New Year's Baby arrives

CULBERTSON -- Shane and Kelly Rippen's new baby girl -- who was in quite a hurry to make her appearance -- has been declared the Gazette's "New Year's Baby" of 2005.

The Rippens' baby girl arrived just 51 minutes before a second contender, Hailey Rune Colby of McCook.

Joylyn Caroline Rippen was delivered by emergency C-section at 9:48 a.m., Jan. 1, after her mother was transferred from Community Hospital of McCook to Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney.

The little girl wasn't due for another month, according to her grandmother, Nancy Rippen of rural Culbertson, and because doctors in McCook were concerned for the baby's lung development, Kelly was transferred to the Kearney hospital.

"Everyone's fine," Nancy said, and the new family came home to Culbertson Monday -- before the weather could turn nasty.

Joylyn's grandparents are Nancy and Ted Rippen, Denny and Judy Bach of Chadron and Rex Brown of New Castle, Wyo.

Hailey Rune Colby was also born Jan. 1, at 10:48 a.m., at Community Hospital of McCook. She is the new daughter of Brandie and Jason Colby of McCook, and the little sister of three-year-old Alaina.

Gazette Publisher Gene Morris said Joylyn was declared the winner because her delivery began at the hospital in McCook.

Because of the closeness of the delivery times of the two little girls, the Gazette will award $100 in gift certificates to Hailey Colby.

Joylyn and her parents will receive gift certificates each valued at $20.05 from these businesses: Eakes Office Plus, Farrell's Hallmark and Pharmacy, Lord's of Indianola, Pizza Hut/KFC/Taco Bell, McCook National Bank, Curves for Women, Big Mama's Eatery and Big Papa's Pizzeria of Cambridge, Cambridge Lanes, Fuller's Family Restaurant, Mark's Pharmacy of Cambridge, Body Connection and McCook Pharmacy and Medical Supply. The Gazette will present a three-month's subscription to her parents.