Stories from Thursday, December 24, 2009

Providing quality care and services for Nebraska's veterans is the top priority of the Division of Veterans Homes. Nebraska operates four homes in communities across the state providing a comfortable place for many of our national heroes to call home...

WASHINGTON --Senator Mike Johanns today voted in favor of a Point of Order declaring that the Senate health care reform bill is unconstitutional, and that Congress lacks the authority to pass the bill into law. The Constitutional Point of Order was introduced by Sen. ...

The Senate health care reform bill reduces the deficit, relies on the free market, and adds competition that will benefit patients with lower cost and better health care. Reforms in the bill promote wellness and preventive programs, rural health services, small business tax credits and new insurance protections that will help Americans live healthier lives. Highlights of benefits for Nebraskans follow...

I drove down to Arkansas last Friday with the intention of staying through Christmas. Friday was my youngest son Will's birthday and he was to graduate from college on Saturday with a teaching degree in Speech Education so it was a proud weekend for all of us...

WASHINGTON --Senator Mike Johanns on Thursday voted against final passage of the Senate health care reform bill, noting the myriad differences between the stated promises and goals that launched the debate and the final product that has emerged from the Senate. The legislation passed along partisan lines...

WASHINGTON -- Nebraska's Senator Ben Nelson released the following statement this morning after voting for final passage of the Senate's version of the health care reform bill. The bill now moves to conference committee where members of the House and Senate will work out a final compromise bill:...

WASHINGTON -- Nebraska's Senator Ben Nelson, just after the Senate approved health care reform today, delivered the following speech on the Senate floor concerning abortion provisions in the House and Senate bills: "During consideration of the health care bill, one of my primary concerns has been ensuring that the long standing Hyde amendment would be incorporated into the bill. ...

There's been a certain lady that hides in the back room of the Gazette building (she knows who she is) that has been singing Christmas carols for the last few weeks, and I'm sure she has crooned a few bars of "I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas..." So I'm giving her a little bit of credit for the winter weather that has blanketed us this week...

There will be at least one change in the McCook High School football schedule each of the next two seasons. The Nebraska School Activities Association (NSAA) recently announced prep football classifications and district assignments for the 2010 and 2011 seasons...

Birds, squirrels and other outdoor animals will be making a bee-line to Marti and Roger Siebrandt's backyard this winter. A giant blue spruce in their backyard is covered with about 110 necklaces made from rings of fruit-flavored cereal strung on yarn, thanks to the efforts of kindergartners at McCook Elementary and Marti's annual reading of "Night Tree."...

CAMBRIDGE -- The new owners of the Cambridge ethanol plant, shut down since January, plan to restart production as soon as possible and to hire 30 to 35 people to run the facility. The Cambridge Clarion newspaper reports that on Dec. 16 Zeeland Farm Services Inc., with offices in Michigan, Wisconsin and Georgia, purchased the two-year-old Cambridge ethanol plant owned by Standard Ethanol LLC of North Platte and run by Mid-America Bio-Energy and Commodities LLC...

Emergency personnel from Culbertson, McCook, Red Willow Western and the Red Willow County Sheriff's Department carry Bruce Shipshock of McCook from his pickup to an awaiting ambulance about 12:30 p.m., Wednesday. Shipshock and his wife, Theresa, "Terri," were injured and taken to Community Hospital of McCook by the McCook ambulance and a Culbertson ambulance -- whose crew members witnessed the accident, according to Chief Deputy Alan Kotschwar. ...

Read the list of benefits issued by Sen. Ben Nelson's office this morning, and passing the Senate health care bill seems like a no-brainer. No more exclusion for pre-existing conditions or lifetime limits on coverage, no more dropping you when you get sick, no premium rates based on health status or gender...

Sept. 30, 1932 - Dec. 23, 2009 Nina Kathleen Wagner, 77, died Wednesday (Dec. 23, 2009), at the Hillcrest Nursing Home in McCook. She was born Sept. 30, 1932, the daughter of the late August and Mildred (Rathe) Wegener, northwest of McCook, where she grew up on the family farm and graduated from the Perry Rural School. She worked for Pat's Bootery and Woolworths in McCook...

Kudos to Jim Wesch of McCook. In reading last week's column he caught the comment that the sun would be crossing the "equator" on Dec. 21, the first day of winter. The sun is actually on the Tropic of Capricorn on Dec. 21, which is 23.5 degrees south of the equator and as far south as it goes before returning north. Good going Jim, no one else caught it...

I do not vote for a party, I vote for the person I feel will be best for president, so I did not vote for either candidate -- went with Huckabee. I am glad to see the year end, but fear for what the New Year will bring. I fear for our country, the people getting evicted out of their homes...

Aug. 5, 1947 - Dec. 22, 2009 HAIGLER - Gail Dean Harford, 62, died Tuesday (Dec. 22, 2009), at the Wray Community Hospital in Wray, Colo. He was born Aug. 5, 1947, the second child of Don and Virginia (Clegg) Harford, and grew up on the family farm north of Haigler. ...

Bryn Vapenik of Wauneta and Clay Jordan of McCook announce their engagement and upcoming wedding. Parents of the couple are Jerry and Kristy Vapenik of Wauneta and Randy and Darla Jordan of McCook. Grandparents of the bride-to-be are Ed and AnnaBelle Vapenik of Wauneta and Leonard and Iris Nelms of North Platte. Grandparents of the prospectivve bridegroom are David and Leota Jordan of McCook and the late Alfred and Evelyn Haag...

Kristen Harr and Jonathan Lancton, both of Houston, Texas announce their engagement and iupcoming marriage. Parents of the couple are Phil and Donna Harr of McCook and the late Patrick and Barbara Lancton. The bride-to-be is a 2000 graduate of McCook High School and a 2007 graduate of Ave Maria University in Naples, Fla.. She is a religious education and audio book production editor for Ignatius Press...

Cory and Destinee Steinke of Holdrege, announce the birth of their daughter, Hayden Elaine Steinke, who was born on Dec. 9, 2009, at Phelps Memorial Health Center in Holdrege. She weighed 6 pounds, 8 ounces and was 19 inches long. She has a 3-year-old brother, Kegan, and a 9-year old sister, Mersades. ...

Christopher and Cristina Conour of Sterling, Colo., announce the birth of their daughter Caylee Conour. She was born Oct. 2, 2009, weighing 8 pounds, 9 ounces and measuring 20 and 1/2 inches long. She has a 2 year old sister, Ashlyn. Grandparents are John Richendifer of Sterling, Colo., Rob and Mary Henry of McCook, John and Karen Conour of Sterling, Colo., Jerry Walker of Casper, Wyo., and Kathie Schurch of Davenport, Iowa...

Mike and Carolyn Brenning of Culbertson will celebrate their 39th wedding anniversary Dec. 27.