21-Nov-2019 / Release From CDHD
A multistate outbreak of Hepatitis A has been linked to eating blackberries purchased at Fresh Thyme Farmers Market in three states: Indiana, Nebraska and Wisconsin. It is noted that these same berries were also distributed in IA, IL, IN, KY, MI, MO, MN, NE, OH, PA, and WI.
Teresa Anderson, Health Director Central District Health Department advises, “The blackberries would have been purchased at Fresh Thyme Farmers Markets between September 9th and September 30th, 2019. If you didn’t freeze these berries you probably won’t have any left. However, if you purchased and froze berries during this time period and still have them, please contact us so that we can work with Nebraska DHHS in testing any berries that are still available.
Hepatitis A is a highly contagious liver infection caused by the Hepatitis A virus. It can range from a mild illness lasting a few weeks to a severe illness lasting several months. Although rare, Hepatitis A can cause death in some people. Hepatitis A usually spreads when a person unknowingly ingests the virus from objects, food, or drinks contaminated by small, undetected amounts of stool from an infected person. Symptoms begin somewhere between 2 and 7 weeks after exposure. Individuals are considered most contagious during the 2 weeks before and 1 week after onset of symptoms. Those diagnosed with hepatitis A or persons symptomatic after a known exposure should not work or prepare food for one week after symptoms begin and until symptoms are gone for greater than24 hours.
19-Nov-2019 / Tyson Havranek
North Platte Authorities say human remains found in a stock trailer could be those of at least one of two Wisconsin brothers who prosecutors say were fatally shot by a Missouri farmer.
Lincoln County Sheriff's Chief Deputy Roland Kramer said Monday that a rancher near Hershey, found the remains mixed with dirt in a plastic tub inside the trailer he recently purchased in Missouri.
Garland Nelson, a 25-year-old Missouri farmer, is accused of fatally shooting 35-year-old Nick Diemel and 24-year-old Justin Diemel, of Wisconsin, then burning their bodies and dumping them in a manure pile. He faces two counts of first-degree murder.
Kramer says Missouri authorities confirmed the remains could belong to one of the brothers.
19-Nov-2019 / Tyson Havranek
Monday morning the Lincoln County Sheriff's 911 Center advised of a two vehicle, injury accident near mile marker 63 on U.S. Highway 83.
It was reported a truck and a car had struck head on and one of the drivers was injured.
Deputies and rescue workers arrived to find a female driver with non-life threatening injuries being assisted by other citizens.
She was later taken to Great Plains Health for treatment.
The investigation into the accident revealed a northbound Isuzu Sweeper Truck crossed the centerline of the roadway and collided with the females vehicle.
It appears the driver of the Isuzu fell asleep, causing him to strike the woman’s car he was not injured. Drugs or Alcohol were not a cause of the accident.
19-Nov-2019 / GIPS
The Grand Island Public Schools Foundation awards mini-grants in two rounds on an annual basis. Mini-grants are designed to fund educational opportunities for students that are not available through the school district's general budget.
This is the sixteenth annual mini-grant cycle for the Grand Island Public Schools Foundation. Since the program’s inception, the Grand Island Public Schools Foundation has funded 282 mini-grants totaling $248,464. Grants have been awarded to every school in the district, benefiting approximately 52,755 students.
The 2019-2020 mini-grant fund was established via the "Add it Up to Opportunity!" staff and board fund drive and the "Tradition of Excellence" community campaign held during the past 12 months.
For the 2019-2020 school year, 17 grants totaling $19,322 were awarded through the mini-grant process. Grants ranged from $250 to $2,000. 3,222 students will benefit from a classroom mini-grant this school year.
Day One grant winners, grant amounts, and project titles were:*Kim McCain, Jodi Fegley, Engleman Elementary, $1,830, “Wildcats Wild about Maker Space!” With the Makerspace movement in full swing across our district, Engleman Elementary wants to expand their learning opportunities for their students. With only four large robots, adding the ability to code more often is one goal for a student body of 530. We also would like to continue developing creativity and problem solving using recyclables with Makedo: Cardboard Construction. With Makerspace hands-on learning activities, students gain problem solving skills and collaboration skills in the curriculum areas of math, science, art, language/literature, and technology. This grant will benefit 530 students in grades K-5.
*Kenneth DeFrank, Success Academy, $1,970, “Flexible Seating.” Success Academy is an alternative program that focuses on students with mental and behavior challenges. We would like to offer more flexible seating to our students, including wiggly chairs, rocking chairs, and any other non-traditional seating to help kids stay focused on their academics. This grant will benefit 91 students in grades 9-12.
*Danielle Dudo, Stephanie Finnegan, Andrew Poltack, and Katie Slattery, Newell Elementary, $850, “Traveling Along the Oregon Trail.” Students will experience the Oregon Trail in a first-hand expedition across school district property. Students will face many of the same challenges that pioneers faced from traveling hardships, illness, trading and pioneer meals. Their mission is to successfully transport their family along the trail to their final destination. (Starting at Newell Elementary, stopping at Walnut Middle School and ending at Grand Island Senior High). This grant will benefit 80 students in grades 4-5.
