Stories from Tuesday, January 10, 2023

McCOOK, Neb. — Gothenburg’s Kassie Schuett was one C-1 Top 10 coach glad to get out of McCook Friday night. “They’ve improved from past years. I think they are quicker. They played and we weren’t ready for that,” she said about her 9-1 Swedes. “Plus it was maybe the loudest gym we’ve played in this year. I’m just glad we got the win.”...

KEARNEY, Neb. — McCook High School swimmers and divers returned to competition over the weekend for the first time since the holidays at the Kearney Invite, facing some of the strongest competitors so far this season. With increased competition, the McCook swimmers are making strides in qualifying for the Nebraska State swim meet in February in Lincoln...

McCook junior Quentin Terry (right, above) sizes up his Cozad 220-pound foe and soon starts a first-minute pin. The Haymakers still won this varsity dual, 61-6. Watch for more details Wednesday and in the next McCook Gazette.

McCOOK, Neb. — If defense wins championships, the McCook boys made some great strides last weekend. Senior Jacob Gomez-Wilson’s six steals and a strong inside force like junior Mitchel Cole keyed the 46-39 victory over Gothenburg Friday night. JG-W had to be a recurring nightmare for Swedes after he sliced through last football season for more than 100 yards...

WAUNETA, Neb. — Familiar RPAC neighbors both arrived ready to play Friday with Wauneta-Palisade scoring a 56-53 over Hitchcock County in girls' varsity action. The visiting Falcons featured three double-figure scorers during one of their better offensive performances this season. Junior Katie Jarecke sent 15 points through the Bronco nets, freshman Raegan Hagan had 14 and Byanka Tyan dropped in 11...

Yea! President Biden checked the box. He can now truthfully state that indeed he has been to the border. He went to El Paso, one of the spots where generally few illegals cross and had pictures made in the shadow of the big tall wall that President Trump had built. ...

McCOOK, Neb. —The president, vice president and secretary all retained their offices on the McCook Board of Education meeting Monday night, after newly elected and re-elected board members were sworn-in. The only nomination for president came from board member Teresa Thomas, who nominated the current president, Brad Hays. Hays accepted the nomination and with no other nominations, retained the office...

Norman Dale “Norm” Richards Dec. 10, 1940 - Jan. 6, 2023 OBERLIN, Kan. — Norman Dale “Norm” Richards was born Dec. 10, 1940, at his rural home in Decatur County, Kan. He was the youngest of five children born to Edith M. (Holliday) and Elmer Leorin Richards. He passed away Jan. 6, 2023, at the age of 82. Norm attended school in Oberlin and in high school, excelled at football, basketball, and was very involved in FFA. He graduated in 1959...

Keith Mark Wilson Dec. 2, 1964 - Jan. 7, 2023 PHILLIPS, Neb. — Keith Mark Wilson, age 58, of Phillips, passed away peacefully surrounded by his siblings on Saturday, Jan. 7, 2023. Keith was born Dec. 2, 1964 to parents, Dwaine and Kay (Scharf) Wilson...

Carlos Ismael Hernandez June 20, 1972 - Jan. 6, 2023 McCOOK, Neb. — Carlos Ismael Hernandez was born in Culiacan, Sinolaoa, Mexico on June 20, 1972, to Francisco Hernandez and Maria Olivia Vega. He met Marcy Rodriguez in Fort Morgan, Colo., in 1997, and the two would share the next 25 years of their lives together...

Kara Sue Hester (Walker) June 28, 1974 - Dec. 15, 2022 McCOOK, Neb. — Kara Sue Hester (Walker), 48, of McCook, died Dec. 15, 2022, in Lincoln, Neb., at Bryan Memorial East after a stroke. Kara was born on June 28, 1974, at St. Catherine’s Hospital in McCook to parents, Raymond Gonzales Jr. and Sharon Kay Walker. She was one of the last babies born here as the new McCook Community Hospital opened a few days after her birth. She grew up in McCook and graduated from McCook High School in 1993...

Darlene Leibbrandt Dec. 2, 1928 - Jan. 6, 2023 DANBURY, Neb. — Darlene Leibbrandt, age 94, of Danbury, passed away at the Swedish Medical Center in Englewood, Colo., on Jan. 6, 2023. She was born northwest of Culbertson in Hitchcock County to Jacob and Katie Eckhardt on Dec. 2, 1928. She graduated from Culbertson High School in 1946...

Dr. R.A. “Buzz” Peterson Jan. 22, 1941 - Jan. 4, 2023 NORTON, Kan. — Dr. R.A. “Buzz” Peterson, 81, of Norton, passed away Jan. 4, 2023, at his home. He was born Jan. 22, 1941, in Harlan, Iowa, to William “Harley” and Eldora A. (Struve) Peterson. Buzz grew up in Harlan and was a 1959 graduate of Harlan Community High School. ...

Joe Bert Hinton July 14, 1934 - Jan. 2, 2023 WILLOWS, Calif. — Joe Bert Hinton, 88, of Willows, passed away Jan. 2, 2023. He was born southwest of Stockville, Neb., on July 14, 1934, to Bert and Vera Hinton. He attended Walnut Hill grade school near Orafino, Neb., where his sister was his teacher. He graduated from Stockville High School in 1953, attended McCook Junior College, then received a degree in civil engineering from Denver University. ...

Samuel L. Smith Dec. 12, 1936 - Jan. 8, 2023 McCOOK, Neb. — Samuel L. Smith, age 86, formerly of Culbertson, passed away at Community Hospital of McCook on Jan. 8, 2023. He was born in Hitchcock County on Dec. 12, 1936. He attended his first six years of elementary school in Trenton, then moved to Culbertson where he graduated in 1955...

McCOOK, Neb. — A heavy dose of home basketball is on tap for the McCook Community College men when they begin the second half of the season Friday with a 7:30 p.m. game against Otero Junior College (8-9). That game is the first of four games in the Peter and Dolores Graff Events Center over eight days. ...

BEATRICE, Neb. — The McCook High boys are starting to hit their mid-season wrestling stride after topping 100 team points at Saturday’s Beatrice Invitational. Freshman Tristan Campbell crushed the 145-pound challenge with four pins and a strong 11-4 win...

CURTIS, Neb. — Arapahoe amazingly overcame a 14-1 first quarter to knock off Medicine Valley’s girls, 52-47, Friday evening. Sophomore Sage Larson stepped up to score 14 points on five of seven shooting. Junior Sabrina Jacobsen tossed in 12. Senior Emerson Swanson netted another nine as did sophomore Cadence Carpenter to help Arapahoe reach 4-7...