Stories from Tuesday, December 5, 2017

LINCOLN, Neb. -- Cambridge wasn’t intimidated...

Larry Dean Hamler June 29, 1948 - Dec. 3, 2017 McPHERSON, Kan. — Larry Dean Hamler, 69, of McPherson, passed away on Sunday, Dec. 3, 2017, surrounded by his family. Larry was born in McCook, Neb., on June 29, 1948, to Frances and Roberta (Blake) Hamler. He attended McCook High School as well as McCook Community College. He married Lana Farmer in 1967, and they had three children. She preceded him in death on Jan. 5, 1995.  On Dec. 27, 1997, he married Marilyn (Koehn) Shaft in McPherson...

McCOOK, Neb. — Long-time McCook Public Schools business manager Rick Haney is retiring. McCook Schools Superintendent Grant Norgaard confirmed the retirement today, adding that Haney’s resignation letter will be included on the McCook School Board’s agenda for the regular meeting on Monday, Dec. 11...

McCOOK, Neb. — By their weekly meeting Monday morning, Red Willow County commissioners had received one application for the position of county assessor, a vacancy created by the resignation in November by 411⁄2-year county employee Sandra Kotschwar...

McCOOK, Neb. — Typically, once every 4-5 years a vehicle is involved in an accident which damages one of the City of McCook’s fire hydrants. City officials reported last night there have been six accidents involving fire hydrants already this year. “We had another vehicle versus fire hydrant accident last week, at the corner of East 4th and C Street. ...

McCOOK, Neb. — City leaders are hoping to receive a presentation from a contracted aquatic engineering firm later this month that will provide options for a potential upgrade or replacement of the city swimming pool. During last night’s meeting of the McCook City Council, City Manager Nate Schneider said he had been working with Public Works Director Kyle Potthoff, Pool Manager Jody Crocker and City Attorney Nate Mustion on the project and was hopeful the presentation could be scheduled before the end of the year and was looking forward to it.. ...

McCOOK, Neb. — Red Willow District Judge David Urbom declined to reduce the bond for the 34-year-old McCook man who ran from Red Willow County deputies when they tried to stop him in McCook Wednesday, Nov. 15, on a felony warrant and a charge of failure to comply with sex offender registry requirements...

CURTIS, Neb. — Southwest Nebraska Public Health Department will be offering Vaccines for Children vaccinations on Monday, Dec. 11th from 4:30 to 5:30 pm at Medicine Valley High School. Anyone six months and older are invited to get their flu or other vaccinations. Walkins are welcome...

Same-sex marriage was still illegal in Colorado when Charlie Craig and David Mullins walked into Jack Phillips’ Masterpiece Cakeshop in Lakewood, Colo., to order a cake for their wedding reception. They had just gotten married in Massachusetts, where it was legal, but wanted to have a reception back home...

I felt compelled to write to the McCook Gazette after seeing the concert held at the Historic Fox Theatre this last Sunday. I have NEVER heard an orchestra that sounded remotely like this one; it was so professional and moving I didn’t want it to end...

I don’t know about you but for me, it is no trouble to tell that the season of giving is approaching. It seems that each time I open the mailbox there is a flurry of letters requesting donations to a never-ending assortment of worthy causes. Some of those donation requests include return address labels and some include calendars for the New Year. Unsolicited by me I keep and use those gifts whether or not I decide to contribute to their cause...

RAVENNA, Neb. — Some familar top Gazette-area wrestlers reached title maches at Friday’s Ravenna Invitational. Junior Kaden Guerrero claimed second place at 138 pounds while leading the Southwest Roughriders to 65 points. Guerrero pinned Minden’s Dawson Holsten with almost no time remaining (6:00) and then won a 9-5 decision over Central Valley’s Enrique Martinez...

BROKEN BOW, Neb. — Returning state finalist Aaron Hinojosa’s dominant championship powered the Chase County Longhorns to fourth place at Saturday’s Broken Bow Invite. Hinojosa has started 5-0 including a 96-second pin of Mitchell’s John Plasencio, 23-8 tech fall over St. Paul’s ick Padmos and then his 3:34 finals pin over Bow heavyweight Drew Drake...

COZAD, Neb. — Jared Cole’s 182-pound championship topped a strong McCook junior varsity wrestling performance at the Cozad Invitational on Saturday. Cole started with a 39-second pin of Wahoo’s Brody Specht. He only went 27 seconds ino the second period before finishing Tayden Vandenberg from Seward...

ELWOOD, Neb. -- It came down to the wire again...

McCOOK, Neb. — Who’s the better 2-0 area boys team: Arapahoe or those Southwest Roughriders? An early answer should arrive at McCook Junior High today. Will Maywood-Hayes Center’s talented girls show they’re ready to dethrone Dundy County-Stratton? The Wolves, Tigers and Wauneta-Palisade Bronco girls are all an impressive 2-0...