Stories from Tuesday, February 1, 2022

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. — He’s a rat! never looked or sounded better than while watching McCook’s boys beat the No. 1 Southwest Conference tournament seed Saturday morning. Junior Evan Humphrey was clearly earning post-game party cupcakes with five three-pointers which earned high praise from Bison coaches...

Majorie Virginia (Plourd) Sochacki July 3, 1920 - Jan. 15, 2022 MARINE CITY, Mich. — Marjorie Virginia Sochacki, 101, of Marine City, passed away on Saturday, Jan. 15, 2022, at Blue Water Hospice Home in Marysville. She was born in Chadron, Neb., on July 3, 1920, daughter of Fred (Maude) Plourd and Loretta Farley. She married Raymond Sochacki on May 6, 1944. He passed away on Feb. 3, 1983...

Calvin Ward Vincent Jan. 9, 1940 - Jan. 28, 2022 TRENTON, Neb. — Calvin Ward Vincent, 82, a longtime resident of Trenton, passed away Friday, Jan. 28, 2022, at his home in Trenton. He was born to Ward and Martha (Greene) Vincent on Jan. 9, 1940, in Huron, S.D. He was one of 11 children...

Albert K. Miller Jan. 3, 1924 - Jan. 30, 2022 TRENTON, Neb. — Albert K. Miller, 98, of Trenton, formerly of Cambridge, Neb., died Sunday (Jan. 30, 2022), at Community Hospital in McCook. He was born on Jan. 3, 1924, at Denver, Colo. Cremation was chosen and inurnment is at a later date at Fort McPherson National Cemetery, Maxwell, Neb. Online condolences can be left at wenburgfuneralhome.com...

Patrick McKane Kasson Dec. 31, 1927 - Jan. 29, 2022 NORTH PLATTE, Neb. — Patrick McKane Kasson, 94, of North Platte and formerly of Wilsonville and McCook, Neb., passed away peacefully on Saturday, Jan. 29, 2022, at his home in Linden Estates. He was born on Dec. 31, 1927, in Wilsonville, son of George and Ada (Cline) Kasson...

Stanley Martin Faimon Jan. 27, 2022 - Nov. 12, 1958 STRATTON, Neb. — Stanley Martin Faimon, beloved father and farmer, passed away, Jan. 27, 2022, at Saint Elizabeth’s Hospital, in Lincoln, Neb., after a hard fight with leukemia. At the ripe age of 63, he would joke that he was, “Sick and tired of being sick and tired,” and “it was time to go.”...

Robert Bruce Best Sept. 17, 1947 ~ Jan. 25, 2022  COLUMBIA, Md. — Robert “Bob” Bruce Best, 74, of Columbia, passed away on Jan. 25, 2022. He was born on Sept. 17, 1947, to Ellwood and Lillian Best in McCook, Neb. He graduated from the University of Nebraska in 1969, with a degree in economics. He played football during his time there and was a “Blackshirt” for the Cornhuskers...

Larry D. Lashley July 30, 1938 - Jan. 28, 2022 CULBERTSON, Neb. — Larry D. Lashley age, 83, of Culbertson, passed away on Jan. 28, 2022, peacefully with daughter, Paula and grandchildren present. He was born north of McCook in Red Willow County on July 30, 1938, to Elmer and Hazel (Blake) Lashley. He attended school and graduated from Republican Valley High School in 1956. In August of 1958, he was united in marriage to Jeniene Weskcamp. She preceded him in death on Feb. 23, 2021...

Ervin A. Bamesberger Jan. 15 , 1925 - Jan. 20, 2022 BELLEVUE, Neb. — Ervin A. Bamesberger, 97, died Sunday (Jan. 30, 2022). He was preceded in death by wife, Wandyne Bamesberger. Survivors include children, Mark (Joann) Bamesberger, Carol (Allen) Ziegelbein, and Keith (Kathryn) Bamesberger; five grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews...

McCOOK, Neb. — Community Hospital and Hillcrest leadership are working on a project to potentially increase the number of certified nursing aides in the McCook area and are inviting others to get involved. Having enough staff to fill all available nursing home beds has become a problem in southwest Nebraska, they said. ...

