Stories from Wednesday, November 8, 2017

McCook Junior High was busy beating both wrestling and basketball foes during a busy Tuesday of home competition. Nate Renner (above) puts the squeeze on Lexington for a pin as he was one of eight McCook wrestlers to finish first against Lex and North Platte. Tristan Krueger, Kobe Jackson, Jullian Silver, Kaden Jernigan, Branson McDonald, Evin Gomez and Tyler Steer also won championships for the Bison. They entered 20 kids who posted a 34-16 record overall in 50 matches...

CURTIS, Neb. -- Deer season and winter sports will have to wait...

Leona Loretta Littlejohn Sept. 29, 1918 - Nov. 3, 2017 IMPERIAL, Neb. — Leona Loretta Littlejohn was one of five children born to Christopher and Lydia Buethe on Sept. 29, 1918, on the family farm near Elk Creek, Neb. She was welcomed into God’s holy family in baptism and confirmation at Saint Peter’s Lutheran Church. ...

McCOOK, Neb. — A Bison Alumni Newsletter class representative meeting is set for 5:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 13, at the High Plains Museum. Alumni are urged to offer their ideas and suggestions for the future of the newsletter.

McCOOK, Neb. — Out of Darren Dale’s brainstorm 10 years ago came a concept for something new that would not only help him realize his own dream but could also benefit Southwest Nebraska and Northwest Kansas. Darren Dale’s “farm and ranch expo” idea has grown every year since his first ag trade show in the fall of 2008, fitting nicely each successive year into expansions to the Kiplinger arena complex on the Red Willow County Fairgrounds in McCook...

McCOOK, Neb. — The Big Give McCook on Thursday, Nov. 9 is nearly here. The giving stations are ready. The power hours are set. And the website, biggivemccook.org, is ready to accept online donations at midnight on Thursday. But really, what is Big Give McCook? Simply put, Big Give McCook is an opportunity to connect donors to the charitable causes they care about. And the 2017 Big Give McCook has 21 local, non-profit organizations, including the Community Chest, involved this year...

McCOOK, Neb. — As the “Coat Closet” giveaway closed last week, the weather turned colder and has stayed that way for most of the week. Coat Closet coordinator Barb Ostrum and her volunteers can take comfort knowing that about 875 people in 273 households are prepared for a Nebraska winter because they picked out coats and winter clothing at the annual “Coat Closet and Winter Clothing Giveaway.”...

LINCOLN, Neb. — Don’t worry, the Southern Valley Eagles will know immediately how they stand among Class C2’s state “great eight.” A super 26-5 season has earned the No. 8 seed — which means those Eagles will meet C-2 No. 1 and undefeated Hartington Cedar Catholic (33-0) Thursday afternoon...

McCOOK, Neb. — With the help of a local remodeling crew, the Ace Hardware store at the corner of West First and C streets will be ready for opening shortly before the first of the year. “We’re actually ahead of schedule,” said Rick Sinner, the manager, who has moved to McCook to oversee the renovation of the spacious retail building formerly occupied by the JC Penney Company...

A couple of weeks ago, the members of the Natural Resources Committee were invited on a tour through central and southwest Nebraska. No senator on the committee lives west of Grand Island, except for me. I thought it would be beneficial for committee members to see firsthand some of the infrastructure, and visit with some of the people affected by the bills we hear in the Natural Resources Committee...

WAUNETA, Neb. — She literally has done it all in high school athletics except maybe set the volleyball for a big kill to herself. Faith Simpson probably could do that considering everything else she’s achieved at Wauneta-Palisade. College coaches have certainly noticed like McCook’s Hayley Kobza...

Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb have drawn criticism for their on-air morning drinking, and although the wine glasses on the Today Show desk are mostly a light-hearted prop, excessive drinking among women their age is no laughing matter. The latest proof comes from an Office for National Statistics report in the United Kingdom, as reported by the Daily Mail...