Stories from Friday, June 5, 2015

Alvin Raymond Loop June 2, 1927 - June 4, 2015 ATWOOD, Kan. -- Alvin Raymond Loop, 88, of Bird City, Kansas, died Thursday (June 4, 2015), at Atwood Good Samaritan Society in Atwood. He was born June 2, 1927, in Cheyenne County, Kansas. He was a farmer...

Vada Manning BENKELMAN, Neb. -- Vada Manning, 82, a long-time resident of Stratton, Nebraska, died Thursday (June 4, 2015), at the Dundy County Hospital in Benkelman. Survivors include her husband, Harold Manning of Stratton; children, Rebecca Peterson and husband, Roddy of Benkelman, Vickie Thornbrugh and husband, David of Stratton and Kathryn Thornbrugh of Grand Island, Nebraska; sister, Lela Fortkamp and husband, Don of Palisade, Nebraska; sisters-in-law, Daisy Jensen of Max, Nebraska, and Lila Faulkner and husband, Michael of Henderson, Nevada; brother-in-law, Oscar Manning and wife, Pat of Wichita, Kansas; eight grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.. ...

Jeanette Tice OBERLIN, KAN. -- Jeanette Tice, 82, died Thursday (June 4, 2015), at Sunny Acres in Thorton, Colorado. Services are pending with Pauls Funeral Home in Oberlin.

McCOOK, Neb. -- A McCook man was sentenced to jail time and ordered to register as a sex offender earlier this week in Red Willow County District Court. The offender, 20-year-old Levi J. Doris of 1613 W. Third Street, accepted a plea agreement in April admitting guilt to a pair of Class I misdemeanor offenses for third degree sexual assault and third degree assault...

McCOOK, Neb. -- The McCook Elks Lodge No. 1434 was once a booming organization. At its peak, local membership totaled more than 3,300 and the lodge, led by the Elks Club, prospered financially. Today, only 131 call themselves McCook Elks but a gift of $50,000 to the McCook College Foundation will provide a long lasting legacy in supporting students at McCook Community College...

McCOOK, Neb. -- The McCook Board of Education will be asked to approve three teaching contracts and a 10-cent increase in school lunches, at the regular meeting scheduled Monday, 6:30 p.m. at the McCook Junior High conference room. Teaching contracts up for approval are for Katherine Jensen, as a resource teacher, Dalton Petera, elementary physical education and Steve Drevet, ag instructor...

A McCook man who pioneered the art of storytelling in Southwest Nebraska will be the subject of the free Saturday events in conjunction with the 2015 Buffalo Commons Storytelling Festival June 12-13 in McCook. Stories about Harry Strunk -- who became a McCook newspaper publisher as a teenager -- will kick off the free Saturday activities June 13 at the High Plains Museum in McCook starting at 9 a.m...

In a move that surprised practically everyone, including most Nebraska residents, the Unicameral last week abolished the death penalty in Nebraska. As expected, the Republican governor, Pete Ricketts, playing politics as usual, vetoed the bill and it went back to the Unicameral for an override vote. It would take 30 votes to override and that's exactly how many they got. The override passed, 30-19...

We're swinging into the busy summertime season, starting with this weekend's Mullen Pro-Am golf tournament, a melodrama in Bartley, MS Walk and motorcycle ride and many other activities. Next week, of course, it's the Buffalo Commons Storytelling and Music Festival, Palisade Pioneer Days and the once-every-five-years Herndon Ox Roast...

Jaxson Parker Bauer Jacob and Rebecca (McArthur) Bauer of Lincoln, Nebraska, announce the birth of their son, Jaxson Parker Bauer, born Dec. 6, 2014, at Bryan Medical Center in Lincoln. He weighed 8 pounds, 2 ounces and measured 19 1/2 inches long. He has one brother, Kayden, 4. Grandparents are John and Paula McArthur of McCook, Nebraska, and the late Jim and Sandy Bauer. Great-grandparents are the late Jack and Ruthella Jones, Velma McArthur of Haigler, Nebraska, and the late Dean McArthur...

Rilynn Nellie Hammond Ryan and Mary Hammond of rural Indianola, Nebraska, announce the birth of their daughter, Rilynn Nellie Hammond, born April 27, 2015. She weighed 7 pounds, 3 ounces and measured 20 inches long. She has four brothers, Gavin, 9, Braxten, 7, Gage, 6, and Brody, 4. ...

