Stories from Tuesday, January 3, 2017

Ah, the wonders of modern medicine. Or maybe is the wonder of the human body to heal itself. Probably both but the ultimate result is the most important person in this old columnist's life is returned to a normal state of health and we are back home again...

Ruth Virginia (Schamel) Stewart Aug. 10, 1925 - Jan. 1, 2017 McCOOK, Neb. -- Ruth Virginia (Schamel) Stewart of McCook entered into eternal rest on Jan. 1, 2017, at Community Hospital in McCook. She was 91 years old. Ruth was one of eight children, born to parents Harry A. and Adelaide Marie (Junker) Schamel on Aug. 10, 1925, in Indianola, Neb. Ruth grew up in Indianola, where she also graduated from Indianola High School...

Cleda D. Moeder May 23, 1931 - Dec. 30, 2016 OVERLAND PARK, Kan. -- Cleda D. Moeder, 85, formerly of Rexford, Kan., died Friday (Dec. 30, 2016), at Overland Park. She was born May 23, 1931, in Rexford to Elmer and Edna (Kallman) Minnick. She graduated from Rexford High School and attended Kansas State University. ...

LINCOLN, Neb. -- The Nebraska Department of Natural Resources has declared a compact call year for the Republican River Compact. The official document is here.

OXFORD, Neb. -- A powerful Seward Bluejay team ruined Southern Valley boys' quest to win their home holiday tournament, 61-32, on Friday. Southern Valley (4-4 record) reached the final by whipping the Minden Whippets, 57-41, on Thursday. Seniors J.T. Grilli (16 points), Trent Krejdil (12) and Drake Shearer (10) powered the Eagles' big win...

ELWOOD, Neb. -- The Southwest Roughriders shook off an early deadlock and raced past Elwood's Pirates, 59-40, Friday night. No individual stats were obtained, but it was clear strong defense helped power coach Marcus Bish's teams to their fourth win this season...

GENEVA, Neb. -- Southern Valley's Brady Dawson and Chase Becker reached championship matches of the tough 16-team Fillmore Central Invitational on Friday. The Eagles earned a respectable seventh place with 78.5 points as Class B York took home that team title...

BRADY, Neb. -- The Hitchcock County Falcons caught fire with 40 second-half points to rally for Friday's Brady Holiday Tournament championship. Coach Mike Tines' boys trailed Anselmo-Merna, 31-24, through one half of this title game. Yet they almost matched that entire first-half title while catching those Coyotes 46-46 through three quarters...

NORFOLK. Neb. -- A last-second driving basket gave Lexington its 43-41 win over McCook in Friday's Greater Nebraska Activties Conference tournament seventh-place game. The Bison (3-6 record) fell short despite hitting five three-pointers. Sophomore Gabe Sehnert helped spark McCook to an 18-12 lead through one quarter...

NORFOLK, Neb. -- Mission accomplished as the McCook High girls scored their second strong tournament win with a 57-50 overtime conquest of North Platte Friday afternoon. The Bison won two of their three Greater Nebraska Activities Conference games. After a 56-point effort on Thursday that pleased coach Scott Leisy, the Bison girls were one better and needed them all against feisty North Platte...

OGALLALA, Neb. -- Look out 2017 because McCook High wrestlers are building momentum entering this season's most important weeks. The Bison trampled Ogallala, 57-24, and scored 11 pins overall during Friday's triangular which finished 2016. Senior powerhouses Eric Langan (182 pounds) and Kaleb Taylor (220) were among five McCook wrestlers even though Sidney did score a 50-28 win over coach Nick Umscheid's team...

McCOOK, Neb. -- The Southwest Nebraska Community Theatre Association is pleased to announce that a cast has been selected for its upcoming spring production of Beauty and the Beast. Belle -- Riley Rambali The Beast -- Brenden Funk Lumiere -- Sean Tolliver...

LINCOLN, Neb. -- More than 220 individual schools and school districts from across the state have received special certificates from Secretary of State John Gale recognizing their efforts to honor military veterans. Participants included preschool, elementary, middle and high school students of public and nonpublic schools...

McCOOK, Neb. -- McCook construction activity fell to its lowest point in at least eight years in 2016, according to city building permit reports dating back to 2009. Total construction activity through December fell to less than $10.6 million, a decrease of nearly $8 million from the prior year and roughly a third of the annual marks reached five years ago. Local construction activity exceeded $29 million annually in both 2010 and 2011...

McCOOK, Neb. -- It was a matter of a good heart and bad timing that a man got locked in at the lower-level Helping Hand thrift store in downtown McCook on Monday afternoon. McCook Police Chief Ike Brown said the gentleman dropped off his donation at a time when Helping Hand staff wasn't aware he was there, and they locked the ground-floor exterior doors on their way out...

McCook Art Guild member John Clesson works on a stained glass project at the McCook Art Center on Norris Avenue. The colorful peacock will eventually be installed at the home of Steve and Patty King in McCook. Clesson said similar stained glass projects range in cost based on complexity, with an average cost of $80 per square foot...

Dennis Shannon of Bartley -- "Santa Claus" to kids and pets alike throughout the McCook area for many years -- died Monday, Jan. 2, at his home in Bartley. He was 67 years old. He is survived by his wife, Cathy; two daughters, Jessica Lucero and Sabrina Korell; and five grandchildren. ...

If you're like most of us, you've gained a few pounds over the holiday season, and taking them off may be a high priority. When it comes to our bank account, however, excess probably isn't the problem. Like many things in life, less is more where finances are involved...

We have much-improved air travel service since Boutique Air began serving McCook. However, one thing is sadly missing! That is the terminal is not being utilized, or services, for the benefit of the travelers or for us people meeting planes, to pick up their incoming passengers...

Dennis Burdette Shannon July 27, 1949 - Jan. 2, 2017 BARTLEY, Neb. -- Dennis Burdette Shannon, age 67, passed away Monday, Jan. 2, 2017, at his home in Bartley with his family by his side. Dennis was born on July 27, 1949, to Burdette Henery Emmett and Bonnie Anna (Laura) Shannon in Schenectady, N.Y. He was one of three brothers. Dennis grew up in Crystal Lake, Ill., graduating from Crystal Lake Sr. High...

Kenneth Eugene Ely Jan. 4, 1940 - Dec. 31, 2016 McCOOK, Neb. -- Kenneth Eugene Ely of McCook passed away Saturday, Dec. 31, 2016, at Community Hospital. He was 76 years old. Kenneth was born Jan. 4, 1940, at McCook to parents, Orin P. and Opal T. (Troedson) Ely. He graduated from McCook High School in 1958...