Stories from Thursday, January 26, 2017

Little did I know that as a parent of teenagers, I'd still be sneaking stuff from my kids. Like back in the day, when they were little, I would have to sneak pop or sneak a snack that I didn't want to share with them. I would wait till they took a nap and then eat something I told them they couldn't have or if they wanted gum, I would sneak a piece and then barely chew it so they had no clue I had gum. ...

You should always have a plan in mind, even when you can't immediately see a way to accomplish it. Gov. Pete Ricketts has proposed a 3 percent cut in funding to community colleges, but that doesn't mean officials and the communities they serve should stop planning for the future...

Louis Michael James Sept. 20, 1942 - Jan. 21. 2017 ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Louis Michael James, 74, died Jan. 21, 2017, in Englewood. He was born Sept. 20, 1942, to Dr. Louis D. James and Beatrice (Bratt) James in Oxford, Neb. He grew up in McCook, Neb., and graducated from McCook High School in 1961. He went on to graduate from the Dallas Institute College of Mortuary Science in 1964...

Noel D. Schnabel March 28, 1940 - Jan. 25, 2017 TRENTON, Neb. -- Noel D. Schnabel, 76, of Trenton, died Wednesday (Jan. 25, 2017) at Dundy County Hospital in Benkelman, Neb. Graveside services will be Monday, January 30, 2017, 2 p.m. at the Trenton Cemetery with the Rev. Lothar Gilde officiating. Memorials may be given in his name. Friends may go online at www.herrmannfh to extend words of comfort to the family...

PAXTON, Neb. -- A 16-6 fourth quarter powered Dundy County-Stratton past Wauneta-Palisade, 49-46, in Wednesday's RPAC quarterfinals. Tyler Davis' 16 points fueled the Class D-1 Top 10 Tigers (15-2 record) into Friday's West Division title game against Paxton at Wauneta-Palisade High School...

MCCOOK, Neb. -- Bulldogs will be unleashed from both Alliance and North Platte during Monday's McCook Wrestling Dual Invitational. Class B No. 6 Alliance and three other wrestling teams will visit McCook for Friday's McCook Dual Tournament. Class A North Platte, Grand Island Northwest and always tough Wray, Colo., are the other teams scheduled to compete...

CURTIS, Neb. -- Between bad home losses and widespread flu causing school to close, coach Craig Newcomb's Bertrand Vikings never lost their focus. "It (the flu bug) didn't really hit our team too hard," Newcomb said. "And knew the three through seven (RPAC East seeds) were so close that we had a good chance."...

CURTIS, Neb. -- Southwest's super last-minute comeback came down to a final shot Wednesday night. The Roughriders only needed two points to tie East Division No. 1 Alma and push this RPAC quarterfinal game into overtime. Yet pushing, driving or passing through the Cardinal defense proved to be a problem all game...

More than 21 days have passed since the start of the year. And for those participating in the YMCA's Lighten Up Team Challenge, everyone has or soon will mark three weeks since the initial weigh-in and assessment. The theory goes that it takes 21 days to form or change a habit - hopefully a good habit...

McCOOK -- The North Platte Community College Knights defeated the McCook Community College Indians Wednesday 78-66 in a Region IX South Sub-Region contest. The first part of the game in the first six minutes had five lead changes with the biggest point differential being three points. The Knights were leading 9-6 when the Indians went on a 14-3 run to take their biggest lead of the night at 20-12. They also led by the same margin at 25-17...

McCOOK, Neb. -- Tied 30-30 at halftime, the McCook Community College women unleashed powerful third and fourth quarters to bury North Platte 79-52 Wednesday night. McCook improves to 11-9 on the year and 3-1 in the NCCAC, good enough for the top spot, with Southeast Communjity College and a rematch with NPCC left on the schedule...

LINCOLN, Neb. -- John Evans of McCook won $100,000 playing Cosmic Cash Crossword from the Nebraska Lottery. Evans purchased the winning ticket at Smokers Outlet, 1111 West B Street in McCook. When he claimed his prize, Evans told Lottery officials that he was initially shocked to see that he had won. He second-guessed himself as he inspected the ticket before scanning it and knowing without a doubt that he had won...

McCOOK, Neb. -- The resignation of Nebraska State Sen. Bill Kintner on Wednesday drew praise from District 44 State Sen. Dan Hughes this morning. During his weekly Chamber of Commerce legislative conference call, Sen. Hughes said he encouraged the embattled legislator to resign last summer when his "computer problems" came to light...

McCOOK, Neb. -- The Winter Royalty for McCook Community College was announced Wednesday night between the women's and men's basketball games during "Blue Out Night" at the Peter and Dolores Graff Events Center but the queen candidates "overruled" the results of an election by students and faculty...

McCOOK, Neb. -- City of McCook Police Officers are sporting a new look they hope will reduce the potential for lower back injuries, as well as help maintain a professional public image. The change primarily pertains to an external protective vest carrier, intended to get weight from carried equipment off an officer's belt and cut the risk of lower back injuries. The protective vests were previously worn under a McCook officer's uniform shirt...