Stories from Friday, August 27, 2010

Family Features Fall brings a whole new set of flavors to the table, and that's reason enough to celebrate with friends. Award-winning celebrity chef and cookbook author Michael Chiarello has created some deli­cious seasonal dishes that make the most of autumn's bounty and make it easy to entertain...

March 17, 1951-June 22, 2010 Beloved daughter, sister, mother, grandmother, and aunt, Marcia Eileen Brasher, went to be with our heavenly father on Tuesday, June 22, 2010. Marcia was born in McCook, Nebraska on St. Patrick's Day, March 17, 1951, to Gerald and Donna Lee Butler and was the oldest of five children...

Kaylen Marie Blake and Lynn Allen Biltoft, both of McCook, announce their engagement and upcoming wedding. Parents of the couple are Brad and Angie Blake of Glendale, Arizona, Robert Biltoft of North Platte and the late Carolyn Biltoft. Grandparents of the bride-to-be are Dareld Blake of Sutherland, Nebraska, the late Joyce Blake, Bob Fleecs of Sutherland, the late Lila Fleecs and great-grandmother, Marjorie Hall of Cambridge...

Alexis Linnea Lewis and Matthew Bernard Davidson, both of Denver, Colorado, announce their engagement and upcoming wedding. Parents of the couple are Jim and Shari Lewis of Culbertson and Dana and Jean Davidson of Yuma, Arizona. Grandparents of the bride-to-be are Marvin and Betty Harms of Culbertson, Nora Lewis of McCook, the late Robert Lewis, and great-grandmother, Evelyn Aden of Gothenberg, Nebraska. Grandfather of the prospective bridegroom is Phillip Brand of Welda, Kansas...

Alisa Edgerton and Clint Ryan, both of Kearney, announce their engagement and upcoming wedding. Parents of the couple are Brad and Sherri Edgerton of Cambridge and Tom and Alice Ryan of Ansley, Nebraska. Grandparents of the bride-to-be are Paul and Marilyn Klinkebiel of Cambridge, and the late Dave and Arva Edgerton. Grandparents of the prospective bridegroom are the late Leo and Patty Ryan, and the late Bob and Gail Patterson...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- The expansion and renovation of Community Hospital of McCook is gaining national attention as a premier project funded with an American Recovery and Reinvestment Act stimulus loan. Jim Ulrich, hospital president and CEO, told members of the hospital board of directors at their meeting Aug. ...

City of McCook Fire Chief Marc Harpham, above left, and Red Willow Western Rural Fire Department Fire Chief Bill Elliott stand outside the rural fire station's bay door, contemplating the cause and extent of the fire that destroyed a rural fire truck and filled the station with heavy, black smoke about 5:30 a.m., today. ...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Red Willow County, Nebraska, commissioners will discuss a request for more money for the county fair budget during the commissioners weekly meeting slated to start at 9 a.m., Monday morning in the courthouse in McCook, Nebraska. The additional funds are requested to pay sales tax on grandstand receipts for the past five years. The item comes before commissioners at 9:45 a.m...

We tend to take firefighters for granted. Put out the alarm, and they're there within minutes. Two Open Forum letters at right are an acknowledgement of just how much dedication by how many people it takes to keep us all safe, both through major training exercises like that conducted at Trenton last weekend, and major fires like that at Perry Grain...

The McCook Bison and several other area high school football teams will kick off their seasons tonight and the locker room pep talk before the game will likely include the admonition from some coaches to "leave it all on the field." Coaches were using that strategy when I played and I'm sure they still are because the reason for it is timeless. ...

The Red Willow Rural Firefighters would like to thank the McCook City Fire department and EMTs, Bartley Fire, Indianola Fire, Culbertson Fire, Red Willow County Sheriff's office, Nebraska State Patrol, Subway, Beaver Valley Fire, Decatur County, Kansas Fire, Frenchman Valley Co-0p and the State Fire Marshal for the assistance last night at the Perry Grain fire and we would like to thank the McCook City Fire Department and EMTs for their assistance this morning as well the Red Willow County Sheriff's Department and police department when our pumper was destroyed at the station.. ...

