Stories from Wednesday, February 15, 2017

Epilepsy affects Benjamin Howard's life but ultimately it doesn't stop him from doing what he really wants to do. Eleven years after graduating from McCook High School, he enrolled at McCook Community College. On Thursday, his fellow classmates cheering him on as he bowled a perfect 300 game during bowling class...

When the going gets tough, the tough tend to look out for number one. Experience seems to confirm that twist on an old adage when it comes to people. We've noticed that crimes like embezzlement and Ponzi schemes like Bernie Madoff's seem to turn up when the economy turns down...

Dorothy E. Jones July 23, 1921 - Feb. 12, 2017 NORTON, Kan. -- Dorothy E. Jones, 95, died Sunday (Feb. 12, 2017), at the Andbe Home in Norton. She was born July 23, 1921, to Mattison and Mary (Storer) Mowry in Lucerne, Kan. She married Jesse Jones on Sept. 1, 1940, in Dresden, Kan...

Bruce Carse Nov. 7, 1951 - Jan. 13, 2017 THAILAND -- Bruce Carse, 65, known as Doc to many of his friends, was fatally injured in a motorcycle accident in Thailand on Jan. 13, 2017. He is survived by his daughter, Lana; his son, Brent, and his granddaughter, Makiah, all of Girdwood, Alaska. Doc is also survived by his sister, Sue Witte of Cambridge, Neb., and her family, as well as his brother, Jim Carse of Atlanta, Ga., and his family...

80th birthday The family of Don Klein of McCook is hosting a card shower and cake reception in honor of his 80th birthday on Monday, Feb. 20, 2017, at Klein's Motor and Electric, from 2-5 p.m. His family includes his wife, Norma and daughters, Pam Klein of Denver, Colo., Deb Klein, Sonya Prentice, and Tracey Sis and husband, Marshell, all of McCook. He has 12 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren. Cards of congratulations will reach him at 603 West H, McCook, NE 69001...

No room for sweethearts on Valentine's night as four area girls' basketball teams battled through subdistrict semifinal games. The big showdown took place at Cozad where rivals Cambridge and Southern Valley collided. Both were aiming for a shot at Class C-2 powerhouse North Platte St. Pat's in the finals Thursday night...

The McCook Community College baseball team is still looking for their first win of the 2017 campaign after dropping the home and home series with Colby over the weekend. MCC would drop game 1 in McCook, 5-0, and would fall in the series finale in Colby, 16-5...

OMAHA -- All matchups for area Class D state wrestlers to start the Nebraska State Tournament at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday in Century Link Center. Class D 120: Junior Zach Janousek of Hitchcock County (29-7) vs. D-3 district finalist Joshua Ibach of Central Valley (14-4)...

McCOOK, Neb. -- Adrenaline starts flowing even faster when looking at what the McCook Bison could confront during this weekend's Class B state wrestling. Take senior Eric Langan and the 182-pound field for a great example. If Langan defeats Omaha Gross' Justin Grabowski, he likely gets a shot at two-time defending state champ Trevor Nichelson from Ashland-Greenwood...

McCOOK, Neb. -- The Middle Republican Natural Resources District board of directors voted 11-2 Tuesday afternoon not to pay a $131,500 bill submitted to it by N-CORPE. Jack Russell, director of the MRNRD, told his board members during their monthly meeting Tuesday in McCook that he has "no justification" to bring the bill for operating expenses to his board. Board member Rick McConville of Indianola said he wants more information before paying the bill...

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. -- A recent report from the Department of Education indicates that when it comes to one key financial metric -- the ability to repay college debt -- community colleges are a better option for students. While 800 college programs are failing in these standards, Mid-Plains Community College gets passing grades...

McCOOK, Neb. -- The McCook Industrial Park behind Valmont sat patiently for more than a decade before welcoming its second tenant in 2014, Booe Machinery and Salvage. The 20-acre development appears to be building on recent momentum and has since paved its main access road and is set to welcome a third tenant in the near future...

Richard Burton May 19, 1928 - Feb. 14, 2017 McCOOK, Neb. -- Richard Burton of McCook passed away Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2017, at Bryan LGH East in Lincoln, Nebraska. He was 88 years old. Richard was born on May 19, 1928, to parents, Lyman and Hazel (Johnson) Burton. He graduated from Curtis School of Technical Agriculture in Curtis, Neb...

Leora Maxine (Bea) Willey Sept. 24, 1929 - Feb. 12, 2017 ARAPAHOE, Neb. -- Leora Maxine (Bea) Willey, 87, of Arapahoe, died Sunday (Feb. 12, 2017), at CHI Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney, Neb. She was born near Hollinger, Neb., on Sept. 24, 1929, to Clyde Alfred Martin and Doris Eliza (Inman) Cass. She graduated from Beaver City High School in 1947...