Stories from Tuesday, October 13, 2020

McCOOK, Neb. — A preliminary hearing was set for 10:30 a.m. Nov. 3 for Alva C. Decker, 33, Indianola, who faces first degree murder and other felony charges in connection with an incident early Thursday morning near Indianola that left two other men dead...

GERING, Neb. — Don’t tell Mason Schmoker or the McCook defense there was “nothing new” about Bison blasting through Gering Friday evening. How often do first-team defenders leave the game without surrendering a single first down? That’s right, Bison never allowed Bulldogs to move the chains for nearly three quarters...

McCOOK, Neb. -- Two men are dead and a third has been arrested on murder charges in connection with an incident Thursday. Alva C. Decker, 33, Indianola, was set to appear in Red Willow County Court at 2 p.m. today. According to a release from the Red Willow County Sheriff and Attorney Sunday, “Charles Edward Decker, age 36 of Indianola, Nebraska died as a result of a motor-vehicle collision between two vehicles on Highway 6-34 near mm 96 during the early morning hours of Oct. ...

Charles E. Decker II INDIANOLA, Neb. Charles E. Decker II, 36, of Indianola, died Thursday (Oct. 8, 2020), in rural Indianola. A private family inurnment will be at a later date. Memorials can be given in his name for his daughter and sent to Susan Lamontagne, 93 Hughes St, Swoyers, PA 18704. Online condolences can be left at www.carpenterbreland.com...

Dennis “Denny” Leroy Lawson Jan. 16, 1947 - Sept. 24, 2020 MINDEN, Neb. — Dennis “Denny” Leroy Lawson, age 73, of Minden, passed away at his home on Sept. 24, 2020.  He was born in Cambridge, Neb., on Jan. 16, 1947, to Frank and May (Phillips) Lawson.  Denny attended and graduated from Bartley High School in 1965. ...

McCOOK, Neb. — Although acknowledging the higher price, the McCook School Board voted unanimously to purchase an activity bus at $326,500. Board members cited safety concerns and performance issues in the selection of this bus over a previous activity bus they had first considered, a 2007 bus at $146,000 with 580,000 miles...

Public urged to step up effort to control COVID McCOOK, Neb. -- With the alarming increase of COVID cases in McCook and the surrounding area, Community Hospital, Southwest Nebraska Public Health Department, and the City of McCook, urge the public to step up personal precautions of mask wearing, social distancing and diligent hand washing...

McCook elementary students may be wearing masks to help keep each other safe, but that doesn’t mean their individual personalities can’t shine through. Ready to learn today are, clockwise, from upper left, Jerrica Hart and Raegan Swanson, Max Bates, Ivy Bogardus, Maddie Matson and Sam Graham...

McCook has been blessed with another half million dollar gift. Thank you Allen Strunk. I find it interesting that several families with youth that grew up in McCook and the surrounding area have enough love in their hearts for this community that they make generous gifts back to help make it an even better place to live, work and raise our children...

BARTLEY, Neb. — Southwest volleyball regained its winning mojo with a 25-16, 25-17, 25-15 victory over visiting Paxton Friday evening. No individual Roughrider stats were obtained. Southwest (11-9 record) will go into tonight’s Cambridge Triangular for a big match against the Cambridge Trojans, who are 11-6 according to maxpreps.com...

KEARNEY, Neb. — Kearney Catholic conquered two tough games with Southern Valley, 11-9 and 9-4, in Saturday’s Class C district softball final at Patriot Park. “We hit the ball plenty well enough. We just didn’t make quite enough plays,” coach Brad Reaves said aas the Saints finished an outstanding season at 26-10...

McCOOK, Neb. — The McCook C-Team goes to 4-2 with a 21-12 win over the Chase County Longhorns JV team Monday evening at Weiland Field. Coach Bill Ramsay provided these insights: “Offensively, we moved the ball well the first half, our offensive linemen controlled the line of scrimmage and made some great blocks down field that led to some nice drives. Our backs have done a nice job all year of hitting the hole and getting yards...

Southern Valley-Alma senior Kynlee Marquez was walked nine times during Saturday’s Class C distrit softball final against Kearney Catholic and it’s easy to see why when checking these Marquez season numbers: a .617 batting average, 19 home runs and 71 RBIs during 36 Saint games. ...

McCOOK, Neb. — Strong winds that struck most every southwest Nebraskan on Sunday hit the Monument Shadows Golf Course Monday. McCook senior Kaylie Puckett put up a great day one effort, but her 108 round doesn’t tell the story of this Class B state tournament effort...

McCOOK, Neb. — The 2020 MHS Cross Country Run, scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 24, will take place, but it is going to be a little different than originally planned: not quite in person; not quite virtual. Due to increasing community concerns about Covid, Republican River Fitness Series organizers have adopted a new system for the cross country 5K and half-marathon, which will allow people to race on their own schedule while recording automatic times...

McCOOK, Neb. — Family canines happily consumed hot dogs while kids frolicked down nearby hillsides during McCook’s clean sweep of three final home duals last weekend. The Bison basically breezed to their 14th, 15th and 16th wins in 17 duals this season...