Stories from Tuesday, September 25, 2018

LINCOLN, Neb. — While they continue to each hold a Class B No. 1 ranking, Omaha Skutt Catholic currently leads the all-important state football wildcard points over McCook. It’s a narrow margin as nsaahome.com lists Skutt with 44.6000 points while McCook owns 44.000...

As we become more mature (Grannie Annie doesn’t care for the term “older”) we adults participate in some interesting exercises. Getting together with long time ago schoolmates is one of those as in the traditional five-year school reunions. For some of us, those reunions come in the flavor of both high school and college get-togethers. In my case different military units of long ago gather and remember what we all did in years past...

Access to an affordable means of conducting commerce across our nation is in dire jeopardy should the recommendations of a June White House report on government reorganization be adopted. Rural, small town and home-based businesses would be in particular peril. ...

Elephants are fascinating creatures. Adult bulls tip the scales at 13,000 pounds (6,000 kg.). Adult female elephants weigh more than 6,000 pounds (3,000 kg.). Ten Years ago an elephant reserve area in South Africa had a problem of overpopulation. Young elephants were sent to another location...

Leanna F. Jones Smidt Dec. 20, 1941 - Aug. 11, 2018 GREELEY, Colo. — Leanna F. Jones Smidt, age 76, of Greeley, passed away on Aug. 11, 2018. Leanna was born Dec. 20, 1941, to John F. (Jack) Jones and Ruthella (Carter) Jones. She graduated from McCook Senior High in 1959...

William A. “Bill” Ruby March 13, 1945 - Sept. 22, 2018 HASTINGS, Neb. — Hastings resident William A. “Bill” Ruby, 73, passed away Saturday, Sept. 22, 2018, at Mary Lanning Healthcare, Hastings. Services are 10 a.m. Friday, Sept. 28, 2018, at Butler Volland Chapel in Hastings with Chaplain John Mueller officiating. ...

PAXTON, Neb. — Paxton’s final 26-point flurry was not enough to stop Wauneta-Palisade from winning again, 42-34, on the football field Friday night. The undefeated Broncos (4-0) built a 42-8 lead behind five Dalton Harchelroad touchdown runs covering 15, five, 37, one and 41 yards...

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. — McCook High’s JV tennis boys finished just three points behind champion Kearney in the 12-team North Platte Invitational on Monday. The Bison featured five players posting 5-1 records at No. 1 doubles, No. 2 doubles and No. 3 singles...

McCOOK, Neb. — The McCook Bison unleashed five rushing touchdowns and dominant defense to score a 37-0 shutout of visiting North Platte Monday evening. Corban Jernigan reached pigskin paradise twice with journeys covering one and 23 yards. Sophomore quarterback Mark Arp’s eight-yard run started the Bison scoring...

McCOOK, Neb. — Red Willow County Commissioners and Crime Stoppers are offering a reward of up to $1,000 for information that leads to the arrest of anyone responsible for damaging road signs. Such vandalism is more common this time of year, and is particularly concerning because missing or damaged signs can cause complications for unsuspecting motorists who are unfamiliar with the roads...

WAUNETA, Neb. — Maggie McCoy’s 14 grandkids love her big, white barn. They have slumber parties, back-to-school parties and birthday parties here. They watch movies projected onto the broad side of the barn. Maggie’s grandson and his fiance recited their wedding vows inside the barn...

WASHINGTON — Nebraska Commissioner of Education Matthew L. Blomstedt joined two other state education chiefs Tuesday to testify at the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee hearing, The Every Student Succeeds Act: States Leading the Way...

McCOOK, Neb. — Guests at Arby’s Restaurant in McCook have been making donations to help fight childhood hunger, and Thursday morning, Arby’s personnel presented a check for $2,487 to help fund McCook Public Schools’ backpack meals and snacks program...

Republican leaders will have difficulty shepherding Brett Kavanaugh’s Supreme Court nomination through the Senate by the end of the month, or even after, in the current climate. That climate currently includes the sentencing of former America’s Dad and #MeToo poster boy Bill Cosby, convicted of drugging and raping one woman and accused of attacking many more...