Stories from Tuesday, October 26, 2021

CAMBRIDGE, Neb. — Neighbors will collide tonight when Cambridge and Southwest meet again to decide the D-11 subdistrict volleyball championship. Both teams swept through semifinals at Cambridge High Monday evening. The top-seeded Trojans (25-6 record) allowed barely enough points to win one set as they downed Arapahoe 25-11, 25-4, 25-13...

CAMBRIDGE, Neb. — RPAC finalists Maywood-Hayes Center and Cambridge both scored 3-0 sweeps in their subdistrict finals Tuesday night which advanced them into Saturday's subdistrict finals round. Chase County was leading Mitchell, 2-1, at last check while Wauneta-Palisade was tied 1-1 with Paxton. Watch for more details on Wednesday...

Your old columnist grew up on a farm and my mother always kept a flock of chickens for eggs and meat. Chickens are not very bright intellectually but when the sun went down and light went away those chickens all gathered together to roost. No one told them or drove them to the hen house it was just a natural thing. Turning off the light had consequences and then we would close the hen house door to keep the predators out...

Dale Abbott Jan. 3, 1953 - Oct. 21, 2021 GIBBON, Neb. — Dale Abbott, 68, of Gibbon passed away Thursday, Oct. 21, 2021, in Shelton, Neb. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Monday, Nov. 8, 2021, at Fort McPherson National Cemetery near Maxwell, Neb. Military honors will be provided by the U.S. Navy Funeral Honors Team in conjunction with North Platte Funeral Honors Team...

Danny Ray Kotschwar Sept. 19, 1963 - Oct. 17, 2021 FORT WORTH, Texas — Danny Ray Kotschwar, 58, died Oct. 17, 2021, at Heart to Heart Hospice Center in Fort Wort due to compliations of COPD and throat cancer. His body was donated to TCU Medical School Research Dept. with cremation to follow...

Alvin Ray Thomas May 3, 1937 - Oct. 23, 2021 LINCOLN, Neb. — Alvin Ray Thomas, born May 3, 1937, to Albert & Merna (Frederick) Thomas in a farmhouse southeast of Gibbon, Neb., passed away on Oct. 23 at the age of 84 in Lincoln. Ray grew up in and around Gibbon, graduating from Gibbon High School in 1954. He married the love of his life, Vivian Marie Jacobsen, on June 5, 1960 in Kearney, Neb. To this union four children were born: Karen Kay, Ronald Ray, Brian Blaine, and Michelle Marie...

Jan Cribelli Dec. 19, 1939 - Oct. 21, 2021 WAUNETA, Neb. — Janice Esther O’Neil was the third daughter born to Bernard and Dorothy O’Neil in Imperial, Neb., on Dec. 19, 1939. In her formative years, Jan grew up in Wauneta, and on the family farm located on the north divide. She was an active young lady, and was one of Wauneta’s first lifeguards in the 1950s. Jan was very athletic and loved being active, always trying all sorts of new things...

50th anniversary The family of Daniel and Darlene Loper of McCook is requesting a card shower in honor of the couple’s 50th wedding anniversary on Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021. They were married in Oberlin, Kan. in 1971. Their family includes son, Tracy and significant other, Bobbi and precious grandson, Camden, of McCook. Cards of congratulations will reach them at 308 West H, McCook, NE 69001...

70th birthday The family of Heidi Pinkal of McCook is requesting a card shower in honor of her 70th birthday on Thursday, Oct. 28, 2021. Her family includes husband, Fred Pinkal; children, Kyle Pinkal and fiance, Sammie Edwards of Hildreth, Neb., Timi and Travis Messersmith of Grainton, Neb., Britton and Rich Emery of Des Moines, Iowa, Shane and Tracie Pinkal of Holdrege, Neb., and Jill and Aaron Purvis of Marquette, Neb.; 10 grandchildren and one great-grandchild. ...

Phil Vassar reaches out to fans at his Piano Bar tour stop for Community Hospital Health Foundation’s benefit concert. Brandon Lay warmed up the Kiplinger Arena crowd Saturday night. “The 2021 Concert for Healthcare centered on thanking our communities and healthcare team for their incredible support and service during the hardest days of the pandemic,” said Jessica Bortner, Community Hospital Health Foundation executive director. ...

HOXIE, Kan. — Junior Drew Withington ran for 127 yards and one touchdown to highlight a 52-14 Rawlins Couny (Kan.) loss against rival Hoxie (Kan.) Friday night. The Buffaloes (4-4) were fresh off a 48-o win over Decatur Community (Kan.), but fell behind 38-8 in Hoxie (5-3)...

Rushing attacks resembled Nebraska Cornhusker glory days during both Wallace and Hitchcock County’s recent impressive victories. The Wildcats (7-1) roar into Six-Man playoffs after averaging nearly 11 yards a carry in their 78-42 win over Southwest Friday night...

McCOOK, Neb. — The McCook Community College volleyball team dropped a Monday night match to the University of Nebraska-Kearney in straight sets 25-22, 25-18 and 25-22. “We’re at the end of the season and I feel like we’re still trying to figure things out and learn who each person is on the team and what they can bring to the team,” said MCC Coach Hayley Kobza...

MAYWOOD, Neb. — Senior Stevie Handsaker’s four aces on 10-for-10 serving led Maywood-Hayes Center past Medicine Valley 25-20, 25-17, 25-11 Monday evening . The Wolves (24-2 record) will host tonight’s D2-9 subdistrict final against No. 3-seed Loomis, who surprised No. 2 Bertrand in Thursday’s first semifinal...

MINDEN, Neb. — McCook’s volleyball girls take a two-match win streak into playoffs following their top five Southwest Conference finish on Friday. The Bison didn’t stay down following an opening-round loss to nemesis Ogallala. Instead, they swept both Valentine and 17-win Ainsworth which earned fifth among the eight SWC schools...

McCOOK, Neb. — All Weiland Field needed was a human cannonball from the old carnival tour to make Seniors Night complete Friday. There were howitzer cannons firing and cool “kickerooski” plays. Sophomore Hayden Norgaard made his first varsity interception on a ball kicked into the air alas Shevin Wiggins to Matt Davidson in 1997...

WAUNETA, Neb. — A lot of Wauneta-Palisade Broncos deserved the nickname “Ace” during D2-9 subdistrict volleyball Monday night. The Broncos served an amazing 17 aces with nine from senior Alexa Sandman as they swept Dundy County-Stratton 25-16, 25-5, 25-15...

LINCOLN, Neb. — The Child Care Stabilization Grant, established by Section 2202 of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) signed into law on March 11, 2021, provides approximately $24 billion in relief funds to the child care industry, of which approximately $140 million has been allocated to the state of Nebraska...

McCOOK, Neb. — Southwest Nebraska Public Health Department (SWNPHD) has received approval from the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to provide the Moderna and Janssen COVID-19 vaccine boosters recently approved by the FDA. The local providers and pharmacies who are currently giving Moderna or Janssen can now give those doses as well...