Stories from Thursday, May 27, 2021

COLUMBUS, Neb. — McCook High’s golfers became the third Bison spring squad to finish Class B top four with their final round at Elks County Club Wednesday. Seniors Brady Esch, Mason Michaelis and sophomore Jonas Sommerville all shot lower second-round scores while McCook outgolfed challenger York by four strokes...

Oh, those McCook Rebel 14-and-under girls were all over the 2021 Slugfest tourney in Lincoln where they averaged 12 runs per game during their 5-0 weekend. From left (above), front row: Lacyn Keller, Bailee Fawver, Danika Havlicek and Malia Hilker. Back row: coach Lance Gillen, Megan Miller, Paige Bortner, Brooklyn Gillen, Briley Morgan, Dani Johnson, Syndey Hodgson and coach Kelsey Gillen. Not pictured: Roslyn Wiemers and coach Tom Wiemers...

McCOOK, Neb. — When a police officer’s body camera system malfunctions, that puts the officer and the community at risk, said the City of McCook police chief. At the McCook Police Department, there are issues with some body cameras not activating when turned on and officers not being able to download video recorded during an incident, said Police Chief Joel Smith at the May 17 McCook City Council meeting...

Harold L. Perkins May 30, 1931 - Nov. 14, 2020 BENKELMAN, Neb. — Harold L. Perkins, age 89, of Benkelman, passed away on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020, at the Dundy County Hospital in Benkelman. Harold was born May 30, 1931, in Denver, Colo., to parents, James and Lola (Sharpe) Perkins. He was one of 10 siblings who grew up in Colorado, attending school and graduating from Bennett High School in Bennett, Colo...

Karl Bruce Wendelin March 11, 1949 - March 29, 2021 OBERLIN, Kan. — Karl Bruce Wendelin, 72, died March 29, 2021. He was born March 11, 1949, to Karl L. and Edna (nee Holle) Wendelin in McCook, Neb. He was preceded in death by his sister, Holle Jean; parents; and brother, Norman...

Robert “Bob” Miller April 7, 1940 - May 19, 2021 SALEM, Ore. — Robert “Bob” Miller, 81, of Salem, passed away peacefully in his home surrounded by his wife and children after a long battle with prostate cancer on May 19, 2021. He was born in Denver, Colo., on April 7, 1940. Bob graduated from Indianola High School in Indianola, Neb. He attended Kearney State College in Kearney, Neb., and earned a bachelor’s degree in education. He married Monica Schaaf on May 28, 1965...

Robert George Beck Dec. 23, 1951 - Nov. 11, 2020 SPRINGFIELD, Mo. —Robert George Beck, 68, of Nixa, Mo., passed away Nov. 11, 2020, in Springfield. A celebration of life is planned for Saturday, June 5, 2021, 1 p.m (MT), at the Benkelman United Methodist Church fellowship hall, 803 Chief Street in Benkelman...

MANKATO, Kan. — Decatur Community freshman Rayne Erickson won three Regional 23 titles and qualified in four events at today’s 1A state track-field meet. Erickson won the 400, 800 meters and high jump last week along with her second-place finish in the 200 meters...

McCOOK, Neb. — Two McCook Community College golfers were named to the All-Region IX Team. The players were selected on the points accumulated during the season. Freshman Filip Lanc’ (Czech Republic) and sophomore Deniz Sari (Koblenz, Germany) were both named to the team and finished sixth and seventh in the region’s point standings...

The latest points leaders from Heritage Hills Ladies Golf League following Tuesday’s play. A League Jennifer Baker/Mandy Haag — 29 Deb Walter/Colleen Olson; Susie Townsley/Jody Bennett; Lisa Messinger/Dari Olson — 27 Karmon Coleman/Helen Reiners — 25...

CAMBRIDGE, Neb. — The Cambridge CSO All-Star Basketball Games return to Cambridge High Friday night with just about every RPAC area school and Chase County represented during this 35th annual event. Girls will tip off at 6 p.m. while the boys’ all-stars are scheduled for 8 p.m...

McCOOK, Neb. — Pinnacle Bank featured eight players driving in runs during a 12-1 Junior Legion baseball win over Hi-Line Tuesday evening. Espn Hall and Beckett Heskett delivered two RBIs each to make win No. 2 memorable for coach Greg Larson’s team...

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. — All three area Class D state golfers dropped scores during their final rounds at Lake Maloney Golf Course on Wednesday. Despite approaching stormy conditions, Dundy County-Stratton junior Nolan Burrell improved three strokes (89-86) and his 175 placed 28th among 96 who finished these 36 holes...

80th birthday The family of Francis Friehe of Culbertson, Neb., is requesting a card shower in honor of his 80th birthday today, May 27, 2021. His family includes wife, Jackie Friehe; children, Mark and Donna Friehe of Gretna, Neb., Deb and Bruce Wilcox of McCook, Neb., Brad and Jennifer Friehe of rural Hayes County, Neb., Brian Friehe of McCook; 10 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren. Cards of congratulations will reach him at 37681 Road 719, Culbertson, NE 69024...

The McCook American Legion Chris Hanson Post 203 will be holding the 2021 Memorial Day service on Monday 31 May 2021 at 10:30 a.m. The ceremony will take place at the Veteran’s Memorial Monument in the north section of Memorial Park Cemetery in McCook. We invite all members of the community to join us as we honor and salute our fellow Americans who paid the ultimate price for our freedom...

McCOOK, Neb. -- After a year with few tornado reports, Mother Nature reminded us she was still around Wednesday evening, with as many as 19 reports of tornadoes in the region and hail up to golf ball size along and north of the Kansas-Nebraska border in Southwest Nebraska...

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. -- Meeting in North Platte Wednesday night, the Mid-Plains Community College board of governors approved Shooting Sports and eSports as official student clubs, with more information to be provided later. After a closed session, the board also approved minor amendments to a negotiated agreement...

Our children are our future. Yes, it is an old cliche but it is also true. If we want to make our communities better in the future, we need to make investments. More specifically, we need to make investments in our children. There are a variety of ways to make investments in our children. ...

Dear Editor, Memorial Day weekend is quickly approaching once again. The McCook American Legion and a number of community volunteers will be setting out flags on our veterans’ gravesites at Calvary, Memorial Park, and Riverview cemeteries in McCook on Saturday, May 29th at 9:00 am...

As most of you are reading this we will be on our last day of the One Hundred Seventh Legislature, First Session. We pushed ourselves hard at the end to pass as many priority bills as possible. As most of you know the Legislature works in a two-year cycle and we’re in the first session, so that means that all of the bills that were introduced this year that were not either signed into law or IPP (killed) will be back next year. ...