*Sara Robinson, Gates Elementary, $1,000, “Every Student, Every Day, A Reader!” The purpose of this grant is to provide teachers with the materials they need to design meaningful phonics lessons. The materials will guide instruction that directly aligns to the LETRS (Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling) professional development. This grant will benefit 215 students in grades K-5.
*Jason Zelasney, Shane Campbell, and John Faxon, Jefferson Elementary, $1,000, “Jefferson Gentleman.” The Jefferson Gentlemen will be a program focused on teaching our young boys how to be our next generation gentlemen. This program will teach our boys skills to help them feel good about themselves in every setting and have the confidence to lead by example. Our goal is to lift students up and help prepare them for the road ahead. During our group time, we plan to focus on learning proper etiquette in different settings, how to dress to impress and tie a tie, how to give a proper handshake and demonstrate respect to others, and learn other characteristics of being a gentleman. This grant will benefit 50 students in grades K-5.
*Chandra Kosmicki, Jefferson Elementary, $1,870, “Stop-Motion Claymation Movie Makin’.” Remember the Gumby or the California Raisins? In this project, students will grow their skills as a 21st century learner and become engaged in stop-motion animation by creating, editing, and sharing their very own Claymation movie. This grant will benefit 400 students in grades K-5.
*Trevor Cornelius and Nancy Sutherland, Knickrehm Elementary, $900, “It Only Takes a Spark.” It can be difficult for students to transition from reading picture books to chapter books; for some students, due to fear and lack of confidence, it seems almost impossible. These obstacles can be overcome by creating an afterschool program using literacy circles, where like-ability students can gather to explore and discuss the hidden treasures found within the written word. This grant will be used to purchase sets of books from seven different genres, in four different reading levels, in order to meet our students where they are at and encourage them to grow. This grant will benefit 40 students in grades K-5.
*Janet Dobbins and Rebecca Waind, Stolley Park Elementary, $1,300, “Purposeful Play in a Kindergarten Classroom.” We are creating an environment in the kindergarten classroom whereas 'play' becomes purposeful in providing extensive opportunities for children to represent and extend their thinking through multiple modalities including, but not limited to drawing, writing, painting, movement, drama, construction, dance, technology, and discovery. Purposeful play centers will integrate standards, targets, and success criteria to naturally support learning. 'Play' will provide areas in the classroom that are ever-changing. This grant will benefit 46 students in Kindergarten.
*Lauren Peitzmeier and Sandy Meyer, Stolley Park Elementary, $1,947, “Make Space for Robotics!” We would like to provide opportunities for Stolley Park students to experience robotics and coding using Ozobots and Spheros in our dedicated makerspace where they will be available for all K-5 teachers to use with their entire class, in addition to before and after school STEAM programs and clubs. The Ozobot is a small but powerful robot that is programmable using simple markers (for beginners) or block based computer programming (for intermediate users). Like the Ozobot, the Sphero SPRK+ utilizes drawing and block based programming, but adds a third level for advanced learners to use JavaScript to actually write text programs.
This grant will benefit 225 students in grades K-5.
*Melissa McDonald, Shoemaker Elementary, $1,000, “Every Student, Every day, A Reader!” The purpose of this grant is to provide teachers the materials they need to design meaningful phonics lessons. The materials will support instruction that directly aligns with the LETRS (Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling) professional development. This grant will benefit 280 students in grades K-5.
*Kevin Butters, Vicki Weseman, and Brenda Carlson, Lincoln Elementary, $1,000, “Patterns of Earth and Sky.” As fifth grade students begin the school year, they investigate what causes the daily and yearly pattern of what objects we see in the night sky. Throughout the investigations they discover how the orbits of Earth around the sun and of the moon around Earth, together with the rotation of Earth about an axis between its North and South poles, causes observable patterns. These students would greatly benefit from an end-of-unit, culminating activity that includes a trip to the University of Nebraska at Kearney Planetarium and an art activity incorporating what they have learned. Students could make connections with what they have learned, recognize many of the stars they have read about, and share in an experience which will stay with them for years to come. This grant will benefit 65 students in grade 5.
*Bianca Ayala, Howard Elementary, $250, “Books & Braids.” Books & Braids is a morning weekly club where the students are able to read books of their choice and have their hair styled. All students (boys & girls) are welcomed and after having their hair styled leave with a big smile on their face! Having special books and hair materials for the club would engage more students to join while building their confidence at the same time! This grant will benefit 50 students in grades K-5.
*Gina Conyers and Clint Felber, Barr Middle School, $450, “Outdoor Leisure Activities.” We would love to offer a unit at the beginning and end of every school year that features yard games that our students will most likely play in their neighborhoods, tailgating, or while camping with family and friends in the summer like: Ladder golf, Polish Horseshoes, Corn Hole, Yard Darts and Kan Jam. This is a great unit to add to our curriculum as it is able to help us hit several standards. They will also be developing skills and knowledge of games that they will be able to participate in for a lifetime of fun. This grant will benefit 750 students in grades 6-8.
*Nicole LeClaire, Wyandotte Learning Center, $2,000, “Building a 21st Century Crime Lab – Law and Public Safety Academy at the Academies of Grand Island Senior High.” This grant will design and build a crime lab where Law and Public Safety students would be able to role-play future careers in the fields of Law and Public Safety through crime scene simulations. The crime lab would be dynamic-scenes, simulations, and events would change and build upon unit concepts. This grant would offset the cost of supplies to build set scenes and supplemental lesson materials. This grant will benefit 125 students in grades 9-12.
