Stories from Thursday, December 30, 2021

SIDNEY, Neb. — A 30-13 final half was McCook’s best as the girls beat Burns (Wyo.), 52-35, to cap their Sidney Holiday Tournament play on Wednesday. Junior Tori Honn’s clean steal led to a Shawna Wilkinson layup which broke the 22-22 halftime tie. Senior Ainsley Taylor showed the vision of any good hawk flying over western Nebraska when she spotted an open Wilkinson on an in-bounds pass...

Earlier this week, a friend sent a text wishing me a Happy New Year. He added that our floating trip down the Niobrara River this summer made his top five memories of the year. Like many people, I have floated down the Niobrara numerous times, yet none are etched in my memory like this particular trip...

Jeff William Kehr June 17, 1964 - Dec. 24, 2021 McCOOK, Neb. — Jeff William Kehr, age 57, of McCook, passed away at his home in McCook on Dec. 24, 2021. Jeff was born June 17, 1964, in Oxford, Neb., to parents, Alvon A. and Addie M. (Dunkin) Kehr. He was one of three children. Jeff graduated from McCook High School with the Class of 1983...

Richard “Dick” Quinn McCOOK, Neb. — Richard “Dick” Quinn, 82, of McCook, died Tuesday (Dec. 28, 2021), at Community Hospital in McCook. Survivors include his wife, Carla Quinn of McCook; children, Gregory Quinn and Gary Quinn of McCook and Gina (Kraig) Dorwart of Lincoln; sister, Kim (Phil) Wilsey of Grand Island and Kay Haffey of Axtell; four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren...

McCOOK, Neb. — The pickleball rage is sweeping the nation for those who want to stay fit or just have fun. Southwest Nebraska is certainly no exception. The Buffalo Commons Storytelling and Music Festival planning committee will host pickleball stories at their First Tuesday event Jan. ...

McCOOK, Neb. – After only eight months with the position, Chamber President and CEO Brandi McConnell has decided to resign. She said in an email blast to members that she has accepted an Executive Administrative Assistant position at MNB Bank. “This was a difficult decision for me, but the position provides professional growth, and it’s an opportunity to specialize and key in on my strengths within their team,” McConnell wrote of her new role...

McCOOK, Neb. — The driver and one other person are in custody following a high-speed chase that stretched from McCook into Frontier County Wednesday afternoon. Lucas Haag, K-State agronomist at Colby, Kan., told the Gazette that his work truck, a Ford dually, owned by KSU, was stolen from the Northwest Research-Extension Center at Colby after thieves unhooked it from a gooseneck equipment trailer...

BRADY, Neb. — A 21-10 fourth quarter send Anselmo-Merna girls past Maywood-Hayes Center, 53-50, in Tuesday’s Brady Holiday Tournament title game. The Wolves (10-1) suffered their first loss all season despite building a 27-12 halftime lead. Junoir Olivia Hansen’s 18 points paced MHC with classmate Lexi Wood scoring 14...

Arapahoe’s Colton Carlson (0) sends a shot over Wauneta-Palisade defenders, but senior Ruel Malcolm (15) and the Broncos won 35-34 in this Arapahoe Holiday Tournament third-place game Tuesday night. The Broncos improved to 2-8 overall. Cooper Wednland’s 10 points with 10 rebounds powered Arapahoe. Junior Ander Wasenius added eight rebound while senior Tyler Miller and freshman Trenton Weskop scored six. The Warriors are now 3-6 this season...

ARAPAHOE, Neb. — The Arapahoe Warriors are 5-4 entering their holiday break following a 53-47 win over Wauneta-Palisade Tuesday. Junior Emerson Swanson’s excellent 18-point effort helped the girls capture third place in their annual Arapahoe Holiday Tournament...

CAMBRIDGE, Neb. — The Cambridge girls’ 65-26 win over Dundy County-Stratton Wednesday afternoon showed again how basketball can be simple. “Last night, the shots just didn’t drop for us,” coach Jarod Albers said following a 45-38 loss to Crawford Tuesday night. “Today, they did.”...

OGALLALA, Neb. — McCook’s Layton Carpenter pinned bot his 220-pound opponents before the first period was finished at Wednesday’s Ogallala Triangular. Junior teammate Alex Anthony also continued his strong season with two pins. The wins highlighted McCook’s duals where nine wrestlers competed. That shows more are getting varsity experience on this young squad where only three regulars returned from last season...

CAMBRIDGE, Neb. — Who plays his best basketball with four fouls before the fourth quarter? Cambridge senior Dahlton Wood would be the “A” answer for southwest Nebraska hoops fans this season. With his Trojans falling behind by eight points late, the 6’7” Wood returned to Cambridge’s home holiday tournament finale in more than a decade...

SIDNEY, Neb. — McCook’s boys made the best of being one last-second shot from playing for a tournament championship this week. The Bison (7-2 record) brilliantly shook off a 49-48 loss to unbeaten Gordon-Rushville Tuesday afternoon. On Wednesday, junior Evan Humphrey hit six three-point shots and senior Cole Cappel ruled both inside-outside during a 65-48 Bison beatdown of Ord...

As 2021 draws to a close, I want to wish all of you a Happy New Year for 2022. The next session of the Nebraska Legislature will begin next Wednesday, January 5th. This will be a “short” 60-day session that is scheduled to end on April 20, 2022. A number of bills from last year that did not pass will “carry over” to this next session, and senators will have ten legislative days to introduce new bills...