Stories from Friday, April 14, 2017

McCOOK, Neb. — TeamMates mentor Jim Dusatko seems himself more of a sounding board than anything else. “Shane knows he can ask me anything and I’ll listen,” Dusatko said of his mentee. “I get more out of it than he does, maybe. He already has a great family system, I’m just another person to talk to. So I don’t tell him what to do, just give him some more options.”...

McCook Gazette McCOOK, Neb. — A friendship between two women that began with the start of World War II is now on the second generation. Arnez Gans, now of McCook, was a freshman in high school when she started writing a pen pal in England. It began in 1941, and as Gans noted, “My high school days were marked by the beginning and end of World War II.”...

McCOOK, Neb. — Citta Deli and six other area businesses were named cash award winners Thursday in the Ben Hormel Business Plan Competition through McCook Community College’s Business and Community Education. Citta Deli received $15,000 and Farkleberry’s of Hayes Center was named runner-up and received $7,500...

Esch, Steider Hailey Esch and Ryan Steider of Geneva, Neb., announce their engagement and upcoming wedding. Parents of the bride-to-be are Darren and Tyler Esch of Indianola, Neb. Grandparents are Vern and Sara Esch and Roger and Nona Zink, all of Indianola...

88th birthday The family of Rosalie Weskamp request a card shower in honor of her 88th birthday on Tuesday, April 25, 2017. Her children are Craig (Polly) Weskamp of Aurora, Colo., Mara Lee (Fred) Ebert of Sonoma, Calif., and Rose Weskamp of Truckee, Calif.; and grandchildren, Ryan Weskamp, Logan Ebert, Connor Ebert, Jenna Ebert, Shelbie Ebert, and Deanna Sunnegren. Cards of congratulations will reach her at 709 E. Second, McCook, NE 69001...

81st birthday The family of Marvin Harms of Culbertson is requesting a card shower in honor of his 81st birthday on Monday, April 17, 2017. His family includes his wife, Betty of Culbertson, children, Shari (Jim) Lewis of Culbertson, Susi Curl and Peggy (Wayne) Needham, all of McCook, and the late Alan Harms, who passed away in 2003; seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren, with one on the way. ...

80th birthday The family of Shirley Lichty of McCook is hosting a reception and card shower in honor of her 80th birthday.  The reception is on her birthday, Saturday, April 22, 2017, from 2 to 4 p.m., at Peace Lutheran Church, 411 E. Sixth in McCook. ...

I have been sharing excerpts of Athlene Clemons Martin’s book on the development of Marion, Neb., for the last two weeks. This is the last installment and I wanted to mention that some of the names she covers include: Nilsson, Powell, Pew, Galusha, Weyeneth, Miller, Sims, Sanders, Field, Gatewood, Huff, Stilgebouer, Newberry, Angel, Eifert, Ruby and Hendricks, just to list a few. ...

Kids make short work of gathering the goodies at the Easter Egg Hunt, sponsored by MNB Sparky’s Kids Club Thursday in McCook’s Norris Park. Churches and families have a busy weekend of Easter activities planned, starting with Good Friday services tonight...

McCOOK, Neb. — City leaders will coordinate a pair of executive sessions Monday evening to discuss potential litigation involving a zoning violation and a confidential medical claim. The closed sessions are scheduled during Monday’s regularly scheduled meeting of the McCook City Council, 6:30 p.m., at the Municipal Center...

Bill Hawkins, director of research and development for Nebraska Hemp Co., displays some of the products that can be produced from hemp. Industrial hemp has the potential to create hundreds of jobs in a local, sustainable, value-added industry, producing food, fiber, construction and medical products, he said during a presentation Monday at the Bieroc Cafe in McCook. ...

Equalization board meets on Monday McCOOK, Neb. — The Red Willow County Commissioners will meet at as a board of equalization Monday at 9 a.m. in the courthouse. County assessor Sandra Kotschwar, deputy county attorney Phil Lyons will join in an executive session at 9:15 p.m...

McCOOK, Neb. — Auditions for the Missoula Children’s Theatre’s production of The Frog Prince will begin with registration at 3:30 p.m. Monday, April 24, at the McCook Junior High cafeteria. No one will be allowed to audition if they arrive after the actual auditions begin at 4 p.m...

McCOOK, Neb. — Philip and Kelsea Pankonin of Imperial are expanding their company, Pankonin Ag Services Inc., after purchasing the lawn care division of McCook-based Gaston Lawn and Landscape from Rod and Pam Gaston. In addition to now serving McCook and its surrounding areas, the Pankonins will continue to serve their customers in the St. Francis, Kan., and Dundy County areas. “We appreciate the continued support of our loyal customers,” Kelsea said...