*Kenneth DeFrank, Success Academy, $1,970, “Flexible Seating.” Success Academy is an alternative program that focuses on students with mental and behavior challenges. We would like to offer more flexible seating to our students, including wiggly chairs, rocking chairs, and any other non-traditional seating to help kids stay focused on their academics. This grant will benefit 91 students in grades 9-12.
*Danielle Dudo, Stephanie Finnegan, Andrew Poltack, and Katie Slattery, Newell Elementary, $850, “Traveling Along the Oregon Trail.” Students will experience the Oregon Trail in a first-hand expedition across school district property. Students will face many of the same challenges that pioneers faced from traveling hardships, illness, trading and pioneer meals. Their mission is to successfully transport their family along the trail to their final destination. (Starting at Newell Elementary, stopping at Walnut Middle School and ending at Grand Island Senior High). This grant will benefit 80 students in grades 4-5.
*Sara Robinson, Gates Elementary, $1,000, “Every Student, Every Day, A Reader!” The purpose of this grant is to provide teachers with the materials they need to design meaningful phonics lessons. The materials will guide instruction that directly aligns to the LETRS (Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling) professional development. This grant will benefit 215 students in grades K-5.
*Jason Zelasney, Shane Campbell, and John Faxon, Jefferson Elementary, $1,000, “Jefferson Gentleman.” The Jefferson Gentlemen will be a program focused on teaching our young boys how to be our next generation gentlemen. This program will teach our boys skills to help them feel good about themselves in every setting and have the confidence to lead by example. Our goal is to lift students up and help prepare them for the road ahead. During our group time, we plan to focus on learning proper etiquette in different settings, how to dress to impress and tie a tie, how to give a proper handshake and demonstrate respect to others, and learn other characteristics of being a gentleman. This grant will benefit 50 students in grades K-5.
*Chandra Kosmicki, Jefferson Elementary, $1,870, “Stop-Motion Claymation Movie Makin’.” Remember the Gumby or the California Raisins? In this project, students will grow their skills as a 21st century learner and become engaged in stop-motion animation by creating, editing, and sharing their very own Claymation movie. This grant will benefit 400 students in grades K-5.
*Trevor Cornelius and Nancy Sutherland, Knickrehm Elementary, $900, “It Only Takes a Spark.” It can be difficult for students to transition from reading picture books to chapter books; for some students, due to fear and lack of confidence, it seems almost impossible. These obstacles can be overcome by creating an afterschool program using literacy circles, where like-ability students can gather to explore and discuss the hidden treasures found within the written word. This grant will be used to purchase sets of books from seven different genres, in four different reading levels, in order to meet our students where they are at and encourage them to grow. This grant will benefit 40 students in grades K-5.
*Janet Dobbins and Rebecca Waind, Stolley Park Elementary, $1,300, “Purposeful Play in a Kindergarten Classroom.” We are creating an environment in the kindergarten classroom whereas 'play' becomes purposeful in providing extensive opportunities for children to represent and extend their thinking through multiple modalities including, but not limited to drawing, writing, painting, movement, drama, construction, dance, technology, and discovery. Purposeful play centers will integrate standards, targets, and success criteria to naturally support learning. 'Play' will provide areas in the classroom that are ever-changing. This grant will benefit 46 students in Kindergarten.
*Lauren Peitzmeier and Sandy Meyer, Stolley Park Elementary, $1,947, “Make Space for Robotics!” We would like to provide opportunities for Stolley Park students to experience robotics and coding using Ozobots and Spheros in our dedicated makerspace where they will be available for all K-5 teachers to use with their entire class, in addition to before and after school STEAM programs and clubs. The Ozobot is a small but powerful robot that is programmable using simple markers (for beginners) or block based computer programming (for intermediate users). Like the Ozobot, the Sphero SPRK+ utilizes drawing and block based programming, but adds a third level for advanced learners to use JavaScript to actually write text programs.
This grant will benefit 225 students in grades K-5.
*Melissa McDonald, Shoemaker Elementary, $1,000, “Every Student, Every day, A Reader!” The purpose of this grant is to provide teachers the materials they need to design meaningful phonics lessons. The materials will support instruction that directly aligns with the LETRS (Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling) professional development. This grant will benefit 280 students in grades K-5.
*Kevin Butters, Vicki Weseman, and Brenda Carlson, Lincoln Elementary, $1,000, “Patterns of Earth and Sky.” As fifth grade students begin the school year, they investigate what causes the daily and yearly pattern of what objects we see in the night sky. Throughout the investigations they discover how the orbits of Earth around the sun and of the moon around Earth, together with the rotation of Earth about an axis between its North and South poles, causes observable patterns. These students would greatly benefit from an end-of-unit, culminating activity that includes a trip to the University of Nebraska at Kearney Planetarium and an art activity incorporating what they have learned. Students could make connections with what they have learned, recognize many of the stars they have read about, and share in an experience which will stay with them for years to come. This grant will benefit 65 students in grade 5.
