Stories from Friday, February 24, 2017

COZAD, Neb. --The Southwest Roughriders are becoming a perfect blueprint for what makes post-season basketball so great. They fought through an 11-11 regular season where at least four or five games were one shot from being wins. Now the 'Riders are making those shots and plays at an absolute perfect time...

The Southwest Roughriders, Dundy County-Stratton Tigers and Wauneta-Palisade Broncos all won subdistrict boys' basketball title games Thursday night. All three can earn state tournament berths with district final wins next week. Southwest surprised No. 1 seed Southern Valley, 42-38, at Cozad while DC-S and the Broncos scored decisive 13-point victories...

I've always lived my life head-on; not shying away or backing away from anything, and I intend to keep doing that. That's how I was raised. My mother was a 17-year-old small town girl when I was born but went on to beat all odds and become a nationally known fashion model because she lived her life the same way she was teaching me to live mine...

"I have an idea for you pro-lifers out there. Instead of protesting outside of a legal abortion clinic, why don't you go inside the clinic? Each young lady that walks in the clinic, with the intention of having an abortion, I want you to tell her that it's not necessary. ...

Whether you're hosting a small weekend get-together, a large gathering or anything in between, entertaining friends and family will always provide an opportunity to create memories that last a lifetime. However, no host wants to miss out on the highlights because of an endless to-do list in the kitchen. With the right recipes and refreshments, it's easy to throw a successful, enjoyable dinner party for both you and your guests...

71st anniversary The families of Stanley and Mitty (Huggins) Quigley of Indianola, Neb., are requesting a card shower in honor of the couple's 71st wedding anniversary on Wednesday, March 1, 2017. They were married in Fort Worth, Texas, in 1946. They've lived the past 71 years in rural Indianola on property that was homesteaded by Stan's grandfather in the late 1800s. Cards of congratulations will reach them at 39276 Road 720, Indianola, NE 69034...

80th birthday The family of Carol Farley of Lincoln, Neb., is requesting a card shower in honor of her 80th birthday on Saturday, March 4, 2017. She and her husband are formerly of Indianola, Neb. Her family includes husband, Don Farley; daughters, Shannon Denny and Mike of Valley, Neb., Susan Partridge and Don of Wahoo, Neb., Ross Farley and Jenny of Lincoln; 12 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren. ...

Qwynn Marie Alyzibeth Foster Cameron and Jayme Foster of McCook announce the birth of their daughter, Qwynn Marie Alyzibeth Foster, born Feb. 9, 2017, at Community Hospital in McCook. She weighed 4 pounds, 4.1 ounces and measured 16.5 inches long. She has three sisters, Aspyn, 8, Rhilynn, 6 and Atissyn, 5 and one brother, Beckett, 2. ...

If you wonder how I got started on the love story I did last week, it came about from a donation given to the Genealogy Library by Mike Manker, which included several pictures and news clippings from a home that had been auctioned off years ago. The home, which if my story is correct, was next door to where his aunt and uncle lived and they had purchased it after the gentleman who owned it passed away. ...

KEARNEY, Neb. -- Coach Jay Helberg's five-year wait is over as the Southwest Roughriders have qualified for Saturday's Nebraska State Wrestling Dual Tournament. The Roughriders were selected among Class D's top eight teams based on various criteria...

It's Chili Time! The MCC Indians Boosters 17th Annual Dick Driml Chili Cook-off will be held on Saturday in the Peter & Dolores Graff Events Center on the McCook Community College campus. Trophies will be given to the top three chilis, as well as for the People's Choice award. ...

The McCook Bison swim team proudly qualified three divers into this weekend's Nebraska State Championship meet at Bob Devaney Sports Center in Lincoln. Syd Wier (above) prepares for one his state dives on Thursday while senior Taylor Ford (right) and Victoria Norgaard gave McCook two in the girls' state diving. ...

HAYES CENTER, Neb. -- Few teams can be firing in early shots better than the Wauneta-Palisade Broncos during tournament play in Nebraska this week. The Broncos (8-6) unleashed a 21-10 first quarter Thursday night after hitting Elwood for 54 first-half points on Tuesday...

BARTLEY, Neb. -- A 15-4 fourth quarter finally sealed Dundy County-Stratton's 58-45 win over Medicine Valley at the D1-11 subdistrict title game Thursday night. The No. 1-seed Tigers (21-3) couldn't shake those tenacious Raiders (10-10 final record), who pushed them into overtime before falling 60-55 last month...

McCOOK, Neb. -- Almost three years ago, McCook Christian Church was feeling the squeeze. Now, with services at 80 percent capacity, it's time to expand, said Kyle Dellevoet, lead associate minister. "People will come in and leave, it feels full. There's not a line of comfort in space," he said...

McCOOK, Neb. -- The City of McCook received high marks on its annual audit from Terry Galloway of Almquist, Maltzahn, Galloway & Luth, CPAs, earlier this week. "What you're gonna see throughout the whole financial statement is there've been some very good, positive things that are happening here in McCook. ...

McCOOK, Neb. -- The weather's sudden plunge back into winter Thursday meant cold temperatures, rain, sleet, snow and gusty winds throughout the day and evening, and two emergency incidents blamed on slick roads. The condition of streets and highways deteriorated with heavier snow and strong winds after sunset...

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. -- Midwest Door & Hardware of North Platte won the bid to install 111 new doors and electronic locks in Brooks Hall on the McCook Community College campus. The bid is not to exceed $169,400, with half the cost paid from this year's budget and half from next...

In a wet, sticky falling snow, McCook Community College vice president Andy Long walks past a statue of Nebraska Gov. and U.S. Sen. Ben Nelson as a teenager receiving his Eagle Scout pin from his mother, during tours Thursday of the Nelson House and the house of fellow Nebraska senator, George W. ...

McCook, Neb. -- Weather permitting, work is scheduled to begin Monday on the US-6 bridge across Red Willow Creek, according to the Nebraska Department of Roads. The bridge will be reduced to one-lane traffic with temporary traffic signals while joint repair and sealing the bridge rails is completed, which will take approximately four weeks. The bridge will be overlaid with asphaltic concrete at a later date...

Nebraska Weed Control Association president Todd Boller, left, presents Ted Bethell of Van Diest Supply Co. of McCook the Presidential award for 2016. The award was given for Ted's outstanding contribution to the N.W.C.A., his assistance in continuing education classes and for ongoing support of the association. The award was presented at the 70th annual N.W.C.A...

Curtis, Neb. -- Science and engineering students of middle and high school ages from central Nebraska will converge Feb. 27 at the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture. The 2017 Central Nebraska Science and Engineering Fair will attract about 65 students from area schools, said Dan Widick, NCTA science and biology instructor...

LINCOLN, Neb. -- A child flu-related death in eastern Nebraska was reported to the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. State health officials said that it's not unusual for there to be some child deaths during a normal flu season but they have been rare in Nebraska. Nationally, 34 children have died from flu this season according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention...

Recent writer to the "Opinion" section of the Gazette used quotes from Crazy Horse and Chief Sitting Bull to show how difficult it is to expect the truth from the white man. Considering the circumstances and treaties made by our government with Indians, the quotes perfectly fit the times of 150 years ago...