Stories from Tuesday, February 2, 2021

McCOOK, Neb. — Here are details from the McCook Junior High seventh-grade boys basketball against Lexington on Monday. The A team won 54-17 after taking a 37-4 lead into halftime. Bryson Gullion led in scoring with 14 points. Miles Pollmann had 12 and Tristan Campbell and Oliver Corbett both had 8...

McCOOK, Neb. — McCook's only 'Senior Night' win for the 2021 class was Class B No. 1 Alec Langan earning a forfeit Tuesday night. Otherwise, the Class C No. 1-ranked Central City Bison did most of any celebrating throughout their 58-13 dual win over host McCook...

Ardyth Ann Banzhaf Dec. 17, 1940 - Jan. 29, 2021 CAMBRIDGE, Neb. —Ardyth Ann Banzhaf, 80, long time resident of Orafino, Neb., went to be with her Heavenly Father on Jan. 29, 2021. Ardyth Ann Oehlerking was the fourth child born to Alvin and Lily (Schroeder) Oehlerking on Dec. 17, 1940, in Omaha, Neb...

Vernon J. Thornbrugh Sept. 5, 1942 - Jan. 13, 2021 LINCOLN, Neb. — Vernon J. Thornbrugh died Jan. 13, 2021, in Lincoln. He was born Sept. 5, 1942, to Vernon L. and Edith (Turley) Thornbrugh in Iola, Kan. He graduated from McCook High School in 1960...

McCOOK, Neb. -- Following interviews with three candidates and an executive session, Red Willow County Commissioners appointed Crystal Dack as county treasurer. Dack, who will replace Sue Wesch, who is retiring on Feb. 15, has worked in the treasurer’s office for nearly nine years and has been deputy treasurer for four...

McCOOK, Neb. — Like other governmental entities and private companies, the City of McCook also received COVID-19 related funding. City Manager Nate Schneider confirmed to the McCook Gazette Monday night before the meeting that the city received $650,000 in “Presumptive Payroll” funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency...

McCOOK, Neb. — The McCook City Council unanimously approved restricting parking on a street exiting from U.S. Highway 83, but other measures could be implemented in the future to ease traffic concerns. City Councilman Jerry Calvin pulled the resolution from the consent agenda Monday night at the city council meeting, so discussion and a separate vote could be taken. ...

McCOOK, Neb. — The city will get $19,652 from the community-owned natural gas supplier, ACE. Councilman Gene Weedin, the city’s representative to the ACE cooperative, made the announcement at the end of the regular council meeting Monday. ACE is part of the Choice gas program, where consumers can choose their gas supplier between March 18 to April 22. ...

LINCOLN, Neb. -- Nebraska Tourism today announced grant awards totaling $494,833.65 in the combined application cycle of the Community Impact and Tourism Marketing Grant programs. Among them is $9,241.65 to the McCook Economic Development Corp. for marketing promotions...

LINCOLN, Neb. — Today, a coalition of 11 organizations announces strong opposition to a legislative proposal that would substantially weaken Nebraska’s motorcycle helmet law and increase the number of deaths and traumatic injuries on the state’s highways...

The 2021 Nebraska Choice Gas program selection period has been expanded to run from March 18-April 22. During this period, natural gas customers can choose their natural gas supplier and pricing option for the upcoming gas year, which begins June 1 and runs through May 31, 2022. Formed by Nebraska communities to ensure competition in the program, ACE is the only community-owned supplier in the program. ACE also serves as an advocate for all natural gas customers...

Dear Editor, Today, Sunday, Jan. 29, 2021, we are celebrating the “Culture of Life,” with the yearly “March for Life.” -- a Pro-Life Organization whose main purpose is to plead for the cessation of the Federal legalizing of “Abortion” -- a primary example of the ‘Culture of Death” here in the United States...

Word has been received of the death of Sister Paschala Noonan, O.P., in St. Catharine, Kentucky, at the age of 102. The administrator of St. Catharine’s Hospital in when it was ordered to be closed in 1970, she was instrumental in establishing Community Hospital to make sure medical care continued to be available in McCook. Cards of condolence can be sent to Sr. Susan Leslie, O.P., Sansbury Care Center, 2625 Bardstown Rd., St. Catharine KY, 40061...