*Bianca Ayala, Howard Elementary, $250, “Books & Braids.” Books & Braids is a morning weekly club where the students are able to read books of their choice and have their hair styled. All students (boys & girls) are welcomed and after having their hair styled leave with a big smile on their face! Having special books and hair materials for the club would engage more students to join while building their confidence at the same time! This grant will benefit 50 students in grades K-5.
*Gina Conyers and Clint Felber, Barr Middle School, $450, “Outdoor Leisure Activities.” We would love to offer a unit at the beginning and end of every school year that features yard games that our students will most likely play in their neighborhoods, tailgating, or while camping with family and friends in the summer like: Ladder golf, Polish Horseshoes, Corn Hole, Yard Darts and Kan Jam. This is a great unit to add to our curriculum as it is able to help us hit several standards. They will also be developing skills and knowledge of games that they will be able to participate in for a lifetime of fun. This grant will benefit 750 students in grades 6-8.
*Nicole LeClaire, Wyandotte Learning Center, $2,000, “Building a 21st Century Crime Lab – Law and Public Safety Academy at the Academies of Grand Island Senior High.” This grant will design and build a crime lab where Law and Public Safety students would be able to role-play future careers in the fields of Law and Public Safety through crime scene simulations. The crime lab would be dynamic-scenes, simulations, and events would change and build upon unit concepts. This grant would offset the cost of supplies to build set scenes and supplemental lesson materials. This grant will benefit 125 students in grades 9-12.
*Jerome Dubas, Grand Island Senior High, $1,146, “UNDRground Contemporary Arts Marketing.” The Senior High Art Department collaborates with the Azteca Market to operate a professional art gallery- UNDRground Contemporary Arts. The operating expenses include postcard mailings, postage, and vinyl, insurance, transportation expenses, food for receptions, website hosting fees, pedestals, and other miscellaneous expenses (light bulbs, paint, cleaning supplies, hardware, etc.). Every two months we have a new show and we use the postcards to market each of the art shows, and we apply vinyl to the entry foyer wall with the artist's name and the name of the show. This grant will benefit 45 students in grades 9-12.
*Corey Farlee, Shaun Willey and Maggie Mintken, Grand Island Senior High, $250, “Journals & Paper Planners for Freshman Academy.” Working as a counselor in the Freshman Academy at Grand Island Senior High we have learned that our freshmen need help with organization and dealing with emotions. We have found success using journaling strategies to manage feelings and maintain mental health with many students. We have also observed student's organization skills and grades improve by using paper planners to help them gain control of their workload, which can be overwhelming for freshman. The transition from middle school to high school can be troubling, so having these materials to assist our students with this transition would be helpful. This grant will benefit 100 students in grade 9.
*Nancy Jones, Grand Island Senior High, $559, “TeamMates Lego Project.” As a school-based mentoring program, TeamMates of Grand Island's main goal is to build positive, trusting relationships between students and mentors through weekly conversations and activities. These conversations are the basis for constructive, critical life decisions that students choose to discuss with their mentor, but can often be difficult when new relationships are developing. Having a physical focus in their hands, helps students to openly talk about themselves and their lives without feeling interviewed or interrogated. TeamMates would like to purchase Legos sets for the four TeamMates schools in the district; Barr, Walnut, Westridge and Senior High. This grant will benefit 130 students in grades 6-12.
15-Nov-2019 / Muriel Clark - Assistant Director with North Platte/Lincoln County Visitors Bureau
Sutherland Longhorn Bar owner Tim Aden and Sutherland Rodeo Committee spokesperson Janet Mueller announced they are coming together to offer this incredible all-ages show at the outdoor event area north of the Sutherland Legion Hall adjacent to the rodeo grounds.
A native of Tulsa, OK, Diffie is a member of the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame and has been a member of the Grand Ole Opry for 25 years. A star athlete in high school, he originally set his sights on a medical career, but his love for music won out and he began performing in a gospel group. He paid the bills by working in a foundry and later joined a bluegrass band before deciding to give Nashville a try. He got a job working in the warehouse at Gibson Guitars, but felt like he wasn’t any closer to making his dreams come true.
He was on the verge of moving home when a conversation with his dad changed his destiny. “The best advice I ever got was from my dad,” Diffie recalls with a smile. “He said, ‘If you don’t have a goal, you don’t have anything to shoot at. Do something every day towards your music. Write a song or play your guitar.’ I took that to heart and made sure I did something every day whether it was big or little. I remember getting out of bed one time because I had forgotten to do something towards my music. I actually got up, got my guitar and played for a few minutes and then went back to bed. I feel like that had something to do with the success that I’ve managed to achieve. I think it would apply in anything. I lived, breathed, ate and slept music all the time. I was so obsessed with it.”
By 1990, Diffie had signed with Epic Records and released his debut album A Thousand Winding Roads. His very first single, “Home,” hit No. 1. He continued to dominate the charts throughout the 90s with such hits as “New Way (To Light Up an Old Flame),” “If the Devil Danced (In Empty Pockets),” “Is It Cold in Here,” “Prop Me Up Beside the Jukebox (If I Die),” “So Help Me Girl,” “Bigger than the Beatles” and “Third Rock from the Sun.” Jason Aldean paid tribute to Diffie and namechecked many of the veteran entertainer’s classics in his hit “1994.” The video featured Luke Bryan, Thomas Rhett, Little Big Town, Jake Owen and others paying homage to the man who influenced them.
