Stories from Tuesday, January 2, 2018

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. -- Hot 3-point shooting led to three Bison defeats in the Greater Nebraska Athletic Conference Tournament...

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. -- McCook outscored Lexington in the third quarter of Saturday’s consolation game 21-5 to help the Lady Bison post a 57-43 win over the Minutemaids in the North Platte High School auxiliary gym...

Small-town media can’t cover the big national stories the way their big city counterparts can, but they’ve got the edge when it comes to news their friends and neighbors really care about. That holds true whether those stories are delivered over the airwaves, in digital form, dropped on your front porch or delivered in the mailbox...

The numbers changed. We will have to remember to write 2018 on our checks instead of last year’s 2017. For the moment not much else changed and it is still cold outside. A good time to catch up on paperwork, prepare a yearly budget and get records together to prepare income taxes...

Not being a permanent resident of the region but a person with significant investment interest in the region I would like to expand the conversation Steve Shaner opened with his letter to the editor recently. His letter, as well as follow up comments by Rural Citizen and Nick Mercy all warrant attention...

GENEVA, Neb. -- Southern Valley finished eighth at Saturday’s Fillmore Central Holiday Tournament in Geneva...

Larry “LJ” Becker Oct. 17, 1943 - Dec. 26, 2017 BEAVER CITY, Neb. — Larry “LJ” Becker, 74, of Beaver City, died Tuesday (Dec. 26, 2017), at the Beaver City Manor in Beaver City. He was born in Logan, Kan., on Oct. 17, 1943, to Bernard A. and Geraldine L. ...

Helen B. Pinner HOLDREGE, Neb.— Helen B. Pinner, 94, of Holdrege, died Monday (Jan. 1, 2018), at Holdrege Memorial Homes in Holdrege. Services are Thursday, Jan. 4, 2018, 11 a.m. at Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege with Chaplain Kathy Doiel officiating. Private family inurnment will be at a later date...

Delores Joan Jennings Sept. 10, 1941 - Dec. 30, 2017 OBERLIN, Kan. — Delores Joan Jennings, 76, died Saturday (Dec. 30, 2017) at Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney, Neb. She was born Sept. 10, 1941 in Fairbury, Neb., to Arthur and Wilma (Chancellor) Dimond. She grew up in McCook, Neb., with her grandparents, Vernon and Rose Chancellor. She attended grade school and high school in McCook and one year at Gulf Coast Bible College in Houston, Texas...

Rowena Mae Cathcart Aug.29, 1925 - Dec. 30, 2017 OBERLIN, Kan. — Rowena Mae Cathcart was born Aug.29, 1925, to Albert and Maude (Loomis) Lacey at their farm home near Hayes Center, Neb. She passed away Saturday, Dec. 30, 2017, at the Good Samaritan Society in Oberlin, Kansas, at the age of 92...

Douglas James Swanson May 30, 1956 - Dec. 28, 2017 INDIANOLA, Neb. — Douglas James Swanson, age 61, passed away at Indianola on Dec. 28, 2017. He was born in Hastings, Neb., on May 30, 1956, to Marvin Swanson and Kay (Lantz) Perkins. Doug received his education in Hastings and graduated from Hastings High School in 1974. He then attended University of Colorado at Boulder, Colo., attaining his bachelor’s of science degree...

Debra Lynne Swanson Sept. 16, 1956 - Dec. 28, 2017 INDIANOLA, Neb. — Debra Lynne Swanson, age 61, passed away at Indianola on Dec. 28, 2017. She was born in Denver, Colo., on Sept. 16, 1956, to Virgil and Ruth (Kirch) Woodhams. Debra graduated from High School in Houston, Texas, in 1974...

LINCOLN, Neb. — Nebraska State Fire Marshal investigators have determined that the Dec. 28 house fire that killed an Indianola couple was accidental in nature and is believed to have originated with an unattended candle. The fire claimed the lives of Douglas and Debra Swanson, each 61 years of age. ...

McCOOK, Neb. — A local man is seeking reimbursement for the damage his Cadillac suffered while traveling on a rough patch of city streets. McCook city leaders will receive and file the claim this evening during a regularly scheduled meeting of the McCook City Council, 6:30 p.m., at the Municipal Center...

BARTLEY, Neb. — A super 1-2 Southwest duo punched out the Elwood Pirates, 62-45, Saturday evening. Junior Blake Williams scored 18 points and senior Logan Greenlee added 16 as the Roughriders (5-3 record) regained momentum entering 2018. Senior Derek Greenlee also reached double figures with 11 points...

WAUNETA, Neb. — Wauneta-Palisade’s girls took charge with a 22-point third quarter and downed Arapahoe, 51-38, Friday evening. The Broncos regained their footing following back-to-back losses against Chase County and powerful Hyannis. Coach Matt Cox’s team improved to 6-3 and will visit Hitchcock County in Trenton Friday evening...

BRADY, Neb. — Junior Lydia Hagan led a Falcon barrage in Brady Saturday as her four three-point bombs fueled Hitchcock County’s 49-41 championship game victory. Hagan hit 80 percent from long distance while the Falcons (8-2 record) stretched their win streak to five since dropping a Cattle Trail overtime semifinal to Wauneta-Palisade on Dec. 8...

OGALLALA, Neb. — High school “rookie” wrestlers ruled Saturday’s dual where McCook trounced the host Ogallala Indians, 48-27. Kory Rogers, Kallen Feikert and Tate Felber all scored pins to help the Bison earn a decisive dual victory. “They’re all freshmen who picked up their first varsity wins,” coach Nick Umscheid confirmed about McCook’s final wrestling action of 2017...