Stories from Monday, March 12, 2018

PITTSBURG, Kan. -- Southern Valley alumnus Alan Varela earned All-American honors with a sixth-place finish in the men's 600-meter run at the NAIA National Championships in Pittsburg, Kan., March 1-3...

Gazette sportswriter Gabe Gauthier proved to be the ultimate “small town sage” with his perfect 21-0 prediction of the C-2, D-1 and D-2 boys state basketball tournaments last weekend. Gauthier knew three-time champ Lourdes Central would end Kenesaw’s quest for a first title in any team sport...

McCOOK, Neb. — The McCook Community College Lady Indian softball team dropped a pair of games Saturday to Trinidad State. The Lady Trojans won the opening game 8-5 in nine innings and won the second game 13-5. GAME 1: Trinidad State 8, McCook CC 5 (9 innings): The Lady Indians overcame a 5-1 deficit in the fifth inning and scree a pair of runs in the fifth inning and two more in the seventh inning to send the game into extra innings...

COLLEGE STATION, Texas ­— Oklahoma State track and field senior Hassan Abdi and the Cowgirl distance medley relay squad both earned first-team All-America honors at the 2018 NCAA Indoor Championships on Friday in Gilliam Indoor Stadium. Abdi’s award marks his second indoor first-team honor, third overall in an OSU uniform and first open event All-America honor...

McCOOK, Neb. — The McCook Community College Indian baseball team downed Lamar Community College Saturday 10-5 to sweep the Lopes in the three-game series at the Jaycees Sports Complex. The Indians scored three runs in the first, fifth and eighth innings to make a winner of starting pitcher Ryan Marstiller, sophomore (Centennial, Colo.) who went six innings, allowed three earned runs, eight hits and struck out three...

LINCOLN, Neb. — The Nebraska Tourism Commission has announced that the stops that will be part of the 2018 Nebraska Passport include Loop Brewing Company in McCook. The Passport inspires Nebraskans and tourists to travel the state collecting stamps to earn prizes, while also supporting Nebraska’s tourism destinations...

LINCOLN, Neb. — More than 500 cyclists will enjoy the scenery and hospitality along the 248-mile loop route through northeast Nebraska on the 31st Tour de Nebraska bicycle adventure, June 20-24, 2018. “Tour de Nebraska is a perfect multi-day tour for first-time tourists to seasoned veterans. ...

President Trump has backed off a proposal to raise the age limit for purchasing certain types of rifles to 21, but has put forth a plan to encourage some teachers to be armed. Quite a change from recent years when students have been disciplined or expelled for biting a sandwich into the shape of a pistol, or pointing at a classmate, wiggling a thumb and saying, in a high-pitched voice, “pew-pew.”...

Recently, in a conversation with a new resident of McCook, the fellow mentioned his fondness for the Higgins landing craft, the little boat that played such an important part in the allied Normandy invasion of Europe, as well as the invasion of so many islands in the Pacific during World War II. ...

There is a concerning and peculiar odor emanating from Lincoln. Sen. Dan Hughes, District 44 Legislator and Chairman of the Natural Resources Committee has frequently shown himself to be a staunch ally of NPPD and big business over and above the citizens of Nebraska as evidenced by his legislative action and/or lack thereof as well as in his monthly columns in the McCook Gazette, his 44th District “hometown” newspaper...