Diffie’s accolades include 5 number one hits, 35 songs on the Billboard Top 10 charts, two Platinum records and two Gold albums.
The historic Sutherland Rodeo will celebrate its 83rd year in 2020, with a slack performance on July 2, then nightly performances on the 3rd and 4th. In 2019 the Sutherland Rodeo was named ‘Large Purse Rodeo of the Year” by the Nebraska State Rodeo Association, an accolade that it has won numerous times in the past. The concert is scheduled to start following the rodeo on July 3.
The rodeo and concert will highlight a full weekend of Independence Day celebrations in the community of Sutherland that includes a Junior Rodeo Queen competition, Firecracker 5K run, Pancake Breakfast, Kids Games and Frog Races, Community BBQ, Parade, Pie and Ice Cream Social.
Concert tickets will go on sale March first and will be priced at $20 in advance and $30 at the gate.
13-Nov-2019 / Cody Thomas – Public Relations Director
Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol have arrested a California man and seized cocaine and marijuana found during a traffic stop on Interstate 80 near Brady.
At approximately 7:00 a.m., Sunday, November 10, a trooper observed an eastbound Nissan Rogue speeding near mile marker 200. During the traffic stop, the trooper detected indicators of criminal activity.
A search of the vehicle revealed 2.2 pounds of cocaine hidden under the spare tire and 1.5 pounds of marijuana concealed in a box filled with spray foam.
The driver, Arnold Rodriguez, 44, of Modesto, California, was arrested for possession of cocaine, possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, possession of marijuana – more than one pound, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, and no drug tax stamp. Rodriguez was lodged in Lincoln County Jail.
13-Nov-2019 / Tyson Havranek
Back on September 9th police responded to 3021 S. Locust Street in reference to the discovery two deceased persons in a room. That investigation has concluded that the cause of death of both persons was accidental overdose of methamphetamine.
Autopsies were performed on deceased 38 year old Joshua Perkins and 37 year old Shannon
Sybert. Both results concluded that ‘Acute Methamphetamine Toxicity’ to be the cause of death.
Combined with the physical evidence and a thorough investigation, the Grand Island Police
Department is closing this case having found that accidental overdose was the cause of death
for both parties.
The police stressed in the release that if someone you care about is suffering from addiction, please seek help from community resources such as the Central Nebraska Council on Alcoholism and Addiction (CNCAA) at 308-385-5520
21-Jan-2020 / MCC Athletics/Brent Cobb
The McCook Community College golf team has received commitments from a pair of international students in Sinokholo Thumani from South Africa and Adam Durband from England
Sinokholo Thumani is from Xolani Secondary in King William's Town, Eastern Cape, South Africa.
He has a scoring average of 77 with a two-under 70 as his low tournament score when he won the King William’s Wednesday Open stroke play. He also had first place medals from the King William’s Open, the Katberg Open, the Dordrecht Open and the King William’s Junior Open.
In his College Sports America on-line profile he said his best golfing memory representing his province at the South African IPT 19-and under tournament.
He said he likes to push himself over the limits in everything he does. His goal is to become a pro and give back to the community that he is from.
Adam Durband is from Birkenhead School in Heswall, England.
He has a 76 scoring average with a low tournament score of 72 in both the JD Simpson Cub and the Caldy Golf Club Open – both of which he won. He has four other tournament wins, a second and a third place.
Durband started playing golf relatively late, picking it up when he was 13.
“I improved very quickly and believe that I still have a lot of room to improve even further,” he said.
He wants to continue growing as a golfer and would love to turn professional and make a living.
21-Jan-2020 / MCC Athletics/Brent Cobb
McCook Community College sophomore Malory Brown has signed her national letter of intent to continue playing college volleyball this fall at NCAA Division II Shaw University in Raleigh, N.C.
Brown, the 5-8 outside hitter from Colorado Springs, made it official Friday amid snow and freezing drizzle.
“I’m just tired of the cold weather and a lot of my friends are on the east coast and when I was looking at colleges, I really like the coach and his techniques, this seemed to be a good fit for me,” Brown said.
Brown played in 36 matches this past season and had 271 kills, 313 digs, 28 total blocks and 26 service aces
Her 271 kills (2.26 per set) which was seventh best among Region IX south division players and she ranked 11th in digs. She hit double-digits in kills 10 matches with a season high coming Sept. 28 at Trinidad State when she had 16.
“Mallory has been such an awesome player to work with,” said MCC Coach Hayley Kobza. “She has a great attitude, leadership skills, and a solid presence as a team player.”
Brown admits that she didn’t know if she even wanted to play volleyball after high school but is glad that she decided to come to McCook and said she is grateful to Coach Kobza, MCC and the community for making it an experience she wouldn’t trade for anything.
Along with co-captain Kiera Barr, Brown helped lead a group of sophomores that went 46-26 over the past two seasons including a 25-12 mark in 2019.
