Stories from Wednesday, February 4, 2009

BERTRAND -- The Cambridge girls basketball team, ranked No. 2 in Nebraska Class C-2, improved to 16-0 with a win over Bertrand Tuesday. Bailey Soucie netted 19 points for the Trojans. Traci Keyser added 17 points. Amanda High scored 11 points for Bertrand...

The McCook Community College women's basketball team dropped a 56-42 decision to Otero Junior College Tuesday at True Hall Gymnasium. "First and foremost we have to credit Otero Junior College," said MCC assistant women's basketball coach Carter Roe. "They really are an excellent team. They are well coached and disciplined and play incredibly hard. Our hats go off to them...

June 14, 1934 - Feb. 3, 2009 CULBERTSON -- Donna Jane Gessleman of Culbertson died Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2009, at Great Plains Regional Medical Center in North Platte. She was 74 years old. Donna was born June 14, 1934, in Wood Lake, Neb., to Elmer Donald and Inez Viola (Kime) Hoisington. She graduated from Valentine High School in 1952...

COLBY -- McCook High School was represented on the All-Tournament Teams at the 24th annual Colby Orange and Black Classic Jan. 22-24. McCook seniors Joanna Bryant and Tara Powell made the Girls All-Tournament Team for leading the Bison to a 2-0 record...

The family of Eugene and Patricia Young is hosting an open house in honor of the couple's 60th wedding anniversary. They were married Feb. 12, 1949. The open house will be Sunday, Feb. 8, at St. John's Parish Hall in Cambridge. Cards of congratulations will reach the couple at PO Box 56, Cambridge NE 69022...

HOLDREGE -- The McCook High School freshman boys basketball team lost at Holdrege Tuesday night 65-57. The Bison were paced by Kyle Gaston with 18 points and Justin Terry scored 16. Matt Chitwood chipped in with 9, Gabe Ware 6, Joel Baker 4, Allen Goodenberger 2 and Will Burkert 2...

HOLDREGE -- The McCook High School freshman girls basketball team lost to Holdrege 61-12 Tuesday night in Holdrege. Rachel Bradley scored 4 points to lead the Bison. Caitlyn Wudtke, Shelby Allen and Emily Tolliver all scored 2. Tolliver grabbed 12 rebounds, Bradley 8 and KathrAnn Sides 6...

WASHINGTON -- Rep. Adrian Smith (R-NE), a member of the Science and Technology Committee, today announced he has been appointed Ranking Member on the Subcommittee on Technology and Innovation. Smith will serve as the top Republican on the subcommittee, which oversees the National Institute of Standards and Technology, research at the Department of Transportation, and the Department of Homeland Security's Science and Technology Directorate...

It's official: Tyrone Sellers is a Kansas Jayhawk. Sellers, a two-time Nebraska Super-State performer and the Gatorade Player of the Year, signed a letter of intent to play football at NCAA Division I University of Kansas. Sellers had company from five of his McCook Bison senior teammates Wednesday morning on the first day of the college football signing period...

A $105,000 bid appeared to be the highest of six bids for 20 self-contained breathing gear for the McCook City Fire Department, but ultimately includes all the equipment needed. The McCook City Council Monday night at its regular meeting approved the bid from Weis Fire Equipment of Salina, Kan., one of six bids received for the equipment Other bids came in at $72, 978 from Heiman Fire equipment in Iowa, $75,421 form Ed M. ...

The McCook Public Schools board of education approved a superintendent's contract with Grant Norgaard of Leigh during open session at a special board meeting at 7:30 a.m., today. Norgaard will be paid a salary of $131,000 for the first year of the two-year contract from July 1, 2009, until June 30, 2011...

Breadwinners are out of work, retirees are watching their nesteggs shrink and each day seems to bring more bad economic news. There are plenty of challenges out there for all of us, but to be ready to meet them, we have to take care of ourselves. Eat right, get enough sleep, and get some exercise...

Councilman Kircher -- Good for you. Stick to your guns and your values. I was dismayed that city staff and other council members had to resort to petty name calling, regarding your objection to the city applying for funds from the so-called eco­nomic stimulus package, by saying you are "na*ve." You were absolutely correct in asserting that the J Street repairs are already in­cluded in the budget and the city didn't actually need the money...

Do you have any idea of what is going on in your local schools during the day and at any other time that students come together for school, church, social, or any other activities that places people in close proximity of each others' company? This extends to the various communications systems that may be involved in a student's life such as cell phone usage, computer sites (my space), etc....

The McCook United Club Soccer will have its organizational meeting Monday at 7 p.m. at the Ed Thomas YMCA conference room. All players and parents who want to know more about the soccer club should plan to attend this meeting, said coach Brad Trew. The high school co-ed team is open to all students from eighth through 12th grade, for players whose birthdays fall between Aug. 1, 1989 to July 31, 1995...

A new HBO movie that will air Saturday, Feb. 21, tells the story of the cross-country escort of the body of a fallen Marine, the son of a former McCook woman and the nephew of a McCook couple, to his final resting place in Wyoming. The movie. "Taking Chance," is based on a journal written by Marine Lt. ...

I have six grandchildren. They are, by far, the best and the brightest children I've ever met, bar none. First there's Brayden, who entered my world in July 1999. I remember the day as clearly as I remember my own name, because I was there when he was born. ...