Stories from Friday, March 6, 2020

LINCOLN, Neb. — Sometimes, you just have to tip your hats when the other team can see over most opposing heads anyway. Dundy County-Stratton coach Matt Thomas acknowledged Chambers-Wheeler Central’s speed, talent and — most largely — height during their 58-36 victory on Thursday...

Well folks, it’s been quite a week. The contradictions and surprises just keep coming. Last week ended with Joe Biden on the ropes and predictions that Bernie Sanders would sweep Super Tuesday. That didn’t happen. As expected, Biden had a good showing in South Carolina, but he got to work cutting deals with Pete Buttigieg and Amy Klobuchar to drop out and endorse him. ...

John Ludwig “Red” Gartner Aug. 9, 1925 - March 3, 2020 JOHNSON LAKE, Neb. — John Ludwig “Red” Gartner, 94, of Johnson Lake, passed away Tuesday, March 3, 2020, at Elwood Care Center. John Ludwig”RED” Gartner was a loving son, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather...

105th birthday Tena E. (Rohnke-Larson) Wimer will be celebrating her 105th birthday on March 16, 2020. Her six children, Joan Larue of Oberlin, Kan., Jeanette McConnell of Strasburg, Colo., Ona Malleck of Indianola, Neb., Lelah Larsonof Santa Fe, N.M., Wayne Larson of Oberlin and Gloria Godtel of Roca, Neb., will celebrate with her at a later date when all are able to attend. ...

90th birthday The family of Dave Creger of Curtis, Neb., is requesting a card shower in honor of his 90th birthday on Monday, March 16, 2020. He was born in Ohio in 1930. His family includes his wife, Mary Creger; son, Tim Creger; 3 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren. Cards of congratulations will reach him at P.O. Box 314, Curtis, NE 69025...

1963 was a sad year for my family as we lost two very precious family members just a few months apart. As I was entering my teenage years, these were the first losses that I faced with full knowledge the finality of death. Then, with the assassination of President Kennedy, I grasped the concept of true evil in the form of man. ...

CASPER, Wyo. – The Casper College women won their 13th straight game and advanced to the Region IX Tournament semifinals Thursday claiming an 82-55 win over McCook Community College to end the season for the Lady Indians. The T-Birds, ranked 15th in the nation, got out to a 20-10 first-quarter lead and stretched it to 42-25 at halftime...

STERLING, Colo. – The Region IX north division’s top seed Western Wyoming put an end to the McCook Community College men’s season Thursday with an 82-69 win in quarterfinal play in the Region IX tournament. The Mustangs took a 37-31 lead at the half. The Indians struggled offensively to start the second half, particularly in the paint and Western Wyoming extended the lead to 58-45...

McCOOK, Neb. — There will be a mandatory ballfield meeting at 6 p.m. on Monday in the upstairs of the Municipal Training Room. Anyone wanting to use ballfields this year must attend, according to a press release from McCook Public Works director Kyle Pothoff...

McCOOK, Neb. — The McCook Planning Commission will be asked to approve recommendation of a redevelopment project proposed for B Street, on Monday, 5:30 p.m. at the city council chambers in the city municipal building. The project is being proposed by Blackwood Enterprises LLC, to redevelop city property and a vacant building at 520 West B Street. ...

McCOOK, Neb. — His name is “Sarge,” but he’s more like a buck private before he’s learned his military manners. Sarge was neutered Wednesday, and is available today for adoption at the McCook Humane Society Animal Shelter. He is one of two dogs involved in an abusive situation that led to the arrest in February of one man on a felony charge of animal cruelty...

McCOOK, Neb — Things are looking up for Boutique Air, the essential air service carrier at the McCook airport. Boutique Air offers daily flights to Denver, Colo., and is subsidized by the federal government for its service. Passenger numbers increased by 50% last month, in the number of passengers deplaning at McCook Ben Nelson Regional Airport, according to the monthly report from the City of McCook...

McCOOK, Neb. — The McCook Board of Education will be asked to approve resignations, contracts for new teachers and the purchase of a coach passenger bus, at its regular meeting Monday, 6:30 p.m. at the Junior High conference room. The board will see four resignations, effective at the end of the school year, that come from: Brooke Grigg, junior high language arts; Nathan Hudson, 5-12 band instructor; Janae Solomon, school counselor and McCook TeamMates coordinator; and Elizabeth Lopez-Rivas, school psychologist intern.. ...

McCOOK, Neb. — The Southwest Nebraska Health Department knows of no coronavirus cases in the area, but plans to keep the public informed with regular news releases and wants to enlist the public’s help. “SWNPHD is aware of the two cases in Colorado, but at this time there are still no cases in Nebraska,” said Kathie Skeen, Emergency Planning Coordinator. ...

BEAVER CITY, Neb. -- Four more names have been added to the list of men arrested in connection with a sex trafficking, child pornography and sexual assault of a child case originating in Oxford. Joseph H. Baumbach, 59, McCook has been charged with manufacturing child pornography and evidence tampering, both felonies. Baumbach's arraignment is scheduled for Monday at 9:30 a.m. Bond was set at $100,000 and he is to appear in Furnas County Court on Monday...

On March 5, 2020, the Furnas County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the Nebraska State Patrol and the Nebraska Attorney General’s Office, arrested four men in connection with an ongoing human trafficking investigation out of Furnas County. Terry L. Smith, 37, of Oxford, has been charged with Human Trafficking of a Minor and First Degree Sexual Assault of a Child. Smith’s bond has been set at $500,000...

LINCOLN, Neb. — We finally made it here after all these years and now have to move right out? Sadly, that’s what happened to Maywood-Hayes Center as the Wolves lost their historic first Class D-1 girls state game, 44-30, to defending champ Archbishop Bergan Thursday morning...