Stories from Friday, April 9, 2010

On the evening of Thursday, April 8, the Red Willow County Republicans will host a pre-primary rally at the Coppermill restaurant. Speakers scheduled to date include Public Service Commissioner Jerry Vap, McCook Mayor Dennis Berry, former State Senator Tom Baker, County Board Candidate Jim Coady and State Treasurer Candidate Tom Nesbitt...

Servings :  4 (1 1/2 cups per serving) Ingredients 4 ounces dried whole-wheat rotini (about 1 1/2 cups) Cooking spray 1/2 cup fat-free half-and-half Directions Prepare pasta using package directions, omitting salt and oil. Drain well in a colander. Transfer to a large bowl...

By LORRI SUGHROUE City Editor It's still up in the air as to which airline will provide service at McCook's airport, once the current essential air service contract runs out. The two-year EAS contract with Great Lakes Aviation expires May 31. The McCook Airport Advisory Commission met Thursday and heard a presentation from SeaPort Airlines, based out of Portland, Ore., which has submitted a proposal to be the essential airline carrier at McCook Ben Nelson Regional Airport...

The new Armed Forces Reserve Center in McCook is expected to be completed by September 2011. The facility will be on 37 acres of land on the eastern edge of McCook, on U.S. Highway 6-34 and south of McCook Ben Nelson Regional Airport. Samson Construction, of Lincoln, is now doing dirt work on the site, said McCook City Manager Kurt Fritsch at Thursday's Airport Advisory Commission meeting...

A male greater prairie chicken struts his stuff to the delight of students and bird-watchers from McCook Community College, who observed the birds' spring dancing ritual this week south of McCook. The male birds gather at sunrise in a communal lek to perform their elaborate dance in the hopes of attracting females. ...

You can't legislate morality, some people say, and the same can be said for intelligence. But that doesn't keep the Legislature from trying. The latest example is LB945 which, thankfully, makes texting while driving only a so-called secondary offense, much like the state's seat belt law...

Tiger Woods, the best golfer playing the game today and perhaps the best golfer ever, returned to competitive golf this week, playing in the most prestigious of the four major championships; the Masters. Due to the multiple allegations and confirmations of extra-marital affairs, he hasn't played since last November. ...

July 4, 1932 - April 7, 2010 St. FRANCIS -- Frederick "Fred" Darrel Magley, 77, died Wednesday (April 7, 2010) at Cheyenne County Hospital in St. Francis, Kan. He was born July 4, 1932, in Cheyenne County, Kan. He was a farmer/rancher. Survivors include his wife, Marsha (Squires) Magley of St. ...

The family of Victor Beebe is requesting a card shower in honor of his 89th birthday, April 13. Cards of congratulations will reach him at 1500 E 11th St., Apt. 26, McCook, NE 69001.

Pastor Gary and Sue Howitt of McCook are celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary April 10. They reside at 1502 West O Street in McCook. Gary is pastor at McCook Baptist Church, 329 N. Cherokee.

The family of Dave Nickerson is requesting a card shower in honor of his 80th birthday. He was born April 8, 1930, in Indianola. His family includes his wife, Evelynn; two daughters, Nancy and husband, TC of McCook and Judy of North Platte; three sons, Tom and wife, Jill of Kearney, Bob and wife, Susan of Kearney and Ken and wife, Deanna of Kearney; 11 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. Cards of congratulations will reach him at 1011 6th Ave #309,, Kearney, NE 68845...

The family of Vesta (Brown) Gilbert is requesting a card shower in honor of her 85th birthday April 13. Cards of congratulation will reach her at 710 E. Fourth, McCook, NE 69001.

The family of Larry and Danny Blackman of Bartley is requesting a card shower in honor of the couple's 50th wedding anniversary, April 15. Family of the couple include their children, Kirk and Jill Blackman of Wyoming, Dale and Kimmie Blackman of Wyoming, Kim and Mike Brooks of Bartley and Dana and Chad Pew of Texas; 13 grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Cards of congratulations will reach the couple at PO Box 275, Bartley, NE 69020...

The family of Jim and Cathy (Colling) Barger of Trenton, is requesting a card shower in honor of the couple's 35th anniversary April 19. Their children are Troy and Lori Bager of St. Paul, Scott and Tyra Barger of McCook, Jeffery Barger of Kearney and Elizabeth and Steve Klein of Elwood. They have four grandchildren. Cards of congratulation will reach them at 214 W. Second St., Trenton, NE 69044...

Josh and Jennifer (Esch) Brown of Omaha announce the birth of a daughter, Karagynn Faith Brown. She was born March 20, 2010, at Methodist Hospital. She weighed 8 pounds, 6 ounces and measured 20 1/2 inches long. Grandparents are Mike and Barb Esch of McCook and Bob and Deanna Brown of Indianola. Great-grandparents are Melva Esch, Audrey and Harvey Cole, Wayne and Diane Bryant and Jack and Evelyn Hook. Opal Tincher is her great-great grandmother...

Erika Rodriguez and Nate Berry, both of McCook, announce their engagement and upcoming wedding. Parents of the couple are Zoilo and Manuela Rodriguez of McCook and John and Lorie Berry of McCook. Grandparents of the bride-to-be are Reynaldo and Luz Elena Rodriguez of Hayes Center. Grandparents of the prospective bridegroom are Bill and Marj Koetter of McCook...

