Stories from Tuesday, March 7, 2023

McCOOK, Neb. — McCook High School leaders are excited to announce Easton Gillen as the Bison girls’ new head softball coach. Gillen is currently a elementary math teacher at Central Elementary and is also an assistant coach on the girls basketball team since starting with the McCook schools last August...

MAYWOOD, Neb. — They’re a perfect 10-for-10 in season goals which makes sense for 25-2 RPAC and Cattle Trail champion Maywood-Hayes Center. Yet May-Hay leaves no secrets about an 11th team goal set before this boys’ basketball season. “We want to win a state championship,” coach Kolby Hamilton said about their first D-1 state tourney as a consolidated program. “We’re not going down there (to Lincoln) just to go. We want to win games.”...

Life is grand! This past week this old flight instructor was privileged to take a student instructional flight to Chadron, Nebraska. Flying direct the route takes one through the heart of our national treasure the Sandhills. I love the place, the people, the sea of grass and the myriad of lakes and ponds. In years past large herds of bison roamed and now the whole area is devoted to raising cattle a major source of healthy red meat to feed our nation...

Norman Dale Huxoll May 27, 1943 - March 3, 2023 HOLBROOK, Neb — Norman Dale Huxoll, age 79, of Holbrook, passed away on Friday, March 3, 2023, at the Colonial Villa Good Samaritan Society, Alma, Neb. He was born on May 27, 1943, to Frederick W.E. and Laura E. (Koeteman) Huxoll in Oxford, Neb...

Donna Mae Frandsen OBERLIN, Kan. — Donna Mae Frandsen, 90, of Oberlin, formerly of Cambridge, Neb., died Sunday, (March 5, 2023), at Community Hospital in McCook. Funeral services are pending. Online condolences can be left at lockenourfh.com. Lockenour Jones Mortuary is in charge of the arrangements...

Loretta R. Heathers Jan. 20, 1940 - March 2, 2023 WAUNETA, Neb. — Loretta R. Heathers, 83, of Wauneta, died March 2, 2023, at the Chase County Hospital in Imperial after battling several health complications for a number of years. Loretta was born in Benkelman, Neb., on Jan 20, 1940, to Edward and Beulah Baumfalk of Stratton, Neb. She was one of three children raised in Stratton, having an older sister, Wanda and a younger brother, Arnold. Loretta graduated a Stratton Bulldog in 1957...

Melva Ruth Hughbanks April 11, 1919 - March 1, 2023 ELWOOD, Neb. — Melva Ruth Hughbanks, age 103, of Elwood, passed away on Wednesday, March 1, 2023, at Elwood Care Center, Elwood. She was born to James and Alice (Musser) Pierce on April 11, 1919, on a farm north of Overton, Neb. She was the fifth child of seven children...

John Mathews BENKELMAN, Neb. — John Mathews, 69, of McCook, died Saturday (March 4, 2023), in Benkelman. Survivors include children, Dr. Jason Mathews and wife, Adrienne, of Benkelman and Kristopher Mathews and wife, Melissa, of Oberlin, Kan.; brothers, Willie Mathews and wife, Darlene, of Phoenix, Ariz., Gary Mathews and wife, Caroll, of Phoenix and Jerry Mathews of Harlingen, Texas; sister, Jackie Mathews of McCook; and six grandchildren...

Wednesday’s baseball game between McCook Community College and Northeast Community College at Norfolk has been postponed by weather concerns. No makeup date has been set. This weekend MCC is scheduled for its home opener against Southeast Community College. The three-game Empire League North series begins at 2 p.m. Saturday followed by a pair of games Sunday starting at 1 p.m...

CASTLE ROCK, Colo. – The McCook Community College softball team dropped a pair of games to Northeastern Junior College Monday, losing 10-5 and 16-10. After losing Game 1, MCC held leads of 5-0 in the second inning and 8-4 after five innings before surrendering 12 runs over the final two innings...

TRINIDAD, Colo. – The McCook Community College baseball team was unable to hold leads in both ends of a Monday Doubleheader and lost to Trinidad State. The Trojans won 8-7 in Game 1 on a two-run, walk-off home run, and won the second game 14-11. “It was a super disappointing day,” said MCC Coach Jon Olsen. “We spent both games building multiple leads just to see then disappear multiple times.”...

GARDEN CITY, Kan. – The McCook Community College golf team tied for first place Monday in the Garden City tournament held at the Buffalo Dunes Golf Course. MCC tied Friends University with scores of 289. The tournament – scheduled for Monday and Tuesday – was shortened to the Monday round because of weather...

McCOOK, Neb. — The McCook YMCA Adult Co-Ed Recreation Volleyball League played its season openers Monday night. The results: The Scoop 2, Red Willow Chemical 0 T&L Contracting 2, Parker 0 The Scoop 2, Red Willow Animal Clinic 0 Red Willow Chemical 2, Parker 0...

BENKELMAN, Neb. — Senior Alex Englot probably didn’t surprise many twin siblings with his revelation about equally talented Tiger brother Andrew recently. “We get along and connect better on the basketball court,” Alex remarked following last week’s district finals win over Humprey Lindsay Holy Family. “It’s been that way since like first grade. You know, it’s a brother thing.”...

McCOOK, Neb. — The city is trying to figure out what to do with the rocket slide at Kelley Park and some citizens have offered their suggestions. City Manager Nate Schneider told the McCook City Council Monday night that a group of citizens will be at a McCook Parks Advisory Board meeting March 16 concerning interactive playground equipment. The playground equipment will be all-inclusive and could be located where the rocket slide is at in Kelley Park...

WASHINGTON — Bill Steinhour was born in McCook Nebraska but spent most of his youth as a Navy child as they lived all across the country including California, Connecticut and Hawaii. Bill’s dad, Arley, was a Navy Radioman for 24 years and retired back to McCook to help work the family farm in 1976. Bill joined the Navy himself in 1980 studying advanced electronics, communications and radar technologies as an Electronics Technician...

Nebraska’s economy is strong and dynamic. Our economy has for decades been growing faster than our population. Brian Sloan with the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce argues there is an 80,000 worker shortfall. This crisis will continue to grow, there are both real and bogus solutions...