Stories from Wednesday, March 1, 2017

BARTLEY, Neb. -- "Air ball!" could have drifted through Dennis Cavanaugh's mind as his majestic overtime three-pointer arched toward the basket... And didn't touch anything but the Southwest High School court below. Silence on the Wauneta-Palisade side -- except quiet rumblings about state tournament plans slipping away...

McCOOK, Neb. -- Kirk Dixon, the Executive Director of the McCook Economic Development Corp. for the past ten months has resigned effective immediately. "I enjoyed and appreciated the opportunity to represent McCook. I will always remain one of our town's and the MEDC organizations biggest fans and cheerleaders," Dixon said...

On the 150th anniversary of a state named after a Native American term for "flat water," Nebraska leaders are celebrating President Trump's move to direct the Environmental Protection Agency to reconsider the Obama Administration's controversial "Waters of the United States" rule...

Robert E. (Bob) Horton Aug. 1, 1938 - Feb. 23, 2017 RATHDRUM, Idaho -- Robert E. (Bob) Horton, age 78, passed away peacefully on Thursday, Feb. 23, 2017, at Generations Assisted Living and Wellness Center in Rathdrum. He was born on Aug. 1, 1938, in Tustin, Calif., to Earle and Blanche Horton. Bob was raised in Southern California and graduated from Leuzinger High School in Lawndale, California in June of 1957...

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. -- The McCook Community College basketball team was looking to upset rival North Platte to stop a 2-game skid and finish the regular season on a high note, but the Indians couldn't get over the hump against North Platte on Tuesday night, falling 80-76...

McCOOK, Neb. -- McCook Community Collegesophomore Kaylea Watson has been selected as a member of the Region IX South All-Region Team as well as earning a spot on the All-Region IX South Defensive Team for the 2016-2017 season. Watson, from Arapahoe, averaged 12 points per game, 3.5rpg, and 2.2apg this season, as well as getting 43 steals on the defensive side of the ball. ...

GRANT, Neb. -- Already owning the D-1 No. 1 spot for power points didn't deter Dundy County-Stratton boys Tuesday night. The Tigers still went out and punched their ticket with a terrific 45-41 district finals win over Paxton. DC-S (23-3 record) will play No. 8 Guardian Angels Central Catholic (13-13) on Thursday, March 9 to start the state title quest...

McCOOK, Neb. -- Kirk Dixon, the executive director of the McCook Economic Development Corp. since May 2016, has resigned effective immediately. MEDC president Dennis Berry said this morning that Dixon offered no reason for the resignation. Berry said this was not a move sought by the MEDC board...

Students at St. Patrick's Elementary School in McCook observe Nebraska's 150th birthday today, learning about skills that pioneers in the state would have used 150 years ago. Tuesday morning, Jim Griffin, the director of the Lincoln County Historical Museum in North Platte, explained the use of a draw knife, its angled blade frustrating fifth grader Madison Schmoker, and a two-man saw, with Grace Wilhelmson on the "pull" half of the labor-intensive process. ...

McCOOK, Neb. -- Community Lenten Services are set each Friday from noon to 1 p.m. until Good Friday at the First Congregational Church, 212 East E in McCook. Pastors from various churches in the Red Willow County Ministerial Association will preach each week. Lunch will follow...

McCOOK, Neb. -- In an effort to drum up revenue, Hillcrest Nursing Home Board of Trustees voted unanimously on two measures Tuesday morning. At the regular board meeting, trustees voted unanimously to allow Hillcrest Nursing Home to make a bid to the county on providing meals to the Red Willow County Correctional Center. ...

McCOOK, Neb. -- Maintenance issues at Hillcrest Nursing Home were looked at Tuesday by the Hillcrest Board of Trustees. The board accepted Tuesday at its regular meeting the $206,250 roof bid from Echo Guard in McCook, with repair being done as funds become available. Maggie Repass, Hillcrest Foundation director, told the board that a USDA grant could pay up to 50 percent of costs if the work is completed within three years...

McCOOK, Neb. -- Firefighters were called to Hershberger's in McCook Monday afternoon stemming from what was determined to be high levels of carbon monoxide coming from the music store's furnace. The McCook Fire Department responded to the West 1st Street retailer at just before 1 p.m. after receiving a request from Black Hills Energy, according to a press release...

McCOOK, Neb. -- A local sex offender with a history of reporting violations was convicted on a felony offense for violating the Sex Offender Registration Act last month in Red Willow County District Court. The McCook man, 36-year-old Zachary P. Shepherd of 208 East C Street Apt. ...