Stories from Monday, December 21, 2009

WASHINGTON -- Today, Nebraska's Senator Ben Nelson issued this statement after voting for the cloture motion to move forward the managers' amendment to the Senate health care bill. This was the first of three key votes, each requiring 60-vote approval, for the Senate to approve health care reform...

Dale and Kelly Malleck of Murfreesboro, Tenn. announce the birth of their daughter, Cheyanne Carolyn Malleck, who was born Sept. 15, 2009, in Nashville,Tenn. She weighed 7 pounds, eight ounces and was 21 inches long. Grandparents are Marge and Gene Malleck of McCook...

Justin Korell and Angie Muckey of Watertown, S.D., announce the birth of their son, Peyton Clark Korell. He was born Nov. 12, 2009, weighing 5 pounds, 15 ounces and measuring 19 inches. He has a two year old brother, Presten. Grandparents are Kip and Kristi Korell of Culbertson, and Sherry and Paul Conrad of Watertown, S.D. Great-grandparents are Gwen Riemer of McCook, Faye Korell of McCook, Paula Briggs of Watertown, S.D., and Richard and Naomi Conrad of Wilmot, S.D...

Michael and Karmen (Flammang) Karatsonyi of Los Angeles, Calif., announce the birth of their daughter, Olivia Gracen Karatstonyi. She was born Oct. 10, 2009, at Providence Saint Joseph Hosptial in Burbank, Calif. She weighed 7 pounds, 10 ounces and was 19 and 3/4 inches long. ...

CAMBRIDGE -- The children and grandchildren of Albert and Mary Hayes are issuing an invitation to a renewal of vows ceremony Dec. 26, at St. John's Catholic Church in Cambridge. They were married Dec. 26, 1959, in Indianola.A reception is planned from 2-4 p.m., followed by Mass and the renewal of vows at 5 p.m.Their family includes Leroy Hayes and wife, Judy of Cambridge and Mark Hayes and wife, Brenda of Bartley. They have four grandchildren...

It's like going home and being bitten by the family dog. That's how it feels to Sen. Ben Nelson, who points to the need to control costs as one of the main reasons he decided to support Senate health care reform despite much opposition. Along the way, Nelson won anti-abortion language that is weaker than current language, elimination of a public option and the inclusion of full federal funding for expanded Medicaid coverage in Nebraska...

McCook's native son is missing his chance to serve this nation and go down in history as an outstanding statesman by not standing firm against the Obama-Reid-Pelosi crowd on the health care issue. He has said he will go along and become the last vote needed to this highly questionable bill written largely behind closed doors with some 2,000 pages of technicality that places the federal government in the middle of health care at an expense of an estimated $871 billion over the next decade. ...

When I arrived in Korea in 1951 one of my roommates was a very large black man from Omaha. "Just call me Napoleon," he said by way of introduction. "I'm the world's largest water-boy." He was an easy fellow to talk with. Napoleon had played a bit of football, which was easy to believe. He still looked as if he could anchor a line pretty well. He was also a Nebraska Cornhusker fan, as was I, and we spent a good deal of time remembering good times (and bad) of past football seasons...

We'd like to clarify something that was written in the McCook Daily Gazette on the Christmas Light Parade. Sinners Sanctified Motorcycle Ministry was featured while riding their motorcycles in the parade. Our Chaplain, Steve Bales was dressed as Santa Claus. We had a great time and the kids loved it. However, it was reported in the paper that we were a motorcycle "gang."...

Hayes Center boys 60, Wauneta-Palisade 43 HAYES CENTER -- The Hayes Center boys remain unbeaten with a 60-43 win over Wauneta-Palisade Saturday. Keifer Messersmith netted 24 points, grabbed eight rebounds and dished off four assists to lead the 6-0 Cardinals. Tyler Clifford added 14 points and 8 rebounds...

LINCOLN -- Gov. Dave Heineman today sent the following letter to U.S. Senator Ben Nelson regarding the health care reform: "Thank you for your December 20th letter. "Regarding the unfunded Medicaid mandate, Nebraskans expect a fair deal not a special deal. ...

LINCOLN -- A deadly weekend on Nebraska roads claims the lives of four people in four separate crashes. A 32-year-old South Dakota man was killed just after 9:00 p.m., on Sunday, December 20, 2009, when the pickup he was driving struck a parked semi trailer truck and burst into flames. ...

WASHINGTON -- Sen. Mike Johanns today commented on the special deals in the health care bill currently being considered in the Senate. "There should be no special deals, no carve-outs for anyone in this health care bill; not for states, not for insurance companies, not for individual senators. ...

Merry Christmas! Christ is born! Hope has come to this lost world! What a wonderful message to remember and celebrate this season. Because of God's grace and love for the world, he came to live among us to set us free from our guilt and shame. Halleluiah! Don't miss the chance this Christmas to ponder this message amongst the business of this time of year...

Robots being developed in Nebraska will play a role in NASA's future manned missions into space. These robots won't be playing just any role, either. They'll be playing a life saving role for astronauts. Taxpayers invest hundreds of thousands of dollars to train an astronaut and it costs hundreds of millions of dollars to launch and carry out space missions which are getting longer and longer in duration...

Jeff Ellis probably sounds like a broken record. The first-year McCook High School girls head basketball coach has watched his team struggle trying to find an offensive attack early this season. The Bison girls suffered through two tough losses last weekend, dropping a 72-27 decision at North Platte Friday, Dec. 18, before a 53-20 loss to Holdrege Saturday, Dec. 19, in the first home game of the young season...

McCook High School senior Mark Nichols might have been a little dizzy after Saturday's Bison win over Holdrege. The Dusters might have felt a little sick after facing the Bison standout. Nichols scored a game-high 20 points and blocked several Holdrege shots to lead the Bison to a 44-35 victory. The win snapped a two-game losing skid for McCook. The Bison dropped a 44-36 decision at North Platte Friday night...