Stories from Tuesday, February 7, 2006

KEARNEY -- Three members of the McCook High School Diving Team competed in the Kearney High Diving Invitational on Saturday, and all three brought home medals. Matt Hall placed first with another state qualifying score of 301.90 points. Rebecca Rawlings placed second with a score of 293.70...

RAPID CITY, S.D. -- It had always been a dream of all-around cowboy Garrett Nokes of McCook, Neb., to qualify for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. In 2005, Nokes fulfilled that dream, competing in the steer wrestling. His goals for 2006 are to return to Las Vegas to not only try and win a world title in steer wrestling, but possibly to be a contender for the all-around title...

Bison sophomore boys drop NP The McCook High School sophomore boys basketball team knocked off North Platte 75-71 at home Monday night and finished the regular season with a 4-2 record. McCook used a 27-19 run in the fourth quarter to beat the Bulldogs. The win marked the first time the sophomores had ever beaten North Platte in basketball, said McCook coach Jeremy Yilk...

CURTIS -- The NCTA Aggies played almost errorless basketball as they defeated Central Christian College of McPherson, Kan., on Thursday night 81-68. The Aggies put together a zone defense to stop the big team from Central. The Aggies were led by Brad Nab with 22, B.J. Luke 17, David Bills 14, Matt Klima 10 and Dillon Olson each with 10...

Tanner Strunk is an All-State football selection in Florida PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. -- Tanner Strunk was selected to the Florida High School All-State team recently. The 160-pound junior running back had almost 1,400 yards rushing last season with an 8.3 yard average...

City officials and representatives of Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway announced today that they have successfully completed the transfer of McCook property to the railroad company. Real estate documents have been completed and recorded with the county, according to BNSF Nebraska Division General Manger Boyd Andrew, concerning the transfer of the water reservoir property, previously owned by BSNF, back to the railroad company...

After topping the billion dollar mark in 2000, bank deposits in the 12-county Golden Plains region of Southwest Nebraska and Northwest Kansas have continued to grow, reaching $1.11 billion in 2005. The deposit amounts, compiled by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., show growth of $76 million in the five-year period, with the total amount on deposit in regional banks rising from $1.035 billion in 2000 to $1.111 billion in 2005...

There comes a time when you are speechless and yet you must get something said. There is a burst of energy and revitalization spreading through the community and it is being generated by the members of McDonald Ryan Unit No. 276, American Legion Auxiliary, Danbury. These member volunteers are taking membership to heart and seeking out new members...

I guess it first hit me when I saw the girls coming home from school. Wearing white blouses and knee stockings, black shoes and matching skirts, and carrying their books, they walked into the compound as happy as any American schoolgirl. I couldn't help but compare them to the kids who walk past our home near North Ward -- make that McCook Elementary -- twice a day...

By CONNIE JO DISCOE Regional Editor Red Willow County Commissioner Steve Downer laughed during the commissioners' meeting Monday morning, "If we could get rid of cracks, we'd be heroes." Downer and fellow commissioner Leigh Hoyt listened as Fred Bader of Nore Inc., Norfolk, explained the technique his company uses to fill cracks in armor-coated roads. Bader said his cure is "not just pouring more asphalt into the cracks."...