Stories from Monday, July 10, 2017

We heard of a drug dealer whose defense included the fact that the prosecution had charged him with possession with intent to sell a substance derived from the cacao bean — the source of chocolate — instead of coca — the plant cocaine is manufactured from...

Note: Recently, our grandson, Gabe, completed an unbelievable trip to Washington D.C. and the East Coast with other area 4-H Club members. The young people experienced a great deal in a short time and were happy to share their experience with anyone who cared to listen. ...

Aaron Patrick Jones Oct. 31, 1993 - July 9, 2017 CAMBRIDGE, Neb. —Aaron Patrick Jones of Cambridge, age 23, passed away on July 9, 2017, due to a motor vehicle accident. He was born in Cambridge on Oct. 31, 1993, to Patrick Shane and Linda Kay (Smith) Jones...

Joyce Elaine Oatman Sept. 25, 1932 - July 2, 2017 MIDDLETON, Idaho — Joyce Elaine Oatman, age 84, of Middleton, Idaho died July 2, 2017, at a hospital in Eagle, Idaho. She was born on Sept. 25, 1932, to Joshua Samuel (Babe) Ford and Pauline (Volgamore) Ford at Holdrege, Neb. She grew up on the family farm located outside of Beaver City, Neb., and graduated from Beaver City High School in 1950...

Benjamin Walter Crouse April 10, 2003 - July 4, 2017 ATWOOD, Kan. — Benjamin Walter Crouse, 14, of Atwood, was born on April 10, 2003. He was baptized and confirmed into the Lutheran faith. On July 4, 2017, Ben's promise of eternal life was fulfilled, at the age of 14, when he ascended through the gates of heaven due to injuries sustained in an ATV accident. His final days were spent surrounded by his family and some of his closest friends in Wesley Children's Hospital, in Wichita, Kan...

COZAD, Neb. -- A pair of one-run losses over the weekend saw McCook First Central Bank’s season come crashing to an end in the Nebraska American Legion B6 Area Tournament...

McCOOK, Neb. — Narrow North Platte escapes topped great McCook National Bank comebacks in an 8-6, 10-7 doubleheader sweep Sunday at the Jaycees Complex. “Cruise Night” was seemingly rolling into Sunday when North Platte took a 5-0 lead just two innings into the opening game...

Do you love lanky Colorado outfielders with big beards and hair growing just about everywhere? Charlie “Chuck Nasty” Blackmon would be your favorite choice to win tonight’s MLB Home Run Derby. Or are you more into short overachievers nicknamed “Moose” because of their stocky appearance. Clean-shaven Mike Moustakas of the Kansas City Royals would be your favorite tonight...

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. — On a mission from the onset, Darren Berry of McCook was a force to be reckoned with in scoring the victory in the United Rebel Sprint Series (URSS) Ron Williams/Dick Myers Memorial Feature on Saturday evening at Lincoln County Raceway...

A Cambridge, Neb., man and a Herndon, Kan., man were killed in separate Sunday pickup truck accidents. Aaron P. Jones, 23, Cambridge, was killed at about 1:08 a.m. Sunday three miles east and a half mile north of Highway 6-34 on Road 399, according to the Nebraska State Patrol...

McCOOK, Neb. — The City of McCook Water Department issued a mandatory water restriction this morning stemming from high temperatures, low precipitation and mechanical issues at the water treatment plant. Effective immediately, city water customers are limited to watering every other day on calendar days corresponding in an odd or even manner with their street address. ...

A truck driver from Texas glances down on his “mini-me” during “Cruise Night” Friday evening in McCook. Bill Moore of McCook and his 1972 GMC C10 pickup were among the many classics and collectibles and customized cars, pickups, motorcycles and rat rods that “dragged Main” during the McCook Chamber’s “Crazy Days.” Beside Moore’s pickup, heading the opposite direction on B Street, are Tim and Terry Stevens in their Volkswagen convertible...

Shiny chrome and saturated colors of classic and collectible cars and pickups line downtown McCook streets during the Crazy Days car show Saturday. The overall winner of the car show was Allen Janas of North Platte with his 1963 Chevrolet Impala SS...

Kearney-based country and classic rock band, “Bases Loaded,” liven up downtown McCook during a Crazy Days street dance on West C Street Friday evening. The McCook Area Chamber of Commerce closed off the block between Norris Avenue and West First Street for the dance and beer garden, charging $10 for entry with your first adult beverage free...

Frontier County 4-H Clover Kids “and best friends” 7-year-old Oakley Stout of Curtis, left, and 8-year-old Jozee Sheffield of Farnam prepare Jozee’s Hereford-cross calf, “Splash,” for judging at the county fair Friday morning. In the show ring, above, Brohdey Wood earned purple ribbons on his show pigs, one shown by Rachel Lashley. ...

CURTIS, Neb. — With drought conditions returning to Southwest Nebraska, Natural Resources Districts are seeking volunteers to help keep track of what rain we do receive. Nebraska’s Natural Resources Districts were created in 1972 for conservation and preservation of our natural resources...

From left, Shyann Worm of Taylor and Chyanne Friehe of Culbertson compete in horsemanship for the 2017 “Miss Southwest Nebraska Rodeo Queen” title during activities in McCook Saturday. The lone junior queen contestant was Lacey Langer of Superior. The new royalty will be crowned before the Red Willow County Fair Rodeo scheduled at 8 p.m., Saturday, July 22, in McCook...

Linner’s barrel train chugs down Nebraska Avenue during the Prairie Pioneer Days and July Fourth parade in Arapahoe Tuesday. The Linner family will open their “Lil’ Barn Pumpkin Patch,” at the north end of Beaver City’s main street, Sept. 23 through Oct. ...