Stories from Friday, December 23, 2011

Family Features You've heard of big things in small packages. This holiday season, try big flavor in small bites paired with excellent wine. The latest trend in holiday hosting ties together hearty hors d'oeuvres with carefully selected wine samplings. Pairing small bites with different varietals not only complements flavor, it also makes your gourmet appetizer experience something guests will remember well into the New Year...

Declan was giddy with excitement last night. Surprisingly, it wasn't in anticipation of the rapidly approaching Christmas day, but focused on being able to go to daycare. He was unusually difficult to calm down, after jumping under his covers at bedtime...

The children of Gary and Ruth Lucas, of McCook, request a card shower in honor of the couple's 25th wedding anniversary. They were married Dec. 31, 1986. Their children are Thomas and Gillian Lucas of Denver, Colorado, Tracy and Amy Lucas of Des Moines, Iowa, Abbey and John Bruner of Sioux Falls, South Dakota and six grandchildren. Cards of congratulations will reach them at 601 E. Sixth Street McCook, NE 69001...

HELENA, Montana -- Sarah Marie Messinger of Greeley, Colorado and Nicholas James Smith of Deer Lodge, Montana were united in marriage May 29, 2011 at St. Paul's Methodist Church in Helena, Montana with the Rev. Marianne Niesen officiating. Parents of the bride are Duane and Marie (Sehnert) Franzen of Greeley and Bruce Messinger of Boulder, Colorado. Grandparents are Walt and Jean Sehnert of McCook, Roger Messinger of McCook and the late Gloria Messinger...

80th birthday The family of Victor Monzon of McCook is requesting a card shower in honor of his 80th birthday. He was born Dec. 23, 1931. His family includes his wife, Mary Ellen Monzon; children, Debra Hayes of Kasilof, Arkansas, Pamela Hartwell, Michelle Clapp, Gregory Monzon and Jeanne Moody, all of McCook, Vicki Pevoteaux of Pratt, Kansas, 21 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren. Cards of congratulations will reach him at 1111 E. Fifth, McCook, NE 69001...

60th anniversary Friends and family of Pat and Berniece Redden of Palisade, Nebraska will host a reception and card shower in honor of the couple's wedding anniversary. They were married Jan. 1, 1952, in Benkelman, Nebraska. The open house is Saturday, Dec. ...

50th anniversary The family of Dean and Vesta Dack will host a reception and card shower in honor of the couple's 50th wedding anniversary. They were married Dec. 30, 1961. The open house is Friday, Dec. 30 from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Chief Motel, 612 West B Street, McCook. Their children are Del and Geri Dack of Paxton, Nebraska, Cindy and Terry Nichols of Wauneta, Nebraska, five grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Cards of congratulations will reach them at 37991 Drive 724, McCook, NE 69001...

80th birthday The family of Marian Moore of Bartley, Nebraska, is requesting a card shower in honor of her 80th birthday, She was born Jan. 1, 1932 in Frontier County and was the New Year's Baby of 1932. Her family includes her husband, Harold Moore, of Bartley, Lonnie and Claire Moore of Meade, Nebraska, David and Marilyn Moore of Oxford, Nebraska, Nancy and Rod Smith of Boise, Idaho, Peggy and Roger Webb of Billings, Montana, Michelle and Tim Lytle of McCook, 15 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. ...

Emersyn Jean Marie Beck Matthew and Kelly Beck of Lawrence Kansas, announce the birth of their daughter, Emersyn Jean Marie Beck, who was born Dec. 8, 2011, at Lawrence. She weighed 5 pounds, 6 ounces and measured 18 inches long. She has one sister, Kenley and two brothers, Trae and Colby. ...

50th anniversary The children of Loren and Ellen Griffin, of McCook, request a card shower in honor of the couple's 50th wedding anniversary. They were married Dec. 30, 1961. Their children are Brenda and Tim Walter and Linda and John Brewster, Paul Griffin, Mary and Rick Tolliver, all of McCook, Tim Griffin of Halsey, Nebraska, Margo and Tim Schnell, Laura and Ryan Johnson of Lincoln, Nebraska, Jim Griffin of North Platte and 15 grandchildren. ...

25th anniversary The children of Dean and Rhonda Hilker request a card shower in honor of the couple's 25th wedding anniversary. They were married Dec. 31, 1986 at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in McCook. Their children are Haley and Amber. Cards of congratulations will reach them at 1810 West O, McCook, NE 69001...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- The family of Dorothy Corder is hosting an open house in honor of her 80th birthday. The open house is Saturday, Jan. 7, 2012 , from 1-4 p.m. at the Assembly of God Annex, 806 East C in McCook. Cards of congratulations will reach her at 112 S. Eighth Street, McCook, NE 69001...

Leon R. Wolf Dec. 23, 1947 - Dec. 21, 2011 GRINNELL, Kansas -- Leon R. Wolf, 63, died Wednesday (Dec. 21, 2011), at the Logan County Hospital in Oakley. He was born Dec. 23, 1947, in Grinnell to Fred and Mary (Meerian) Wolf. He married Lynette Wahrman on June 2, 1973 in Herndon. He was a farmer/stockman and cattle buyer and U.S. Army veteran during the Vietnam War. He was preceded in death by his parents, and brother Jim...

A review

McCOOK, Nebraska -- A McCook man involved in a 71⁄2 hour standoff after a shot was fired near emergency responders, has entered a plea of not responsible by reason of insanity in Red Willow County District Court. The man, 58-year-old Raymond E. Miley, is facing felony charges of attempted assault on an officer in the first degree and use of a deadly weapon to commit a felony, stemming from the October incident...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Gerri Jardine of McCook, Nebraska, knows it was yoga that saved her from the troubles facing so many teens and about-to-be teens in the late 1960s. Her family's troubles at home ... a social behavior free-for-all waiting just outside. She was a young girl who could have become overwhelmed by both...

It's the most wonderful time of the year ... unless you get ripped off! There is no shortage of Grinches out there willing to make their holiday "happy" at the expense of others. During the four weeks leading up to Christmas, an estimated $1.84 billion in merchandise will be shoplifted this year, according to the Global Retail Theft Barometer. That's about a 6 percent increase from last year...

While reading the paper today I saw the letter before mine. Like usual for things for me, I appear to be a day late and a dollar short. Someone seems to have beaten me to the punch. But I feel this really needs extended upon. First of all, even though this seems like it shouldn't be mentioned, we live in the USA. ...

Have you stopped long enough to find the magic? You really have to look for it. It gets lost in among the stuff. We need faith to believe that all things are possible with God. Due to an operation, I have missed out on my usual hubub, and the excitement that goes with it. But I saw a program, that everyone was looking for the Christmas magic...

I journeyed south to Arkansas last week to attend my oldest son Michael's college graduation and my youngest son Will's birthday and decided to fly the whole way. I flew Great Lakes airlines out of McCook at 7 a.m. last Friday to Denver, changed to American Airlines after a layover to Dallas, changed to another American Airlines plane in Dallas and arrived in Bentonville, Arkansas at 2:30. ...