Stories from Friday, June 8, 2012

Family Features Whether it's something light, cool and refreshing, or rich, decadent and creamy, frozen treats are the perfect way to turn a normal night into something special. With just 20 minutes and six ingredients or less, you can create these easy recipes using frozen treats found in your local supermarket...

In my last column I so brazenly made light of my family's final summer vacation to South Dakota, more specifically the swarm of bees they drove through with open car windows during a trip I was unable to attend. During my road-trip to meet Declan's mother last week I got a little taste of my own roadway chaos...

90th, 95th birthdays The family of Harley and Hilda Morthole of McCook is requesting a card shower in honor of their 90th and 95th birthdays. Harley will celebrate his 90th birthday Thursday, June 14 and Hilda will celebrate her 95th on Friday, June 22. Cards of congratulations will reach them at Hillcrest Nursing Home, Room No. 209, 309 W. Seventh, McCook, NE 69001...

Ward, Lambert Melissa Ward and Kyle Lambert, both of McCook, Nebraska, announce their engagement and upcoming wedding. Parents of the bride-to-be are Nancy Ward of McCook and Joe Ward of Wauneta, Nebraska. Grandparent is Thelma Brenning of McCook. Parents of the prospective bridegroom are Kevin Lambert of Oxford, Nebraska and Heather Johnson of Fort Meyers Beach, Florida. ...

90th birthday The family of Phyllis (Mead) Stinnette is hosting a card shower in honor of her 90th birthday on June 12th. Cards of congratulations will reach her at El Dorado Manor, P.O. Box 97, Trenton, NE 69044

90th birthday The family of Mary Williamson, is requesting a card shower in honor of her 90th birthday. She was born July 6, 1922, in Abingdon, Illinois. She formerly lived in McCook from 1976 to 2005. Her family includes children, Mary Kay O'Dell and husband, Ed, of Torrington, Wyoming, Mike Williamson of Fort Worth, Texas, six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. Cards of congratulations will reach her at 2010 E. F St. No. 302, Torrington, Wyoming 82240...

50th anniversary The family of Roland and Jeannette Miller of Culbertson are hosting a reception in honor of the couples' 50th wedding anniversary. They were married June 17, 1962, at St. John's Lutheran Church in Culbertson. The reception is Saturday, June 16, 6-8 p.m. ...

Scott, West Hope Elizabeth Scott and Matthew Russel West, both of Kearney, Nebraska, announce their engagement and upcoming wedding. Parents of the bride-to-be are Kerry and JoHanna Scott of McCook, Nebraska. Grandparents are Nellie Ryan of Cambridge, Nebraska, the late James Ryan and Gary Scott and Elsie Reiners of Indianola, Nebraska...

85th birthday The family of Catherine (Shields) Neal is requesting a card shower in honor of her 85th birthday June 16. Cards of congratulations will reach her at 106 S. East Avenue, Oberlin, KS 67749

Chitwood, Bryant Morgan Jane Chitwood and Jonathan Steven Bryant, both of North Platte, Nebraska, announce their engagement and upcoming wedding. Parents of the bride-to-be are Mark and Stacy Chitwood of McCook, Nebraska. Grandparents are John and Jane Fortin of Overton, Nebraska, Gene Cappel of Harrington, Kansas and the late Roberta Cappel...

30th anniversary The family of Todd and Lisa (Kircher) Koetter of McCook, Nebraska, is requesting a card shower in honor of the couple's 30th wedding anniversary. They were married June 10, 1982, at the Peace Lutheran Church in McCook. Their children are Nicole of Lincoln, Nebraska, Kayla of Omaha, Nebraska and Chance of McCook. Cards of congratulations will reach them at 702 Seminole Drive, McCook NE 69001...

Courtesy photo Third time for Locks of Love Shelby Stevens, 13-years-old, of McCook, Nebraska, donated 10 inches of her hair to Locks of Love on June 7. Her Aunt Melanie Alberts, of Aphrodite Hair Design, cut and styled it for her. This will be the third time she has donated her hair. She is the daughter of Jesse and Stephanie Stevens. Locks of Love makes wigs for children who have lost their hair due to medical reasons...

This information is gathered at the McCook Public Safety Center, the McCook office of the Nebraska State Patrol, the Red Willow County Courthouse, the Red Willow County Sheriff's Office and the McCook Humane Society. Police activity Activity log...

