Stories from Tuesday, December 13, 2022

McCOOK, Neb. — Updates from McCook schools in anticipation of today’s bad weather. McCook Bison 7th Grade Girls Basketball @ Lexington -canceled JV/V Girls Basketball vs Cozad-postponed Rawlins County in Atwood, Kan. High school basketball with Dundy County Nebraska has been rescheduled to Friday February 3rd at 4 p.m...

Ah ha ready or not; Christmas is coming! Visions of snow, decorated trees, stockings hung on the mantel, presents, happy and excited children. Family. Yes, that is a vision of our happiest holiday in this place we have chosen to live. It would be different in say Australia or South America south of the equator and hence in the middle of the hot season—summer. There too they celebrate but no matter Christmas is about family your traditions and those of our family...

McCOOK, Neb. — The McCook School Board unanimously endorsed Monday the negotiated agreement with the McCook Education Association for the 2023-24 school year, with a 3.98% pay increase for teachers. Under the agreement, the base salary for teachers is increased from $38,550 to $39,300. Base salary is the starting wage for teachers with no experience; wages go up incrementally at the McCook School District depending on years of experience and whether teachers obtain a master’s degree...

McCOOK, Neb. — After meeting with an architectural consultant, the consensus on the McCook Junior High is to build new, said the McCook Public School superintendent. Superintendent Grant Norgaard told the McCook Board of Education Monday night that initial meetings with W Design indicate that office space and the gymnasium at the current junior high can be salvaged but everything else will be built new...

McCOOK, Neb. — The Fox Theatre in downtown McCook will be the site for the Hometown Christmas Show at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 18. This variety show will feature area talent and will be hosted by well-known master of ceremonies Mr. Cal Siegfried. The program will feature the quartet, Kapella Brass, a vocal quartet singing Christmas Carols, string sounds from members of Simply Strings, a piano duet and dancers from the For Dancers Only dance studio...

Barbara Jean Blickenstaff Sept. 21, 1934 - Dec. 11, 2022 ARAPAHOE, Neb. — Barbara Jean Blickenstaff, age 88, of Arapahoe, passed away on Sunday, Dec. 11, 2022, at Cambridge Memorial Hospital in Cambridge, Neb. She was born on Sept. 21, 1934, on the family farm north of Wauneta, Neb., to George and Margaret (Waddington) Fekkers...

Thomas Joseph Weskamp Oct. 8, 1957 - Nov. 29, 2022 McCOOK, Neb. — Thomas Joseph Weskamp, age 65, of McCook, passed away at Kearney Regional Hospital on Nov. 29, 2022. He was born in El Paso, Texas on Oct. 8, 1957, to Joseph Dean and Faith (Hollars) Weskamp. He attended McCook Public Schools and graduated from McCook High School in 1975...

Marjorie Lucille Higley Oct. 21, 1932 - Dec. 10, 2022 STRATTON, Neb. — Marjorie Lucille Higley, formally of Stratton, passed away at Hillcrest Care Center in McCook on Dec. 10, 2022. She was 90 years old. Lucille was born in Stratton on Oct. 21, 1932, to Frank Norris and Marjorie Clarissa (Ross) Miles. ...

Eldon DeWayne Moore April 2, 1935 - Dec. 11, 2022 BARTLEY, Neb. — Eldon DeWayne Moore, age 87, of Bartley, passed away at the Hillcrest Care Center in McCook on Dec. 11, 2022. He was born on the family farm north of Cambridge in Frontier County on April 2, 1935, to Earl and Doris (Wight) Moore...

Maxine L. McCoy Sept. 11, 1928 - Dec. 10, 2022 CAMBRIDGE, Neb. — Maxine L. McCoy, age 94, of Cambridge, passed away at Cambridge Memorial Hospital on Dec. 10, 2022. She was born on Sept. 11, 1928, to Elmer and Cis (Ogorzolka) Stoddard north of Arapahoe, Neb. She attended school in Arapahoe and Cambridge...

