Stories from Wednesday, February 21, 2018

McCOOK, Neb. — The most amazing goal will never be reached for four of McCook’s five state swimmers going to Lincoln this week. They know it. They aren’t shy to admit it. None of them are shy. They appreciate it — even smiling little sis/sophomore swimmer-turned basketball talent-turned swimmer again Candace Coleman...

McCOOK, Neb. -- March Madness paid an early visit to McCook...

Norma Jean Peterson May 29, 1933 - Feb. 18, 2018 NORTH PLATTE, Neb. — Norma Jean Peterson, age 84, of North Platte, passed away Feb. 18, 2018, at North Platte Care Center. She was born May 29, 1933, at Hayes Center, Neb., to John and Elva (Scott) Curran. Norma Jean graduated from Hayes Center High School in 1950...

Connie Kay Latham Nov. 5, 1941 - Feb. 18, 2018 ARAPAHOE, Neb. — Connie Kay Latham, 76, of Arapahoe, died Sunday (Feb. 18, 2018), at C.A. Mues Good Samaritan Center, in Arapahoe. She was born on Nov. 5, 1941, in Shenandoah, Iowa, to Arnold and Nina (Blackburn) Laumann...

Maxine (Pickett) Hemelstrand Oct. 15, 1921 - Feb. 19, 2018 ARAPAHOE, Neb. — Maxine (Pickett) Hemelstrand, 96, of Arapahoe, died Monday (Feb. 19, 2018), at C.A. Mues Good Samaritan Center in Arapahoe. She was born Oct. 15, 1921, north of Edison, Neb., in Gosper County to Russell and Gertrude (Wilson) Pickett. ...

Gary L. Miller Oct. 18, 1934 - Feb. 18, 2018 OBERLIN, Kan. — Gary L. Miller, 83, of Oberlin, died Sunday (Feb. 18, 2018), at Good Samaritan Society in Oberlin He was born Oct. 18, 1934, in Norton, Kan., to Weldon and Esther (Hix) Miller. He graduated in 1952 from Norcatur High School...

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. -- Chase County avenged a regular season loss by beating Hershey in the first round of the C1-11 Subdistrict Tournament 65-55 Tuesday night at North Platte High School...

OGALLALA, Neb. — The No. 1-seed Wauneta-Palisade boys conquered a slowdown game and beat Maywood-Hayes Center, 44-17, in Tuesday’s D2-9 subdistrict semifinals. No individual stats were obtained. The Broncos (13-8) finished with a 19-2 fourth quarter...

CAMBRIDGE, Neb. — The Medicine Valley Raiders started fast and stayed strong throughout a 69-56 win over Alma in D1-11 subdistrict play Tuesday evening. Senior Joseph Chancellor’s 20 points helped the Raiders (12-8 record) built a 17-9 lead after just one quarter...

CAMBRIDGE, Neb. — Like a well-preserved mullet, the No. 1 Arapahoe Warriors found swaggy fine style can survive just about anything. Arapahoe was feeling threatened as subdistrict No. 4-seed Bertrand battled them to a 19-19 halftime tie Tuesday night...

McCOOK, Neb. — Groundwater near the airport in McCook will be tested for possible contamination. The State of Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality has directed Panhandle Geotechnical & Environmental Inc., to evaluate potential groundwater contamination from petroleum products on property located at the McCook Ben Nelson Regional Airport...

CAMBRIDGE, Neb. — The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation plans a meeting Thursday, March 1, from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m, in the Cambridge Community Building, to accept comments on the updating of the “Resource Management Plan” (RMP) for Harry Strunk Lake/Medicine Creek Reservoir northwest of Cambridge...

McCOOK, Neb. — Dennis Berry, retired McCook Junior High Principal and McCook's longest consecutive serving mayor, has filed for a seat on the McCook School Board. Berry, who did not run for re-election to the city council four years ago, holds a bachelor's degree, master's degree and an education specialist degree. ...

McCOOK, Neb. — Citing a time crunch, the McCook City County suspended the usual three-reading rule for ordinances and approved an ordinance that extends an agreement with a cable TV company. Councilman Jerry Calvin asked the reason behind suspending the three readings and City Manager Nate Schneider responded that an agreement with Great Plains Cable Television Inc. had come up for renewal without the company or city staff realizing it...

Amazing ability Dear Editor, Prehistoric men made paints and colored materials from plans and clay into a powder. They added water to this. They decorated caves and their bodies. The Romans learned the skills involved in making paint from the Egyptians. In 400 B.C., the Romans used white lead as a pigment...

McCOOK, Neb. -- Cambridge made it a clean sweep of Southwest this season, as the No. 2 Trojans beat the No. 3 Roughriders 59-43 in Tuesday’s C2-10 Subdistrict nightcap at McCook Senior High...

McCOOK, Neb. -- The North Platte Community College men downed MCC Tuesday night 75-63 to win the Nebraska Community College Athletic Conference Championship.

McCOOK, Neb. -- Despite a 40-point effort from freshman Aliyah Foote, the McCook Community College Lady Indians lost to North Platte Tuesday night at home 93-88...

Nebraskans aren’t prudes by any stretch of the imagination, but when it comes to attracting new businesses, we are quick to emphasize our puritanical work ethic and stability. That doesn’t mean there isn’t room for improvement — say, the size of Cherry County — but compared to other states, we rank 42, toward the bottom, when it comes to the seven deadly sins...