Stories from Thursday, November 4, 2004

It was a battle of defensive wills Wednesday at Weiland Field Field. McCook entered its first-round playoff game against Crete boasting the No. 1-ranked defense in Nebraska Class B. Crete was no slouch either with the No. 3 defense in Class B. No. 1 was better than No. 3 on this day...

IMPERIAL -- Chase County advanced to the quarterfinal round of the Class C1 football playoffs with a 14-6 win over Broken Bow Wednesday. The Longhorns (9-1) will play Gordon in the Class C1 quarterfinals Monday. Broken Bow received the kickoff to start the game and drove through the Longhorn defense into Chase County territory...

CURTIS -- Later election returns indicate that incumbent Frontier County commissioner Robert Jack has retained his District 1 seat. The Hi-Line Enterprise newspaper indicated that Jack has narrowly edged challenger J.R. Houser, 277 votes to 271. A Hi-Line story said a heavy voter turn-out and fewer polling places may have accounted for delays in getting votes counted. Election officials were still counting ballots Wednesday at noon...

McCook High School Football Coach Jeff Gross congratulates his Bison for a 31-0 playoff win over Crete, tells them to enjoy their traditional meal at a local restaurant -- and then delivers strict orders to rest up for Monday night's second-round game against Ogallala. That game is at 5 p.m. MST, 6 p.m. CST, at Ogallala...

While much of the news lately has been focused on the election, a number of other noteworthy announcements have been taking place on the local and area scene. Today, let's take a few moments to pay tribute to several of those accomplishments. COLLEGE GROWS -- At a time when many Nebraska colleges are losing students, the McCook Community College campus is on the grow, with gains in credit hours, head counts and FTE's (full-time equivalent students) in the first semester of 2004. ...

It seems the humans in our household aren't the only mammals being affected by the hunting fever this year. I don't know who it was that decided dogs are nothing more than dumb animals, but I have to argue. Max knows exactly what's going on. For the last two weeks, as Brad has prepared for his archery hunt, Max has been acting like an excited child going to a carnival...

**Dear Editor, Don Blank isn't alone. Many people in and well beyond this district are sorry he lost his bid for another term on the Board of Regents. But given the taxonomic structure of the ubiquitous creature inhabiting the region (homo fundamentalii), it is singularly unremarkable the good Dr. Blank's public service came to an end...

Jan. 31, 1918-Nov. 2, 2004 Marie Bradley, 86, of Mitchell, died Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2004, at the Mitchell Care Center. In keeping with her wishes, her remains were cremated, and services will be held at a later date in Oberlin, Kan. Memorials in her name may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, in care of Jones Mortuary, P.O. Box 235, Mitchell, NE 69357. Jones Mortuary is assisting the family with the arrangements...

CAMBRIDGE -- Britni McConville of Indianola and Aaron Broz of Hayes Center announce the birth of their daughter, Ashlin Cierra, Oct. 9, 2004, at Cambridge Memorial Hospital in Cambridge. She weighed 7 pounds, 14 ounces and was 19 1/2 inches long. Grandparents are Tom and Denise McConville of Indianola and Cherri and Steve Broz of Hayes Center...

The family of John and Lois (McNeill) Sines is hosting a card shower in honor of the couple's 60th anniversary Nov. 8. The couple married in 1944 in Norton, Kan. Their children are Michael Sines and wife, Ann of Pierre, S.D., Gary Sines and wife, Janice of Jefferson City, Mo., and Steve Sines and wife, Deborah of McCook. They have eight grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. Cards of congratulations will reach the couple at 709 East Fourth, McCook, NE 69001...