Stories from Friday, September 4, 2020

McCOOK, Neb. — McCook High School Darin Nichols made an unhappy announcement this afternoon: "We regret to inform everyone but the Crete vs. McCook football home opener has been canceled due to COVID cases that have occurred suddenly in Crete." McCook's home opener at Weiland Field against the Crete Cardinals was scheduled to kick off at 7 p.m...

ARAPAHOE, Neb. — They earned the right to roar twice as long Thursday night. Arapahoe Warriors could even skip and dance a bit following these first two amazing home volleyball matches of 2020. The Warriors were happy enough after they swept Dundy County-Stratton 25-23, 25-13 to start this varsity triangular...

McCOOK, Neb. — The complete rundown of Bison Invitational softball games at McCook's Jaycees Complex on Saturday. McCook takes a 5-5 record into this tournament: Today 9 a.m. — McCook vs. Alliance, southeast diamond 9 a.m. — Holdrege vs. Gering, southwest diamond...

The family of Don and Freda (Sis) Menze of McPherson, Kan., is requesting a card shower in honor of the couple’s 60th wedding anniversary on Thursday, Sept. 17, 2020. They were married at St. John Nepomucene Catholic Church in rural Atwood, Kan. They began their life together in McCook and both attended McCook Community College. ...

The family of Jean Wilcox of McCook, Neb., is requesting a card shower in celebration of her 95th birthday, on Friday, Sept. 11, 2020. Birthday wishes can reach her at 412 West M Street, McCook, NE 69001

STAMFORD, Neb. — Senior Kynlee Marquez pitched her third no-hitter in a week and added a home run with six RBIs during Southern Valley-Alma’s 11-0 win over Chase County Thursday. Marquez finished four-for-four at the plate. The Saints (9-2 record) also won game two, 16-0, over those visiting Longhorns...

ATWOOD, Kan. — An early 9-0 comeback ignited the Maywood Hayes-Center Wolves to wins over Southwest and Rawlins County (Kan.) Thursday evening. The Wolves (4-0) trailed Southwest’s improving squad before rallying for 25-22 and 25-15 wins. “Southwest played us really tough,” coach Kory Rohde confirmed as senior Jaycee Widener’s 14 kills fueled the victory. “They (Southwest) have some real talented hitters. Our girls showed a lot of composure in coming back. We needed to be pushed!”...

Latest results from TJ’s Family Fun Center in McCook: Men’s Major Quality Irrigation 45-15 Diamond Vogel 40-20 J&L Construction 34.5-25.5 Stockman’s Feed 31.5-28.5 Fullmomentum 30-30 Burton Well Drilling 29-31 TJ’s Family Fun 19.5-40.5...

STAMFORD, Neb. — Southern Valley freshman Ann Bose blasted 14 kills and junior Brianna Quinn smashed a team-high 18 in Southern Valley’s five-set win over Cozad Thursday evening. The Eagles (2-1 record) shook off a 25-19 opener to win 25-14 and 25-20...

McCOOK, Neb. — Red Willow Aviation gained more altitude above all A League contenders and Pinnacle Bank enjoyed another profitable night on top B League in week six of the season’s second half Tuesday night. A League Red Willow Aviation 130 McCook Lettering 121...

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. — Cambridge’s Chloe Besler placed 11th overall to lead all area golfers playing the Grand Island Central Catholic Invitational on Tuesday. Besler fired 101 at another tough tourney where just four golfers finished below 90. Cambridge teammate Macy Jones earned 20th overall with her 112...

Hitchcock County freshman Adriyana Kirkpatrick (11, above) shows no freshman nerves while going for the block against Dundy County-Stratton senior hitter Haylee Davis (10) in Thursday’s Arapahoe volleyball triangular. Below, Tiger senior Maggie Lutz stuffs down a DC-S point against Hitchcock. The Falcons prevailed in two sets during this first matchup of familiar RPAC foes...

HASTINGS, Neb. — The McCook Bison gave Hastings all those Tigers could handle during a five-set varsity volleyball thriller Thursday night. Hastings finally prevailed in the decisive fifth set, 15-12, after McCook battled to triumph 27-25 during that fourth battle...

HOLDREGE, Neb. — The McCook Bison wiped out a 4-0 Holdrege Duster lead and then held on to their 6-5 softball comeback victory Thursday night. Tied 5-5, Jada Berry singled with one out in McCook’s seventh inning. Natalie Roberts drew a walk before both she and Berry advanced one base on sophomore Kennedi Walter’s infield grounder...

