Stories from Thursday, January 7, 2021

McCOOK, Neb. — Unlike what happened in Washington, D.C., persistence was a beautiful sight Tuesday evening at McCook High School. The Bison brilliantly erased a 10-point deficit with 4:36 remaining, catching Broken Bow 41-41 on senior Ty Stevens’ jumper over 6’5” shot-blocking machine Dylon Baum...

McCOOK, Neb. — After being postponed several times due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the McCook City Council settled on a date Monday night for a capital improvement meeting with the public. The council will meet at the city auditorium on Thursday, Feb. 18, at 7 p.m., to hear what kind of projects the public is interested in pursuing...

McCOOK, Neb. — The City of McCook Board of Zoning Adjustment is meeting at noon on Thursday to take up a variance request from a homeowner who wants to build a carport. Mike Stevens has submitted a variance request application for his residential property at 806 E. ...

LINCOLN, Neb. -- Whooping cranes and other birds would be harmed and the Republican River could be overrun with carp if a project is approved to bring Platte River water to the Republican Basin, according to the Audubon Nebraska conservation group. That’s nonsense, according to a Tri-Basin Natural Resources District official, who says all existing and future legal claims to Platte River water would be respected in the project...

McCOOK, Neb. — Roofing and decks topped construction jobs in November, with construction costs estimated at $90,875, according to the City of McCook building permit report. All four roofing/deck jobs in November were inside city limits. Total construction costs in November came to $198,744...

McCOOK, Neb. -- In Red Willow District Court recently, Philip C. Senff, 48, Curtis, was found guilty of theft-shoplifting over $5,000, a Class 2A Felony, and was sentenced to 48 months’ probation and ordered to pay $31,266.40 restitution to Banner Capital Bank plus costs...

Earlier this week, I shared a post on social media that I think is even more relevant today after the events of Jan. 6 in both Washington D.C. and across the country.. “Do not wait for leaders; do it alone, person to person. Today.” - Mother Teresa Now, normally, we don’t advocate to do things alone. After all, the saying is “if you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together.”...

McCOOK, Neb. -- Red Willow County Treasurer Sue Wesch submitted a letter of resignation to county commissioners Monday, saying family obligations no longer allowed her to perform her duties. Wench has been county treasurer for 38 years. Commissioners are expected to act on the resignation and the process to find a replacement at their next regular meeting...

Cynthia “Cindy” Sue Fries Aug. 2, 1954 - Jan. 5, 2021 BENKELMAN, Neb. — Cindy Fries, of Benkelman, passed away on Jan. 5, 2021, at the Dundy County Hospital after an extended and courageous battle with breast cancer. Cindy was born on Aug. 2, 1954, to Walter and Jean (Howard) Blecha. ...

Eugene Leighton Pracht June 22, 1948 - Jan. 4, 2021 BROKEN BOW, Neb. — Eugene Leighton Pracht was born June 22, 1948, in Broken Bow to the late Howard Pracht and Dorthy (Fox) Pracht. Eugene was the first of two sons, followed by brother, Dale Howard Pracht. ...

Howard E. Hill June 5, 1926 – Jan. 2, 2021 LOVELAND, Colo. — Howard E. Hill passed away in Loveland at the age of 94. He was born on a farm northwest of McCook, Neb. He was the second youngest of eight children born to Charles and Pearl Hill. Howard married Darleen J. Frick on Nov. 24, 1945, in Oberlin, Kan...

PLEASANTON, Neb. — Undefeated Arapahoe heavyweight Levi Kerner won the championship to cap a strong area performance at Saturday;s Pleasanton Invitational. The Warriors finished fourth among 17 teams with 98 points, just behind top three Hitchcock County scoring 101...

Junior Mark Nelms drilled four of six three-point shots during another dominant Dundy County-Stratton Tigers finals performance last week. The Tigers (8-1) trounced South Platte, 79-42, to win that holiday tourney Thursday evening. Senior Keegan Kutsinger also scored 14 points in his welcome return from an injury to bolster the Tigers’ inside game...

IMPERIAL, Neb. — Senior Alexis Richmond scored 19 points and sophomore Bryn McNair added 18 in Chase County’s 48-41 win over Dundy County-Stratton Tuesday evening. Teammate Jordan Jablonski scored six to help the Longhorns (6-5) shake off last week’s loss against McCook...

OXFORD, Neb. — The Class D-1 No. 8 Southern Valley Eagles built a 25-3 lead en route to trouncing Franklin, 66-36, Tuesday evening. Senior Clayton Berry’s 20 points and 18 from classmate Carter Bose powered the Eagles’ seventh straight win since an opening-weekend loss at Elm Creek...

IMPERIAL, Neb. — A final 10-0 stampede carried the Chase County boys past Dundy County-Stratton, 54-51, Tuesday evening. The Longhorns (5-5 record) trailed almost all game to DC-S, who owned eight straight wins with seven by 16 points or more. Yet down seven, Chase never allowed another point during the game’s final four minutes. Senior Cedric Maxwell finished his 14-point effort as the Longhorns defeated DC-S a second consecutive year. “That was a great win for us over DC-S,” Chase coach Christ Bartels remarked. “They led the majority of the game by one or two possessions, but our team never gave up and we continued to battle.” Mason Nordhausen, Tysen Lempke and Keenan Cole contributed nine points apiece to the Tiger triumph. Clay Meese added eight points with Kade Anderson netting five. Junior Mark Nelms’ 13 points paced DC-S while Quade Myers put nine through the nets. Alex Englot and Corbin Horner each scored eight.

TRENTON, Neb. — Southwest sophomore Caylin Barnett pulled down 20 rebounds to go with a game-high 17 points in the 41-30 win over Hitchcock County Tuesday night. The Roughriders (4-6 record) ran smooth as they led from start to finish. Barnett made seven of 10 free throws while classmate Bailey Trukska added nine points, senior Haylee Adams scored six and sophomore Kiana Martin contributed four...

MAYWOOD, Neb. —The latest fast-paced Wolves win didn’t stop coach Kolby Hamilton from having a state patrolman mentality Tuesday night. In other words, 63 was almost pushing the limits for his Maywood-Hayes Center team’s defense. “They (Hi-Line) like to run and we got caught up with that a little bit,” Hamilton remarked followed the boys’ 75-63 home victory. “But it was fun to win a game like that and score 75 points.”...

MAYWOOD, Neb. — The Bulls ran into Wolves Tuesday night and Maywood-Hayes Center’s girls emerged with an impressive 61-30 home victory over Hi-Line. Sophomore Olivia Hansen was bulls-eye wherever she took a shot, hitting eight of 10 inside and making two three-pointers...

McCOOK, Neb. — McCook High’s girls shot 100 percent from the foul line, but they needed more attempts from everywhere during their 65-24 loss to Class C-1 No. 3 Broken Bow Tuesday night. The Indians unleashed defensive pressure which made it tough for McCook to get within scoring range...