Stories from Friday, May 16, 2014

Jeffrey 'Womp' M. Wampach March 22, 1955 - Feb. 2, 2014 McCOOK, Neb. -- Jeffrey "Womp" M. Wampach, 58, died Feb. 2, 2014 in McCook. Inurnment will be Friday, May 30, 2014, at St. Peter's Cemetery in Eden Valley, Minnesota. Williams Dingmann Family Funeral Home in Eden Valley, Minnesota, is in charge of arrangements...

Allen D. Meyers Feb. 12, 1957 - Oct. 19, 2013 LONGMONT,Colo. --Allen (Al) D. Meyers, 56, Longmont, Colorado, passed away suddenly on Oct. 19, 2013, from natural causes. A memorial service celebrating his life will be on Saturday, May 24, 2014, 4 p.m. at the Republican River Valley Event Center, 905 East 7th Street, McCook, Nebraska...

CHADRON, Neb. -- Chadron State College conferred degrees to 359 graduates during two commencement ceremonies May 10. Graduates from the region included: McCOOK: Kevin Lamken, Bachelor of Applied Science; Alexander Garcia, Bachelor of Science; Corey Paz, Bachelor of Science...

Ethan William Scott Aaron and Francesca Scott of Boise, Idaho, announce the birth of their son, Ethan William Scott, who was born April 9, 2014, at St. Luke's Medical Center in Boise. He weighed 7 pounds, 11 ounces and measured 20.5 inches long. Grandparents are Ben and Johannah Cherek of Altha, Florida, Richard and Rose Scott of McCook, Nebraska and Susan Dishman of Fairbury, Nebraska. ...

80th birthday Glenice Discoe of McCook celebrates her 80th birthday Friday. She was born May 16, 1934 -- on her dad Fred Gaibler's birthday -- in Farnam, Nebraska. Her family includes three daughters, Barbara Jauken of Lincoln, Connie Jo Discoe of McCook and Cindy Fritsche of rural Maywood; one son, Tony Discoe of Irvine, California; and eight grandchildren, Bethany and Whitney Jauken, Shannon Bird, Nolan Brown, Lydia and Von Fritsche and Jacob and Justin Discoe. ...

Croft, Rogers Stephanie Croft and Randy Rogers of Chicago, Illinois, announce their engagement upcoming wedding. Parents of the couple are Dave and Ronna Croft of St. Louis, Missouri, and Bob and Laurie Rogers of Montrose, Colorado, formerly of McCook, Nebraska...

Susan Doak SW Nebraska Genealogy Society MCCOOK, Neb. -- Each spring my mother would gather the peonies and iris blooms to place on graves for Decoration Day. Most of the iris plants that I grow originated in my grandmother's garden, moved to mother's garden in Indianola, then to McCook, only to be once more uprooted and planted in my yard when it was time to sell mom's home. None of those flowers will be blooming yet in my garden by this Decoration Day, May 26...

60th anniversary The family of Bob and Vonnie Tiller of McCook, Nebraska, are hosting an open house in honor of the couple's 60th wedding anniversary May 16. The open house is Sunday, May 25, 2014, from 2-4 p.m. at the McCook Heritage Senior Center. ...

McCOOK, Neb. -- A lesson plan contest for teachers will highlight the legacy of Senator George W. Norris, one of the most esteemed and influential leaders in the history of Nebraska. Sponsoring the contest is the Norris Institute in McCook, Nebraska, where Norris lived while serving in Congress for 40 years (1903-1942)...

With little faith that the dark clouds hanging in the north will dump any measurable precipitation, irrigators in Southwest Nebraska have started their center pivot systems this spring. Light showers this morning were expected to taper off as the day went on...

It's a little too late for readers to take part in today's Bike to Work Day, and that means of transportation just isn't practical for many of us. That doesn't mean we shouldn't think about using it on other days, climbing aboard on our days off. It's not unusual to see someone loading up a bike at the local big-box store, and a visit to the local bike shop where dozens of two-wheelers await repair is evidence that bicycling is as popular as ever. ...

McCOOK, Neb. The Tractor Relay Across Nebraska to benefit Operation Comfort Warrior will arrive in Norris Park at about 5 p.m. Friday, June 6. The Tractor Relay Across Nebraska has taken on Operation Comfort Warrior as a charity project for their annual drive...

Southwest Public Schools first grader Alexis Conklin checks out Casper, the Kerry blue terrier "shop dog" at Pet Pros in McCook, Neb., during the first graders' and kindergartners' spring field trip to McCook Wednesday. Inside the kennel, Kali Barrett held out her palm -- as Pet Pros owner Pam Gaston told her to do -- as she approached Hank, the 200-pound Mastiff. ...

McCOOK, Neb. -- A ribbon cutting and grand opening celebration of the completion of Community Hospital's Anderson Center for Radiation Oncology was held today in McCook. Participating in the ceremony were Community Hospital staff and board members; and community residents in McCook and the hospital's service area...

McCOOK, Neb. -- A county cell phone policy, gravel specifications and renewal of the county employee's health insurance plan are action items on Monday's agenda for the Red Willow County Commissioners. Consent agenda items include payment of $266,569.96 to Beckenhauer Construction Inc. ...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- The McCook City Council appear to be investing heavy in the attorney experience of new city manager Nate Schneider. Schneider's employment agreement will be considered for approval Monday evening and indicates his starting wage will be higher than that of the previous city manager, an applicant that came with 30 years experience in the field. ...

80th birthday The family of Dean Land of Culbertson, Nebraska, is hosting an open house in honor of his 80th birthday May 20. The open house is Saturday, May 24, from 2-4 p.m. at the Culbertson Ambulance barn. His family includes his wife, Vivian; children, Tami and husband, Kevin Black, Larry, Lori and husband, Jack Smith; six grandchildren, Curtis, Andrew, Sierra, Nate, Cody and Ashia and four great-granddaughters, Mable, Rebecca, Brooklyn and Lea. ...