Give the Gift of Life

January 23, 2014 Leave a comment


“I donate because when my mom was fighting cancer, she needed blood,” stated Wendy (Walker) Konz, formerly of Oakland, Ne, now of Genoa, NE.

Wendy has been giving blood for approximately a year and a half now.

There are many benefits to giving blood. Just one pint of blood donated by an individual can help save as many as three people’s lives. Wendy began giving blood as a result of her mother’s illness. “It was then that I realized how important it is to help others this way,” Wendy said.

Wendy has given a total of five units to date and tries to give every eight weeks as allowed. “A few times my iron was too low so I had to reschedule. Now I try to eat red meat the day before giving so my iron is up,” Wendy stated.

The four main blood types are: A, B, AB, and O.  AB is the universal recipient and O negative is the universal donor.

Blood centers tend to run short of blood types O and B. Wendy’s blood type is B+. “Just like I always try to be,” said Wendy, (as in be positive.)

Wendy also has family members that donate blood. “My sisters Kim and Kathy also donate blood. They both have for a lot longer than I have,” Wendy stated.

Wendy has advice, from experience and also from those at the donation centers on giving blood. “Drink lots of fluids the day of giving blood and report back to them if you become ill. You aren’t supposed to do strenuous activity the day of giving,” Wendy said.

Wendy’s first time of donating blood went very well. “I was in and out in an hour,” Wendy stated. “I encourage others to donate whatever they can, whether it is blood, plasma, platelets, kidney, etc.”

There are approximately 32,000 pints of blood used each day in the U.S. About 4.5 million people in the United States would die each year without blood transfusions.

Wendy plans on being a lifer. “You just never know who you might help. It could be your family or friends,” Wendy said.

Wendy encourages others to donate blood as well. “God gave you enough to donate And he will replenish it!” Wendy stated.

 

Wendy Walker Konz. Photo Courtesy of Wendy.

Wendy Walker Konz. Photo Courtesy of Wendy.

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Throw Back Thursday

January 23, 2014 2 Comments


Grandpa Charlie (my dad) with his grandkids, from left, Justin, Amber and Derek. Photo courtesy of my sister, Angela Graham.

Grandpa Charlie (my dad) with his grandkids, from left, Justin, Amber and Derek. Photo courtesy of my sister, Angela Graham.

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Social Speaks: Cold Weather and School

January 23, 2014 Leave a comment


This is for those above 40 years old. Do you remember school closing because of the cold weather?

  • Linda Carlson no, not when I went. I don’t remember snow days either.
  • Dan Tierney NOT !!!!
  • Patty Church Nope sure dnt..!!!
  • Helen Taylor Murray No and we had to walk to school everyday, almost a mile. There were stretches of below zero weather that lasted 20-30 days when we were kids.
  • Brandy K. McElroy Nope and im not 40!!
  • Diane Thomas-Greckel Nope, never !! I wonder if it’s because the buses run on diesel and that “gels” up when it’s really cold ??? Who knows.
  • David Mallette Never because of cold….I recall a few snow days when I was in country school….and that met it was BAD!!!
  • Julie Eager In the 60’s I remember getting out of school for snow and then playing in the snow all day in Craig, Ne.
  • Mike Sklenar A lot of closing early because it was too hot. Then straight to football practice. There were a lot of snow days. Not sure if any of them were just because it was too cold.
  • Monica Potter when I was young we lived in Leshara and I went to school in Omaha, my mother would be the one who decided school or no school cuz she was my driver. but later on when I was mainstreamed into regular school I dont remember too many snow days or cold days.
  • Lori Lubker Nope!!
  • Nancy Johnson Nope, but I also remember my parents took me to school everyday.
  • Cindy Schorn I remember getting out early but not snow days maybe late starts. But things have changed because evidently our kids need more “more protecting than we did” A lot of things have changed in our schools and it is sad
  • Tami Friedl Hovendick Nope!!! You just had to go..
  • Patti Johnson I remember having so many layers on you just prayed. You didn’t. Fall down!
  • Lauri Bundy Canarsky With both parents working today, there are a lot more kids who have to walk to school. I understand not wanting kids out in subzero wind chills. And those diesel fueled school buses don’t like the cold either.
  • Jolene Stromquist I think it was mostly Iowa schools because they still had quite a bit of wind Ik some places were suppose to be 50 below wind chill. Wouldn’t want anyone out in that especially kids walking.
  • Helen Taylor Murray When I stop and think about it, that was then and this is now. I wouldn’t send my kids or grandkids out in -0 weather. Parents were prepared back then because it was a way of life. I even remember being embarrassed because sometimes our gloves didn’t match. We were layered to the max.
  • Ann Anderson what I remember the most was the town kids went to school and the country kids got to stay at home when it snowed a lot. But as for the cold….we went to school. When it was extremely hot in August we went to school and just opened the windows or the teachers brought their own fan. But either way, we went and we all walked to school regardless the weather..no rides.
  • Kristi Dahlgren Not once…

