Stories from Thursday, February 27, 2020

LINCOLN, Neb. — They fasted all Ash Wednesday while hitting the road and hoping Lincoln doesn’t feel too much like hot rocks. “There’s nothing soft about water,” McCook state diver Erik Graff proclaimed. “Sometimes, it can feel like concrete. You just lay on top of the water trying to breathe.”...

Freda Lucille Beck Jan. 15, 1936 - Feb. 22, 2020 HOLDREGE, Neb. — Freda Lucille Beck, 84, of Holdrege, died Saturday (Feb. 22, 2020), at CHI Good Samaritan Hospital, Kearney, Neb. She was born Jan. 15, 1936, in Beaver City, Neb., to Wayne Everett and Dorothy Lucille (Bonser) Smith. She married Kenneth Beck on Jan. 2, 1955...

Tressie Bailey Rogers Feb. 14, 1924 - Feb. 24, 2020 OBERLIN, KAN. — Tressie Bailey Rogers, 96, died Monday (Feb. 24, 2020). She was born Feb. 14, 1924, near Genoa, Colo., to C. Earl Bailey and Ida Young Bailey. She married W. A. “Bud” Rogers on March 7, 1942...

Wayne Thomas Ward April 29, 1919 - Feb. 2, 2020 LAKEWOOD, Colo. — Wayne Thomas Ward was born April 29, 1919, in Red Willow County to Harry and Elsie (Geihsler) Ward and passed away Feb. 2, 2020, in Lakewood. Wayne married Joyce Harper of Iowa on Dec. 23, 1944. Their children, Susan Howard, Thomas and Alan Ward, were born to this union...

McCOOK, Neb. — There are preliminary plans in place for closing McCook Public Schools due to a possible outbreak of the coronavirus, but those plans are still fluid, said McCook Schools superintendent Grant Norgaard today. Norgaard said he discussed today different steps of precaution concerning the virus and school closings with Craig Ellis, McCook Senior High vice principal and the school district’s safety director. ...

HAYS, Kan. — Double trouble will arrive from Decatur Community and Rawlins County at this week’s Kansas 3A-2A-1A state wrestling tournament. Both schools have qualified two for state matches starting on Friday in Fort Hays State University’s Gross Memorial Coliseum...

OXFORD, Neb. -- A second Oxford man has been arrested on sex trafficking and other charges, but court records remain sealed. Carl J. Kramer Sr., 49, of Oxford, faces charges of three counts of felony sex trafficking of a minor in connection with October, November and December 2019 incidents, according to the Furnas County warrant...

Latest results from TJ’s Family Fun Center where Five Loners have found a home in second place just behind Burton Well Drilling, jumping over both Maris General Construction and J&L: Men’s Major Burton Well Drilling 204-66 Five Loners 150-120...

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. -- The Mid-Plains Community College board of governors approved a three-year contract for audits, a bid for Imperial Community Campus expansion and a new contract with instructors Wednesday night. The board also learned that the college ranks at the top for student success as compared to peer institutions...

ATWOOD, Kan. — Rawlins County’s girls overcame an 11-point first half and went on to defeat Quinter, 48-40, during their Kansas 1A Regional playoff opener Wednesday evening. Senior Kristen Beckman scored 14 of her 16 points for the Buffaloes who’ve gone 13-1 in their last 14 contests...

McCOOK, Neb. -- The competition promises to be fierce for the McCook Rotary Club’s 5th annual Soup-R-Bowl Friday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Keystone Business Center in McCook. The free-will donations of cash and canned goods will benefit the McCook Food Pantry...

McCOOK, Neb. — It’s never too late to kick up your heels. At 90-plus years old, Eilah Cheek of Las Vegas, Nev., gave a dance performance with her daughter, Joyce Thompson of St. Augustine, Fla., at Hillcrest Nursing Home on Monday. Eilah, the mother of Hillcrest Administrator, Brad Cheek, and Joyce, his sister, gave the impromptu performance as past of their visit to see him over the weekend...

McCOOK, Neb. — Some dates for McCook Community College fans to remember entering this weekend: MCC MEN’S BASKETBALL: The time and date for the first-round of the Region IX men’s basketball tournament has been set. McCook Community College will host Lamar Saturday at 4 p.m...

A glance at the boys basketball teams who will be playing subdistrict championship games tonight at various sites: C1-11 at Brady The Chase County Longhorns take on Gothenburg, 6 p.m. C2-10 at HoldegC2-11 at McCook The Dundy County-Stratton Tigers tangle with Sutherland Sailors at 7 p.m. in McCook High School...

HOLDREGE, Neb. — His concerns about coronary distress couldn’t mask how coach Greg Shepard really felt about the Cambridge basketball team Wednesday. “It took a little too long for my heart. Coach (Del) Schoenfish and I talked about who might have a heart attack first,” Shepard said as the Trojans trailed Alma, 21-18, through one half of their Class C-2 subdistrict semifinal...