Stories from Monday, February 10, 2014

FAMILY FEATURES -- "If I wasn't a BBQ expert, I'd be cooking soups like this one all day long," said Chef Ray Lampe, BBQ expert and author of the just-released cookbook, "Pork Chop." He's referring to his modern interpretation of a classic comfort food dish, Pork Chop Noodle Soup - a dish he says is "a better cure for the common cold," filled with chunks of juicy, perfectly seasoned pork as well as carrots, celery, a blend of savory herbs and tender rotini pasta...

Alberta Ritter OBERLIN, Kansas -- Alberta Ritter, 83, died Sunday (Feb. 9, 2014), at Hays Medical Center in Hays, Kansas. Services are pending with Pauls Funeral Home in Oberlin.

John A. Wessel Nov. 13, 1941 - Feb.7, 2014 SELDEN, Kansas -- John A. Wessel, 72, of Selden, Kansas, died Friday (Feb.7, 2014), at Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney, Nebraska. He was born Nov. 13, 1941, in rural Selden to Libo and Elsie Schwarz Wessel. He gradated from Selden High School in 1959...

Dan Brock Grubb June 25, 1935 - Jan. 6, 2014 MONTGOMERY, Texas -- Dan Brock Grubb of Montgomery, Texas, passed away Jan. 6, 2014. Dan was born June 25, 1935, to Collins and Evelyn Grubb in Seymore, Indiana. He and his wife were former residents of Southwest Nebraska...

85th birthday The family of LaVada Fichtner of Gothenburg, Nebraska, is hosting an open house in honor of her 85th birthday. She is related to Beth Messersmith, formerly of McCook, Nebraska. The open house is Saturday, Feb.15, 2014, from 2-5 p.m. at Stonehearth Estates in Gothenburg, at 110 20th Street in Gothenburg. Cards of congratulations will reach her at Stonehearth Estates, 110 20th Street, Apt. 107, Gothenburg, Ne 69138...

Jeffrey 'Womp' Michael Wampach March 22, 1955 - Feb. 2, 2014 McCOOK, Nebraska -- Jeffrey "Womp" Michael Wampach, age 58, passed away Sunday, Feb. 2, 2014, at his home in McCook,. Jeff was born on March 22, 1955, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to parents, Lloyd "Bud" Arthur and Celestine "Sally" Elizabeth (Foley) Wampach. He graduated from Harding High School, Marion, Ohio, in 1973. He continued his education at the University of Miami, Miami, Ohio...

This information is gathered at the McCook Public Safety Center, the McCook office of the Nebraska State Patrol, the Red Willow County Courthouse, the Red Willow County Sheriff's Office and the McCook Humane Society. Police activity Activity log...

OMAHA, Nebraska -- Max Owens of Curtis, a second-year in the School of Pharmacy and Health Professions, was named to the fall 2013 Dean's List at Creighton University. Full-time students who rank in the top 10 percent of their class for the semester and earn a 3.5 grade-point average or better on a 4.0 scale are eligible for the Dean's List...

WICHITA, Kansas -- Wichita State University has announced that Brittini N. Bieker of McCook is among the nearly 2,200 students who were on the WSU dean's honor roll for fall 2013. To be included on the dean's honor roll, a student must be enrolled full time (at least 12 credit hours) and earn at least a 3.5 grade point average on a 4.0 scale...

We build zoos so city-dwellers can get a first-hand look at wild animals, and that's a good thing. Omaha's Henry Doorly is one of the best, because it does a good job of presenting animals in their native habitat, whether it is a rain forest or desert...

It is difficult to overstate the impact that World War II had on the lives of all Americans. An entire generation of young men (and a sizeable number of women) had gone off to war. Too many of these young people never did come home again, and those that did had their lives changed forever by their experience...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- A Palisade, Nebraska, woman on probation for vehicle theft and drug charges was sentenced to additional probation, stemming from her arrest less than three weeks following her initial conviction. The offender, 23-year-old Jessica M. ...

Anyone not familiar with the name Molly Sughroue, just take a peak at the McCook High School girls track and field Top 10 charts. Molly's name appears all over the middle distance events on the Lady Bison all-time charts, and usually at the top of the list in her events...

BARTLEY, Neb. -- The Southwest Invitational is becoming one of the toughest prep wrestling meets in southwest Nebraska. One week before districts, nearly all the Gazette area Class C and D squads found their way to Bartley Saturday, Feb. 8, to compete in the 17-team meet at the Southwest High School gym...

The McCook High School girls basketball teams have had some slow starts in games this season. Friday, Feb. 7 vs. Ogallala might have been the worst. The Lady Bison fell behind 15-4 in the first quarter and trailed by double digits in the final period. A late rally wasn't enough, as McCook lost 55-42 to Ogallala at the Senior High gym...

There was another basketball MAC Attack in McCook Friday, Feb. 7. Senior Mack Alspaugh scored a season-high 35 points, hitting seven shots from 3-point range, to fuel the McCook boys to a 64-32 rout over Ogallala at the Senior High gym. Alspaugh scored 12 points in the first quarter to fuel a 19-6 lead for the Bison. ...

Elsie R. Detragiache-Bishop May 3, 1918 - Feb. 8, 2014 McCOOK, Nebraska -- Elsie R. Detragiache-Bishop, 100, died Saturday (Feb. 8, 2014), at Community Hospital of McCook. Services are pending and will be announced by Carpenter Breland Funeral Home...