Stories from Friday, August 12, 2011

Family Features Warm-weather entertaining calls for light, refreshing recipes full of flavor. These delectable dishes pair mangos and California Almonds for a main course, side dish and dessert that will have your guests clamoring for more. The naturally sweet, refreshing taste of mango makes every dish special, and mangos serve up more than 20 different vitamins and minerals. ...

Dec. 23, 1936-Aug. 11, 2011 ARNOLD, Nebraska -- Donald R. Hardin, 74, of Arnold Nebraska, passed away Aug. 11, 2011, at the Callaway Good Samaritan Society Center. He went to be with his Lord after fighting a year long battle with cancer. Don was born on Dec. ...

Oct. 19, 1919 - Aug. 11, 2011 BENKELMAN, Nebraska -- Lucille Maxine Mulvany Gerdes was born Oct. 19, 1919, in Hastings, Nebraska, to Benjamin Harrison Mulvany and Mabel Annie Nelson Mulvany. She died on Aug, 11, 2011, at the age of 91 after entering the Sarah Ann Hester Home, October of 2002. As a young girl, she lived in Wyoming, Kansas and Nebraska, as her father was a shoe cobbler and laborer...

Talia Michele Placzek of Kearney, Nebraska, and Aaron Lee Sawyer of Lincoln, Nebraska, announce their engagement and upcoming wedding. Parents of the couple are Rich and Tonya Placzek of McCook, Nebraska, and Steve and Donna Sawyer of Muscatine, Iowa...

Ashley Shearer and Alex Wyatt, both of Dighton, Kansas, announce their engagement and upcoming marriage. Parents of the couple are William and Thersa Shearer of Arapahoe, Nebraska, and Richard and Wendy Wyatt of Clive, Iowa. Grandparent of the bride-to-be is June Brakhahn of Arapahoe. Grandparent of the prospective bridegroom is Lois Leeson of Washington, Indiana...

Kathrine Ann Voss and Nathan Scott Graves, both of Scottsbluff, Nebraska, announce their engagement and upcoming wedding. Parents of the couple are Greg and Zandra Wagner of Trenton, Nebraska, and Tammy and Rod Graves Sr., of Scottsbluff. Grandparents of the bride-to-be are Jane and Richard Voss of Stratton, Nebraska, and Carol and Virgil Wagner of Alamosa, Colorado...

The family of Wes and Ilene Spickelmier of Imperial, Nebraska, is requesting a card shower in honor of the couple's 50th wedding anniversary. They were married Aug. 20,1961, at St. Johns Lutheran Church in McCook. Family of the couple includes their children, Doug Spickelmier of BrokenBow, Nebraska, Tom and Lori Rowley of Imperial, Nebraska, Wayne and Stannette Spickelmier of Imperial; six grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. ...

The family of Roger and Nona (Jacobitz) Zink of Indianola is requesting a card shower in honor of the couples 50th wedding anniversary. They were married Aug. 20, 1961, at Stella, Nebraska. Their family includes three daughters, Tyler and husband, Darren Esch of McCook, Nancy and husband, Kevin Bredenkamp of Hastings and Tracy Zink of Ashland, Nebraska; and five grandchildren. ...

The family of Paul and Delores Schneider of McCook, Nebraska, is requesting a card shower in honor of the couple's 60th wedding anniversary. The couple was married Aug. 9, 1951, at Maranatha Bible Camp in Maxwell, Nebraska. Family of the couple includes their children, Sherry and Bob Shults of Denver, Colorado, Pamela and Darrell Daum of Murdo, South Dakota, Paul and Diane Schneider of Sharpsburg, Georgia, Carl and Cindy Schneider of Luthersville, Georgia, and Robert and Karon Schneider of Luquillo, Puerto Rico; 10 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. ...

The family of Lynette Gunnerson of McCook is requesting a card shower in honor of her 75th birthday. She was born Aug. 11, 1936, at Gothenburg, Nebraska. Her family includes her spouse, the late Larry Gunnerson; her children, Alan and wife Myong of Yorktown Virginia, Kevin of Moberly, Missouri, Kirk and wife, Brandy of Lincoln, Nebraska; and eight grandchildern. Cards of congratulations will reach her at 913 Westridge Parkway, McCook, NE 69001...

