Stories from Tuesday, March 3, 2020

McCOOK, Neb. — It’s all come down to this. Months spent qualifying. A lifetime of watching, learning and honing his skills. This weekend, Wynn Schaack, of Wall, S.D., will put his experience to the test – competing against the top steer wrestlers in the world at RFD-TV’s The American, the biggest two-day payout in rodeo...

Regional playoffs proved tough last weekend as Rawlins County (Kan.) joined Decatur Community (Kan.) in close season-ending basketball defeats. No more than one point separated the Buffaloes from Wheatland-Grinnell during their showdown Friday evening...

The Gazette area’s last two boys basketball teams are playing their district finals tonight. Southern Valley (18-5) will meet Heartland (15-7) with a 6 p.m. tip at Kearney Catholic High School. The Eagles are trying to rebound from a 49-44 subdisrict finals loss vs. Elm Creek Thursday evening...

McCOOK, Neb. -- It’s inevitable that the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) will spread, but precautions will keep it to a minimum, said McCook City Fire Chief Marc Harpham Monday night at the regular McCook City Council meeting. At a recent conference he attended concerning the virus, Harpham related it was vital to not overact and panic, but to also be prudent and pro-active about the virus...

HAYS, Kan. — Rivals Rawlins County and Decatur Community took home three state wrestling medals among four who competed at the Kansas 3A-2A-1A meet last weekend. Rawlins County’s Cyrus Green placed fifth among all 195-pounders. However, Decatur Red Devils topped the region as seniors Dawson Kempt (145) and Gavon Uehlin (170) finished fourth overall...

HOLDREGE, Neb. -- Three men have Phelps County court dates later this month in connection with sex trafficking of a minor, child pornography and other felony charges from Furnas County. Carl Kramer, 49, of Oxford was ordered held without bond Monday in Furnas County Court and faces a preliminary hearing 3:30 p.m. ...

HOLDREGE, Neb. — Beating a fellow 20-win basketball team seems tough enough, but overcoming the 23-1 margin in free-throw tries? Not even the dynamite Dundy County-Stratton Tigers could survive that difference Monday night. “We needed to get to the rim better and we did not,” coach Kris Freeland said about the 57-42 loss to Centennial in their C2-5 district championship game...

Derek Zipperlen of McCook, second from the left, helps attach a new American flag to the flag pole at West First Chapel in McCook Sunday morning. Pastor Johnny Walker, left, explained that Derek, a U.S. Army veteran who served in Germany and completed two tours in Iraq and lives across the street from the church, encouraged him to replace the torn and tattered flag that flew in front of the church, because, Walker explained, “The American flag means more to those who defend or have defended their country and their flag than to anyone else.” Walker said, “Because of those in the military, now and throughout our history … those who are willing to give their lives for our country and our flag … we have the freedom to worship.” Among those helping Zipperlen and Walker were, from the right, Jerry Butler and Merlin Brown of McCook and Calvin Brown of Eugene, Ore. ...

McCOOK, Neb. — The Mid-Plains Community College Rodeo Team will host its annual spring fundraising rodeo in McCook on March 13-14. Entries can be called in from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday at (620) 275-1655. Performances will begin at 7 p.m. each night at the Kiplinger Arena at the Red Willow County Fairgrounds...

KEARNEY – Patricia Hoehner and her family have long enjoyed supporting the University of Nebraska at Kearney in many ways. A UNK alumna, professor of educational administration and Kearney resident, Hoehner and her family’s contributions have benefited the athletics department and multiple facilities and programs on campus. ...

CAMBRIDGE, Neb. -- Today, Pinpoint unveiled plans to build and execute a fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) network in McCook, Neb., that will initially encompass approximately 1,000 homes and businesses. The decision to proceed with this project is a part of Pinpoint’s strategic plan to continue to invest in rural communities and provide them with world-class broadband networks...

OBERLIN, Kan. -- A "Community Conversation" on the future of health care in Oberlin is set for 5:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Gateway Center in Oberlin. The evening will open with light refreshments, casual conversation, information stations and entry for prizes including a robot vacuum, dinner and movie basket...

CURTIS, Neb. – Larry A. Gossen, Ph.D., a candidate being considered as the new Dean of the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture will visit Curtis on Wednesday, March 11 for a seminar and public reception. Dr. Gossen currently is a State FFA Advisor with the Nebraska Department of Education, and is based in Lincoln. His career in agriculture education and FFA organizations spans over 40 years in Kansas, Missouri, Illinois and Nebraska...

CAMBRIDGE, Neb. -- Tri Valley Health System in Cambridge is pleased to announce the addition of Family Nurse Practitioner Cherl Mues, to their team of dedicated professionals. Cherl grew up and graduated from Cambridge High School. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Nursing and completed her Master of Science, Family Nurse Practitioner from the University of Nebraska Medical Center in 2011...

Perhaps you visited the local big-box store during the cold snap last week, and noticed a few of the parking spaces missing on the north side of the lot. Taking their place were racks for landscaping bricks and bags of mulch, garden soil and peat moss...

The people who are changing the future of Albion, Nebraska, say they had no choice. Parents in Boone County had been pleading for more childcare for years, citing it as the area’s most desperate need, says the cattle rancher. Area employers had grown frustrated, too, as their workers arrived late, left early, or quit because of childcare problems, the economic development leader says...