One of the highlights for her this year was when MCC upset Western Nebraska in Scottsbluff Halloween Night, snapping a 58-match losing streak to the Cougars. The Lady Indians also claimed wins over 20-ranked Northeastern Junior College and 17-ranked Cloud County Community (Division II).
“I remember in the locker room at Western, we were all so happy and also another highlight my freshmen year was when the crowd stormed the court on Pink-out Night against Otero when they were ranked and we beat them.”
Brown was an integral part of a team that claimed the Nebraska Community College Athletic Conference championship for the second year in a row with a 6-0 mark against North Platte, Central and Southeast Community Colleges.
“I think she is going to bring a lot to the Shaw volleyball program and I can’t wait to hear about her successes when she does,” Kobza said. “I wish her nothing but the best of luck and I hope she remembers that it all started here at McCook.”
Brown said she will miss her teammates who have become her best friends and are like a second family to her. Although her new team will play one of her teammates from last year when Shaw takes on Coastal Carolina where MCC alum Ashley Carson is a setter on the team.
20-Jan-2020 / KRGI Sports Network
Centennial Conference basketball tournament brackets have been released with first round action starting on Monday, Jan. 27th. KRGI Sports Network will have coverage of the GICC Crusaders on Tuesday, Jan. 28th on KRGI 1430/105.5 & krgi.com. GICC girls will take on the winner of Bishop Neumann/Lincoln Lutheran at 6pm. GICC boys will battle the winner of Omaha Concordia/Archbishop Bergan at 7:45pm.
Centennial Conference Basketball Tournament Brackets
20-Jan-2020 / KRGI Sports Network
Central Conference basketball brackets have been released with action starting Monday, Jan. 27th. Crete girls receive the one seed and will host the winner of #8 Holdrege vs #9 Lexington. Other first round matchups on the girls side feature #4 York vs #5 Seward. #3 Adams Central vs #6 Aurora. #7 Lakeview vs #10 Schuyler. The winner of Lakeview/Schuyler will take on #2 Northwest.
On the boys side. Adams Central receives the number one seed and a first round bye. On Monday, Jan. 27th #8 Lakeview will host #9 York. The winner of that game will take on Adams Central Tuesday, Jan. 28th. Other first round matchups include #4 Crete vs #5 Aurora. #3 Northwest vs #6 Seward. #7 Holdrege vs #10 Schuyler. The winner of Holdrege/Schuyler will get #2 Lexington on Tuesday, Jan. 28th.
KRGI Sports Network will have coverage throughout the week. Listen for Aurora on The Wolf 97.3 & thewolf973fm.com. Northwest games can be heard on 103.1 2DAYFM & 2dayfm1031.com.
Central Conference Brackets
20-Jan-2020 / Hometown Family Radio Sports Network
20-Jan-2020 / MCC Athletics/Brent Cobb
The McCook Community College men picked up an 89-80 win over Southeast Community College Saturday in the Peter and Dolores Graff Events Center.
After struggling from the opening tip, the Indians overcame an early 13-point lead, tied the game 36-36 at half, went up by 16 points in the first five minutes of the second half. But Southeast came back to cut the gap to 10 points with 3:26 to play.
“It’s something we have to work on -- and a weakness of this team -- is who is going to step up and lead us,” said MCC Coach Kyle Drennan. “We took some bad shots, quick shots at the end that led to them getting in transition and every time we did it, it just gave Southeast a little air, but we finished and I’m proud of these guys.”
Five Indians scored in double-figures. Sophomore Raheim Sullivan (Toronto, Ontario) led the Indians with 18 points. Sophomore Justin Costello (Omaha /Elkhorn South High School) had 17. Freshman LeTre Darthard (Denton, Texas) scored 14. Freshman Boaz Quinlan (Beavertown, Ore.) scored 11 and sophomore Tyrik Singh (San Juan, Trinidad and Tobago) scored 10 points.
“We’re headed in the right direction and the one thing I’m really proud of is 17 assists, that’s the most we’ve had all season,” Drennan said. “When we get moving, you saw tonight, it almost pings around, there’s no dribbling, and we’re wide open but we have to knock down shots. Our bigs have to step up and finish.”
The Indians shot 42.2 percent from the field, 38,5 percent on 23 3-pointers and made 17 of 18 free throws (94.4 percent).
The Storm shot 42.2 percent from the field, 27.8 percent on 18 3-pointers and made 19 of 28 free throws (67.9 percent).
Darthard led MCC in rebounds with nine, Singh had six and freshman Rahkiem Petterson (Midland, Texas) had five. MCC held the rebound edge 46-42.
Southeast falls to 10-7 and 0-1 in Nebraska Community College Athletic Conference play.
MCC improves to 8-9 and will hit the road for five straight games starting Tuesday in North Platte with a critical NCCAC game.
Drennan said the team’s goal is to win the NCCAC and he believes these next five road games are critical for building momentum to take advantage of a home-heavy February schedule.
For more information on MCC basketball and all MCC sports, visit the official site of MCC Athletics at https://mccindians.com/index.aspx?path=mbball
For more photos from tonight’s game please visit the McCook Community College Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/MPCCMcCook/
If you can’t make it to the next MCC home watch it live at: https://mccindians.com/sports/2016/11/10/tw.aspx?tab=tribewatch
20-Jan-2020 / MCC Athletics/Brent Cobb
The McCook Community College women’s basketball team picked up their second win of the weekend posting a 72-67 over Southeast Community College Saturday in the Peter and Dolores Graff Events Center.