McCOOK, Neb. -- The city’s major spending plans for the year will be considered at September’s first City Council meeting Due to the Labor Day holiday, McCook City Council will meet on Tuesday, Sept. 8 at 5:30 p.m. in council chambers. The agenda includes three public hearings; the 2021 McCook Plan of Street Improvements, the 2020-21 annual budget, and a hearing to set the final tax request at a different amount than the prior year...

Ina Maxine Prince July 27, 1934 - August 30, 2020 STRATTON, Neb. - Ina Maxine Prince, age 86, of Stratton, Neb. passed away at home in Stratton on Sunday, August 30, 2020. Ina was born July 27, 1934 in Stratton to parents Embre and Sarah (Clifton) Woods. She was one of twelve children. When Ina was eight years old, the family moved to Lebanon, Ore. where Ina continued to go to school, graduating from high school in 1932...

LINCOLN, Neb. -- McCook entrepreneur, arts supporter and owner of of one of Nebraska’s most honored dining establishment is featured in the current edition of the Nebraska alumni magazine. “A lot of things have changed in McCook, Nebraska, since Matt Sehndert and his family bakery, Sehnert’s Bakery and Bieroc Cafe, won the states first-ever James Beard America’s Classic Award, the Oscar of the food world, in 2019,” writes Sarah Baker Hansen, Class of ‘01, in the fall edition of the Nebraska Quarterly.. ...

Doris Ellen (Kleint) Brown November 20, 1926 - September 3, 2020 LEXINGTON, Neb. - Doris Ellen (Kleint) Brown, 93, of Lexington, Neb., formerly of Elm Creek, Neb. passed away Thursday, September 3, 2020 at Avamere in Lexington. Doris Ellen Meints was born November 20, 1926 on the family farm near Culbertson, Neb. ...

CURTIS, Neb. -- The Middle Republican Natural Resources District plans hearings and a special meeting later this month on more potential violations of groundwater regulations. A series of public hearings start at 9 a.m., Wednesday, Sept. 16, followed by a special meeting of the MRNRD board at 3:15 p.m. ...

McCOOK, Neb. -- McCook Economic Development Corp. Executive Director Andy Long is one of only 48 nationwide to become a certified facilitator to teach the Destination Creation Course, a class designed to help business owners increases their revenue and customer traffic during the COVID-19 pandemic...

Having watched both the GOP and DNC primaries in the past two weeks, to the extent that I could stomach them, I walked away with a firm grip on what one party is against (or more appropriately, who one party is against), but no clear idea of what either party was for. The DNC intensely dislikes Donald Trump. That memo has been received loud and clear, and they have no particular affection for middle-America either...

Young Nebraskans may find themselves in a strange position these days, if the results of Nebraska Community Foundation’s 2020 Youth Survey are any indication. A majority of the more than 1,300 students who responded to the survey say they are active in uplifting their communities through a variety of extracurriculars and organizations. Despite that engagement, however, many don’t feel invited to share their opinions on building a bright future for their hometown...

MAX, Neb. -- Cowboy church, a breakfast and family trail ride is planned Sunday, Sept. 13, featuring “Montana’s Singing Cowboy,” TJ Casey. TJ Case hails from Livingston, Montana, and is a nationally recognized singer, songwriter, storyteller, composer, clinician, humorist, entertainer and educator...

“Faith is a bird that feels dawn breaking and sings while it is still dark.” ~R. Tagore The corn is as high as an elephant’s eye – and a very tall elephant at that! It doesn’t seem all that long ago that the by-ways of Southwestern Nebraska were flanked by endless fields of green corn fingerlings, brown earth at their base, waving gently in the summer breezes to all who passed through their domain. ...

Rosie was a rescue kitten she came to us when she was 6 months old. She was already a month pregnant. A month later she gave birth to baby kittens still a baby herself. She had been robbed of her childhood. Never knew how to be a kitten. Never really played. Didn’t know how to take care of her claws or clean her fur. She had ear mites and she wobbled when she walked. The babies in her womb was almost bigger than her body...

TRENTON, Neb. — A referee signals Hitchcock County sophomore Trent Kisker (31) recovered Bayard's fumbled kickoff for another Falcon touchdown during their 78-26 victory at Trenton Friday evening. Hitchcock teammates Keynan Gaston (9), Tanner O'Brien (82), Travis Neben (21) and Aidan Broussard (40) also hustled to cause havoc on this bobble then celebrate the scoring play. ...