Stories from Tuesday, December 10, 2019

McCOOK, Neb. — Complete darkness descended upon the McCook High gymnasium Saturday night almost as it to say... “Get ready, Bison basketball fans, you’re about to really enjoy what you see next.” The Bison boys certainly delivered following those spotlight pre-game introductions — even if coach Joe Imus’ first post-game remarks maybe didn’t agree with many McCook fans...

McCOOK, Neb. — The road to basketball season’s first championship for most area schools will run through McCook with Cattle Trail Tournament action tipping off today. Dundy County-Stratton actually swept the Kimball Invitational titles last week, and they’ll likely be top favorites again among 16 Cattle Trail area teams...

Lorene Marie Phillips Nov. 14, 1933 - Dec. 5, 2019 KINGSLAND, Texas —Lorene Marie Phillips, 86, of Kingsland, passed away Dec. 5, 2019. She was born to Alvin and Mary (Sughroue) Rothmeyer on the family farm near Oberlin, Kan., on Nov. 14, 1933. Later the family moved to McCook, Neb., where Lorene graduated from high school in 1950...

Marvin Henry Helms Oct. 4, 1945 - Nov. 30, 2019 POWAY, Calif. — Marvin Henry Helms died Nov. 30, 2019, at Pomerado Hospital in Poway. Marvin was born Oct. 4, 1945, at North Platte, Neb., to Reinhold and Tillie (Jorgensen) Helms. He was baptized at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, North Platte, and was confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church, Arapahoe, Neb. The family lived at Curtis, Neb., moving to Orland, Calif., in 1946. They then moved to Arapahoe in 1950...

McCOOK, Neb — The recent bump-up in the state’s classification of McCook High School generated some discussion from the McCook School Board Monday night. The Nebraska Department of Education annually “grades” all public schools in Nebraska with a system called AQUeSTT, Accountability for a Quality Education System, Today and Tomorrow. ...

McCOOK, Neb. — A $5,000 grant from the McCook Community Foundation Fund will help buy supplies for “Bison Days” at McCook High School. Representatives of the foundation, Ronda Graff, Cindy Huff and Pam Wolford, presented a $5,000 check at the regular McCook School Board meeting Monday night...

Out and about I visited with a lady, a longtime friend, about your Senator Ben Sasse. Suzy was upset at this half of our representatives in the deliberative body of Congress. Somewhere she had the idea that now Senator Sasse might become our next Vice President if Trump choses him to be his running mate in next year’s election. ...

Have you tried a plant-based burger at a fast-food chain? Frankly, our tastebuds were too busy dealing with with the onion, lettuce, tomato, condiments and bun to pay much attention to the taste “meat” in a Burger King Impossible whopper. It was there, all right, and your kid probably wouldn’t know the difference if he didn’t hear you make the order at the drive through...

Each day, 29 million students participate in the national school lunch program. The Nebraska Food Council is urging Congress to reauthorize the Child Nutrition Act, with inclusion of the Farm to School Act and Kids Eat Local Act, to bring responsible food choices into schools...

TORRINGTON, Wyo. – Eastern Wyoming handed the MCC women their second-straight loss Saturday 81-54 to end the semester. The Lady Indians shot 36.1 percent from the field, made five of 19 shots from beyond the arc (26.3 percent) and made five of 11 shots from the free-throw line...

ATWOOD, Kan. — Look out, Cattle Trail tourney, because the Decatur Community (Kan.) girls will roll into McCook off a great opening win Friday night. Senior Alyssa VanVleet tallied 20 points, senior Anna Carter scored 18 and the Red Devils fought off Rawlins County (Kan.) by a 48-47 final count...

ATWOOD, Kan. — Senior Pierce Utterback’s outside bombs and the inside barrage of Dionte Perkins powered Hitchcock County’s 55-23 victory over Rawlins County (Kan.) Saturday evening. Utterback had a blast with four three-point shots before halftime while outscoring the Buffaloes, 14-13, in those first two quarters...

MAYWOOD, Neb. — Maywood-Hayes Center’s top three scorers shot better than 50 percent overall while leading a 60-31 victory over visiting Southwest on Saturday. Senior Avery Johnson made nine of 15 field goals (60 percent) for 18 points and classmate Jaycee Lapp shot 80 percent from two-point range en route to 14...

TORRINGTON, Wyo. –It took overtime Saturday, but the McCook Community College men were able to split the weekend Wyoming road-trip with a buzzer beater to top Eastern Wyoming 76-73. Sophomore Raheim Sullivan (Toronto, Ontario) hit a 3-pointer with time expiring in the second overtime for the win...

COZAD, Neb. — Junior Alec Langan’s 195-pound championship led five McCook wrestlers who earned top three places at Saturday’s season-opening Cozad Invitational. Teammate and returning state qualifier Tate Felber reached the 145-pound title match while placing second...

McCOOK, Neb. — A brilliant McCook girls effort featuring 34 turnovers forced and only 34 points allowed led to the season-opening win over Valentine on Saturday. Freshman Shawna Wilkinson scored 17 points in a truly terrific hgh school debut while seven other Bison scored clutch points...

KIMBALL, Neb. —A one-act play wasn’t about to turn the Dundy County-Stratton girls into championship imposters at last weekend’s Kimball basketball invitational. The Class D-1 No. Tigers took down finalist Morrill, 49-39, on Saturday even though two players weer missing because of a district one-act...

McCOOK, Neb. — McCook Community College has named Iowa native Kevin Kaalberg as the new coach for the Lady Indians softball team as well as an enrollment coach. In addition to coaching high school softball in Iowa, Kaalberg is leaving his job as Senior Financial Analyst at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics – Heart, & Vascular Center in Iowa City to take the MCC post and the opportunity to do what he loves...

HASTINGS, Neb. - The McCook High School swim and dive team kicked off the 2019-2020 season at Hastings on Saturday with several reasons to be optimistic about the upcoming season. First-year head coach Jon Graff said they had a lot of success on both the girls and boys side...