Stories from Tuesday, January 12, 2021

McCOOK, Neb. — Forget it, Swedes, nobody was ripping a win from the grasp of “Bison Nation” and senior Ty Stevens Friday night. McCook High’s boys never trailed as a first three from senior Mark Arp was so perfect it barely rippled the net. The Bison led by as many as 17 points and even a final 14-2 Gothenburg Swedes surge could stop McCook from pleasing all those home fans...

McCOOK, Neb. — The McCook School Board approved three resignation/retirements and a sizable donation to a program at the high school. Retirements came from Rosa Boehm, 15 years, resource teacher at Central Elementary, Bill Ramsay, 19 years, business/technology teacher at McCook High School and John Brazell, three years as McCook Schools district business manager. ...

McCOOK, Neb. -- Southwest Nebraska Public Health Department is following the rollout plan for COVID vaccinations as directed by Nebraska’s governor and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The rollout plan is divided into phases, and the first phase has 3 sections called 1A, 1B, and 1C. ...

Edward Wayne Whitmore Sept. 24, 1922 - Jan. 6, 2021 CURTIS,Neb. — Edward Wayne Whitmore, 98, of Curtis died Jan. 6, 2021, at Great Plains Health. He was born Sept. 24, 1922, the second son of Charles and Cora Whitmore, at the family home in Moorefield, Neb. ...

Good news and a riot Yes there is good news out there in this great country but we hear little of it. Digging through TV news sources I’ve become aware that many business owners have done the right thing. Independent businessmen living in those Democrat-controlled areas of the country where Governors have locked down the economy their customers are barred from entering. ...

OSHKOSH, Neb. — Hitchcock County cracked the top five of Saturday’s 21-team Garden County Wrestling Invitational. Keegan Shuler delivered a powerful championship performance at 182 pounds as the Falcons totaled 101 points for fifth place overall. Shuler pinned all three of his foes inlcuding a final win over an 18-5 wrestler from host Garden County...

A Decatur Community (Kan.) girl fires up the shot over tight Oakley defense during their varsity basketball game in Oakley on Saturday. The Red Devils played close throughout this contest but fell short, 36-32. They are now 2-5 so far this season.

CURTIS, Neb. — Both Medicine Valley basketball teams are 6-3 following home wins over Arapahoe Friday evening. The girls scored a 50-43 victory with freshman Stella Heapy stepping up to score 16 points and senior Acelyn Klein adding 11. Klein made five of six free throws before the first quarter was finished to establish an 18-11 Raider advantage...

AMHERST, Neb. — Undefeated Southwest senior Matt VanPelt led an array of area champions at the Amherst Invitational on Saturday. VanPelt (26-0), Garrett Latimer (138) and Clayton Hardy (220) all won titles for the Roughriders, who took No. 3 among 17 teams...

CAMBRIDGE, Neb. — The Norton (Kan.) Bluejays were ready for Saturday’s visit to Cambridge as their girls unleashed a 55-26 victory. Cambridge fell behind 12-2 through a cold first quarter and 22-8 into halftime. A 20-8 Norton third quarter finished any Trojan comeback hopes...

BARTLEY, Neb. — Senior Braxton McKinney’s double-double of 18 points and 11 rebounds fueled a 42-30 Wauneta-Palisade win over Southwest Saturday night. The Broncos (4-8 record) also received 10 points from junior Grant Walker, while their defense only permitted Southwest (0-13) to make one of 18 three-point attempts...

ARAPAHOE, Neb. — Down 17 points in the third quarter, freshman Mason Nordine’s calm three-pointer pulled Arapahoe to a late 51-51 tie with visiting Loomis on Saturday. The Wolves still prevailed, 57-53, but coach Preston Blackmore praised his determined team...

BARTLEY, Neb. — Southwest’s girls shook off a two-point second quarter and rallied to beat rival Cambridge, 39-33, Friday evening. Sophomore Bailey Truksa tallied 12 points as the Roughriders (6-7 record) overcame a cold shooting night. They trailed 17-12 through one quarter and fell behind even more, 22-14, entering halftime...

McCOOK, Neb. — Loveland, Colo. native McKenna Crews signed her letter of intent Friday afternoon to play volleyball later this fall at McCook Community College. “I chose MCC because it felt like home as soon as I walked in. I love the team and coaching staff, and they work hard,” she said. “McCook is a second hometown for me, and I can’t wait to play here.”...

McCOOK, Neb. — Coach Amy Scheil offered some insights following the McCook High girls’ 54-38 home loss to Gothenburg Friday and a 67-36 Saturday setback at Sidney. “The girls played hard and did some good things on offense,” she said. “Defensively, we need to get a lot better and we need to keep the opponents off the boards...

KEARNEY - The McCook High School swim and dive team returned to the pool for the first time of the new year with a meet at Kearney High School on Saturday. The meet gave the McCook swimmers and divers a chance to see different teams than those they’ve faced so far during the 2020-21 season...

BENKELMAN, Neb. — Suddenly, a weekend of no wrestling at all turned into seven titles and the team championship for McCook High’s wrestlers on Friday. “We were very appreciative that Dundy County (Stratton) let us into their tournament at the last minute,” coach Nick Umscheid declared as the Bison’s usual week at Oberlin and Norton, Kan., was postponed until this week...