Stories from Tuesday, January 24, 2017

We mentioned Madonna's admonition to get more involved in the political process, but we didn't include another of her statements at an anti-Trump rally. She said she had thought about blowing up the White House, which has reportedly piqued the interest of the Secret Service...

Wednesday, Jan. 18 was the last day to introduce legislation. There were 667 bills and eighteen Constitutional Amendment's introduced this year. I introduced 11 bills on various topics related to District 44. The entire list of introduced bills are on the Legislature's website (www.nebraskalegislature.gov). ...

Big fuss between President Trump and now former CIA Director Brennan. Obviously, Brennan had a good working relationship with President Obama but sparks fly when head-to-head with the new President Trump. The contest won't last long with Senate confirmation of Congressman Mike Pompeo to lead the CIA. Fun to watch for your old columnist and political junkie...

McCOOK, Neb. -- District 44 State Sen. Dan Hughes introduced 11 bills prior to last week's deadline, touching on a broad spectrum of topics and lining up hearings in seven different legislative committees. The total nearly doubles the six bills introduced by the third year senator during last year's short session, with four ultimately becoming law, and reflects a marked increase from the one bill he introduced during his first year...

PAXTON, Neb. -- The Wauneta-Palisade Broncos were rumbling to another RPAC tourney win until a 26-6 third quarter Monday night. Suddenly, the Wallace girls turned this quarterfinal contest around and went on to their 60-44 victory. Payton Messermith's 29 points put the team into a West Division championship game against undefeated Dundy County-Stratton Thursday night in Wauneta...

PAXTON, Neb. -- A bad case of Monday blahs weren't about to hit the Dundy County-Stratton girls in their RPAC quarterfinal against Hitchcock County. With a 27-7 first quarter and 11 players hitting shot, the Tigers tore into Thursday's West Division title game by winning 69-28...

LEXINGTON, Neb. -- A few more McCook wrestling highlights from the top six finish at Saturday's 16-team John Higgins Invitational. McCook totaled 115 points, just four behind No. 5 finishing team Scott City, Kan. (119). Lincoln Southwest (157), Lexington (149), Holdrege (143.5) and Bennington (139) claimed the top four spots...

OGALLALA, Neb. -- This kind of stew probably ranks with veegan beef among least favorite recipes for a cold week in January. "We're gonna stew a long time," coach Jeremy Yilk lamented about McCook's 50-46 loss to Ogallala in the Southwest Conference tournament quarterfinals Monday night. "We've got to be more ready to play in this kind of unique situation."...

McCOOK, Neb. -- A former McCook woman facing probation violations for leaving the area and not reporting was sentenced to jail time earlier this month in Red Willow County District Court. The woman, 26-year-old Courtnie Celements of Denver, Colo., was ordered to serve 240 days in jail with credit given for 130 days already served during a Jan. 9, 2017, hearing...

COZAD, Neb. -- Nobody should question the fight of McCook High's girls, but one Haymaker brought the big punch to Monday's Southwest Conference quarterfinal. Senior Sara Yocom scored 25 game-high points as Cozad fought off a great McCook comeback, 42-35...

SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb. -- The record had stood since Michael Jordan's NBA rookie season and Michael Jackson was moonwalking through his Thriller video. Okay, maybe Jackson didn't moonwalk in Thriller upon further review -- but there can be no debate about whether a McCook High swimming relay pulled off an amazing feat for the second consecutive week...

Ronald Lee Pennock May 15, 1939 - Jan. 23, 2017 McCOOK, Neb. -- Ronald Lee Pennock passed on Jan. 23, 2017, at his home Southwest of McCook, Red Willow County, Neb. Ron was born May 15, 1939, in Newton, Iowa, to W. Clifford and Goldie Pennock. Ron graduated from Newton High School, Newton, Iowa, in 1957. He graduated from Evangel University, Springfield, Mo., in May of 1962 with a degree in business...

Kaye Eskew IMPERIAL, Neb. -- Kaye Eskew, 59, longtime resident of Imperial, died Sunday, Jan. 22, 2017, in an auto accident near Imperial. Survivors include children, Debra Hand and husband, Brad, of Giltner, Neb., and Aaron Eskew and wife, Ashley, of Imperial; sisters, Kim West and husband, Garth, of Stratton, Neb., and Kelly Pflum of Castle Rock, Colo.; and four grandchildren...

Richard A. Bruening Sept. 19, 1943 - Jan. 23, 2017 WILSONVILLE, Neb. -- Richard A. Bruening, 73, of Holdrege, formerly of Wilsonville, Neb., died Monday (Jan. 23, 2017), at Wilsonville. He was born Sept. 19, 1943, in Kanorado, Kan., to Bernard and Frances (Harris) Bruening...

McCOOK, Neb. -- At some point back in the late 1970s, someone miscounted and members of the board of trustees at Hillcrest Nursing Home in McCook started serving four-year terms instead of six-year terms. Red Willow County commission chairman Earl McNutt said this morning that county attorney Paul Wood has discovered the discrepancy and the two trustees whose terms were thought to have expired Dec. 31, 2016, Randy Dean and Jim Howard, are actually trustees through Dec. 31, 2018...