Stories from Tuesday, December 7, 2021

HASTINGS, Neb. - The McCook High School swim and dive team got off to what is arguably its best start in years at Saturday’s opening swim meet. Competing at the Hastings YMCA, the Bison swimmers finished with secondary qualifying times in five events, a feat which usually happens throughout the season...

Janice Irene Magorian Dec. 19, 1937 – Dec. 3, 2021 PLEASANT VALLEY, Mo. —Janice Irene Magorian, 83, of Pleasant Valley, passed away Friday, Dec. 3, 2021, after a long battle with Parkinson’s. Her husband Bill was with her at the time. Janice was born at home in Gosper County, Neb., the second child of Viola (Helms) and Reinhold Monter. ...

Geraldine M. “Gerry” Nemeth Jan. 10, 1930 - Dec. 3, 2021 HERNDON, Kan. — Marie Nemeth, 91, of Herndon, died Friday, Dec. 3, 2021, in Atwood, Kan. Gerry was born Jan. 10, 1930, on a farm four miles northwest of Herndon to Francis and Cecilia (Lippold) Barenberg. She was the oldest of four children. She moved with her family into the town of Herndon in 1938, where she attended St. Mary’s grade school and later Herndon High School, graduating as valedictorian in 1948...

James Eugene Bryan Sept. 29, 1944 - Nov. 21, 2021 OBERLIN, Kan. — James Eugene Bryan was born Sept. 29, 1944, in Oberlin to Dale and Billie (Kathka) Bryan. He passed away Nov. 21, 2021 at the age of 77. Jim was born and raised in Oberlin and was a 1962 graduate of the Decatur Community High School. ...

Gordon Kelly Popp March 17, 1961 - Nov. 19, 2021 CURTIS, Neb. — Gordon Kelly Popp, 60, of Curtis, passed away Nov. 19, 2021, at his home south of Curtis. He was born to Gordon and Tammy Popp in Heber City, Utah, on March 17, 1961. They moved to Montana when he was nine. ...

Brett Johnson STRATTON, Neb. — Brett Johnson, 59, of Stratton, died Saturday (Dec. 4, 2021), at the Sarah Ann Hester Memorial in Benkelman. Cremation was chosen and in keeping with his wishes there will be no public services. Online condolences may be left at herrmannfh.com. Herrmann-Jones Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements...

HAIGLER, Neb. — With 2021 here, the little village of Haigler is looking quite festive with holiday lights and decorations and the Haigler Community Foundation is hosting several events at the Cornerstone Center, 251 East Norman Street. The Sunshine Thrift, Christmas Shop and Library have special holiday buys and are open Saturdays 11 a.m.-3 p.m. and Thursdays 3 p.m-7 p.m. Open recreation in the gymnasium has begun with hours of 9 to 10 a.m. Mondays and Thursdays and 3-7 p.m. Thursdays...

McCOOK, Neb. — It will be back to the drawing board for new city entry signs. The Nebraska Department of Transportation has notified city staff of concerns with the proposed location of the two signs, City Manager Nate Schneider told the city council at its meeting Monday...

McCOOK, Neb. — Like many employers, the Red Willow County Jail is finding itself short-staffed this fall, with five of 12 staff members sidelined by the pandemic. Jail Administrator Dee Schilz said while five are out with positive COVID tests, two new staff members are ready to start but they will require three weeks of training...

McCOOK, Neb. — Local pickleball proponents are hoping the city won’t drop the ball when it comes to renting out the city auditorium. Cathy Kenny and Mike Roth talked to the McCook City Council Monday night about renting out Memorial Auditorium a few times in the evenings for local pickle ballplayers. The game has exploded in popularity in other towns, with court time at the McCook YMCA at a premium on some weeknights, they said...

Santa Claus greets local youngsters Saturday at the McCook airport, an arrival pilot Griff Malleck says is one of the highlights of his year. Santa will be back Saturdays Dec. 11 and 18 at the High Plains Museum, 413 Norris Ave., from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m...

Blessengs Child Care and On The Spot Plumbing’s combined float took first place in the Christmas Lights parade Saturday, with the McCook Art Guild placing second and VK Electronics third.

Carriage rides proved to be a popular attraction at Norris Park activities Saturday night.

Members of the Red Willow County Ministerial Association gather this morning at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church to coordinate this year’s Salvation Army bell ringing campaign. They are, from left, the Revs. Clark Bates, Joshua Clark, Seth Bates, Rob Putz, Gary Brethour, Lisa Mensinger and Jessica Meyer. ...

Grannie Annie and this old guy ventured to Omaha this past weekend. We went to visit our daughter which is always a joy. Checked on our son-in-law’s installation of a new knee and he is doing well. The miracle of modern medicine. As per usual a good part of the trip was on Interstate 80 with quite a little traffic. ...

 McCOOK, Neb. — While the omicron variant of COVID-19, which was first found in South Africa, has been identified in southeastern Nebraska, none has been found in southwest Nebraska, according to the Southwest Nebraska Public Health Department. There were six omicron cases in Nebraska, all connected to travel outside of the United States, according to the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services...

MULLEN, Neb. — Champions Carter VanPelt and Jacob Kerns are a combined 13-0 for Southwest as they both won the Mullen Invitational on Saturday. The Roughriders finished fourth in team standings while entering more of a full lineup. They put six wrestlers on the mats at Cambridge Thursday night and still won one dual...

ELWOOD, Neb. — Team scores along with top four placers from area schools during Friday’s HiLine Wrestling Invitational. Top eight teams of 14: 1. Sutherland 205, 2. Arapahoe 139, 3. Chase County 125, 4. Cambridge 105, 5. S-E-M 100, 6. Perkins County 79.5; 7. Garden County 78; 8. Hi-Line 77; 12. Dundy County-Stratton 12, 12. Wauneta-Palisade 12, 14. Medicine Valley 3...

CAMBRIDGE, Neb. — No overtime or last-second drama was needed for Cambridge to finish a 51-35 win over Wauneta-Palisade Friday night. Senior Dahlton Wood calmly dropped in 10 points on four of six shots as the Trojans reached 2-0, one night after rallying from 13 down to edge Hitchcock County 58-57...

AMBRIDGE, Neb. — Paige Klumpe hit seven of eight shots and Autumn Deterding pulled down 16 rebounds during Cambridge’s 53-43 win over Wauneta-Palisade Friday. Klumpe’s 15 points topped the 2-0 Trojans while Deterding and sophomore Jalen Kent netted nine apiece...

McCOOK, Neb. — A 19-4 final surge showed exactly what senior Peyton Doucet was seeing about McCook’s terrific 44-27 home win over Valentine Saturday night. The Bison (1-1 record) only allowed one Badger basket in more than eight minutes while breaking free from a 25-23 struggle...

IMPERIAL, Neb. — Oh baby, this was nine months in the making and took all sorts of McCook Bison labor to create that beautiful moment Friday night... SWISH! A new season was born with junior Evan Humphrey’s first shot against the Chase County Longhorns...

COZAD, Neb. — McCook’s varsity wrestling trio and strong JV talent teamed to win eight places at the always tough Cozad Invitational on Saturday. Junior Alex Anthony returned from his Class B state medalist season to reach his 170-pound title match...