Brielle Rose Berry Matt and Kayla Berry of Hays, Kansas, announce the birth of their daughter, Brielle Rose Berry, born May 26, 2015, at Hays. She weighed 6 pounds, 7 ounces and measured 19 inches long. She has two sisters, Jayde, 5, and Aubree, 2. Grandparents are Steve and Kerry McConville of Bartley, Nebraska, and Jeff and Linda Berry of Grand Island, Nebraska. Great grandparents are Robert and Kathy McConville of Indianola, Nebraska...

Gavin Douglas Karre Cody and Janette Karre of Omaha, Nebraska, announce the birth of their son, Gavin Douglas Karre, born May 16, 2015, at Methodist Women's Hospital in Omaha. He weighed 9 pounds, 9 ounces and measured 20 inches long. He has one brother, Alec, 17, and five sisters, Aleigha, 14, Elaina, 10, Ellerie, 9, Gracen, 4, and Sadie, 2. ...

50th anniversary The family of Don and Korrine Rowland of McCook, Nebraska, is hosting a card shower in honor of their 50th wedding anniversary. They were married June 13, 1965, in McCook. Their family includes children, Josh and Sheri Rowland of Gretna, Nebraska, Lynn Rowland of McCook, Tom and Tina Rowland of Hickman, Nebraska; 11 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. ...

90th birthday The family of Delphine Nila (Mines) Spencer of Culbertson, Nebraska, is hosting a reception in honor of her 90th birthday June 11. The reception is Saturday, June 27, 2015, 1-5 p.m. at Red Willow Community Building, West 5th and West O in McCook, Nebraska. ...

100th birthday The family of Philip Phares of Grant, Nebraska, is requesting a card shower in honor of his 100th birthday June 16. He was born in Hayes County in 1915. He farmed four miles east of Palisade, where he spent most of his life until moving to Ogallala, Nebraska, in 2003. ...

Case, Estrada Christina Marie Case and Anthony Thomas Estrada of Lincoln, Nebraska, announce their engagement and upcoming wedding. Parents of the bride-to-be are Elmer and Tally Case of Max, Nebraska. Parents of the prospective bridegroom are Jeana Knobel of Lincoln and Richard and Deborah Estrada of Manhattan, Kansas...

80th birthday The family of Betty Hoppe-Stevens of Farnam, Nebraska, is hosting an open house in honor of her 80th birthday on June 14. The open house is Sunday, June 14, 2015, 2 to 4 p.m. at the Farnam Senior Center in Farnum. Her family includes Wendel and wife, Donna Hoppe of Montgomery, Texas, Weldon and wife, Paula Hoppe of Colon, Nebraska, Sharla and husband, Brian Rader of Lincoln, Nebraska, Nancy and husband, John Gumb of McCook, Nebraska, Betsy and husband, Kyle Spilker of DeWitt, Nebraska, Sara and husband, Kevin Stehl of Bertrand, Nebraska; grandchildren and great-grandchildren. ...

Searching the Internet can be a frustrating experience when you are trying to find a missing ancestor! One website, www.vitalrec.com, organizes the available vital records information for you. While VitalRec does not link you directly to those records, the company has compiled every state, county and town with records on line and you can pick, say, Nebraska, and it will provide you that website, plus information on exactly how to obtain vital records such as birth certificates for each link. ...

From "just-because" gatherings to birth­day blowouts and major holidays, you'll have everything you need to personalize your party with these quick party tricks. Color adds a pop of personality to any party. Kick it up a notch with a customized color palette that matches your unique party theme. ...

Robert Eugene Felker Dec. 4 , 1929 - June 4, 2015 McCOOK, Neb. -- Robert Eugene Felker, age 85, passed away Thursday, June 4, 2015, at Hillcrest Nursing Home in McCook. Robert was born to Alexander and Mary (Propp) Felker on Dec. 4 , 1929, in Culbertson, Nebraska. He was only able to attend school through the sixth grade because he had to help his parents on the farm. He worked hard all of his life, even after he retired from Dayco in 1995, still keeping busy in his own way...