Stories from Thursday, February 25, 2021

Southern Valley and Chase County both went for this rebound during a January encounter, but both took home subdistrict championships after knocking off No. 1 host seeds Thursday night. So did the Medicine Valley Raiders, who captured a 47-40 victory over Wallace behind Hayden Kramer's clinching dunk capping his huge 30-point performance...

The McCook Junior High eighth-grade boys finished their season with wins over visiting Cozad recently. Braeden Gale (above) shows no fear while challenging a taller Haymaker defender. Teammate Quentin Terry (below) goes right over Cozad’s defense to take that ball towards the hoop. McCook will soon start track and field season so watch for details in the Gazette...

McCOOK, Neb. - The McCook Rotary Club is concerned about food insecurity in this area, and they are taking action to help address the problem. This Friday, they are partnering with the USDA in its Farmers to Families Food Box Program, along with Hot Meals USA, to distribute food boxes to area families. The program has distributed food to families, schools, food banks, faith-based and non-profit organizations during the COVID-19 crisis...

Norma Lea Gardner Oct. 2, 1927 - Feb. 24, 2021 McCOOK, Neb. — Norma Lea Gardner, 93, of McCook, formerly of Beaver City, Neb., died Wednesday (Feb. 24, 2021), at Community Hospital in McCook. She was born Oct. 2, 1927, in Atlanta, Neb., to Frank and Mary Emma (Leigh) David...

McCOOK, Neb. — The Knights of Columbus 2021 Fish Fry Fridays has returned and is continuing through March. The all-you-can eat fish fry began Feb. 19 and will continue every Friday, on Feb. 26, March 5, 12, 19 and 26. Meals will be served or picked up at the1 KC Hall, 309 E. Ninth, in McCook, from 5 to 7:30 p.m...

BEAVER CITY, Neb. — Two men charged in a Furnas County sex trafficking investigation have accepted plea deals on reduced charges, and a McCook man was sentenced Wednesday to jail, probation and community service on reduced charges. After an appearance last week in Stockville, Terry L. Smith, 38, and Bucky J. Weaver, 41, are now each charged with a single count of first-degree sexual assault, a Class II felony...

For the next three days, I will be hanging out in Lincoln for the Nebraska State Swim and Dive Championships. Three days of a middle-aged woman among teenagers in skin-tight speedos, jammers and speed suits. My ego will be in check. But I digress. First, I would like to wish all of the McCook swimmers and divers good luck as they compete against swimmers and divers from across the state. ...

Last Friday was day 30 of the 90 day session, which means we have made it a third of the way through this session. Even though we still have a few weeks left of bill hearings, the committees have been busy advancing bills to general file so once morning debates commence there will be bills on the agenda to discuss. ...

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. — Double R Boxing LLC, presents the Heartland Boxing Championship VI on Saturday, March 27th at the Heartland Events Center at Fonner Park. Several tri-city competitors will be featured on a scheduled 10-bout fight card. Boxers include Oliver Riviera (El SICARO) of Grand Island, NE, Jose Jacobo - Graves of Lincoln, NE, Blake (THE KID) Quintana of Kearney, NE, Tevin Anderson of Hastings, NE, and Jose Camacho of Omaha, NE...

HERSHEY, Neb. — Hitchcock County hit five three-pointers during the third quarter ALONE while keeping pace with this No. 1-seeded Panther powerhouse Tuesday night. Paragraph #21 Yet the Falcons went a little cold, scoring only seven fourth-period points as Hershey secured its 51-42 semifinal win in this C2-11 subdistrict semifinal...

Results from the last two weeks of Men’s Bowling league at TJ’s Family Fun Center in McCook. From Feb. 15: Men’s Major Fulmomentum 172-98 Burton Well Drilling 157-113 Glass Express 142.5-112.5 Quality Irrigation 140.5-129.5 Diamond Vogel 138-132...

NORTH PLATTE – The McCook Community College volleyball team dropped a four-set match to North Platte Tuesday night 16-25, 25-22, 17-25, 18-25. Fernanda Canedo (Cochabamba, Boliva) led MCC with 25 kills, along with nine digs. Kallie Cathcart (sophomore Holly, Colo.) had eight kills, five digs and one assist block...

McCOOK, Neb. — While the McCook Community College baseball team was hoping to open the home season Friday at the Jaycee Sports Complex against Northeastern Junior College, the recent snow and field condition have forced the team to move that entire series to Sterling, Colo...

HERSHEY, Neb. —Chase County’s laser- focused Longhorns only trailed once, 2-0, before running off eight straight points and never looking back Tuesday night. Nobody’s happier to wave goodbye when graduation arrives than coach Kris Freeland. “I’m tired of losing to those guys,” Dundy County-Stratton’s basketball leader proclaimed following a 58-50 subdistrict semifinal defeat...

It’s never too late to learn, and I have done a bit of that this week. In discussions surrounding the nomination of Merrick Garland as Attorney General, and his flaccid support for the Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms, I learned that the Second Amendment was somewhat tied in with the Fourteenth Amendment. I never knew that...