The McCook 8th grade boys basketball A team started the season with wins over North Platte 34-30 and Holdrege 45-37 last week. “ The kids are playing some tremendous defense right now, which is putting us in good situations to win ball games,” Bison boys coach Jeremy Young said. “We just need to work on controlling the pace of the game on the offensive side of the ball in the fourth quarter when we have a double digit lead.”...

ARAPAHOE, Neb. — Just about every area school delivered a championship but the Arapahoe Warriors stood above eight teams at Saturday’s Warrior Wrestling Invitational. Arapahoe prevailed behind a strong performance from champions Isaac Goshert (120 pounds) and Bryan Conn (126) and undefeated heavyweight Levi Kerner (30-0)...

Here are Men’s League results at TJ’s Family Fun Center from Jan. 21 with the most recent Jan. 28 highlights appearing in Thursday’s Gazette: Men’s Major Burton Well Drilling 89-61 Glass Express 87.5-62.5 Fullmomentum 85.5-64.5 Deveny Motors 73.5-76.5...

CAMBRIDGE, Neb. — The Kramer-Kramer combination is just one of many reasons why Medicine Valley’s boys have been so successful this season. They teamed for another 28 points on Saturday, but Paxton has been a proven RPAC basketball force many years...

CAMBRIDGE, Neb. — The Cambridge girls regained control after Wauneta-Palisade rallied and held on for a 52-42 RPAC consolation finals triumph on Saturday. Junior Carsyn Hanes’ 11 points led a balanced attack which featured Paige Klumpe’s 10, another 10 from Schyler Hobarty and freshman Bailee Ahlmeyer netting nine points...

BIRD CITY, Kan. — Senior Kierstyn Domsch blocked four shots and Rawlins County tallied 20 fourth-quarter points, but St. Francis escaped with a 53-46 victory Friday evening. Junior Rylee Unruh’s 15 points led the 5-8 Buffaloes while Sadie Sramek tallied 10, Domsch seven and sophomore Mariyah Nichols added six points...

McCOOK, Neb. — The McCook Community College men blasted past Southeast Community College 108-74 Friday to open the home season at the Peter and Dolores Graff Events Center. The Indians defensive pressure fueled the offense to an 18-4 lead midway through the first quarter and the team never trailed...

cCOOK, Neb. — The McCook Community College women came out Saturday and kept Central Community College off the scoreboard for the first 10 minutes of the game on the way to an 80-39 win in Nebraska Community College Athletic Conference play. “We talked about having a defensive presence tonight, which is something we didn’t do last Saturday, coming out of the gate. You just don’t see shutout quarters very often at the college,” MCC Coach Brandon Pritchett said...

CAMBRIDGE, Neb. — Two schools who know about playing for state championships delivered another terrific RPAC basketball tournament final Saturday night. Just like last year in McCook, the Dundy County-Stratton Tigers and Southern Valley Eagles chased each other until those final few seasons...

CAMBRIDGE, Neb. — A breath of future March Madness could be felt with coach Kim Stengel’s first post-game comments Saturday night. “Whew. Close!” she said about her Maywood-Hayes Center Wolves’ 48-46 RPAC finals win over Alma. “They (Alma) are an amazing quick little team and their outside game was stellar.”...

KEARNEY, Neb. — Junior Josh Hegwood shouted “I’m back!” in a language that should be taught from coast to coast starting this week: “Swish!” “He’s money tonight!” and “Bulls-eye!” All those words sounded so good to McCook basketball fans as Hegwood went three-for-three from three-point range in Friday’s SWC tourney semifinals...

D. Bryan Leggott Nov. 25, 1955 - Jan. 29, 2021 TRENTON, Neb. — D. Bryan Leggott, 65, of Trenton passed away at Community Hospital in McCook on Jan. 29, 2021. Bryan was born in Lexington, Neb., on Nov. 25, 1955, to Donald K. and Alice J. (McKim) Leggott.  He graduated from Elwood High School in the spring of 1973 and continued his education at Hastings College. ...

Mid-Plains Community College officials have decided to allow fans attendance at home McCook Community College spring sporting events this spring although no fans will be allowed at this weekend's MCC Invitational Volleyball Tournament because of the large number of athletes coming to McCook...

Your old columnist who has been around a bit is thinking that in referring to our new president we might more properly refer to him as Dictator Joe. In looking for a proper definition I found on Google the following: “A dictator is a political leader who possesses absolute power.” Looking at the plenteous “Executive Orders” that he seems to sign daily one gets the opinion that he possesses absolute power. Hold on though because other forces will come to bear...