Together (2/15/09)

Jessie Macknicki and Adam Diehl will marry Aug. 1, 2009, in Albuquerque, N.M. The couple met in 2006 at Eastern New Mexico University.

Jessie is the daughter of James and Kathleen Macknicki. She was born and raised in Palmer and graduated from Palmer High School in 2004. She attended two years of college and played volleyball at Southwestern Oregon Community College. In 2006, she transferred to Eastern New Mexico University on a full-ride volleyball scholarship. She will graduate with a bachelor's degree in May. She is interested in owning her own business someday. Jessie enjoys sports, crafts, movies and spending time with her family, friends and Chihuahua, Fiona.

Adam is the son of Heidi Bass of Albuquerque and John Adam Diehl of New Jersey. He graduated in 2004 from Rio Rancho High School in Albuquerque. He played soccer for four years at Eastern New Mexico University, where he will earn a bachelor's degree in May. He plans a career in sports broadcasting. Adam's interests include sports, play-by-play announcing for high school and college games, and spending time with family and friends.

FEB. 14, 1959 Dee and John Benner

Dee and John Benner of Soldotna celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary Feb. 14. They have been proud Alaskans for 30 years and have resided in Soldotna since 1996.

In July 1958, the Benners met in Colorado, where John was stationed in the Air Force and where Dee was attending college. They were married Feb. 14, 1959, and were stationed at Lowry Air Force Base in Denver for seven years, where their first three children were born. Their fourth child was born at Hill Air Force Base in Utah. They were also stationed in Germany, England, Washington, D.C., and Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland before being transferred to Alaska in 1978. With a "Maine to Alaska or bust" motto, the family set off from John's hometown of South Bristol in a Suburban with a tent trailer attached and camped through several states visiting Dee's hometown of Center, Colo., before tackling the Alaska Highway. "With three teens and a 10-year-old, six weeks on the road cooped up in a Suburban must have tested the marriage; however they persevered and loved their new state right from the start," their son, Carl Grotts, wrote.

John retired from the Air Force in 1981 and worked for BP for more than 10 years. Dee earned her early childhood certification and was a pre-school teacher in Eagle River for many years. The two now spend their retirement years serving in many volunteer roles for their church and community. When not volunteering, they can be found in their respective craft havens in their house: Dee's sewing room where she makes quilts and other creative one-of-a-kind gifts for family and friends, and John's workshop where he creates beautiful furniture and other works with wood.

Their children and spouses, Karen and Carl Grotts, Ray and Maureen Benner, Sandy and Shawn Friendshuh, Susan and Steve Judd, along with their seven granddaughters, extended family and friends were very proud and honored to mark this special milestone with John and Dee.