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Attention Oakland Citizens, Time is Running Out to License Your Dogs

January 23, 2014 Leave a comment


FYI Dog owners : The City of Oakland does require all dogs over the age of 6 months to be licensed. The Fee is only $10 per dog thru January 31st. Stop in the City Office to get your dogs licensed today — the fee goes up to $35 February 1st.

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Overdrive Update From Oakland Public Library

January 23, 2014 Leave a comment


Overdrive, which is one of the main suppliers of downloadable audiobooks to public libraries, announced that it is retiring its DRM-encrusted .WMA formats and pushing everything to DRM-free .mp3s.

This is a big deal. Audiobooks are the last holdouts for DRM in audio, and one company, Audible, controls the vast majority of the market and insists upon DRM in all of its catalog (even when authors and publishers object). Itunes, Audible’s major sales channel, also insists on DRM in audiobooks (even where Audible can be convinced to drop it). Audiobooks can cost a lot of money, and are very cumbersome to convert to free/open formats without using illegal circumvention tools. To stay on the right side of the law, you have to burn your audiobooks to many discs (sometimes dozens), then re-rip them, enduring breaks that come mid-word; or you have to play the audio out of your computer’s analog audio outputs and redigitize them, which can take days (literally) and results in sound-quality loss.

Overdrive going DRM-free for libraries is a massive shift in this market, and marks a turning point in the relationship between the publishers/creators and the technology companies that act as conduits and retail channels for their work. It’s especially great that libraries are getting a break, as they have been royally screwed on electronic books and audiobooks up until now.

This is in response to user preferences, widespread compatibility of MP3 across all listening devices and the fact that the vast majority of our extensive audiobook collection is already in MP3 format. This includes the audiobook collections from Hachette, Penguin Group, Random House (Books on Tape and Listening Library), HarperCollins, AudioGo, Blackstone, Tantor Media and dozens of others. Our publisher relations team is working closely with the very few remaining publishers who require WMA to seek permission to sell their titles in MP3 for library and school lending.

We will soon be communicating the discontinuance of WMA sales, and then at a future date, we will announce when MP3 files will be the only supported format through OverDrive platforms. For libraries and schools that currently have WMA audiobook files in their collection, we will be working with the publishers of those titles to gain permissions to update your inventory to MP3. In the event that some titles are unavailable, an alternate solution will be offered to make up for the lost titles. Be on the lookout for announcements on our blog and from your Collection Development Specialist for a timeline of this process.

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New Book in at Oakland Public Library

January 23, 2014 2 Comments


We just got this great read in at the Oakland Public Library!!
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The third TODAY Book Club pick is “Under the Wide and Starry Sky,” the second novel by Nancy Horan, the celebrated author of “Loving Frank.” Share your thoughts about Horan’s windswept romance by joining the TODAY Book Club community, a fresh and interactive digital discussion series. RSVP to the Google Hangout with Nancy Horan, happening Thursday, Feb. 27 at 11 a.m. ET., follow @TODAYsBooks and stay up to date with the TODAY Book Club newsletter. 

Book worms, get ready for a little romance: TODAY Book Club’s latest pick is Nancy Horan’s historical fiction, “Under the Wide and Starry Sky.”

