Texas -- Services for Anneta Rutherford, 72, of Glazier, Texas, were Saturday, July 18, 2009, at the First United Methodist Church in Canadian, Texas with the Rev. Lewis Holland officiating and Bruce Johnson and the Rev. Danny Sanders assisting. Burial followed in Edith Ford Memorial Cemetery in Canadian under the direction of Hughs Funeral Home of Canadian, Texas...

July 16, 1945 - July 17, 2009 BENKELMAN -- Sharon Catherine Reiman, of Benkelman, died Friday (July 17, 2009) at Heritage of Wauneta, inWauneta. She was born July 16, 1945, in Benkelman at Premer Hospital to Gilbert and Arlene (Felt) Reiman and was baptized into the Catholic faith. ...

Dec. 15, 1918 - July 18, 2009 ELWOOD -- Raleigh D. Nott, 90, died Saturday (July 18, 2009) at Elwood Care Center in Elwood. He was born Dec. 15, 1918, at Elwood to Elias "Lyle" and Amalia (Huckfeldt) Nott. He was a life long resident of Gosper County. He graduated from Elwood High School in 1937. Following graduation he helped with the construction of Johnson Lake and canal...

Aug. 30, 1948 - July 16, 2009 CULBERTSON -- Patricia Jane Wilson, of rural Culbertson, died Thursday, July 16, 2009, at Great Plains Regional Medical Center in North Platte after a courageous battle with cancer. She was 60 years old. Patricia was born Aug. 30, 1948, in Stamford, Conn. to August T. and Jane (Johnston) Albeke. She graduated from Englewood High School, Englewood, Colo., in 1966 and continued her education at Parks School of Business graduating in 1967...

March 16, 1922 - July 17, 2009 BIRD CITY, Kan. -- Elizabeth "Bette" Katherine (Petersen) Partch, 87, died Friday (July 17, 2009) at Dundy County Hospital in Benkelman. She was born March 16, 1922, in Bloomington. She married Rodney L. Partch. She was a homemaker and school teacher. They made their home in Bird City...

MAXWELL -- Remaining Open Waterfront Days this season at the Maranatha Bible Camp are July 25 and August 2. The fun begins at 2 p.m. and includes the waterfront(lake):blob, waterslide, tubing, kayaks, canoes, paddleboats, trampoline, climbing wall, and swim area...

Another option for advanced degrees will be available at Mid Plains Community College, if an agreement is approved with Fort Hays State University. The Mid-Plains Community College Board of Governors will be asked to approve the agreement with Fort Hayes at the regular MPCC Board of Governors meeting Wednesday, 6:30 p.m., at the McCook Community College campus, Weeth Theater in Tipton Hall...

Kristin Kometscher of Lawrence shares a laugh with judges of the 2009 Miss Southwest Nebraska Rodeo Queen horsemanship competition Saturday morning. Pageant coordinators announced Saturday evening that Kristin, the 17-year-old daughter of Duane and Laurie Kometscher, is the new rodeo queen, and that Morgan Yendra, right, the 14-year-old daughter of Terrell Simonson and Jeff Yendra of Kearney, is the new junior rodeo queen. ...

Where were you when man first walked on the moon? For many of us, the question is moot; it was 40 years ago today, after all. The newsroom is probably fairly representative of our community, four had vague memories, one wasn't born until years after Neil Armstrong's "One small step."...

My Dad, Walter, was a paradox (as I suppose most people are). On one hand he spent a great deal of his life being hurt or peeved over a perceived slight or a hurtful remark by one or another individuals in Plainview (where I grew up and Dad lived for over 60 years) -- he could carry these encounters for years, even to the next generation. ...

Thanks for publishing Robert Sharpe's thoughtful letter: "Drug war fuels crime" (7-10-09). I'd like to add that marijuana prohibition causes marijuana to be completely unregulated, untaxed and controlled by criminals--just like alcohol was when it was illegal...

WASHINGTON -- Sen. Mike Johanns spoke on the Senate floor today regarding the impact cap-and-trade legislation would have on American agriculture. In advance of a hearing to be held on Wednesday in the Senate Agriculture Committee, Johanns outlined how agriculture will be hammered with increased production costs as a result of cap-and-trade. ...