“Southeast is a good team and shot the ball really well,” said MCC Coach Brandon Pritchett. “I’m just excited to get out of this game with a win.”
Less than 24 hours after making 10 of 13 shots from the 3-point line in the second half in a win over Northeastern Junior College Friday, the Lady Indians came out and duplicated the long-distance magic in the first half, Saturday making 10 of 13 3-pointers (76.9 percent.)
MCC took an 18-13 first quarter lead and stretched the lead to 44-32 at the half.
Southeast pulled to within 54-43 just over mid-way through the third quarter and cooled of the Lady Indian offense enjoying a 23-15 advantage in the third period.
“The second day of a back-to-back can be tough and there were times we played a little tired,” Pritchett said.
Southeast came back and tied the game at 59-59 at the 7:05 mark of the fourth quarter, before MCC responded.
“We got to the paint better in the latter stages of the game, executed down the stretch, and came up with some defensive stops in the final minutes when we needed it,” Pritchett said.
Five MCC players scored in double figures including sophomore Makenna Bodette (Colorado Springs) who scored 14 points and grabbed 10 rebounds.
A trio of Lady Indians scored 13 points: sophomore Paula Rosello Mateu, (Barcelona, Spain), who also had seven assists; freshman Gail Whiting (Montgomery, Ala.), who had five rebounds; and freshman Carla Torrubia Cano (Melilla Spain) who had six boards.
Redshirt freshman transfer Jessika Espinoza, (El Paso, Texas) hit on all three of her 3-point shots and finished with 11 points.
MCC shot 40.6 from the field, 57.9 percent on 19 shots from beyond the 3-point arc, and 56.3 percent on 16 foul shots.
Southeast shot 45 percent from the field, 32 percent on 25 3-point shots, and 71.4 percent on seven free throws. The Storm out-rebounded MCC 41-35.
“I’m proud of where we’re at right now and we need to just work and continue to get better,” said Pritchett.
MCC improves to 12-4 and 2-0 in the Nebraska Community College Athletic Conference. The Lady Indians play their second straight NCCAC game when they travel to North Platte Tuesday against the 8-10 Knights. That game is set for 5 p.m.
The Lady Indians next home game is Jan. 29 at 6 p.m. against the Doane University JVs.
Southeast Community College falls to (6-13) and 1-1 in the NCCAC.
For complete coverage of MCC Lady Indian basketball including, schedule, photo galleries, statistics and more, visit the MCC Athletics web page at https://mccindians.com/index.aspx?tab=basketball2&path=wbball
If you can not make it to the games watch MCC basketball home games at https://mccindians.com/sports/2016/11/10/tw.aspx?tab=tribewatch
For more photos from tonight’s game please visit the McCook Community College Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/MPCCMcCook/
20-Jan-2020 / Ap
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Patrick Mahomes (mah-HOHMZ’) threw for 295 yards and three touchdowns as the Kansas City Chiefs beat the Tennessee Titans, 35-24 to win the AFC title game and earn their first Super Bowl berth in 50 years. Mahomes put the Chiefs ahead with an acrobatic 27-yard touchdown run with 11 seconds left in the first half. He also hit Sammy Watkins for a 60-yard TD midway through the fourth quarter to clinch the victory.
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — The San Francisco 49ers are in the Super Bowl after earning a 37-20 win over the Green Bay Packers in the NFC championship game. Raheem Mostert ran for 220 yards and four touchdowns on 29 carries for the 49ers, with three TDs coming while San Francisco was building a 27-0 halftime lead. Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers completed 31 of his 39 passes for 326 yards and two touchdowns, but one of his two interceptions set up a Mostert TD just before halftime.
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Serena Williams and Naomi Osaka won their opening-round matches at the Australian Open in straight sets. Fifteen-year-old Coco Gauff beat Venus Williams. Roger Federer took another step toward a 21st Grand Slam singles title with a routine 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 win over Steve Johnson. Defending champion Novak Djokovic (NOH'-vak JOH'-kuh-vich) is taking on Jan-Lennard Struff.
QUINTA, Calif. (AP) — Andrew Landry regrouped to win The American Express after blowing a six-stroke lead on the back nine. Landry broke a tie with Abraham Ancer with a 7-foot birdie putt on the par-3 17th hole and made a 6-footer on the par-4 18th for a 5-under 67 and a two-stroke victory. The 32-year-old Texan has two PGA Tour victories, also winning the 2018 Texas Open.
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) — The LPGA’s Diamond Resorts Tournament of Champions has spilled into today after darkness halted the playoff. Nasa Hataoka and Gaby Lopez matched par five times in a playoff at the 197-yard 18th hole until it was too dark to continue. Inbee Park also was in the playoff before falling out on the third extra hole. Lopez earned a spot in the playoff with a 5-under 66 to catch Hataoka and Park.
20-Jan-2020 / Hometown Family Radio Sports Network
20-Jan-2020 / NU Athletic Communications
With the win, Nebraska improved to 14-4 overall on the season and 4-3 in the Big Ten, while Michigan slipped to 12-6 overall and 3-4 in the conference. The Huskers, who matched their victory total from the 2018-19 season, improved to 11-1 at home.
