Stories from Tuesday, January 28, 2020

McCOOK, Neb. – An inmate was apprehended shortly after jumping the fence at the Work Ethic Camp in McCook this morning. The escape occurred just before 9:30 a.m. Ryan Lykens #76263 (37) was taken into custody near the facility around 45 minutes later...

McCOOK, Neb. — Bison Vison was certainly 20-20 as two terrific McCook runs of 20-0 and 20-2 decided Monday’s Southwest Conference Tournament basketball quarterfinal. The Bison didn’t quite match Kobe Bryant’s jersey number “24” — but that NBA legend would surely have been proud of how they responded to an early six-point deficit...

McCook varsity baskeball players donned Kobe Bryant-style shoes while signaling number “24” which the Los Angles Lakers star wore through most of his stellar NBA career. Bryant died in a helicopter crash with eight other people on Sunday. From left are Bison sophomore Cole Cappel, juniors Isiah Weimers, Ty Stevens, Isaiah Stoddard, senior Jordan Chauncy and sophomore Brendan Gillen. The Bison beat Valentine Monday night...

Nancy L. Pearson Dec. 17, 1958 - Jan. 16, 2020 SUTHERLAND, Neb. — Nancy L. Pearson, 61, of Sutherland, passed away Jan. 16, 2020. Nancy was born Dec. 17, 1958, in Columbus, Neb., to Harold and Beverly (Vakoc) Hecke. She graduated from Columbus High School and subsequently went to work with ESU No. ...

ALMA, Neb. — Junior Acelyn Klein’s 16 points led Medicine Valley to an RPAC tournament consolation, 53-36, over Arapahoe on Monday. Freshman Milla Farr stepped up to add 12 points for the 5-10 Raiders. Junior Jessa Bailey added 10 points, phomore Kaylyn Roblee eight and senior Sabra Schmidt seven...

ALMA, Neb. — Cambridge kept its winning streak going with a tough 53-44 RPAC girls tournament win over Bertrand Monday evening. The Trojans (7-6) have won six straight entering an East Division title game against rival Southern Valley on Thursday in Bartley...

MAYWOOD, Neb. — A 13-2 advantage in assists showed the Maywood-Hayes Center girls can do those “little things” that coach Kim Stengel loves Monday night. The Wolves needed every advantage against talented and familiar foe Hitchcock County in their RPAC West semifinal showdown at M-HC...

GOTHENBURG, Neb. — Freshman Shawna Wilkinson’s eight-for-eight foul shooting kept McCook within striking range, but Gothenburg eventually broke away to a 44-28 Southwest Conference tourney win Monday evening. Senior Brolin Morgan delivered five first-quarter points as the No. 6 Bison (6-10 record) only trailed those No. 3 Swedes 14-13 at halftime...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – With reports of mystery drones dropping off, Sen. Deb Fischer says about half of the previous reports were no mystery at all. “In recent weeks, reported drone sightings have significantly diminished,” she said in a release Monday. ...

McCOOK, Neb. -- McCook Public Schools were in lockdown for about 45 minutes this morning on the report of an escapee from the Work Ethic Camp. The lockdown was lifted about 10:30 a.m. after the escapee was taken into custody by the Nebraska State Patrol...

McCOOK, Neb. — Southwest Weed Management, with the Red Willow County Noxious Weed Control Authority, plans a public meeting to inform landowners of programs to remove eastern red cedar, russian olive trees, salt cedar and phragmites from property in Red Willow County. The meeting will be Thursday, Feb. 6, at 7 p.m., in the 4-H Building on the Red Willow County Fairgrounds in the 1500 block of West Fifth in McCook...

McCOOK, Neb. — Red Willow County doesn’t have a lot of salt cedar or phragmites; musk and Canada thistles are just always going to be a challenge; and cedar trees … what about redcedars? “Redcedars are a giant issue,” Bill Elliott, the county’s weed superintendent, told county commissioners Monday morning in his report on 2019 weed control efforts...

Dear Editor, I have what I call my paying job. But, for more than 30 years, I’ve also had another career. I’m an emergency medical technician, or EMT, and firefighter. Currently, I’m the rescue chief and treasurer for Sutherland Fire and Rescue in Sutherland, Neb...

Dear Editor, Having family in McCook, Cambridge, Arapahoe, and vicinity, I read The Gazette article: "Working American bison educational learning experience for college rodeo cowboys" (Jan 23rd issue). I am glad that some youthful local cowboys got an eye-opening experience by working some bison recently near McCook. ...