Stories from Friday, March 31, 2017

Charles E. DeVries Nov. 23, 1944 - March 29, 2017 ARAPAHOE, Neb. — Charles E. DeVries, 72, of Arapahoe, died Wednesday (March 29, 2017), at Cambridge Memorial Hospital in Cambridge, Neb. He was born on Nov. 23, 1944, south of Arapahoe to Tobias and Elsie (Hein) DeVries. ...

Mark Lynn Jenik Aug. 13, 1959 - March 29, 2017 ST. FRANCIS, Kan. — Mark Lynn Jenik, 57, died Wednesday (March 29, 2017), at his home. He was born Aug. 13, 1959, in Benkelman, Neb. He was an auto mechanic. Survivors include his wife, Dolores (Pianalto) Jenik of St. ...

Gary Leon Kemp March 31, 1948 - March 29, 2017 MAYWOOD, Neb. — Gary Leon Kemp, age 68, of Maywood, passed away Wednesday, March 29, 2017, at Swedish Medical Center in Englewood, Colo., surround by his children and Jean, his wife of 44 years. Gary was born on March 31, 1948, in Sutherland, Neb., to Emerson L. ...

Marvin Dee Petersen Jan. 15, 1933 - March 27, 2017 LONGMONT, Colo. — Marvin D. Petersen passed away on Monday,March 27, 2017. Marvin was born Jan. 15, 1933 in Curtis, Neb., to Clarence W. and Lucile (Smiley) Petersen. He graduated from McCook High School...

95th birthday The family of Neal Callan of Alliance, Neb., formerly of McCook, Neb., is requesting a card shower in honor of his 95th birthday on Friday, April 7, 2017. He was born in 1922 in Red Willow County. His family includes children, Sandy and Mark Hissam of Alliance, Ron and Cindy Callan of Kearney, Neb., along with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Cards of congratulations will reach him at 416 Lane 2, Alliance, NE 69301...

McCOOK, Neb. — Mary Irene Shirkey, originally of Broken Bow, Neb., and Arun Robert Peters, originally of New Delhi, India, were united in marriage Feb. 18, 2017, at Memorial United Methodist Church in McCook, Neb., with the Rev. Jeff Kelley officiating...

Susan Doak Southwest Nebraska Genealogy Society Every time I go to the genealogy library here in McCook, I am astounded by the amount of researchable items our bookshelves hold. We are constantly receiving, thankfully, new books, family histories, maps, etc., as gifts from estates!...

The North Platte Community College Knights Softball Team is taking a stand against cancer. The goal is to have a “grey out” at the team’s home game against McCook Community College on April 18. To accomplish that, the team is selling grey t-shirts with the words, “Beat Cancer,” on them next to an image of the NPCC Knights’ mascot...

McCOOK, Neb. – Training tips on reining patterns, trail course, pleasure riding and working stock cattle are topics for a western clinic for riders of all ages and experience levels on April 7 in McCook. The Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture Ranch Horse Team is hosting its annual clinic and two-day Punchy in Pink Spring Round Up at the Kiplinger Arena at the Red Willow County Fairgrounds on April 7-9, said Joanna Hergenreder, NCTA associate professor of animal science and Ranch Horse Team coach.. ...

McCOOK, Neb. — A pair of the most dyanmic duos went 3-0 to lead McCook’s latest JV trouncing of Hastings, 27-4, on Thursday. Freshman Elizabeth Barenberg joined Kylie Scott in only droppingfour games all day while winning 18. Yet no Bison combo was more consistent than Alexis Carney and Beth Hoyt. They conquered all three matches with Tigers 6-2, 6-2 and 6-2...

Due to weather conditions, try-outs for McCook Legion Baseball Seniors, Juniors and Junior B will take place on Sunday rather than Saturday. Junior B try-outs will be held at 12 to 2 pm. Junior and Seniors tryouts will be held Sunday as well from 5 to 7 p.m. Tryouts will be at the Jaycee Complex...

McCOOK, Neb. — Perfect March Madness brackets are still tougher to find than visiting varsity wins on the McCook tennis courts this month. Yet the gap would likely close if April wasn’t starting tomorrow. McCook stormed through March with a 44-1 mark, losing just more than two percent compared to that perfect bracket’s current 0.01 existence rate...

McCOOK, Neb. — City leaders are proposing new rules related to the construction and use of backyard fire pits. An ordinance outlining construction, size, supervision, permit and other requirements will be considered for approval during Monday’s regularly scheduled meeting of the McCook City Council...

Fifth graders from Central Elementary and St. Patrick School participate in a team-building exercize Thursday coordinated by the Southwest Nebraska Leadership Institute at McCook Community College. College staff and law enforcement officers participated in the project designed to cultivate leadership among students. SWNLI class members expressed their thanks to everyone who helped make the day a success and said they hoped the fifth graders enjoyed the day as much as they did...

McCook, Neb. — McCook’s Parks Advisory Board will meet Monday to review options for the future of Barnett Park. The meeting is open to the public and begins at noon at the Heritage Senior Center. Other scheduled items include a discussion of how Isaiah Petty’s Eagle Scout project turned out, which made improvements to the sand volleyball court at Kelley Park. Budget request items are also scheduled for discussion, according to the meeting agenda...

McCook Area Chamber of Commerce and Cordials members Friday welcomed WirelessWorld to McCook, formerly Phones Etc. at 210 W. First in McCook, still a local Verizon Wireless dealership. Founded in 1997, the business has at least 14 other sites in South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin and Nebraska...

For thousands of years, the role of parents has been pretty much the same. Take care of your kids, protect them, feed them, clothe them and teach them the basic norms and values that guide our behavior. As far as we know, Neanderthal families did this in similar ways to the way modern families do. Parents came to know their obligations and responsibilities and most were willing to meet that challenge...

Wall won’t work Dear Editor It’s important to investigate the facts concerning the wall Donald Trump wants to build along the Mexican border. The northern third of Mexico was ceded to the United States after the Mexican War of 1846-1848. The Treaty of Guadelupe established the Rio Grande River as the southern border of Texas and Arizona. Part of the territory of New Mexico didn’t become a state until 1912. Its southern border was defined by the 1854 Gadsen Purchase...

Roxy Lang of Wilsonville says this is only the second bobcat she’s seen in the wild, but the first one she was able to photograph.