Stories from Thursday, May 13, 2021

BERTRAND, Neb. — Cambridge fans can’t wait to turn the Paige on what their talented champion girls might achieve at Omaha Burke next week. Especially Cambridge junior Paige Sickels, whose story keeps getting better as she delivered quite a performance in Wednesday’s D-7 district showdown...

A glance at some additional Class D state meet qualifiers besides the top placers featured in Thursday's Gazette and at mccookgazette.com. Watch for more details with complete listings to start next week: Girls 400 meters: Stella Heapy, Medicine Valley, 1:04.45...

My husband, Kent, and I are for all practical purposes homebodies. Yes, I venture out for work, and we belong to various community and church groups that add fun and enriching activities to our lives. But for the most part, we are pretty happy and comfortable at our small rural home. ...

Testimony heard on LR 107 The Executive Board Committee held a hearing on LR 107 last Thursday. The intent of the resolution, introduced by North Platte Sen. Mike Groene, is to maintain and defend the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of Nebraska against foreign and domestic acts of aggression and abuse of power...

McCOOK, Neb. -- Local Modern Woodmen of America members are taking action to make 2021 wonderful for the Southwest Nebraska communities. The group is recognizing educators and school staff of southwest Nebraska with a drive-thru appreciation event on Friday, May 21...

McCOOK, Neb. — McCook Public Schools Superintendent Grant Norgaard said he expects the school districts’ COVID-19 risk dial to be down to green by the time of high school graduation on Sunday. That means masks won’t be required at the McCook High School graduation Sunday at the Peter and Delores Graff Event Center at McCook Community College. Participants and those in attendance can “wear what makes you comfortable,” Norgaard said...

McCOOK, Neb. — Bison Days at McCook High School was a huge success but wouldn’t have happened without the support of the community, said a McCook Schools administrator. “It was a huge undertaking…that took time, talents and resources from a lot of people,” said McCook High School principal Jeff Gross at the regular McCook School Board meeting Monday night. ...

CURTIS, Neb. -- With a sky of sunshine overheard during their commencement May 6, a bright future also is ahead for graduates of the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture. The Class of 2021 persevered with grit and determination, and each graduate is well prepared by their NCTA experiences for a successful career and future, University of Nebraska President Ted Carter shared in his keynote address...

McCOOK, Neb. — Dozens of McCook Chamber of Commerce members and guests enjoyed the return of the annual banquet Saturday night, grilled burgers on the bricks in front of the Keystone Business Center in a festive concession to social distancing. Outgoing Chamber President Trevor Taylor made a tongue-in-cheek comparison between chamber members and cockroaches — both survivors, sometimes even in the absence of a head...

McCook Area Chamber of Commerce Community Builder of the Year Greg Wolford is a graduate of Cozad High School and the University of Nebraska Lincoln. Greg and his wife, Pam. are parents of Adam Wolford of McCook and Dr. Kate Wolford Wawrzynkiewicz of North Platte and he is grandpa to 8 grandchildren...

This year’s McCook Chamber of Commerce volunteer of the year award winner is Lori Beeby. Lori grew up in Lebanon and has known McCook her entire life. She is the Vice President Support Services at Community Hospital. She has been with the hospital for 20 years...

This year’s Chamber of Commerce community service award winner is McCook Clinic. McCook Clinic has been providing healthcare to the community and region since 1944, according to the nomination. “ Today, McCook Clinic is nationally recognized as a top-performing medical clinic in achieving the “Triple Aim” for its patients in terms of better care, better health and lower overall healthcare costs. ...

Betty Ann Grissom May 17, 1939 - May 11, 2021 ARAPAHOE, Neb. —Betty Ann Grissom, age 81, of Arapahoe, passed away peacefully at home on Tuesday, May 11, 2021. She was born on May 17, 1939, in Ashdown, Ark., to Raymond and Odell (Cooper) Robbins. She had a happy childhood with her sister, cousins, and friends. ...

James Russell Knifley May 7, 1979 - April 28,2021 GREENUP, Ill. — On April 28, 2021, (J.R.) James Knifley, 41, went to heaven to go fishing with his dad, Paul Knifley, grandpa, William B. Kruger, grandma and grandpa, Betty and Elmer Hyde, grandma, Mildred Knifley, aunt and uncle, Alberta and Bill Hannah, uncles, Dave Denton and Albert (Bud) Kruger, sister, Debbie Brown, brother, Lee Knifley and cousins...

Vera Marie Gleason May 3, 1930 - May 7, 2021 BEAVER CITY, Neb. — Vera Marie Gleason, 91, of Beaver City, died Friday (May 7, 2021), in Kearney, Neb. She was born May 3, 1930, west of Champion, Neb., to Charles and Mary Kimberling. She married Don Gleason on Sept. 23, 1950...

Linda Sayer May 19, 1945 - Jan. 21, 2021 GARDNER, Kan. — Linda Sayer, 75, of Gardner, died Jan. 21, 2021. She was born May 19, 1945, in Holbrook, Neb., to William and Mabel (Ridpath) Sayer. She worked in manufacturing. She was preceded in death by her parents; andbrothers, Richard, Dean and Terry Sayer...

Charleen M. Bennett McCOOK, Neb — Charleen M. Bennett, 90, of McCook, formerly of Edison, Neb., died Monday (May 10, 2021), at Great Plains Health in North Platte, Neb. Services are pending with Mitchell-Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Oxford, Neb. A full obituary will appear in a following newspaper publication...

LUBBOCK, Texas – For the second-straight day the McCook Community College golf team improved on the previous day’s round. On Wednesday’s third-round of the National Junior College Athletic Association Division I Golf Championship, the Indians chipped four more strokes off their total and remain in 22nd place on the national leaderboard...

McCOOK, Neb. — No fewer than five three-set thrillers showed Adult Volleyball League teams were raising their intensity for the YMCA championship tournament this week. T&L Contracting capped a perfect 10-0 regular season, though In The Net pushed this power to an ultimate third set. Pure Energy also earned its first victory with a three-set takedown of In The Net...

CURTIS, Neb. — The Cambridge Trojans won a close Medicine Valley Golf Touranment title race at Arrowhead Meadows Golf Course on Tuesday. Cambridge totaled 411 which finished four strokes lower than those contending Tigers’ 415. Hitchcock County’s 442, 469 from Hi-Line and host Med Valley’s 455 completed team scores...

BERTRAND, Neb. — Dundy County-Stratton led several area schools who won championships at the D-7 district meet on Wednesday. The Tigers took two realy championships besides senior Lincoln Waters (800 meters) and Serbando Diaz (300 hurdles) racing to individual titles...

COZAD, Neb. — McCook Junior High top five placers and team scores from the Cozad Invitational which finished their regular season on Thursday, May 6. Eighth grade boys McCook finished third among eight teams with 66 points behind Holdrege’s 104 and 99 Gothenburg points...

McCOOK, Neb. — Miles Pollmann and Gabe Roberts teamed to strike out nine during Herrmann Jones Funeral Home’s 7-2 Legion baseball conquest of Loomis Wednesday evening. Pinnacle Bank dropped an 8-3 battle to Cambridge een though Beckett Heskett hit a home run for Pinnacle...