Stories from Monday, January 30, 2017

We've been complaining "It's 20_ _ (fill in the blank with the current year) where's my jet pack?" for at least 17 years, and the unfulfilled dream of a practical flying car has been around almost as long as airplanes themselves. A nexus of technological advances promises to make the dream a reality -- for those who can afford the luxury, at least...

ith five winning their weight classes, the Chase County Longhorns stepped up to take Friday's 16-team Medicine Valley Invitational. Bryson Fisher (27-5 record) was one of the Chase champs as he scored a thrilling 10-8 overtime finals win over Southern Valley super werestler Chase Becker (34-3)...

BEATRICE, Neb. -- The McCook Community College Indians looked to stop a four-game skid when they traveled to take on the Storm on Friday night, but cold shooting from MCC and hot hands from Southeast pushed the Indians losing streak to five, as MCC falls 117-82...

BEATRICE, Neb. -- The McCook Community College basketball women aimed at 4-1and staying in the top spot of the NCCAC when they traveled down to Beatrice to take on the Storm of Southeast CC on Friday night. They did just that improving to 12-9 overall in the 71-59 victory...

All McCook victories from the home dual tournament on Friday: McCook 47, North Platte 34 106: Carson Richards pinned Corey Parsons in :30; 145: Landon Towne won 18-3 tech fall over Quinton Vieyra; 152: Gavin Gomez pinned Emilio Ramos in 2:50; 160: Dunncan Rogers won by forfeit; 170: Gavyn Klein won by forfeit; 195: Jaret Matson won by forfeit; 220: Kaleb Taylor pinned Stacy Northrup in :55; 285: Colin Giron pinned Bradley Swanson in 2:24...

McCOOK, Neb. -- Jump around became the familiar theme throughout McCook's home dual tournament that was filled with drama and intensity Friday. "Every match is so big, and the margin of error is so small in duals like these," coach Nick Umscheid said as the Bison wrestled four high-quality opponents...

WAUNETA, Neb. --Tyler Davis' 20 points led the Dundy County-Stratton boys to a surprisingly easy 60-42 RPAC semifinal win over Paxton Friday evening. Most expected one tight contest between Tiger teams as Paxton brought a 14-1 record into Wauneta. However, Noah Kerchal's 16 points and another nine from junior Phalen Sanford helped DC-S dominate en route to the title game...

McCOOK, Neb. -- RPAC basketball championships belong nowhere else but Dundy County-Stratton after two terrific Tiger basketball games Saturday night. The girls shot 52 percent in a 52-24 finals win over Cambridge, but those Tigers were even better with 55 percent during their 62-37 triumph against Alma...

McCOOK, Neb. -- St. Patrick Elementary School in McCook kicks off Catholic Schools Week 2017 this week with a variety of activities. Each day still begins with Mass, but the week includes special lunches, dressing up and celebrating the Catholic faith through the rosary, confessions, and trivia games...

CURTIS, Neb. -- Starting this fall, tuition rates at the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture will be alike for resident and non-resident students. The University of Nebraska Board of Regents approved the same-rate tuition plan on Friday at a meeting in Lincoln...

Red Willow Western rural firefighters doused a grass fire and extinguished the blazes that consumed a chicken coop in two incidents Sunday. A fire blamed on a carelessly discarded cigarette blackened a corner of dry and crispy CRP grasses north on McCook's West Third at the intersection of county roads 719 and 385 at about 4:30 p.m. ...

Tim Wiebe, left, and Steve Rasmusen, right, of the McCook Rotary club present a check for more than $700 to Dana Wade, left, and Marilyn Brandt of the McCook Pantry, proceeds from Rotary's Jan. 20 Soup-R-Bowl soup competition. Of the 13 businesses participating, diners judged MNB Insurance's creamy tortellini soup as the best, with the McCook EDC's ham and potato second, and Wells Fargo's chili as third place...

McCOOK, Neb. -- Weather permitting, as the work on a statewide guardrail improvement project continues, work on S-15A at Champion is scheduled to begin Tuesday, according to the Nebraska Department of Roads. The project consists of removing the old guardrail, bridge repair, grading the shoulder and installing new guardrail. One lane, two-way traffic will be maintained during construction using temporary traffic signals...

McCOOK, Neb. -- The Red Willow County 4-H Citizenship Washington Focus group is hosting a vendor show fundraiser to be held on Saturday, Feb. 25, 9 a.m -- 3 p.m. at the 4-H Building on the Red Willow County Fairgrounds in McCook. Proceeds from the show will be used to help the group fund their way when they travel to Washington DC for a two-week citizenship and leadership experience in June...

McCOOK, Neb. -- The McCook Community College Theater Department will debut the directing talents of sophomores Allison Priddy and Joe Anderjaska this weekend. Those plays, "Freak" and "Sam's Funeral" open Friday and continue Saturday at the Weeth Theater on campus. The first of these two 30-minute plays begin at 7 p.m. each night. A free-will donation will be taken...

McCOOK, Neb. -- A McCook woman with a recent history of drug related arrests and convictions was back in Red Willow County District Court earlier this month for what was her third sentencing in 16 months. The woman, 42-year-old Kristie A. Marquardt of 1110 West 13th Street, received county jail time for her most recent offense...

The pioneer men who first came to Southwestern Nebraska and settled McCook in the latter half of the 19th century are heralded in the history of this region -- with good reason. Not so much is said about the wives that came with them or arrived soon after. This is unfortunate. Those brave ladies were certainly heroes, and deserve to be recognized as such in their own right...