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Lady Cougars Have Up and Down Weekend

January 23, 2014 2 Comments


It was a weekend of lows and highs as the Lady Cougars were broadsided by the defending C-2 State Champions, Pender, on Friday, but put in their best game of the season on Saturday as they defeated another C-2 team in Wakefield.

 

The (13-1) Pendragons coasted a 63-20 win as 10 players put in points for C-2’s power points leader.  (8-6) Wakefield had to play catch up after the Cougars took an eight point lead at half .  The Trojans came up short 49-47.

 

Pender had a 14 point lead after one quarter and by  half the Cougars faced a 28 point deficit.  The offense never got going as the teams scored a season-low 20 points. Vanessa Peterson was a team leader with 8 points and 8 rebounds.

 

Back on the home court the Cougars played some their best ball on both ends of the court to take a well earned win.  Three players scored in double figures and the team had a decisive advantage in rebounds and steals as Northeast picked up its fourth win of the season .

on Saturday

“Mead was a nice win for us,” said Coach Cronin. “But this was a huge win for us.  We are learning how to win.  The lead slipped away from us ,but we regrouped, came back, and rebuilt out lead.:”

 

Sophomore Brianne Haskell had her hands full on defense as she guarded Wakefield’s Lauren Lehmkuhl who is averaging over 20 points a game.  Lehmkuhl got 25 points, 15 coming in the fourth quarter rally by the Trojans.  Haskell sank six free throws in a row in the fourth quarter to help keep an eight point lead.  She finished with 13 points.

 

Coach  Cronin gave a tip of the hat top Haskell.   “Brianne did an outstanding job of defending tonight against  a senior who is one of the best girl players in the state.  She put a lot of effort into that and stilled scored in double figures.”

 

After the first period ended in tie, Darcey Simonsen put the Cougars on top as she started the quarter with as basket.  The Cougars gained as much a ten point advantage as Simonsen scored 8 of her team-high 17 points.  Northeast lead 22-14 at the half.

L-D                  6          2          8          4          -20

Pender             20        16        16        11        -63

 

                        2pt       3pt       FT        Rb        F          TP

Madie R           0          0          2/2       0          3          2

Darcey S         0          0          0/0       2          2          0

Kelly W           0          1          0/0       1          0          3

Brianne H         1          0          0/0       6          0          2

Blair P              0          0          0/0       0          1          0

Haley B            0          0          0/1       4          4          0

Tessie C           0          0          0/0       0          1          0

Lexie B            0          1          0/0       1          0          3

Libby H            0          0          0/0       0          0          0

Vanessa P        4          0          0/1       8          3          8

Abby P            1          0          0/0       2          1          2

Team               6          2          2/4       24        14        20

Pender            23        4          4/10     –           11        63

 

Wakefield         6          8          13        20        -47

LDNE              6          16        10        17        -49

 

                        2pt       3pt       FT        Rb        F          TP

Madie R           0          0          0/0       1          2          0

Darcey S          3          2          5/9       5          2          17

Brianne H         2          0          9/14     2          4          13

Haley   B          3          2          2/4       6          2          14

Tessie C           0          0          0/0       0          0          0

Vanessa P        2          0          1/2       12        3          5

Abby P            0          0          0/0       7          3          0

Team               10        4          17/29   33        16        49

Wake.             10        6          9/17     27        17        47

 

 

 

Wakefield closed to within four  points early in the third quarter.   Haley Bacon’s trey was the first Cougar points after three and half minute scoring drought.  With 2:09 left the Trojans tied the score at 25 and on their next possession  they finished off a 9-0 run to take a 27-25 lead.

 

In the last 90 seconds the Cougars went on a 7-0 run to build a 32-27 lead.  Darcey Simonsen got a deuce.   Halley Bacon followed with a trey  and Simonsen added two free throws.

 

The Cougar lead seemed comfortable as it grew to ten points.  With 3:35 a Lehmkuhl three made it 43-36.   Northeast would score six more points, all from the free throw line. Wakefield added another trey, two deuces and a free shot to put to within 49-44 with 23 seconds to play.

 

Haskell’s touch at the free line deserted her.  After making six in a row, the sophomore drew iron on four straight.  She came up empty with 20 seconds and 7 seconds left in the game.  Wakefield got another Lehmkuhl three before time ran out.

