Stories from Thursday, October 3, 2019

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. – The McCook Community College volleyball team came back from an 0-2 deficit Wednesday night at McDonald-Belton Gymnasium to score a five-set win over North Platte. The Lady Indians dropped the first two sets, 23-25, 22-25 then came back to win the final three 25-18, 25-18, 15-10...

HOLDREGE, Neb. — “Love It or They Will Leave It‚” suggests that the survival of small, rural towns is up to the residents, no one else, and is the theme for the annual meeting of the South Platte United Chamber of Commerce scheduled for Oct. 30 in Holdrege. Members as well as the general public are urged to attend...

McCOOK, Neb. — A new agreement between Mid-Plains Community College and the University of Nebraska at Omaha will make it easier than ever for students to continue their study of graphic design. Graphic design students from Mid-Plains will now have the option of transferring directly into UNO’s School of the Arts to pursue a Bachelor of Arts degree in Art and Art History’s graphic design program...

Erma June Fortkamp June 7, 1927 - Oct. 2, 2019 McCOOK, Neb. — Erma June Fortkamp was born June 7, 1927, in rural Dundy County, Neb., to Ben and Fanny (Duhm) Donze. Erma was baptized and confirmed in the Redeemer Lutheran Church in Wauneta and graduated from Wauneta High School in 1946...

Diane J. Hanson Aug. 24, 1944 - Sept. 28, 2019 INDEPENDENCE, MO. — Diane J. Hanson, the daughter of Arnold and Ruth (Ahrens) Perry, was born Aug. 24, 1944, in Concordia, Kan., and passed away on Sept. 28, 2019, in Independence, at the age of 75 years, one month and four days...

McCOOK, Neb. — Even though they never get the chance to meet the recipients of their efforts, volunteers from the Work Ethic Camp in McCook are gratified to know they make a difference to adults and children who live in the community. The facility has teamed up with The Sharing Place, located in the McCook Christian Church...

Women Involved in Farm Economics is urging the immediate removal of Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue. At a Tuesday meeting in Wisconsin at the World Dairy Expo, Perdue supported the idea of inevitable bigness in agriculture with this statement, “In America, the big get bigger and the small go out.”...

Repairs are underway on paving at McCook’s Ben Nelson Regional Airport, with McCook providing a 10% match of the costs, or about $163,000, from sales tax.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who made the effort to attend one of the interim study hearings the Natural Resources Committee held this past month in Scottsbluff and McCook. I appreciate everyone who testified and brought information to the attention of the committee members...

Protests were to be expected after a white cop received a fraction of the possible sentence for shooting and killing a black man in his own apartment. The judge in the Amber Guyger case was criticized for giving the killer a hug after the sentencing, and the propriety of that action is certainly open to criticism...

Judge Anne Paine swears in Caitlin Whitehead, left, and Laura Maddox-Bechard, right, as Court Appointed Special Advocates on Wednesday. Laura was assigned her first case that same day, and Caitlin is the new volunteer coordinator for the program. The organization serves seven counties in Southwest Nebraska, and currently has 20 volunteers advocating for 17 children, according to director Cathy McDowell. ...

WALLACE, Neb. — Freshman Ashlin Broz never missed on 23 serves while the Maywood-Center Wolves remained flawless at 17-0 with their Wallace Triangular sweep Tuesday. Junior Jaycee Widener crushed 10 kills to power the 25-21, 25-14 downing of Brady Eagles...

They’ve been blasted in huge Big Ten Conference early showdowns these last two weekends. Now Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh and the Nebraska Cornhuskers face feisty tests again on Saturday. Few 1-3 teams could be tougher than the Northwestern Wildcats, who allowed two defensive TDs but still only lost 24-15 at No. 8 Wisconsin last week...

Latest results from TJ’s Family Fun Center in McCook: Men’s Major TJ’s Family Fun 119-61 Lickity Splits 117.5-62.5 J&L Construction 103-77 Wagner’s Ford 97.5-82.5 Quality Irrigation 95-85 Diamond Vogel 86-94...

GOODYEAR, Ariz. – The streak of three straight wins to open their season may have come to an end, but the 15th-ranked OUAZ men’s golf team still put together an impressive performance at the OUAZ Fall Invitational held on Monday and Tuesday. The Spirit finished second overall – and first among NAIA teams – at their 54-hole home event that was held at Eagle’s Nest Golf Club...

TRENTON, Neb. — Stronger challenges await, but the Hitchcock County Falcons are clearly playing great football after winning their last three games, 178-0. The Falcons (3-1) have already topped their win total from last season as they get shot to host 3-1 Alma Friday night in Trenton...

McCOOK, Neb. — With three of their next four games at Weiland Field, McCook Bison coach Jeff Gross knows there’s no better time or place to start a push into Class B playoffs again. “You bet we are glad to be home,” Gross said entering Friday’s battle against the Alliance Bulldogs at Weiland Field. “And this one Friday will be huge.”...