Stories from Friday, January 12, 2018

Darian Hutto (24) and the Hitchcock County Falcon teams soared to a sweep of visiting Alma Friday night. Both games were tied at halftime, but the Falcon girls triumphed 49-42 while those boys followed with a 46-43 victory. Watch for more details of all weekend area sports action in Monday's McCook Gazette...

Gazette-area football fans were feeling both saintly and strong as steel while making their Super Bowl picks in Thursday’s edition. Others became Patriots while only one gullible but loyal doofus bravely stands behind bearded Norwegians. Yes, the Super champs varied from Pittsburgh to New Orleans to New England to (yes!) the mighty frustrating Minnesota Vikings...

Those of us who grew up in small-town Nebraska may conjure up a scene straight out of Andy Griffith when we think back to our childhoods. While much of rural Nebraska may be more like Mayberry RFD than Los Angeles, we have our share of crime and depravity, and authorities are dealing with far more than Barney’s misadventures...

Sen. Hughes’ December newspaper column misleads the public on key issues. He claims that “Landowners with a Common Purpose “ ( LCP,) is supported by a small number of individuals. LCP was organized over concerns related to the creation and operation by four southwest Nebraska Natural Resource Districts’ of their NCORPE project. ...

Carla J. Marintzer Feb. 28, 1946 - Jan. 9, 2018 OBERLIN, Kan. — Carla J. Marintzer, daughter of Emmery and Josephine (Solko) Marintzer, was born Feb. 28, 1946, in Oberlin. She passed away Jan. 9, 2018, at the Rawlins County Health Center in Atwood, Kan., at the age of 71...

Daniel Francis Andrijeski July 16, 1931 - Jan. 10, 2018 FORT WORTH, Texas — Dan F. Andrijeski, 86, passed away Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2018. Funeral is 4 p.m. Sunday at Thompson's Harveson and Cole Funeral Home with visitation beginning at 3 p.m. Interment is 12:30 p.m. Monday at the Dallas Fort Worth National Cemetery. Procession to the cemetery will depart from the funeral home at 11:30 a.m...

Claire Rae Matson John and Allie (Nightingale) Matson of San Jose, Calif., announce the birth of their daughter, Claire Rae Matson, born Jan. 7, 2018, at San Jose. She weighed 8 pounds, 13 ounces and measured 21 inches long. She has one brother, Carter, 16 months. ...

Often I get so wrapped up in history that I forget what the true mission of Southwest Nebraska Genealogical Society is. Yes, we preserve the written history of our tri-state corner of the world, but we do much, much more! Within the last few weeks we have returned a family document collection to the Enright family, that they were able to share together with all the relatives that gathered for Alice Enright’s son’s funeral. ...

GRANT, Neb. -- Chase County split with South Platte Valley Association rival Perkins County in the eighth annual Pink Out basketball games in Grant...

This season’s College Football Playoff debate wasn’t the first and it won’t be the last with regard to the number of playoff teams. Yesterday, Gazette sports editor R.B. Headley gave his and others’ opinions on the matter. Today, it’s only right that yours truly weighs in...

McCOOK, Neb. — Indians magic continued with another win over The Tribe to start YMCA Men’s Basketball Tournament action Wednesday evening. Indians earned their first victory all season when they surprised The Tribe, 100-84, last week. A final score was not obtained, but Indians (2-4 record) triumphed again in their opening tournament game...

McCOOK, Neb. — KNGN Radio supporter and board member Judy Schow finds it comforting that with the radio station’s new FM capabilities, she’ll be able to fall asleep listening to music and radio programming that so deeply touches her heart. When the Federal Communications Commission approves the radio station’s application for its new FM translator station and new equipment is installed, KNGN will be able to broadcast 24 hours a day, “not just dawn to dusk,” Judy says. ...

BENKELMAN, Neb. — After breaking through for a huge volleyball win last fall, the Wauneta-Palisade girls were close to repeating that achievement on a basketball court Thursday night. Senior Faith Simpson’s 29 points featured a near “triple double” with nine rebounds and eight steals...

McCOOK, Neb. — State lawmakers feeling optimistic about this year’s effort to repeal the state motorcycle helmet law were once again disappointed Wednesday when legislation fell three votes short. During his weekly conference call to the McCook Chamber of Commerce Thursday morning, Dist. 44 State Sen. Dan Hughes said lawmakers spent about six hours debating the bill, LB 368, before coming up short of the needed votes for cloture...

LINCOLN — The McCook Police Department is being awarded a $900 highway safety grant to assist in obtaining one mobile radar unit. The MPD has been awarded the funding to help prevent traffic crashes, injuries, and fatalities at various locations throughout the area, according to Fred Zwonechek, Highway Safety Office Administrator for the Nebraska Department of Transportation...

McCOOK, Neb. — The McCook Civil Service Commission is scheduled to meet Saturday to conduct written testing and oral interviews for applicants looking to fill two vacant patrol officer positions with the McCook Police Department. The meetings are open to the public and scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m. ...

Services are pending with Carpenter Breland Funeral Home in McCook.