 

The Cougars got 44 of their points from their guards.  Simonsen had 17, Bacon 14 and Haskell 13.  Vanessa Peterson had 12 rebounds and her sophomore sister  Abby had 7.

Filed under Sports

Cougars Take a Pair of Wins

January 23, 2014 Leave a comment


By Clare Wiltse

Sports Contributor

The Cougars boys took a pair of wins over the weekend.  They earned an EHC victory over (1-13) Pender and dropped (7-7) Wakefield on a Saturday night game.

 

The Pendragons were eager to break a nine game losing streak.  They racked up 12 points as they scored on each of their first five possessions   The Cougars found themselves down 12-4,but ended the period with a 14 to 4 run.  Alex Brehmer had a pair of baskets while Bobby Simpson added a trey and deuce.  David Bishop’s score made it 18-16 at the quarter.

 

The game’s tempo slowed as both teams went to zone defenses in the second period.  Pender got a pair of three pointers to reclaim the lead, but a Simpson trey and Alec Anderson basket gave Northeast a 25-24 half time lead.

 

After the third quarter ended with the teams tied at 33 the Cougars made an 8 to1 in the first half of the fourth quarter.  While Pender had four turnovers and missed on the front end of a one and one Northeast got goals from Hegy, Henneman, and Brehmer along with two free shots from Riecken to create breathing room.   Both teams score eight points in the last half of the periods Northeast took a 49-42 win.

 

Bobby Simpson topped the team with 12 points.  Brehmer each had 8 points and 8 rebounds..

 

The Cougars took Wakefield out of the game with an early barrage of points.  LDNE jumped out to a 15-2 lead on the way to a 48-29 win.

 

Coach Lahm was elated about the wins. “We’re back above .500!  We’ve won 4 of 5 games since Christmas to get there.  It’s going to be a tough week for us to stay above .500. We take on Cedar Bluffs, Humphrey and Stanton, all are winning teams.”

 

The Cougars clamped a tight man defense on the Trojan.  Wakefield made only 8 of 32 shots.  L-D connected on 18 of 32. They out rebounded the Trojans 28 to19.

 

In the opening period Northeast got rolling with Henneman connecting on deuce and trey and Hegy coming off the bench to score 5 points.  Brehmer and Simpson had a pair of baskets.

 

Bobby Simpson topped the team with 14 points.  Hegy and Dakota Riecken chipped in  with 11 points.  Riecken got  7 in the second half.   Hegy had 8 rebounds.

 

Northeast has a 6-5 record.  They  are 3-3 in the EHC.

 

LDNE              18        7          8          16        -49

Pender             16        8          9          9          -42

 

 

 

2PT      3PT      FT        Rb        F          TP

Henneman        3          0          1/3       0          1          7

Brehmer           4          0          0/2       8          1          8

Simpson           1          3          1/2       1          1          12

Fuston              0          0          0/0       0          0          0

Riecken            2          0          4/10     7          3          8

Hegy                3          0          0/0       5          3          6

Bishop              1          0          0/1       3          2          2

Anderson         3          0          0/0       4          3          6

Team                17        3          6/18     28        14        49

Pender             9          6          8/16/    20        17        42

 

 

Wake.  12        2          6          9          -29

L-D      19        6          11        12        -48

 

2pt       3pt       FT        Rb        F          TP

Chevy H           1          2          0/0       4          3          87

Alex B              1          0          1/2       5          4          3

Bobby S           3          1          4/6       3          1          14

Taylor              0          0          0/0       0          0          0

Dakota R         5          0          1/2       4          1          11

Marcus H         4          0          3/8       8          2          11

David B            0          0          0/0       1          0          0

Montana R       0          0          0/1       2          1          0

Dylan H            1          0          0/0       0          0          2

Alec A             0          0          0/0       1          0          0

Team                15        3          9/19     28        12        48

Wake.              8          0          13/18   19        13        29

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Marian Ruth McClusky, 67 of Tekamah, NE

January 23, 2014 Leave a comment


MARIAN RUTH McCLUSKY was born December 18, 1946, as a twin, in Fremont, Nebraska, to John and Ruth (Hansen) Jensen.  She passed away Saturday, January 18, 2014 at her home in Tekamah, Nebraska at the age of 67 years.

