Stories from Friday, November 28, 2014

60th anniversary The family of Lewis and LaVeda McFarland of McCook is requesting a card shower in honor of the couple's 60th wedding anniversary. They were married Dec. 4, 1954, in Cambridge, Nebraska. Their children are Dennis and Linda McFarland of McCook, and grandchildren, Megan of Omaha, Nebraska, and Les of Lincoln, Nebraska. Cards of congratulations will reach them at 1106 West L, McCook, NE 69001...

Emily Jeann Kaelyn Randolph Austin and Amanda (Lynch) Randolph of McCook announce the birth of their daughter, Emily Jeann Kaelyn Randolph, born Oct. 7, 2014, at Community Hospital in McCook. She weighed 8 pounds, 6 ounces and measured 21 inches long. ...

Susan Doak SW Nebraska Genealogy Society McCOOK, Neb. -- My cousin received her results from taking the Ancestry.com DNA test and she sent me her results to see how I interpreted them. My first response back to her was that the scope of her Germanic ancestry was so vast that even though we are first cousins, I have a feeling my results would be remarkably different except for the fact that her results show a 99% European heritage...

Charles H. Reese TRENTON, Neb. -- Charles H. Reese, age 84, of Trenton, died at the Community Hospital in McCook, Nebraska, on Nov. 26, 2014. He was born in North Platte, Nebraska, to Henry P. and Alice L. (Erickson) Reese. Charles' mother died during childbirth...

MerryAlice E. Smith July 25, 1932 - Nov. 26, 2014 BEAVER CITY, Neb. -- MerryAlice E. Smith, 82, of Holdrege, Nebraska, died Wednesday (Nov. 26, 2014), at Holdrege Memorial Homes Assisted Living in Holdrege. She was born on July 25, 1932, in Riverton, Nebraska, to Louis Charles and Alma (Terrell) Fuller...

Karen Lynn Scott June 12, 1938 - Nov. 22, 2014 MCCOOK, Neb. -- Karen Lynn Scott of McCook passed away Saturday, Nov. 22, 2014, at Community Hospital. She was 76 years old. Karen was born on June 12, 1938, in Greeley, Colorado. As a baby, she was adopted by Harold Lee and Mae (Lyons) Richards Sr. She graduated from Hayes Center High School in 1955. She continued her education at Kearney State Teachers College, where she received her teaching certificate...

FAMILY FEATURES --The holidays bring lights, cheer, TV specials and treats - plenty of them. While it is tempting to eat all that gets placed in front of you, it isn't worth the extra pounds you may gain during the holidays. Here are some tips to balance healthy living with enjoying the holiday spirit:...

Shoppers get an early start on Black Friday bargains at McCook's Walmart, crowding the aisles while burning off Thursday's turkey dinner.

McCOOK, Neb. -- Monday evening Mayor Dennis Berry will preside over City Council just long enough to swear in City Councilman-elect Gene Weedin and incumbents Mike Gonzales and Bruce McDowell. Administering the oath of office to the trio will be followed by the reorganization of City Council which includes the election of a president, who serves as mayor, and a vice president...

Once you get your Black Friday shopping done, you'll need somewhere to put the presents. It's a happy time of year, but not if that Christmas tree and those outdoor lights happen to start a fire. Year after year, we hear just such tragic stories. According to the National Fire Protection Association, from 2007 through 2011, U.S. ...

McCOOK, Neb. -- Sometimes, "Plan B" turns out much better than "Plan A" ever would have. When she graduated from Republican Valley High School, Veronica Waddell wanted to become a lawyer. She just wanted to leave home and see what else was out there...

Willard Lynn Kerst Dec. 29, 1934 - Nov. 28, 2014 BARTLEY Neb. -- Willard Lynn Kerst, age 79, of Bartley, died Nov. 28, 2014, at the Bryan LGH East Hospital in Lincoln, Nebraska. He was born near Bartley in Red Willow County, Nebraska, on Dec. 29, 1934, to JC and Annabelle (Conner) Kerst. Lynn graduated from Bartley High School in 1953. He served in the U.S. Army in Germany from 1953 to 1956. He then served an additional four years in the Army Reserve...

80th birthday The family of Eva Messinger of McCook is requesting a card shower in honor of her 80th birthday Dec. 6. Her family includes her husband, Willard; sons, Mark and Patty Messinger and Kirk and Peggy Messinger of McCook; five grandchildren and one great- granddaughter. Cards of congratulations will reach her at 71396 U.S. Highway 83, McCook, NE 69001...

84th birthday The family of Willard Messinger of McCook is requesting a card shower in honor of his 84th birthday Dec. 13. His family includes his wife, Eva; sons, Mark and Patty Messinger and Kirk and Peggy Messinger of McCook; five grandchildren and one great-granddaughter. Cards of congratulations will reach himat 71396 U.S. Highway 83, McCook, NE 69001...

50th birthday The family of Chris Klein of McCook is requesting a card shower in honor of his 50th birthday Dec. 5. His family includes his wife, Robin; children, Kerrigan and Gavyn of McCook, Trent Cook of Culbertson and Payton Cook of Fort Riley, Kansas; and his mother, Barbara Klein of McCook, Cards of congratulations will reach him at 809 West 14th, McCook, NE 69001...

Darrick V. Carlson Dec. 4, 1978 - Nov. 26, 2014 McCOOK, Neb. --Darrick V. Carlson, age 35, died at his home in McCook on Nov. 26, 2014. He was born in Ord, Nebraska, on Dec. 4, 1978, to Victor and Sharon (Meyer) Carlson. Darrick grew up in Battle Creek, Nebraska. He attended school in Battle Creek...

McCOOK, Neb. -- The search of a McCook house while clearing it of a build-up of natural gas on Thanksgiving afternoon led to the discovery of a body in the basement. McCook Police Chief Ike Brown said this morning that the body of a deceased adult male was discovered in the basement of the house at 108 West J Street late Thursday afternoon. Brown said the incident is being investigated by his officers in conjunction with the office of county coroner Paul Wood...

Gail Edwin Marcuson April 1, 1923 - Nov. 27, 2014 OBERLIN, Kan. -- Gail Edwin Marcuson, 91, died Nov. 27, 2014, at Hays Medical Center in Hays, Kansas. He was born April 1, 1923, in Decatur County, Kansas, to T. Albert and Ruby P. (Peterson) Marcuson. He was raised in the Lund Community of Decatur County and graduated from Decatur Community High School in 1940. He served in the U.S. Navy in World War II. He married Kathleen "Kay" Dillane Nov. 29, 1945, in San Diego, California...