Stories from Thursday, December 8, 2011

Lois Duensing Nov. 22, 1917 - Dec. 6, 2011 OXFORD, Nebraska -- Lois Arlene Duensing, 94, died Tuesday (Dec. 6, 2011), at the Colonial Villa Good Samaritan Center in Alma, Nebraska. She was born Nov. 22, 1917 at Nora, Nebraska to Martin and Oral (Coles) Hamel. In 1922 her family moved to a farm near Holbrook, the town she would call home for most of her life. She attended school in Holbrook and graduated from Holbrook High School in 1935...

Genevieve Idona Hamilton Oct. 20, 1918 - Dec. 7, 2011 GOTHENBURG, Nebraska -- Genevieve Idona Hamilton, 93, died Wednesday (Dec.7, 2011), at Hilltop Estates in Gothenburg. She was born Oct. 20, 1918, north of McCook, to Charles and Marie (Hansen) Appleyard...

Donald James Kennedy May 24, 1918 - Dec. 5, 2011 LOVELAND, Colorado -- Donald James Kennedy, 93, of Loveland, Colorado, went to be with our Lord Dec. 5th, 2011. Don was born May 24th, 1918, in Quick, Nebraska, to Martin and Mable (Schlick) Kennedy. He was raised on a farm in Nebraska and at 17 left home to travel where he became skilled in various trades. ...

J. Dane Thompson Oct. 21, 1941 ~ Dec. 3, 2011 MONTEREY, California -- Dane Thompson passed away in Monterey, California, following a short illness which took him from us too soon. Dane was born in Oxford, Nebraska, the only child of Ralph and Maxine Thompson. Dane's mother had been a teacher and performed with Ruth Kackley and Her Girls, and his father started a local Oxford grocery store. Ralph later relocated his family and opened another grocery store in Alma, Nebraska, where Dane grew up...

Willis H. Staley Nov. 10. 1923 - Dec. 5, 2011 McCOOK, Nebraska -- Willis H. Staley passed away at his home in McCook on Dec. 5, 2011. He was 88 years old. Willis was born on Nov. 10, 1923, at Freedom, Nebraska, in Frontier County to Carl and Frances (Edgar) Staley. He graduated from Cambridge High School in 1941, and continued his education at McCook Community College...

Doris M. Missing Dec. 10, 1935 - Dec. 4, 2011 ARAPAHOE, Nebraska -- Doris M. Missing, 75, died Sunday (Dec. 4, 2011), at the Cambridge Hospital. She was born on Dec. 10, 1935, at Hastings, Nebraska to Curtis and Nellie (Hasemeyer) Heath. She attended school at Holdrege High School and graduated with the class of 1954. ...

60th anniversary The children of Arden and Nancy Norman request a card shower for the couple's 60th wedding anniversary. They were married Dec. 7, 1951 in Atwood, Kansas. Their children are Chuck and Deb of Kearney, Nebraska, Bill and Leah of Oxford, Nebraska and Tami and Paul Teel of McCook, Nebraska. They have 11 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. Cards of congratulations will reach them at 70887 Road 384, McCook, NE 69001...

Kathryn Sauvage BRULE, Nebraska -- Kathryn Sauvage, 53, of Ogallala, died Monday (Nov. 28, 2011), at a residence south of Brule. Survivors include her mother, Eleanor Hogsett Crab of Wauneta; two sons, Daniel Sauvage and DeLane and wife, Crista Sauvage, all of Oberlin, Kansas; one daughter, LaCosta Fishler of Kearney, Nebraska; one brother, Carol McFoos of Wauneta; one sister, Chris Aarons of Colby, Kansas; and three grandchildren...

It's distressing to read, hear or see what we feel is false, misleading, biased or inflammatory "news," and there's no shortage of it when everyone has access to an unlimited electronic audience. But before we "do" something about it, consider the alternative...

The big astronomical news this week is the total lunar eclipse which will occur on Saturday, Dec. 10. A total lunar eclipse occurs when Earth's shadow crosses the face of the moon. Such events only happen when the moon is full. That is the good news, now for the bad news, we won't be able to see much of it from here in Southwest Nebraska...

I haven't seen this much snow combined with this cold of weather since when we lived in Colorado. Despite the majority opinion, I do love the snow and chilly temperatures. It's December. It should be cold with snow. However, this kind of weather recently reminded me of a morning that happened to me almost 12 years ago now...

CULBERTSON, Nebraska -- The Nebraska State Patrol plans to interview Hitchcock County Public Schools patrons who signed petitions seeking to recall three school board members. School board members Mike Baker, Larry Ferguson and Gary Matson and school superintendent Mike Apple were informed in late August that petition circulators had enough valid signatures to seek the recall of the three men. ...

Laura Ford, above, of McCook stands next to one of the Christmas trees at the White House, that displays this year's theme, "Shine, Give Share." Ford spent six days at the White House, along with about 100 other holiday volunteers, making ornaments for 37 trees and decorating the mansion and hallways. ...

The State of Nebraska began statewide reading assessments two years ago so that parents, citizens, school boards, superintendents, principals, teachers and elected officials could compare results from one district to another. This data can be very helpful in improving both student and school academic achievement performance...