Stories from Tuesday, January 5, 2021

BARTLEY, Neb. — Southwest’s wrestlers delivered a superb performance with 174 team points to win the Roughrider Invitational on Saturday. The Riders steamrolled past 10 teams with runner-up Class A North Platte finishing 54 points behind these champs...

McCOOK, Neb. -- After some contentious debate, Red Willow County commissioners voted to take a “wait and see” approach to a commissioner-elect’s position on the board of trustees for Hillcrest Nursing Home. Randy Dean, who has served on the Hillcrest Nursing Home board of trustees for several years, was elected in 2020 to serve as county commissioner for District 2, replacing Steve Downer, who did not run for re-election. ...

LINCOLN, Neb. – One lucky player who bought a Nebraska Pick 5 ticket for the Monday, January 4 drawing is holding a ticket worth $94,000. The Nebraska Lottery has confirmed that one ticket sold for Monday’s Nebraska Pick 5 draw matched all five winning numbers for the $94,000 jackpot. ...

Martin Louis Fortkamp June 13, 1920 - Dec. 31, 2020 WAUNETA, Neb. — Martin Louis Fortkamp departed this life Dec. 31, 2020, at Hillcrest Nursing Home in McCook at the age of 100. Martin was born June 13, 1920, on the south divide in rural Chase County, Neb., to Henry C. and Sophia (Haarberg) Fortkamp in the family home...

Susan Eleanor Hardwick McCOOK, Neb. — Susan Eleanor Hardwick, 99, of McCook, died Thursday (Dec. 31, 2020), at Hillcrest Nursing Home in McCook. Memorial services will be at a later date. Online condolences can be left at www.carpenterbreland.com. Carpenter Breland Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements...

Phillis Rose Brown Jan. 19, 1922 - Jan. 4, 2021 CAMBRIDGE, Neb. — Phillis Rose Brown, age 98, formerly of Cambridge, passed away at the Holdrege Memorial Homes on Jan. 4, 2021. She was a twin, born at home near Norman, Neb., on Jan. 19, 1922, to Christian and Agnes (Larsen) Sorensen. Phillis attended country school and later graduated from Cambridge High School in 1940...

Robert LeRoy Ruppert April 18, 1938 - Jan. 3, 2021 McCOOK, Neb. — Robert LeRoy Ruppert, age 82, of McCook, died Jan. 3, 2021. He was born on April 18, 1938, to Jay and Doris (Meissner) Ruppert at Quick, Neb. (Frontier County). He married Velma Jean Speth on Dec. 26, 1957, whom he was married to for 63 years...

Donna Rae Bailey Nov. 26, 1940 - Dec. 31, 2020 McCOOK, Neb. — Donna Rae Bailey, 80, of McCook and formerly of Arapahoe, passed away Dec. 31, 2020, at the Hillcrest Nursing Home in McCook. She was born to Edward “Ted” Charles and Olive Delphine (Keller) Smith on Nov. 26, 1940...

Corky Eugene Tyan Jan. 31, 1963 - Dec. 31, 2020 NORTH PLATTE, Neb. — Corky Eugene Tyan formerly of North Platte, passed away Dec. 31, 2020 near Indianola, Neb. Corky was born Jan. 31, 1963, in North, Neb., to Edward (Cork) and Cleo (Slater) Tyan. He was the oldest of five children born to this union...

McCOOK, Neb. - Steve Downer was serving on the Twin Valley School Board twenty years ago, when Red Willow County Commissioner Eldon Moore decided not to run for re-election. “I thought, I think I can do that job,” he told the Gazette. He said he lived out in the country and traveled country roads all the time. He was a farmer and understood the tax burden farmers faced. “I thought it was important that we have rural representation,” Downer said...

McCOOK, Neb. — An amended state law approved by the Nebraska Legislature last session could be a way for small communities to finally clear up nuisance properties tied up with legal issues. But it will take other communities to get on board, said City of McCook attorney Nate Mustion at the City Council meeting Monday night. ...

What a circus! The Senatorial Election that takes place in Georgia today is a two-ring act. The Republicans are convinced the world will end if their candidates don’t get reelected. The Democrats see that a win will better enable them to enact their socialist agenda in Washington. Promises that they know won’t be kept. Millions of dollars (from where?) thrown in to help each side. It is a total mess and a great example of why we ordinary Americans are totally frustrated with current politics...

Dear Editor, Anyone who missed NBC’s Meet the Press, last Sunday, where a contentious debate ensued between Chuck Todd and Senator Ron Johnson over the so-called conspiracy theory over the fraud in the recent election touted by President Trump and the Republicans...

CURTIS, Neb. — The Medicine Valley Raiders raced to a 51-18 halftime lead and eventually crushed Alma’s Cardinals, 70-38, for their first game of 2021 Monday evening. Coach Jason Maier’s Med Valley boys are now 5-2 which included a runner-up finish at the Cattle Trail Tournament last month...

McCook players like Gabe Gans (above) and Gabe Casillas (below) helped the War Dog basketball teams soar to high places at Saturday’s Cambridge youth basketball tournament. War Dogs won the seventh-eighth grade division, according to available information. Another War Dogs team of seventh graders placed second in that same division. No other details were obtained...

McCOOK, Neb. — The Ed Thomas YMCA is excited to present the 2021 McCook Corporate Games! This special event is designed for area businesses to encourage healthy and active lifestyles to their employees while building camaraderie. The event will consist of four separate competitions with businesses competing against each other to accumulate points in their quest to be crowned Corporate Champions. Sports include Volleyball, Cornhole, Bowling and Dodgeball...

Team scores and top results from the last two weeks of bowling at TJ’s Family Fun Center in McCook. Second half of the season is underway: Results from Dec. 21: Top scores Teams Scratch games: Maris General Construction 922, Stockman’s Feed 899, Quality Irrigation 898. ...

McCOOK, Neb. — The new year tips off in fine style with Broken Bow’s 9-0 girls basketball team visiting McCook for a varsity doubleheader in MHS. McCook (5-5) and the Bison boys (4-5) are both coming off strong 2-1 performances at last week’s Sidney Cabela’s Holiday Tourney...

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. — McCook heavyweight Reid Steinbeck pinned all of his foes while senior classmates Tate Felber and Alec Langan both went undefeated at Saturday’s North Platte Invitational. The Bison sent their seven best veterans into this dual tournament where they took on North Platte, district foes Alliance, Scottsbluff and Class B No. 1-ranked Gering...