While Whitish poured in a season-high 20 points, she got lots of help from long range, including a season-high three three-pointers from fellow senior Nicea Eliely in the second half. Eliely finished with 11 points, while sophomore Sam Haiby added 3-of-4 shooting from beyond the arc to finish with 18 points. Leigha Brown gave the four Huskers in double figures with 10 points, including five big free throws in the final three minutes to help Nebraska secure the win.
Nebraska trailed 32-26 after an action-packed first half. The Huskers jumped to a 9-5 lead in the first four minutes, before Nicea Eliely was called for her second foul. Michigan, which had to withstand an early blow at a similar position with a knee injury suffered by Kayla Robbins just 1:18 into the game, responded with a 9-1 surge to take a 14-10 lead.
Akienrah Johnson fueled Michigan's first quarter with eight points. Nebraska rallied to tie the score at 16, and Michigan point guard Amy Dilk was whistled for her second foul with 29 seconds left in the first quarter. But the Wolverines went to the second quarter with a 19-16 edge after a last-second three-pointer by Maddie Nolan - the first of her career.
Michigan pushed its biggest first-half lead to 28-19 early in the second quarter, sparked by eight consecutive points from Izabel Varejao, but Whitish answered with back-to-back threes against a Wolverine zone to cut the margin to 30-28 with 5:03 left in the half. Then Husker center Kate Cain was whistled for her second foul.
Nebraska did not score in the final 5:03 of the half, but held Michigan to just four points in the final 6:15, as the Wolverines went to the locker room with a 34-28 halftime lead.
The Huskers hit just 38.5 percent (10-26) of their first-half shots, including 5-of-13 threes (.385), while knocking down 3-of-4 free throws. Michigan hit 44.8 percent (13-29) of its shots, including 2-of-3 threes, while going 2-for-3 at the line. The Wolverines out-rebounded the Big Red, 18-16, and won the first-half turnover battle, 6-3.
The action heated up even more in the third quarter, as the Wolverines gut-punched the Huskers out of the locker room to start the half with seven straight points in 1:36, beginning with a three-pointer from Hailey Brown and ending with a layup by Naz Hillmon to take their biggest lead of the day at 41-28.
After a timeout by Coach Amy Williams, Nebraska answered the bell beginning with a three-pointer from Whitish. Brown added a pair of free throws, before a three-pointer by Eliely after an Dilk bucket for Michigan.
A layup by Haiby and a bucket inside for Cain narrowed the Michigan margin to 43-40 with 3:16 left in the third stretching a 12-2 surge by the Big Red. Cain finished with eight points, six rebounds and three blocks.
Hillmon slowed the Husker rally with a free throw, but Brown answered with a traditional three-point play to pull Nebraska within 44-43. Michigan's Hailey Brown then answered with her second of five second-half three-pointers before two Dilk free throws put Michigan back in front 49-43 with 49 seconds left in the quarter.
Hailey Brown led Michigan with 17 points on the afternoon, including 5-of-6 three-point shooting, while Dilk pitched in nine and Hillmon added 13 points and eight rebounds. Hillmon was involved in a crucial sequence late in the third. After Isabelle Bourne made a pair of free throws for NU, Hillmon was fouled with 7.6 seconds left but missed both free throws. Nebraska stormed the other way and Whitish buried a buzzer-beating three from the right wing to send the Huskers to the fourth quarter down just one at 49-48.
Eliely then shot the Huskers to the their first lead since midway through the first quarter with her second three of the half, before Haiby added two free throws with 8:46 left to cap a 10-0 Big Red run at 53-49.
After threes by Whitish and Haiby pushed NU's lead to 63-58, two free throws from Cain and two more from Brown gave Nebraska its biggest lead of the day at 67-60. Brown was fouled on a three-pointer by Dilk as the shot clock wound down, and it was Dilk's fifth foul of the game with 2:54 left.
The Wolverines refused to quit fighting though, as Danielle Rauch buried a three, before Eliely answered with Nebraska's season-high-tying 12th three-pointer of the game to make it 70-63 Huskers with 1:14 left.
Michigan's Hailey Brown kept the Wolverines in it with two heroic threes late, including a long bank from the left wing and a catch-and-shoot three from the deep right wing with 9.1 seconds left, before she fouled out with 8.2 seconds left. Michigan had possession trailing 74-71 in the final eight seconds but was unable to get close on a desperation three.
Nebraska finished at 42.9 percent (21-49) shooting for the game, including 12-for-24 from long range against primarily zone defense from the Wolverines. The Huskers came through at the line, knocking down 20-of-24 free throws (.833). The Wolverines out-rebounded the Huskers, 36-29, and won the turnover battle, 9-8, but Nebraska outscored Michigan in points off turnovers, 10-2 in the second half. The Wolverines hit 44.3 percent (27-61) of their shots from the floor, including 8-of-14 threes, but just 9-of-14 free throws.
Nebraska returns to Pinnacle Bank Arena on Wednesday night to complete a two-game home stand by battling Purdue. Tip-off between the Huskers and Boilermakers is set for 7 p.m., with tickets available now at Huskers.com.
