Stories from Monday, September 17, 2018

They’re lining them up like bowling pins with plans to knock the next four foes down as fast as Beatrice Friday night. “Lexington then Alliance then Holdrege then Gering. We have to come out and show ‘em they have no chance,” McCook coach Jeff Gross declared following a 63-3 Homecoming win over the visiting 0-4 Orangemen. “I told the guys afterwards they have no idea how good they can be. We’re not there yet. We’re not even close.”...

McCOOK, Neb. — The first laboratory-confirmed case of influenza A has been confirmed in the Southwest Nebraska Public Health Department’s nine-county health district. Influenza is highly contagious and is caused by the influenza virus. The virus is spread from person to person primarily through droplets, which are released when an infected person coughs or sneezes. SWNPHD highly recommends regular handwashing, covering your cough and getting a flu shot as prevention methods...

McCOOK, Neb. — The Western Cattle Trail Association will tickle your imagination with Tales of the Trail on Friday, Oct. 19 at the Armed Forces Reserve Center in McCook. Imagine standing beside your dugout on a hot summer day and seeing 2500 cattle, an armada of horses and a bunch of noisy cowboys kicking up dust as they made their way north.  The noise, the dust, the trembling of the earth made it impossible to ignore.  As one herd passed, the dust of the next herd could be seen in the distance.. ...

Darrell Meister of McCook and Mililani, Hawaii, the owner of the American bison herd near Red Willow Dam north of McCook, offers tours of his herd of 25 animals starting Wednesday, Sept. 26, helping to kick of McCook’s annual Heritage Days celebration Sept. ...

BARTLEY, Neb. — The Mobile Pantry truck of the Food Bank for the Heartland, Omaha, plans a one-day distribution in the Bartley Community Hall on Saturday, Sept. 22, from noon until 2 p.m. Shoppers MUST bring their own boxes and bags, and preferably some wheeled cart or wagon to move them. The elderly and handicapped are encouraged not to shop alone because the boxes get heavy. There is no delivery service...

McCOOK, Neb. — Jim Jones and Donna Hall of Herrmann Jones Funeral Home in McCook presented the Red Willow County Sheriff’s Department K9 Division with a $1,000 donation Thursday afternoon. All of the expenses for “Luna,” the 8-year-old Belgian Malinois who has sniffed drugs in Red Willow County since October of 2014, are paid with donations, according to her handler Chief Deputy Joe Koetter. ...

Arlene Wickizer Aug. 18, 1936 - Sept. 10, 2018 LINCOLN, Neb. — Arlene Wickizer, 82, of Lincoln, died on Sept. 10, 2018. Arlene was born Aug. 18, 1936, to Conrad and Ella (Groothuis) Scheneman in Wray, Colo. Arlene enjoyed baking, crafting, decorating wedding cakes, traveling and the Red Hat Society. But most of all, she loved her family. Arlene was loved and adored by all, she will be greatly missed...

If you’ve jumped onboard the fitness tracker fad, you probably know all about the 10,000-step rule. Your Fitbit, Apple Watch or another wearable device probably comes pre-set to cajole you into taking 10,000 steps — a number endorsed by the World Health Organization, the American Heart Foundation, and Health and Human Services as a good goal for better health...

“Outlined against a blue, gray October sky, the Four Horsemen rode again.” In dramatic lore they are known as famine, pestilence, destruction, and death. These are only aliases. Their real names are Stuhldreher, Miller, Crowley, and Layden. They formed the crest of the South Bend cyclone, before which another fighting Army team was swept over the precipice at the Polo Grounds this afternoon, as 55,000 spectators peered down on the bewildering panorama spread out upon the green plain below.” This paragraph, penned by Grantland Rice, of the NY Herald-Tribune, on the occasion of the Notre Dame’s victory over Army, 13-7, on Oct. ...

HASTINGS, Neb. — A return trip to Hastings for Saturday’s invitational put the McCook Bison softball girls against top Class B teams again. The Bison saw Omaha Skutt Catholic a second followed by games against Seward and Hastings. Hastings had just won a 10-1 contest at McCook Tuesday night...

TORRINGTON, Wyo. -- The McCook Community College golf team finished second at the Eastern Wyoming Tournament Friday. After trailing the Lancers by eight strokes on Thursday, the Indians dropped eight more strokes in the final round but finished 38 shots ahead of third-place Central Wyoming...

GOTHENBURG, Neb. — The Wildhorse Golf Course didn’t prove too rowdy for McCook junior Brooke Stewart as she rolled a season-best round of 99 Thursday afternoon. Stewart earned 18th place among the 66 varsity golfers just ahead of Cambridge returning state qualifier Lexie Sines...

The McCook High Stars dance team delivered a super halftime performance during Friday’s 63-3 Homecoming football victory over Beatrice.

MAYWOOD, Neb. — Jaycee Widener clobbered 16 kills and five stuff blocks to lead Maywood-Hayes Center’s 25-17, 25-18, 25-15 sweep of visiting Creek Valley on Friday. The Wolves were a little sluggish early but took change with Maci Sorge serving 18-for-18...

McCOOK, Neb. — Most every area volleyball team won a Bison Invitational match but the undefeated Alliance Bulldogs took home Saturday’s championship. The Chase County Longhorns made an impressive effort as they swept a strong Cambridge Trojan team 25-17, 25-22; then disposed of semifinal foe Valentine 25-15, 25-16...

LEXINGTON, Neb. — McCook’s tennis boys were oh-so-close to another team title while Logan Barenberg and Isaac Hinze did win No. 2 doubles at Friday’s Lexington Invitational. Barenberg/Hinze swept through five sets with no match closer than 6-3. Barenberg and Hinze are an impressive 15-2 so far this season...

McCOOK, Neb. — All McCook Bison stat leaders from Friday’s 63-3 Homecoming win over Beatrice at Weiland Field: TEAM STATS Rushing yards: McCook 247, Beatrice 76 Passing yards: McCook 74, Beatrice 14 Total yards: McCook 321, Beatrice 90 First downs: McCook 16, Beatrice 4...