Stories from Thursday, February 5, 2009

LINCOLN -- University of Nebraska coach Bo Pelini has announced a recruiting class of 21 football players, with eight of the newcomers hailing from talent-rich Texas. "These are the kids we thought are the right kids to sign for the University of Nebraska," Pelini said at a Wednesday news conference. "We'll find out two or three years down the road if it's the right group and how good it is...

COLUMBUS -- The link between Central Community College-Columbus volleyball program and Southwest Nebraska high schools will continue. Central CC volleyball coach Mary Young announced the recent signing of Southwest High School standout Abby Houghtelling, a 5-foot-11 left-handed middle hitter/right-side hitter, to a letter of intent for the 2009 season...

HAYES CENTER -- The Hayes Center junior varsity boys basketball team rolled past the McCook sophomores 58-28 Tuesday night at Hayes Center High School. The Cardinals had a huge second half by outscoring the Bison Sophomore's 32-12. Hayes Center was led in scoring by Andrew Lawson with 16 points. Adam Wach added 13 points...

SHAWNEE, Okla. -- Gary Hudson, the first coach of the University of Oklahoma women's basketball team after the program was reinstated, has died. He was 59. Hudson was hired to coach the Sooners in 1990 after university administrators briefly eliminated the program. He went 39-45 in three seasons before resigning after an inquiry by the NCAA...

HASTINGS -- The Hastings College women's basketball team cruised past Nebraska Wesleyan 74-52 Wednesday night at the Lynn Farrell Arena in Hastings. The Broncos were led by senior Kay Broekemeier with 19 points and 9 rebounds. She was 7 of 16 from the floor. Broekemeier also collected 4 assists...

Nov. 22, 1925 - Feb. 1, 2009 CLAYTON, Kan. -- John E. Rule, 83, died Sunday (Feb. 1, 2009) at his home in Clayton. He was born Nov. 22, 1925, in Paonia, Colo., to Blakey and Blanche (Reid) Rule. The family moved to Clayton, where he grew up and attended school...

July 25, 1913 - Feb. 4, 2009 CAMBRIDGE -- Kenneth Neil Tridle, 95, died Wednesday (Feb. 4, 2009) at Independence Home in Lincoln. He was born near Orafino on July 25, 1913, to Ralph and Effie (Drake) Tridle. He grew up on the family farm and attended Orafino schools...

Feb. 11, 1920 - Feb. 3, 2009 WICHITA, Kan. -- Raymond Roger Evans, 88, formerly of Wichita Kan., died Tuesday (Feb. 3, 2009) at St. John's Hospital in Joplin, Mo. He was born Feb. 11, 1920, to Eska Eugene and Minnie O. Evans in Freedom. He received an Honorable Discharge from the U.S. Army as a pilot...

Dec. 24, 1939 - Feb. 2, 2009 BENKELMAN -- James Frederick "Jim" Adkinson, 69, died Monday (Feb. 2, 2009) at Dundy County Hospital in Benkelman. He was born Dec. 26, 1939, at Benkelman, to Ivan Boyd and Vernice G. (Pringle) Adkinson. With his dad being in the military, he moved quite often with his family, and lived in numerous places including Hawaii, Denver, Colo., and Germany...

ATKINSON -- The Rev. Vivian Joyce Hand, 88, died Tuesday (Feb. 3, 2009) at Good Samaritan Center in Atkinson, She was formerly of the McCook area and was living in the Good Samaritan Center for the last several years. She was preceded in death by her parents and special friend, Loraine Lucier...

A call-in show on a local radio station has been humming this week over the prospect of new federal gun regulations, in the form of HR 45, introduced by U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush of Illinois. There were enough calls that Sen. Ben Nelson -- who by the way is highly rated by the National Rifle Association -- felt compelled to call the station, KICX, 96.1 mhz, to clarify his position on the issue. ...

Do you feel like you're being followed lately? Well, you are. Don't worry, it's no one or thing dangerous. Asteroid 2009BD, discovered in early January, has been following us in an orbit almost identical to Earth's. Just 30-feet across, 2009BD is no threat to Earth. ...

CURTIS -- Local irrigators, producers, farm managers, agronomists and bankers are invited to attend the 23rd annual Southwest Nebraska Water Conference being held Thursday, March 5, 2009 at the Red Willow County Fairgrounds Community Building in McCook. Registration will begin at 9:00 AM with the first session starting at 9:30 AM...

A series of bills designed to crack down on puppy mills appears not to be moving forward, according to Dist. 44 Sen. Mark Christensen. Three bills heard in the Agricultural committee Feb. 3 would have placed more restrictions on dog kennels and the inspection process, but none of them seemed to be moving forward, he told those at the Government Affairs conference call this morning at the McCook Area Chamber of Commerce office...