Stories from Wednesday, December 12, 2018

McCOOK, Neb. — They became the essence of a smiling Grinch-faced frosted Christmas cookie Tuesday night. The Cozad Haymakers were stealing McCook joy all evening — and they never felt bad about it for one second. Especially since that final moment expired with Cozad’s Abby Cornelius clutching the basketball and a 38-35 road victory...

BENKELMAN, Neb. — Dundy County-Stratton basketball teams remain unbeaten this seson following the Tiger girls’ 62-47 win over Rawlins County (Kan.) Tuesday evening. The Rawlins Buffaloes brought a strong 3-1 record into Benkelman, losing only to unbeaten Kansas 1A powerhouse Hoxie last weekend...

BARTLEY, Neb. — Southwest’s boys shot exactly 50 percent and fought off every Alma Cardinal comeback throughout a 65-60 home win Tuesday night. The Roughriders already own four wins over RPAC foes this season, losing only to unbeaten Cattle Trail Tournament champ Dundy County-Stratton last weekend...

Betty Jane Steinke March 1, 1929 - Dec. 2, 2018 IMPERIAL, Neb. — Betty Jane Steinke was born on March 1, 1929, at Hood River, Ore., to parents, Irvin Lincoln Dykes and Emma Meek Worley. She had four older brothers. As she was growing up she worked in the fields picking strawberries and vegetables; she later worked in the canneries. Betty married Elton New in 1950 and had four children: Marie, Steven, Raymond and Earl...

McCOOK, Neb. — Red Willow County will participate in a 6-county interlocal agreement to address mental health, truancy and legal issues for juveniles in Southwest Nebraska. Red Willow County commissioner Earl McNutt said Tuesday morning that Red Willow County will still operate its own in-house juvenile diversion program through the county attorney’s office, but will now also have access to mental health counseling and truancy assistance through the new six-county cooperation...

McCOOK, Neb. — The McCook School Board officially accepted a generous donation of $15,000 from Dollar General Monday night at the regular board meeting. “It’s not very often you get dollars without any strings attached,” noted McCook Schools superintendent Grant Norgaard. The funds, in $5,000 increments, were given in surprise presentations in November to three McCook public schools: McCook Elementary, McCook Junior High and McCook Senior High...

McCOOK, Neb. — McCook Police Chief Ike Brown warns drivers that they must clean their windshields of snow and ice before driving, or they will get pulled over. He said drivers can’t drive safely peeking through a small circle they’ve cleared from their windshields. He said he knows it’s tempting to “just jump in and go,” but windshields and side windows must be cleaned off to allow full visibility...

McCOOK, Neb. — Juvenile mental health issues and addictions worry McCook Senior High principal Jeff Gross, as well as classroom doorknobs that would not provide the best barrier during a live shooter incident. But, Gross points out, he and school resource officer Michael Jordan, administrators, staff and teachers work hard to cultivate an atmosphere of comfort and safety for students on the MHS campus. ...

Critics are decrying the Environmental Protection Agency’s proposal to change the definition of the “Waters of the United States” as leaving “vast amounts of wetlands and thousands of miles of U.S. waterways” without federal protection. What’s not often mentioned is that the definition has only been in effect for three years and if tightly enforced, could cripple states like Nebraska, where a majority of the population lives in areas where many activities could require permission from Washington.. ...

IMPERIAL, Neb. — Sophomore Cedric Maxwell’s 18 points and super Chase County defense sent the Longhorns past Sidney, 45-25, Friday night. Maxwell drilled five of his eight field goals while blocking five Red Raider shots. Seniors Scott Wheeler (10 points) and Parker Dillan (eight) both dialed up a pair of long-distance threes. Wheeler swiped four steals to further frustrate Sidney’s offense...

McCOOK, Neb. — For the second time this season Eastern Wyoming beat the McCook Community College Lady Indian basketball team with the latest coming Friday night at home 90-88. “It was a very fun competitive game tonight and we just fell short,” MCC Coach Kellen Fernetti said. “My team kept fighting and battling.”...

Junior Kristen Beckman’s 19 points and 11 rebounds powered the Rawlins County Buffaloes’ third win this season, 37-28, over Dighton, Kan., in Castlerock Classic play Friday evening. Senior Angie Singhateh blocked five Dighton shots besides her own 11 boards and eight points on three-for-five shooting...

CAMBRIDGE, Neb. — Both Cambridge basketball teams were dominant while scoring 76 more points combined than the Elwood Pirates Tuesday night. The Trojan boys (2-2 record) unleashed an 84-30 victory as junior Paxton Ross wasn’t far from matching that entire Elwood point total...

BARTLEY, Neb. — Senior Nicole Dewey’s double-double of 17 points and 12 rebound highlighted a Southwest girls’ 45-29 loss to Alma Tuesday night. Dewey crashed the glass for eight offensive boards, but Alma (2-2) still built an 8-1 lead that reached 20-6 by halftime...

McCook High cheerleaders certainly helped an atmosphere that Cozad coaches said was “the noisiest we’ve heard so far this season” Tuesday night. It only begins a busy basketball weekend where both Bison girls and boys visit North Platte Friday night. McCook then tests the Holdrege Dusters on Saturday in Holdrege...