Stories from Saturday, October 6, 2007

The crop maze at Common Scents south of McCook has a special twist this year -- the numbers "125" cut into the usual wandering path in honor of McCook's 125th birthday. The maze and pumpkin patch will be busy places as Halloween approaches.

While most of us envision lush, green Kentucky bluegrass when we think about our lawns, the National Park Service appreciates something many Nebraskans don't. Our weather was made for buffalo grass. Not just Nebraska's, but much of the rest of the country as well...

A good man appointed and a good man not selected. The mayor had a tough choice in picking a new member to sit on the McCook City Council. Jack Rogers was selected, old news, and will do a good job of helping to steer the city. Finishing second was community spirited Duane Tappe a good man with experience serving on the Wakefield, Nebraska City Council. ...

Our college family lost one of our own Wednesday night, once again underscoring the temporary, fragile nature of life. Kasey Jo Warner was struck by a vehicle and killed while she was out for a walk with her 3-year-old daughter. The man driving the vehicle was arrested at the scene for vehicular homicide and driving under the influence...

In response to Kirt Matson's article of Oct. 3: Kirt, why don't you give up? Your diatribe of gobbledegoop tells me you have been spending too much time out in the Iraqi desert searching for the WMDs that you insisted were there, even if your guru admits it was all a mistake and the CIA's fault with bum scoop...

NORTH PLATTE -- The McCook Bison softball team captured its ninth district title in a row Friday afternoon at North Platte. McCook advances to the Nebraska Class B state tournament, which has moved to a new site in Hastings next Wednesday through Friday...

HAYES CENTER -- Hayes Center Coach Jim Cole earned his 200th win Friday night. Cole has coached for 31 years. The Cardinals drilled Dundy County-Stratton 38-8. Hayes Center led 28-0 at halftime. The Cardinals are now 6-0 for the season. Hayes Center's all-state candidate Levi Tyan scored five touchdowns on runs of 12, 1, 1, 31 and 26 yards. Jake Rowley kicked a 31-yard field goal...

The McCook Bison eighth grade football team lost its first game of the season to the Ogallala Indians 46-6 Tuesday, giving them a 1-1 record on the season. The Bison had a good first quarter, completing some big plays and keeping Ogallala's oversized offense out of the end zone. In the second quarter Ogallala was able to power and pass their way through the Bison defense for four touchdowns...

ALMA -- Dundy County-Stratton's Jared Shillington and Southwest's Layne McConville captured the individual titles at the Republican Plains Activities Conference cross country meet Thursday at Alma. Shillington placed first in the boys division with a time of 17:17.6, followed by Matthew Shipp from Bertrand-Loomis with a time of 17:28.2 and Ryan Hazen from Maywood with 17:41.7...

HAYES CENTER -- The Dundy County-Straatton volleyball team beat Hayes Center in a three-set match at Hayes Center Friday night. The final score was 25-19, 25-18, 25-16. The host Cardinals served at a 94 percent clip, led by McKenzie Messersmith, who was 12-for-12 on her attempts with 1 ace. \...

PHILLIPSBURG, Kan. -- Decatur Community cross country runners finished fourth and sixth in the Phillipsburg Invitational Thursday. "Our teams are improving," said Oberlin Coach Dick Ahlberg. "Chris Larson is healthier and running better, Jeffrey Isbell had a good race today and Tamara Ketterl and Kayla Zodrow both had nice races...

COLUMBUS -- McCook High School alum Allison Smith slammed down 11 kills and had 6 blocks to lead the Central Community College-Columbus volleyball team to a four-set win over Southeast Community College-Beatrice Wednesday night at Columbus. Central won the match 29-31, 30-21, 30-18, 30-19 at the Raider Field House...

MCC 27 30 19 30 14 Trinidad 30 20 30 17 16 Attacks Lacey Parker was 34 of 40 with 18 kills Chlesey Quigley was 39 of  43 with 12 kills...