Stories from Tuesday, March 30, 2021

SIDNEY, Neb. — Sisters really can share brilliantly especially the baton during McCook’s 1600-meter relay victory on Saturday. Junior Emma Dutton, freshman Sienna Dutton, senior Shayli Wilkinson and junior Shawna Wilkinson teamed for the 1600-meter relay title as McCook’s girls earned a top three team place among 10 schools...

McCOOK, Neb. -- The McCook Community College Art Department’s annual high school art exhibition is up and running with more than 200 works from area high school students on display in the Wrightstone Fine Arts Gallery on the MCC campus. This exhibition will be open to the public through the annual paint-in competition Friday, April 16...

McCOOK, Neb. —  As we enter the Easter season, McCook E-Free invites all members of the community to attend a Good Friday, April 2, presentation of “The Living Last Supper.” The production is a dramatization of Leonardo DaVinci’s famous painting and seeks to communicate the humanity of the disciples by bringing them to life to inspire the current church...

Yes it happened right here in Southwest Nebraska. A master spy, well actually he was the pilot in the U-2 “reconnaissance” aircraft that flew at ultra-high altitude taking pictures over both friendly and not so friendly territory almost the world over. Gerald (Jerry) McIlmoyle was born on February 24, 1930 in McCook and sadly passed away, last week, on March 24th in Venice, Florida...

Dear Editor, Having relatives in McCook and Red Willow county, I was relieved to read the McCook Gazette article: “County health department opens COVID-19 shots to 18 and above” (March 26 issue). This is a welcome relieve to the various phases and stages of prioritization of ‘who’ gets the vaccine ‘when’.  I was fortunate to get my first Moderna shot on January 20th, with my second shot about three weeks later.  In my own individual case, I had a bit of a reaction to the first shot; but, had no reaction to the second. ...

Wendell W. Smith Aug. 3, 1932 - March 24, 2021 BEAVER CITY, Neb. — Wendell W. Smith, 88, of Beaver City, died Wednesday (March 24, 2021), at the Beaver City Manor in Beaver City. He was born Aug. 3, 1932, in Republican City, Neb., to Weye and Leta (Neece) Smith. He married Merry Alice Fuller and to this union three children were born. He worked in construction and at Burlington Northern Railroad...

Sally Christine “Chris” (VanHoosier) Small Feb. 10, 1951 - March 27, 2021 SATANTA, Kan. — Well, if you are reading this, God has called me home. I, Sally Christine “Chris” (VanHoosier) Small, passed on into my next life at our home with my loving family by my side on Saturday evening, March 27, 2021...

Leroy James Heinrich July 17, 1936 - Feb. 10, 2021 OAKLEY, Kan. — LeRoy James Heinrich, 84, of Oakley, died Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021, in Logan County Hospital. He was born July 17, 1936, in Quinter, Kan., to Gabe and Mary (Engel) Heinrich. He graduated from Grinnell High School in 1954, and served in the U.S. ...

Harvey Vernon Cole March 29, 1932 - March 25, 2021 CURTIS, Neb. — Harvey Vernon Cole, 88, of Curtis, died March 25, 2021, at Great Plains Health in North Platte, Neb. Harvey was born March 29, 1932, in Curtis, son of Hazen and Bessie (Gilliland) Cole. Harvey was a lifetime resident of Curtis...

WILCOX, Neb. — Cambridge boys overpowered all throwing and jumping challengers while ruling Friday’s Wilcox-Hildreth Invitational. Junior Dahlton Wood hurled the discus 129’ for his career best and outdistanced Loomis’ Josh Carter (128’2”), who brought a 130’ seeding into this meet...

McCOOK, Neb. — The Otero Junior College women came from 14 points down with 13:29 left in the game, and pulled out a 61-60 win over McCook Community College to stay unbeaten in Region IX play this year. The Lady Rattlers clinch the top spot in next weekend’s Region IX tournament...

LEXINGTON, Neb. — McCook made it three-for-three in 9-0 dual sweeps so far this season with Friday’s big win over host Lexington. Seniors Emily Kjendal and Lexi Hauxwell conquered a close No. 2 doubles match. Otherwise, the Bison blitzed through varsity matches as only one other was tighter than an 8-2 final count...

After a final night of regular-season volleyball in the region Monday, the tournament field is set for the Region IX Division I volleyball tournament which begins Wednesday at Swede Erickson Thunderbird Gymnasium in Casper, Wyo. The McCook Community College volleyball team earns the third seed in the south division and will open the Region IX tournament Wednesday morning at 8 a.m. ...

SIDNEY, Neb. — Nasty weather couldn’t stop the McCook High boys from taking a big step forward at Saturday’s Sidney Invitational. “We looked better as a team than we did a week ago (at UNK),” coach Tom Sughroue said. Senior champions Torrington Ford (shot put) and Isaiah Stoddard (discus) continued the Bison domination of throwing events...

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Morgan Fawver, a freshman sprinter from McCook, Nebraska, was honored by the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference head track and field coaches as the league’s male Freshman of the Year for the 2020-21 indoor track and field season...