Stories from Tuesday, February 4, 2020

McCOOK, Neb. — The purpose of the Republican River Fitness Series is to celebrate fitness, to encourage an active lifestyle and to provide an outlet for that competitive spirit in all of us...even if that means always coming in second to someone faster in your age division...

Tall, six foot something and well-tanned. The young man came to the door to say thanks for some of my prior flight training. Yes he’d been an aviation student and is now employed. He is a “captain in training” flying a King Air airplane out about the world doing “aerial mapping”. He’d been to Costa Rica since I last saw him and just returned from Hawaii on another mapping mission...

As the cost of healthcare rises, more of the cost is being shifted to consumers in the form of higher deductibles. The consumers naturally avoid all the expenses they can, but that often includes routine checkups and visits to primary care providers at the point when health problems are most effectively, and economically, addressed...

Stephen Samuel La Bash, M.D.    OBERLIN, Kan. — Stephen S. La Bash, Jr., 77, died Jan. 27, 2020, at his home in Oberlin. He was born Dec, 28, 1942, in New York City, N.Y., to Stephen S. La Bash, Sr. and Margaret M. La Bash. He served in the United States Army and Air Force during the Vietnam War as a flight surgeon. He practiced medicine as a general surgeon until he retired in 2003. ...

Monte Eugene Lawson Oct. 5, 1949 - Jan. 31, 2020 BRECKENRIDGE, Texas — Monte Eugene Lawson was born Oct. 5, 1949, in McCook, Neb., to parents, Lloyd and Leona Lawson. He grew up most of his life on the family farm in Hayes County and always loved to return for a visit anytime Monte was able...

McCOOK, Neb. — Senior Avery Johnson and junior Jaycee Widener both grabbed 13 rebounds to help Maywood-Hayes Center top Southern Valley, 40-32, in Saturday’s RPAC third-place game. The Wolves earned their 16th win (16-3) by breaking from an 18-18 halftime tie...

IMPERIAL, Neb. — Chase County’s boys broke a tie through three quarters and beat SPVA tourney champion Hershey, 65-54, on Friday. Senior Kobe Clevenger’s 16 points led Chase on five-for-seven shooting. Clevenger hit both both of his three-point attempts...

LEXINGTON, Neb. — Gabe Gans scored 30 points to lead a 58-19 blowout for McCook’s seventh-grade “A” team over Lexington Monday. Josiah Wilkinson joined Gans in double figures with 10 points. The Bison scored one of their biggest wins this season after last week’s loss to Dundy County-Stratton seventh/eight-grade team...

TRENTON, Neb. — March-like madness arrived with a fury in Hitchcock County Friday night. A packed gym of faithful roared throughout the RPAC West boys title game between Dundy County-Stratton and Paxton. The four quarters almost matched their identical 15-2 season records...

McCOOK, Neb. — The McCook Community College baseball team has named Kregg Snook as its new assistant baseball coach. He joins the baseball staff this spring having spent the fall of 2019 at Arizona Western College where he was responsible for coaching the catchers, assisting the pitching staff, strength and conditioning, and also coaching third base...

The Cambridge High girls conquered Dundy County-Stratton, 57-43, Saturday night to earn a first Republican Plains Activities Conference tournament title since 2009. Cambridge (10-6 record) has won nine straight overall entering tonight’s home game against another league rival Bertrand...

McCook High’s boys pose with their prize after reaching the Southwest Conference tournament championship game at Mid-Plains Community College in North Platte Saturday afternoon. The Bison blasted through Valentine and Minden by 53 total points to reach that final against No. 1-seed Ogallala. The Indians won Saturday’s showdown but McCook (9-8 record) will host Class C-1’s No. 5-rated team Friday evening...

McCOOK, Neb. — A pair of recent drug busts put the city’s new K-9 officer to work. McCook City Police Chief Ike Brown told the McCook City Council Monday night that the first occurred Jan. 7, when a local business owner called in to report a suspicious individual. ...

McCOOK, Neb. — City of McCook residents are paying more per capita in sales tax but less in property taxes, at least compared to other cities the same size. The McCook City Council heard Monday night at the regular meeting an overview of the city’s audit report of the 2019 financial statements presented by Joe Stump, CPA, of Almquist, Maltzahn, Galloway, and Luth. ...

McCOOK, Neb. — Is your pet ready to enjoy the freedom of the soon-to-be-built K-9 Korner dog park? On February 16 and 18, you can find out by bringing him or her to the Alice Arena at the Red Willow County Fairgrounds for Dog Park 101. Pam Gaston, owner of Pet Pros and long-time dog obedience trainer, will be on hand to lead a mini-session on the commands and skills your dog should possess so that their experience at the dog park will be a positive one for both you and your dog...

McCOOK, Neb. -- When McCook Elementary School kindergarten and second grade students and their buddies heard through an NTV television story that a World War II veteran in California wanted to receive Valentines Day cards, they sprang into action, mailing him over 150 Valentines. Visit http://bit.ly/389WjQ0 to view KTXL’s broadcast about Bill White, Stockton, Calif.,104, who survived the fighting on Iowa Jima and retired as a major after a 30-year career in the U.S. Marine Corps...

McCOOK, Neb. -- Members of the 2019 Southwest Nebraska Leadership Institute focused on the theme of Health and Human Services as they met January 8 to continue the Institute’s year-long training. Kelly Rippen, McCook Community College, provided an hour-long leadership training at Community Hospital before the group began its day of touring. Breakfast was provided by Community Hospital...

Dear Editor, Recently, a friend was cleaning out some stored items. She found Hercule Poirot’s Casebook by Agatha Christie. I was very pleased when she brought it to me to read. Agatha Christie was born in 1891 and died in 1987. She was an English writer of detective stories. While working in a hospital during World War I, she wrote her first detective novel...

85th birthday The Daughters Pam, Gail, Karen, Nancy and Mary, of Margaret Sughroue of Omaha, Neb., and formerly of McCook, are requesting a card shower in honor of her 85th birthday on Feb. 2, 2020. Cards of congratulations will reach her at 15974 Howard Street, Omaha, NE 68118.