Stories from Tuesday, January 30, 2018

McCOOK, Neb. — The 2017 Republican River Fitness Series officially concluded Sunday with the annual awards banquet. During 2017, more than 430 runners and walkers took part in at least one of the 12 events, which included several 5Ks, a couple 10Ks, a half-marathon and a sprint triathlon...

Your old columnist may have set himself up for a whole mess of trouble. This week I spent several days attending the Nebraska Aviation Symposium in Kearney. The annual workshop brings together pilots and others interested in aviation. The FAA was well represented with presenters from the world of air traffic control, navigation aids, all the latest in electronic equipment, think virtual reality—displays in front of the pilot showing the ground and runway “looking right through” solid cloud cover even in the darkest of night. ...

Suppose you just tend to put things off. Or perhaps some of the tax documents you need to file are slow to arrive. You finally get around to submitting your return and are shocked to find out it’s already been done, and the refund went to an address that isn’t yours...

Josh Moenning Over the holiday break, I took a quick trip to Minneapolis. More than the immensity of the Mall of America and the sleekness of U.S. Bank Stadium (site of this year’s Super Bowl), I came away with this: On my 5 1/2 hour drive from Norfolk, I traversed three states and drove on just one two-lane highway. It was in Nebraska...

McCOOK, Neb. — Officials in Red Willow and Frontier counties hope that, by bidding together on the purchase of materials for two bridge projects, they’ll get a break on the cost. At their weekly meeting Monday morning, Red Willow County commissioners and Gary Dicenta, the county’s roads superintendent, discussed Red Willow County’s and Frontier County ‘s approval for 55 percent match funding from the Nebraska Department of Transportation’s 2018 bridge match program. ...

McCOOK, Neb. — An Indianola business venture was the $1,000 winner in McCook Community College’s first-ever Biz Launch weekend. Jon and Kristen Harris of Indianola received the money to help make their plan for a trucking business a reality. “We plan to use the money on the organizational side of our business, getting a computer dedicated to the business and business software,” they said...

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. — SkyWest Airlines is launching new United Express jet service from North Platte Regional Airport to Denver International on Thursday. SkyWest and the airport will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony and formal remarks at 2 p.m. Thursday CST, just before the first flight departs at 2:30 p.m...

Wandyne A. Bamesberger Oct 19, 1927 – Jan 28, 2018 BELLEVUE, Neb. — Wandyne A. Bamesberger died Sunday (Jan. 28, 2018). She was preceded in death by parents; two sisters and a brother. Survivors include her husband of 71 years, Ervin Bamesberger; children, Mark (Joann) Bamesberger, Carol (Allen) Ziegelbein and Keith (Kathryn) Bamesberger; five grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and other family members...

Daniel Kermit Arterburn April 23, 1956 - Jan. 19, 2018 PRESCOTT, Ariz. — Prop him up beside the jukebox... Daniel Kermit Arterburn, 61, of Prescott, died Friday, Jan. 19, 2018, due to health complications from influenza. Dan was born in McCook, Neb., on April 23, 1956. Dan began his career as a craftsman in McCook, where he worked together with his dad, Kermit, designing, building and remodeling over 100 homes in the area. ...

Janet L. Fletcher Sept. 6, 1931 - Jan. 27, 2018 McCOOK, Neb. — Janet L. Fletcher, 86, passed away on Jan. 27, 2018, at Hillcrest Nursing Home in McCook. Janet was born on Sept. 6, 1931, in Mason City, Iowa, to Eugene and Gladys (Miller) Daley. She moved to McCook as a young girl and spent the majority of her life in a town she loved...

BARTLEY, Neb. — The Southwest Academic Decathlon team recently competed in and won regional competition in Lexington Jan. 20. The students also won the "Super Quiz" section, outscoring all teams, including teams from larger school divisions. This years’s theme was “Africa.”...

McCOOK, Neb. — The Decatur Community (Kan.) Red Devils took on four tough Nebaska foes in Friday’s McCook Dual Tournament. The Red Devils were closest to victory during their 48-28 battle with host McCook. They scored four impressive pins from heavyweight Zeke Jimenez, 195-pounder Reegon Witt, Drew Juenemann at 132 and Colton Ketterl at 138...

McCOOK, Neb. — Landon Towne lifted his state-rated opponent in the air and soon had him pinned to one of McCook’s home mats. Trevor Felber turned a match not going his way into another memorable win that was two seconds faster than Towne. Meanwhile, senior Kaleb Taylor returned from missing several meets to score McCook’s fastest pin all day: 49 seconds...

McCOOK, Neb. — Who's bringing a better party to the Peter & Dolores Graff Center than Southern Valley's girls in 2017-18? Senior Cassie Bose clearly wasn’t missing a chance to enjoy Southern Valley’s latest great achievement Saturday evening. “This is amazing,” Bose proclaimed about the Eagles’ 39-36 RPAC finals win over West No. 1 Dundy County-Stratton...

McCOOK, Neb. — One phrase from senior Tyler Borland said it all about Cambridge’s RPAC basketball championship Saturday night. “Through it all, we know we’ve got each other’s backs,” he said about classmate Caden Houghtelling and all the Trojans who toppled one of Nebraska’s few remaining unbeaten basketball teams...

LEXINGTON, Neb. — Adam Dugger’s 16 points helped drop Lexington into a big hole and McCook seventh-graders went to the 39-24 “A” team vicory on Monday. The Bison buried Lex with a 28-10 first half. They led 19-8 through just one quarter. McCook maintained its strong advantage at 35-16 entering the final period...

McCOOK, Neb. — McCook broadcaster Seth Baumert proved smarter even than Gazette guru Gabe Gauthier with his pick of Philadelphia vs. New England for Sunday’s Super Bowl 52. No other guest matched Baumert’s two for two, though radio colleague Matt Williams declared New England would win its sixth Super Bowl to tie Pittsburgh...

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. — Sammy Graham and Cale Graham scored the McCook Youth Wrestlers’ most points while placing at Sunday’s Platte River Ruckus Nationals. Sammy Graham pinned one opponent and tech falled another as he took second in the 43-46 pound division for pre-kindergarteners...