Kinuko “Jean” Bacon McCOOK, Neb. — Kinuko “Jean” Bacon, 88, of McCook, died Sunday (Dec. 11, 2022), at Kinship Pointe Living Facility in McCook. The family has chosen cremation. A memorial graveside service is Friday, Dec. 16, 2022, at 1 p.m., at Fort McPherson National Cemetery near Maxwell, Neb., with Jim Jones officiating...

William Herman Schutz Feb. 25, 1959 - Dec. 9, 2022 ELWOOD, Neb. — William Herman Schutz, 63, of Elwood, died Friday (Dec. 9, 2022), at his home. He was born at Lexington, Neb., to Marvin and Ruth (Braun) Schutz on Feb. 25, 1959. Cremation was chosen, private inurnment will be at a later date...

Jeffrey Lynn Wells Sept. 1, 1982 - Dec. 11, 2022 BURLINGTON, Colo. — Jeffrey Lynn Wells, 40, passed away Dec. 11, 2022. He was born Sept. 1, 1982, in Oberlin, Kan., to Joan Jackson Wells and Walter Luke Wells. He joined the National Guard in 2001 and was an Iraq War veteran...

Craig D. Kitt Aug. 3, 1951 - Nov. 28, 2022 EAST HAMPTON, N.Y. — Craig D. Kitt of East Hampton died Nov. 28, 2022, in Southampton. Craig was born Aug. 3, 1951, in Imperial, Neb., to Paul W. and Elnora (Cushing) Kitt, the oldest of three children. He was raised on the Dundy County family farm south of Wauneta, the hometown where he attended elementary school and graduated from Wauneta High School in 1969...

McCOOK, Neb. — Rylan Wallingford, a 5-10 sophomore pitcher on the McCook Community College baseball team, has signed a letter of intent to pitch next year at Ottawa University in Kansas. The Fort Calhoun native attended Bennington High School and came to MCC last fall hoping to compete as an outfielder...

McCOOK, Neb. — With nine points and an amazing nine steals Saturday night, senior Ashlin Broz barely had time to enjoy her other favorite role for Maywood-Hayes Center. “I love being like a little cheerleader out there,” the 5’5” guard proclaimed about Saturday’s 48-35 Cattle Trail finals win over Southwest...

McCOOK, Neb. — Green meant go win a Cattle Trail title and that’s exactly what those Maywood-Hayes Center boys over Dundy County-Stratton Saturday night. “I was so nervous coming in, I heard they (DC-S) had won like eight in row?” coach Kolby Hamilton said following the 52-42 victory. “It was a great team win. This win was all about defense.”...

GOODLAND, Kan. — They averaged nearly 60 points in three games with a 22-2 first quarter igniting Saturday’s Topside Tournament finale. Sure, Old Mo’momentum changed unis more times than the McCook High girls wanted to see. They fell 15 points behind on Thursday and shot back within three, then built an eight-point halftime lead Friday only to lose by 15...

HOLDREGE, Neb. — McCook High’s varsity wrestling boys nearly scored 100 points at the Holdrege Invite on Saturday with coach Nick Umscheid providing thse insights: “It was good to get some of our younger wrestlers some varsity mat time. Those guys are real scrappers and won’t back down to anyone which is what you like to see from your younger wrestlers...

GOODLAND, Kan. — The McCook boys shook a bad first half and beat Lakin, Kan., 56-44, for third among eight teams at Saturday’s Topside Tournament. Trailing 24-17, the Bison turned inside to unleash a 23-point third quarter. Versatile forward Gabe Gans delivered nine of his 12 points while new varsity force Mitchel Cole contributed five...

STAPLETON, Neb. — McCook returning state finalist Makayla Pate made a magnificent season debut and freshman Peyton Cock joined her as Stapleton Invitational wrestlinch champions. Cock’s now 9-0 in high school wrestling as she knocked off a returning state qualifier to win the 115-pound title...