Stories from Tuesday, February 9, 2021

DONIPHAN, Neb. — Southwest will send 10 wrestlers into districts after winning a D Subdistrict 2B team title on Saturday. Super seniors Matt Van Pelt (42-1 record at 152 pounds) and Garrett Latimer (45-4 at 138) will lead the Roughriders into Saturday’s D-2 district at Elkhorn Valley High in Tilden this weekend...

Nobody’s dozing off into winter hibernation if they have watched McCook High girls basketball recently. McCook took another rival down to the final shot Friday night, but Ogallala’s 13-point comeback paid off in a 49-46 overtime victory. The Indians (9-9 record) overcame a brilliant Bison 20-8 third quarter which left those hosts behind, 39-26...

McCOOK, Neb. — The McCook High School swim team wrapped up its regular season Friday with a home meet, the chance to honor its five senior swimmers and divers and the opportunity for last competition against familiar foes of North Platte, Scottsbluff and Hastings...

LEXINGTON, Neb. — Have no fear, Bison fans, all those medical forfeits do not mean a plague has hit McCook High’s wrestling team. “Our guys are OK healthwise,” coach Nick Umscheid confirmed following Friday’s Class B subdistrict 4B tourney in Lexington. “We medically forfeited to ward against the possibility of injury. Several other wrestlers from other teams did the same thing.”...

Georgia Yvonne Hager Feb. 22, 1935 - Feb. 3, 2021 CRETE, Neb. — Funeral services for Georgia Yvonne Hager will be on Saturday, Feb. 13, 2021, at 11 a.m. at the United Methodist Church in McCook, Neb., with Pastor Jeff Kelley officiating. A private family burial will be at the Memorial Cemetery in McCook before the service...

Mark W. Hankins Nov. 11, 1949 - Jan. 27, 2021 PHOENIX, Ariz. — On Wednesday Jan. 27, 2021, Mark W. Hankins 71, loving husband, father and grandfather, suddenly passed away at his home in Phoenix. Mark Warren was born on Nov. 11, 1949, to Everett W. Havick and Betty L. Havick in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Mark was adopted June 9, 1958, by Ray E. Hankins. Mark graduated from Wilsonville High School, Class of 1968. He went went on to Kearney State College and graduated...

Ward Clarence Urbom Feb. 2, 1922 - Feb. 4, 2021 ARAPAHOE, Neb. — Ward Clarence Urbom, age 99, of Arapahoe, passed away on Thursday, Feb. 4, 2021, at the CA Mues Good Samaritan Center in Arapahoe. Ward was born on Feb. 2, 1922, at Atlanta, Neb., to Clarence Andrew Urbom and Anna Myrl (Irelan) Urbom...

Roy E. Anderson Feb. 6, 1955 - Feb. 7, 2021 McCOOK, Neb. — Roy E. Anderson, 66, of McCook, passed away Sunday evening, Feb. 7, 2021, at Hillcrest Nursing Home in McCook. He was born in Cadillac, Michigan on Feb. 6, 1955, to Richard “Dick” Oscar Anderson and Victo “Vickie” Ruth (Park) Anderson. ...

Alice “Jane” Pennock Aug. 23, 1940 - Feb. 2, 2021 YUMA, Ariz. — Jane Pennock passed on Feb. 2, 2021, in Arizona close to her winter home in Yuma. Jane was born Aug. 23, 1940, in Oberlin, Kan., to Cloyd Peters and Naomi “Barrett” Peters. Jane met her husband, Ron Pennock, at Evangel University in Springfield, Mo. They were married on Sept. 3, 1960, in Oberlin.They had two children, Ronda Jane and William “Bill” Cloyd...

Robert E. Niemeier Aug. 2, 1922 - Feb. 4, 2021 HASTINGS, Neb. — Robert E. Niemeier, 98, died on Feb. 4, 2021, at Providence Place Memory Care in Hastings. He was born on Aug. 2, 1922, to August H. Niemeier Sr. and Mathilde (ten Bensel) Niemeier in Holbrook, Neb. He grew up in the area and graduated from Holbrook High School in 1940...

CULBERTSON, Neb. -- Seventy area residents have signed a petition to censure U.S. Sen. Ben Sasse for his support of the impeachment of former President Donald Trump. Bruce Desautels of Stratton, chairman of the Hitchcock County Republican Party, reported a “standing room only” crowd in the Culbertson fire barn Saturday in support of the censure...

Two below zero this morning. A bit brisk. It kind of makes my California grandkids grumble a bit. Welcome to Nebraska. It reminds me of a winter trip my air refueling tanker crew was privileged to fly back in 1968. After all we had spent the summer in the near-equatorial heat of Southeast Asia participating in the Vietnam War so it was only reasonable that we’d be chosen to spend Christmas in Alaska...

EDITOR’S NOTE: The writer, one of the organizers of a local petition to censure Sen. Ben Sasse, responds to statements by the senator: “Politics isn’t about the weird worship of one dude” – Senator Ben Sasse Senator, this is not about the “worship of one dude.” This is about the American People – that we had a president who fought for our needs and concerns, and delivered on what he promised...

McCOOK, Neb. — Spencer Wishon, Decatur Community High school in Oberlin, Kan., has signed his national letter of intent to continue his golf in the fall at McCook Community College. Wishon made it official Thursday with a signing ceremony at the Peter and Dolores Graff Events Center...

A look at other top four area subdistrict wrestling placers who move on to districts this weekend: The Cambridge Trojans placed third in a Class D tourney at East Butler with 93 points. 132 Hunter Perks (13-21) placed 3rd and scored 14.0 team points...

TRENTON, Neb. — Hitchcock County’s boys reached 13-4 with weekend wins over Maywood-Hayes Center Friday night and Saturday at Arapahoe. The Falcons took a 13-3 lead which reached 33-17 by halftime for their second strong win over M-HC in one week. Coach Kolby Hamilton’s Wolves got 18 points from freshman Haydn Farr on eight-for-13 shooting but only made six other field goals...

BARTLEY, Neb. — Described as just “going out and doing her best”, Southwest sophomore Caylin Barnett’s 22 points with 21 rebounds are best efforts for some players’ entire seasons. Yet equally huge was how Southwest’s team defense challenged the Dundy County-Stratton Tigers Friday night...

CAMBRIDGE, Neb. — The Cambridge Wrestling Club Tournament is set for Saturday, Feb. 21 starting at noon in Cambridge High School. Six classes will be featured from pre-kindergarten through seventh-eighth grade for boys and girls. Medals will be awarded...

COZAD, Neb. — McCook’s seventh-grade boys traveled to challenge some tough Cozad Haymaker basketball teams on Monday. Bryson Gullion scored 17 points and Miles Pollmann put in 13, but the Bison “A” team dropped a 49-38 contest. Quinn Taylor added seven points...

The Gazette has highlighted McCook, Southwest and Cambridge wrestlers who are advancing to district tournaments this weekend. A look at other area schools who competed in subdistricts: Class D Subdistrict 1A at Shelby-Rising City The Arapahoe Warriors finished second as a team among 11 with 119 points behind only champion Plainview's 197.5...