The family of Robert J. Eisenach is hosting an open house celebration in honor of his 80th birthday. The celebration will be Aug. 21, 2011, 2-4 p.m., at Fellowship Hall in the United Methodist Church of Culbertson. Cards of congratulations will also reach him at 402 Henton Road, McCook, NE 69001...

Colette Burns and Greg Monzon announce the birth of a son, Rilan Thomas Monzon. He was born June 9, 2011, at Community Hospital, weighing 7 pounds, 8 ounces and measuring 19 inches long. He has three brothers, 3-year-old Laken Monzon, 4-year-old Dawson Burns and 16-year-old TJ Monzon; and two sisters, 8-year-old Calie Kircher and 21-year-old Monique Monzon. ...

Mindy Ackermann and John Hernandez of Kearney, Nebraska, announce the birth of a son, Bryson Eugene Hernandez. He was born June 2, 2011, at Good Samaritan in Kearney, Nebraska, weighing 9.3 pounds and measuring 20 inches in length. He has two siblings, 4-year-old Briauna Hernandez and 2-year-old Bryndan Hernandez. ...

The family of Rob and Kathy Quaduor is requesting a card shower in honor of the couples 25th wedding anniversary. They were married Aug. 16, 1986, at the Lebanon church. Cards of congratulations will reach the couple at 70945 Drive 399, Indianola, NE 69034...

The family and friends of Alice Skinner is hosting a celebration in honor of her 100th birthday, Aug. 30, 2011. The celebration will be Aug. 27, 2-4 p.m., at Trenton Community Building TCDC. Cards of congratulations will also reach her at PO Box 97, Trenton, NE 69044...

The family of Delma Teel is requesting a card shower in honor of her 85th birthday. Cards of congratulations will reach her at 38442 Road 736, McCook, NE 69001.

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Good progress is being made on Community Hospital's new surgery wing, and the hospital is also making strides toward additional staff to use it. Hospital President Jim Ulrich told the board of directors that all the concrete is poured, steel is up and roof decking installed, and it won't be long until the structure, Phase 2 of the hospital's building and remodeling project, is enclosed and the internal walls and finishes can begin. ...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- City staff will recommend the McCook City Council approve an increase to both water and sewer rates, as a result of the annual cash flow analysis prepared by Public Financial Management. The rate increases are projected to amount to an average of $14 per year on residential sewer bills and an average $13 per year on residential water bills, effective Oct. 1, 2011...

We have to question some of the figures put forth in a new study by the Center for Rural Affairs, but the study does make some important points. To wit, alternative energy like wind is of no value if it can't be delivered where it is most needed. T Boone Pickens found that out when he was unable to bring together the resources for a giant wind farm in Texas, partly because the distribution system wasn't in place...

The hailstorm some parts of McCook received Tuesday afternoon was the worst storm I've been in since my car was totally destroyed, with me in it, in a hailstorm on I-40 in Oklahoma back in 1973. Every window was knocked out, every piece of chrome knocked off and there was no place you could put a finger without sticking it in a dent. ...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- The City of McCook Fire Department responded to a reported structure fire at 803 Norris Avenue at approximately 3:51 AM on Friday, August 12, 2011. Upon arrival of the fire department, personnel reported considerable smoke coming from the attic vents of the residence. The residence is owned by John and Denise McRae...

LINCOLN, Nebraska -- The Nebraska Department of Economic Development has awarded $255,000 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding to the Village of Eustis to assist Lone Wolf Wurst Meats, a company that sells premium processed meats. The premium meats are family recipes that come from the Wurst Haus in Eustis. The product profile includes summer sausage, bratwurst, German polish dogs, and a dried meat product, Hard Tac. The project will result in 11 new full-time positions...

It's "back to school" time. Whether you are an educator, parent of a school age child or a student yourself, you are keenly aware that summer vacation is about to come to an end. We have made it a priority to invest in Nebraska's young people by strengthening Nebraska's education system and growing educational opportunities...

The month of August means it is time for students and teachers across the Third District to prepare for a new school year. Planning new lessons, meeting new classmates, and readjusting to the school schedule are just a few of the transitions which will be faced in the coming days. It is an exciting time of year. As the back-to-school season begins, I wanted to update you on the opportunities and services my office provides for students, teachers, and parents...