Candace Peterson and Trevor Bourg, both of McCook, announce their engagement and upcoming wedding. Parents of the couple are Dan and Cindy Peterson of McCook, Jay and Melissia Blauvelt of McCook, and Joe Bourg of Elizabethtown, Ky. Grandparents of the bride-to-be are Jerry and Mary Crawford of Kearney and the late Frank and Ethel Peterson...

The family of Bettie Fidler, of McCook, is requesting a card shower in honor of her 80th birthday. She was born April 14, 1930, at Mankato, Kan. Her family includes Cathy Broz and husband, Tom of McCook, Vicki King of Grand Island, Dr. Jeff Fidler and wife, Dr. Mary Fidler of Rochester, Minn., six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. Cards of congratulations will reach her at 1304 Norris Ave,...

The family of Ed and Rita McConville is requesting a card shower in honor of the couple's 35th wedding anniversary. They were married April 7, 1975, at Indianola. Children of the couple include Kirk McConville of Indianola, Brandon and Valerie DeJonge of Hastings, Gabe and Janelle Kowalek of Kearney, Lee and Lindsay McConville of Danbury and six grandchildren. Cards of congratulation will reach the couple at 72901 Rd. 395, Indianola, NE 69034...

Isaac and Shari (Stanton) Berg of Papillion announce the birth of a son, Waid Elliott Berg. He was born Feb. 21, 2010, at the Bergan Mercy Medical Center in Omaha. He weighed 7 pounds, 6 ounces and measured 19 1/2 inches long. Grandparents are Richard and Claudia Stanton of Cambridge and Keith and Janeen Berg of York...

Francesca Cherek and Aaron Scott, both of Anchorage, Alaska, announce their engagement and upcoming wedding. Parents of the couple are Ben and Johannah Cherek of Panama City, Fla., Richard and Rose Scott of McCook and Susan Dishman of Fairbury. Grandparents of the bride-to-be are Etta Cherek of Omaha and Agnes Eros of Omaha. Grandparents of the prospective bridegroom are Dorothy Lambert of Trenton and Judy Dow of McCook...

The family of Peggy Kinkade is requesting a card shower in honor of her 85th birthday April 11. Her family includes Kelly and Kathy Kinkade of McCook and two grandchildren. Cards of congratulation will reach her at 1500 East 11th, No. 101, McCook, NE 69001...

We made it to April. After a galling winter that at times seemed like it would never end, it is finally another radiant Nebraska springtime. The welcomed warm air and new spring growth are literally a breath of fresh air after months of frigid temperatures and dim skies. It seems that on this side of the fence, the grass actually is greener. But April is not only the beginning of spring; it is also National Financial Literacy Month...

This week, I want to highlight some of the areas where Nebraska's continued success is generating national attention for our cities and the state. Nebraska moved up in the most recent Forbes scoring of the 'Best States for Business.' The low cost of doing business and the quality of life factors increased Nebraska's ranking to ninth in 2009...

March 15, 1919-April 6, 2010 ATWOOD -- Quentin A. Bergling, 91, died Tuesday (April 6, 2010), at the Good Samaritan Center in Atwood. He was born March 15, 1919, at Ludell, to Albert and Nanna Louise (Olson) Bergling. He grew up on the family farm eight miles east and one mile south of Atwood. He graduated from Atwood High School in 1939...

ARAPAHOE, Neb. -- The City of Arapahoe will receive a new emergency siren through $6,750 from the USDA Rural Development Community Facility Grant program leveraged with $12,669 from the city. "Receiving this USDA Rural Development Community Facility grant has made it possible and affordable to install a new emergency siren in Arapahoe. ...

HOUSTON, Texas -- Kristen Sue Harr and Jonathan Bouchard Lancton, both of Houston, Texas, were united in marriage on Jan. 4, 2010, at St. Anne's Catholic Church in Houston, Texas, with the Rev. Joseph Fessio, S. J. of San Francisco, Calif., officiating...

Aug. 1, 1935 - April 8, 2010 TRENTON -- Arlene M. League, age 74, went home to be with her Lord on Thursday, April 8, 2010, at Community Hospital in McCook after a courageous battle with cancer. Arlene was born to Paul F. and Etta G. (Agena) Skraback on August 1, 1935 in Stratton. She graduated from Trenton High School in 1952...

Nebraskans need someone to be accountable for state spending and "don't want some faceless bureaucrat in charge," Tom Nesbitt told the Gazette on Friday. Nesbitt, who was the youngest commander of the Nebraska State Patrol, was in McCook as part of his campaign for state treasurer, having met with Red Willow County Republicans Thursday night...

It used to be easy to get Declan to eat his vegetables. I remember when he was two I could steam any frozen vegetables I had and he would gobble them up without hesitation. One tragic visit to my sister's house in which he was ever-so-innocently given a small bag of fruit snacks and it was all over. ...

July 6, 1926 - April 5, 2010 Lee Etta Forbes died Monday (April 5, 2010) at the McCook Community Hospital in McCook, Neb., at the age of 83. She was born July 6, 1926, in Hobart, Okla., the daughter of the late Robert Lee and Samantha Emnia (Flowers) Hopson. She grew up in Hereford, Texas, where she graduated from Hereford High School in 1942...