Graci Cornelson, 8, left, caught the biggest fish, a 14-inch channel catfish, and Morgan Keith, 12, right, was another of the successful fisherkids at the Hooked for Life fishing fellowship event Saturday at Barnett Park in McCook. Fourteen adults helped 20 kids catch 143 fish for a combined length of 681 inches. The next event will be May 6, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Harry Strunk Lake near Cambridge. For more information contact George Huff at (308) 340-4119...

T.J. Puckett, above, with his parents, Tad and Kristen Puckett, shows off the airgun he won at the Southwest Prairie Quail Forever banquet Saturday in Culbertson. Grant Cappel, below, makes the tough decision between accepting a gun or a lifetime hunting permit. ...

I was born into what today would be called a dysfunctional family I suppose. My mother married my father when she was only 16 years old and a junior in high school. He was 24 and a law student at the University of Arkansas. She was from Atkins, a small town of 1300 people in central Arkansas and he was from Little Rock, the capital of the state. ...

Most Nebraskans list “Going to church” as their favorite Easter tradition, although the crowd in Norris Park for the annual MNB Sparky’s Kids Club Easter Egg Hunt Thursday evening shows that activity is a close second in McCook. Offers.com found that Easter Egg Hunt was the leading Easter tradition nationwide, 33.1 percent, followed by going to church, 32.7 percent, Easter baskets 29.9 percent, dying Easter eggs, 29.8 percent, confetti eggs, 6.0 percent, photos with the Easter Bunny, 5.7 percent, and “other,” 4.2 percent.. ...

STOCKTON, Kan. — Champions Brittany Wesley and Tristen Davis helped the Decatur Community girls finish within six points of a Stockton Invitational team title on Tuesday. The Red Devils tallied 106 points with only Lakeside making a bigger splash by scoring 112...

Coach Rick Haney provided these insights about McCook High’s golfers at the Hastings Invitational on Thursday: It is a great course that the kids were able to see and play. One of the nicer courses we will have the opportunity to compete at all year. The competition was fierce with Norfolk, North Platte, Grand Island, Kearney and other very good teams. Again our kids are playing these courses for the first time and that poses many challenges as we as the learn each course for the first time...

STERLING, Colo. — McCook High alum Noah Hofman joined Southeast Community College teammate Dom Vertuli in going 1-2 at the National Junior College Athletic Association tournament Thursday. Hofman fired a super 68 on Thursday for his two-day total of 139. Vertuli was a little better Wednesday when he carded 66 and finished at 138...

Latest results from league competition at TJ’s Family Fun Cener in McCook: Men’s Major 16/17 Maris Gen. Con. 293.5-186.5 Stockman’s Ford 275-205 Wagner’s Ford 253.5-226.5 Family Issues 248.5-229.5 Diamond Vogel 240.5-237.5 J&L Construction 218-258...

GOTHENBURG, Neb. — McCook’s 400-meter relay won a championship to lead the Bison girls during Thursday’s tough Dutch Zorn Invitaitonal. Juniors Laurel Schmidt, Jaden Bryant, Holli Thomas and Emily Arp ran a time of 51.93 which edged top challenger Lexington (52.65)...

HOLDREGE, Neb. — McCook’s varsity and junior varsity teams continued ruling duals during Thursday’s visit to play the Holdrege Dusters. McCook features four singles players who have won every match this season: Kassidy Michaelis, Lauren Koetter, Kacee Samway and Syd Thompson...

GOTHENBURG, Neb. — Team scores and all top eight McCook placers at Thursday’s Dutch Zorn Invitational: Boys Teams: 1. McCook 118, 2. Ogallala 106, 3. Holdrege 77, 4. Sidney 74, 5. Aurora 60, 6. Lexington 29, 7. Kearney Catholic 25, 8. Gothenburg 21, 9. Kearney 17...

GOTHENBURG, Neb. — His sixth-place finish in the prelims almost feels like an ultimate Easter egg hunting trick. Let the future sportswriters run ahead, think they are going to win and — zoom! Sorry, no easy chocolate for you today. McCook senior Sam Smith running sixth in 200-meter prelims (23.79) probably didn’t fool too many rivals at the Dutch Zorn Invite onThursday...

FAMILY FEATURES -- From the breakfast nook to the dinner table, an Easter meal isn't complete without a delicious ham for guests to enjoy and share. Whether you're serving up a casual brunch, an early dinner or a formal holiday feast, an easy-to-prepare spiral ham is the perfect centerpiece for any meal occasion...

DENVER — The Transportation Security Administration has installed the latest checkpoint screening technology at three Nebraska airports, including McCook Ben Nelson Regional Airport, the Central Nebraska Regional Airport in Grand Island and Kearney Regional Airport...