McCOOK, Neb. — The City of McCook Fire Department responded to a reported structure fire Thursday evening at 606 East C Street. First arriving fire department crews reported light smoke coming from the single-family dwelling. Firefighters entered the residence and found a burned area within a wall in a bedroom. ...

LINCOLN, Nebr. – The Nebraska State Historical Society Foundation (NSHSF) launched a statewide travel adventure program on Tuesday. This program encourages travelers to visit Nebraska museums, libraries, parks, and other historical points of interest in order to win participation prizes along the way...

LINCOLN, Neb. - Katie A. (Harr) Joseph, a 1997 McCook High School graduate, has been promoted to partner in the law firm of Cline Williams Wright Johnson & Oldfather, L.L.P. Joseph graduated from the University of Nebraska (B.A., with distinction) in 2001 and the University of Nebraska College of Law in 2015. Joseph was Managing Editor of the Nebraska Law Review and President of the Women’s Law Caucus in 2014-2015...

McCOOK, Neb. - Hometown Family Radio is once again sponsoring “The Big Show” this Friday and Saturday at the Red Willow County Fairgrounds, but it has not come without challenges, according to Jesse Stevens, General Manager at Hometown Family Radio...

Journalism Competition and Preservation Act is one step to level an unbalanced playing field.

It was a heartwarming sight. A middle-aged pair of grandparents dining out with cute well-behaved granddaughters. They had selected a round corner table away from the crowd but the two little girls, hair black and curly, and my guess age two and four years old, couldn’t have had any better manners. Grandparents so proud. The experience made my day...

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Tom Brady, the most successful quarterback in NFL history, has retired after winning seven Super Bowls and setting numerous passing records in an unprecedented 22-year career. “This is difficult for me to write, but here it goes: I am not going to make that competitive commitment anymore,” Brady wrote in a lengthy post on Instagram. “I have loved my NFL career, and now it is time to focus my time and energy on other things that require my attention.”...

MAXWELL, Neb. — Sophomore Jeremiah Ingison’s 19 points helped Maywood-Hayes Center finish a 50-40 RPAC consolation win over Wallace Friday evening. The Wolves (12-7 record) saw Ingison hit nine of 13 shots and block two Wallace attempts. Senior Weston Morrow and junior Kyler Cox both hit a pair of triples while netting nine points apiece...

McCOOK, Neb. — The Class D-2 No. 7 Medicine Valley Raiders erased a seven-point late deficit and edged Hitchcock County, 49-47, in Saturday’s RPAC tournament third-place game. Senior Hayden Kramer scored eight of his game-high 21 points in the fourth quarter, but just was crucial was how Med Valley (13-2 record) made eight free throws and missed only one during those final eight minutes...

AMHERST, Neb. — McCook sophomore Makayla Pate won an 8-7 title match to take the 165-pound championship at Saturday’s Amherst Wrestling Girls Invitational. Pate improved to 18-3 in her first high school wrestling season where she’s currently ranked Class B No. 3 at 152...

McCOOK, Neb. — Carter Hartwell’s first career takedown was one of several great highlights for the McCook Bison wrestling team on Friday. “His eyes got THAT big,” coach Nick Umscheid said following the Bison Dual Invitational at McCook’s Graff Events Center. “It’s those small victories we’re enjoying this year. And that’s what made our dual win so big for this team.”...

CURTIS, Neb. — Chase County claimed a strong second place while the Hitchcock County Falcons won two championships during Saturday’s Medicine Valley Wrestling Invite. Keegan Shuler and Taylor Hubl led the Falcons. Team scores, all champions and top three placers...

McCOOK, Neb. — Senior Quade Myers simply marvels about how his Dundy County-Stratton buddies find ways to deliver victories like Saturday’s RPAC title game. “What plays stand out? There were two. Jack(son Kerchal) getting rim stuffed when he tried to dunk,” Myers proclaimed while laughing. “Then Jack taking my pass that bounced off the rim and tipping it in.”...

McCOOK, Neb. —Any tears were filled with a little more joy and satisfaction following Saturday’s RPAC tournament title game. “Really, if we don’t leave practices in tears, we haven’t worked hard enough,” Maywood-Hayes Center junior Kiley Hejtmanek said. “But this, this was a little tougher than that.”...