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Marian McClusky.

Marian McClusky.

hen young, growing up on the family farm, Marian enjoyed going to the creek where mystery and adventure was around every corner.  She attended grade school at Thone School District #21, in Washington County, and graduated from Herman High school in 1965.

Marian was first married to John Dewhurst II on October 23, 1965 at the Riverside Baptist Church, rural Tekamah.  They had one son, John III and later a daughter, Kay.  They lived in Blair, NE.

On August 26, 1978, Marian was united in marriage to Jim McClusky in Millard, NE.  They had one son, Joshua.
Marian retired after working for15 years from Western Electric.

She was a natural at interior design.  She enjoyed crocheting at an early age, worked with embroidery, sewing and designing gifts.  She also enjoyed a lifetime of singing  with her twin Marie.

She loved having family dinners and spending time with her family and friends.  Marian never knew a stranger.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

Survivors include her husband, Jim of Kansas City, MO; sons, John Dewhurst III of Tekamah, Joshua McClusky of Kansas City, daughters, Kay (John) Shreve of Prairie Grove, AR; sisters; Betty (Fred) Heinssen of Blair, twin Marie Rager of Tekamah, Valerie (Terry) Peterson of Herman, NE; brother, John Henry (Diane) Jensen of Omaha, NE, 5 grandchildren, Colton, Dalton, Kierstin, Stormy Jo, Franklin; 3 great grandchild, Hayden, Clara and Aaliyah.

FUNERAL SERVICE: Friday, January 24, 2014, 10:00 am from the Herman Legion Hall, in Herman, NE.

VISITATION: Thursday, January 23, 5 – 8 pm with family receiving friends at the Pelan Funeral Home in Tekamah. Visitation will also be held at the Herman Legion Hall one hour prior to services.

BURIAL: Herman Cemetery, Herman

MEMORIALS: St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, PO Box 50, Memphis, TN 38101

Please feel free to send your condolences to the family.
Each condolence will be printed and given to the family after the service.

pelan@pelanfuneralservices.com

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Georgia Adelle Harold, 88 of Fremont, NE

January 23, 2014 Leave a comment


GEORGIA ADELLE (REAFLENG) HAROLD was born July 18, 1925, in Glenwood, Iowa, to George and Hazel (Wilson) Reafleng.  She passed away Wednesday, January 22, 2014 at A.J. Merrick Manor in Fremont, Nebraska at the age of 88 years.

On July 10, 1945, she married Richard Harold of Glenwood, IA.

Georgia Harold

Georgia Harold

Georgia was a full time homemaker and always welcomed everyone to her home.  She was a member of the Bluffs Homemaker Extension Club and the Riverside Baptist Church Ladies Club.  She was also very active in her children’s school activities.

She was preceded in death by her parents; son, Marvin; daughter-in-law, Betty; sisters, Alice Reafleng and Daisy Reafleng; brothers Bob and Bill.

Survivors include her husband, Richard of Fremont; daughters, Ann (Richard) Woodcock of Arlington, NE, Merna (Steve) Bowman of Gretna, NE, Valerie (Jim) Kjeldgaard of Fremont; sons, Roger (Jackie) of Hartington, NE, Gary of Wynott, NE, Ronnie of Craig, NE;  sister, Geneva (Stanley) Bomer of Pacific Junction, IA; 13 grandchildren; 12 great grandchild; and 7 great-great-grandchildren.

PRAYER SERVICE: Saturday, January 25, 2014 at 3:00 pm, at Pelan Funeral Home in Tekamah, NE.

VISITATION: Saturday, January 25, from 2 – 5 pm with family receiving friends at Pelan Funeral Home in Tekamah.

BURIAL AT A LATER DATE: Tekamah Cemetery

MEMORIALS:To the family

Please feel free to send your condolences to the family.
Each condolence will be printed and given to the family after the service.

pelan@pelanfuneralservices.com

 

 

 

 

Filed under Obituaries

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