CULBERTSON, Nebraska -- Eleven members were in attendance when the Culbertson United Methodist Women had their Unit meeting in the church library on May 2 3, 2012. President Charlotte Oberg opened the meeting with the following poems: "Humming Birds" and "Dandelions." Ellen Barlow and Jane Korell received Corsages for Mission for their May birthdays...

Susan Doak Southwest Nebraska Genealogy Society McCOOK, Nebraska --Cemeteries hold many stories if you can unlock the mystery behind the tombstones! Although SW Nebraska may not boast of the oldest cemeteries in the United States, the area still holds some fascinating headstones...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Celebrating the heritage of a community through festivals and events is vital to maintaining community pride and a sense of unity. When we gather as a community to enjoy one another's company, we build on the rich heritage that came before us. Connecting with each other at these events helps to shape future relationships and encourages a promising future...

PALISADE, Nebraska -- A Trenton man was killed when he was thrown from a pickup truck in a collision near Palisade on about 7:05 a.m. Thursday. The man, Daniel J. Whitley, 36, was not wearing seatbelts, according to the report from the Nebraska State Patrol. He was pronounced dead at the scene...

When someone is diagnosed with cancer, the clinical side is covered thoroughly. It's the emotional and spiritual side that sometimes gets neglected, said Karey Graves and Rose Chancellor, breast cancer survivors. They, along with others who have been touched by cancer, are starting a new Christian-based support group, Wings of H. O. P. E. ("He Offers Peace in Every storm")...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- The McCook School Board of Education will be asked to approve a teaching contract at its regular meeting Monday, 6:30 p.m. at the Junior High conference room. In addition to approving the contract for John Benjamin Hyatt as a special education teacher, the board will also be asked to approve the 2012-2012 student handbook for the junior/senior high and administrative compensation package...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Red Willow County commissioners will conduct a public hearing to amend the 2011-12 budget for highway funding, and consider selection of a construction manager for the new law enforcement center. Meeting 9 a.m. Monday, the commissioners will consider amending the budget in order to create a capital projects fund for highway allocation bonds for 2011-12...

Gregory P. Crawford, dean of the College of Science at Notre Dame, pauses in McCook on a cross-country bicycle ride to promote research into a cure or treatment for a rare neurodegenerative disease which took the lives of three grandchildren of Coach Ara Parseghian. More information is available on Crawford's blog at roadtodiscovery.nd.edu...

Thursday's issuance of a "Water Watch" by the City of McCook brings back memories for anyone who has lived here for 20 or 30 years. Such actions were common when the city had to take wells out of service because of the nitrate problem. We never really had a water shortage, but big summer demand forced the city to put high-nitrate wells into service, throwing the city out of water quality compliance and forcing it to do things like buy bottled water for pregnant or nursing mothers...

I ran into Gene O. Morris, the retired publisher of this newspaper, on the 16th hole of the annual horserace at Heritage Hills last Friday and we had a discussion about my column that week, which he said he liked. He mentioned, however, that I had left out a most important attribute of a perfect marriage and that's commitment. ...

A young western screech owl peers through the green leaves to watch over the backyard of nine-year-old Ryder, three-year-old Redford and nine-month-old Gidget Crocker in McCook, Nebraska.

Over recent months, our state has continued an ongoing conversation and discussion about the Keystone XL Pipeline, currently planned to avoid the environmentally sensitive Nebraska Sandhills. As you can imagine, Nebraskans have important opinions on this issue, and I appreciate Nebraskans willingness to share their opinions with me. Today, I would like to provide you an update on the current evaluation process of the new route...

Johnny Neill, the fiddle player for "Sons and Brothers," plays at noon Friday in front of a portrait of McCook, Nebraska, legend "Blind Sam." Neill and his group -- playing their favorite songs from country, country swing, cowboy and gospel genres -- was one of five acts performing during McCook's 16th annual "Buffalo Commons Storytelling Festival." Neill was impressed by the story of Isaac O'Connor, also known as "Blind Sam," a McCook resident who sat in front of the old First National Bank (at the corner of Norris and C) every Saturday and during special community events and played his fiddle and sang for pennies dropped into his hat. ...