I'd like to commend all of the people who participated in the mock disaster at the Trenton ethanol plant last weekend. It was a simulated tornado touchdown, planned and executed by Patrick D. Gerdes of the Region 15 Emergency Management Agency and funded by a homeland security grant...

Dear Editor, There are not enough schools, churches and banks in McCook. And a serious lack of playgrounds. Images of Bison? We need more! Especially life-size bronze. Steve Stramel, McCook

Erin Michelle Meyers and Brent Douglas Ruppert, both of Curtis, announce their engagement and upcoming wedding. Parents of the couple are Kent and Deb Meyers of McCook, Doug Ruppert of Curtis and Claryce Fritsche of McCook. Grandparents of the bride-to-be are Richard and Marilyn Koetter of McCook and the late Hugh and Helen Meyers. Grandparents of the prospective bridegroom are Tom and Bethel Stewart of Lincoln, John Ruppert of McCook and the late Lola Ruppert...

The family of Stan Quigley is hosting a celebration in honor of his 90th birthday, Sept. 4, 2010, at Traders Inn, formerly Night Tracks, in Indianola, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Cards of congratulations will also reach him at 39276 Road 720, Indianola, NE 69034...

The family of Marie Alberts of McCook is requesting a card shower in honor of her 95th birthday. She was born Aug. 31, 1915, at Culbertson. Her family includes her children, Joanne and Les Hein, Kathy Donaldson, and Bill and Sallie Alberts; seven grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and five great-great grandchildren. Cards of congratulations will reach her at 507 East G, McCook, NE 69001...

The family of Dean and Helen Berndt of Danbury is requesting a card shower in honor of the couple's 50th wedding anniversary. They were married Sept. 10, 1960, at McCook. Their family includes their children, Danny and Shelly Berndt of Danbury, Mike Berndt of Danbury and Lori and Mark Loseke of Minden; and one grandchild. Cards of congratulations will reach the couple at 39645 State Hwy 89, Danbury, NE 69026...

Joel and Wendee (Park) Masters of Omaha, Nebraska announce the birth of a daughter, Kolyns Rachel. She was born April 9, 2010, at Immanuel Hospital in Omaha, weighing 8 pounds, 2 ounces and measuring 21.5 inches in length. She has a sister, Kaedyn, 8, and a brother, Justyse, 1 1/2. ...

Zane and Amy Engelbert of McCook announce the birth of a daughter, Ava M. Engelbert. She was born Aug. 6, 2010, at Community Hospital weighing 8 pounds, 3.8 ounces and measuring 20 inches long. She has a 2-year-old brother, Turner J. Engelbert. Grandparents of the newborn are are Dale and Susan Engelbert of Norton, Kansas, Bev Franklin of Utica, Kansas, the late Bruce Franklin, and Ray Simon of Minneapolis, Kansas. ...

The new Nebraska State Fair is off and running in Grand Island. We celebrate a historic milestone for our state as the 2010 State Fair opens in a brand new location with new facilities and a community ready to roll out the welcome mat. This year's celebration marks the 141st Nebraska State Fair...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- The State Fire Marshals Office has determined the cause of the fire that destroyed the large grain storage and maintenance building at Perry Grain, west of McCook, Thursday night. Working with local officials and using heavy equipment, fire marshalls have determined that the cause of the fire was an electrical short that occurred in a straight truck after it was parked in the building around 5 p.m., Thursday...

Head coach Krystal Weber probably didn't find any revelations about her 2010 McCook High School volleyball teams during the annual spots drink scrimmage Thursday, Aug. 26, at the Senior High gym. Coach Weber ran her team through a game-type scrimmage, complete with set scoring and officials...

HASTINGS -- Taking away that extra weight will probably make it easier to perform for the McCook High school girls softball team. The Bison girls finally picked up their first win of the season Thursday in the second game of a double-header at the Bill Smith Softball Complex at Hastings. ...

McCOOK -- Brad Baumbach is probably not the most favorite McCook High School football player in Scottsbluff. For the second straight year, Baumbach made the deciding play to lift McCook to a victory over the Bearcats. The senior safety intercepted a Scottsbluff pass deep in McCook territory in the final minute to seal a 14-7 win for the Bison Friday night. The season-opening prep football contest was held at Weiland Field in McCook...