ELWOOD - The Elwood Board of Education met Monday to approve a pair of new teacher contracts for new hires as well as a number of small projects for building and grounds maintenance. After approval of consent agenda items as well as the bills, the Board approved seven items in new business.

ARAPAHOE – During the monthly meeting on February 13, the board approved a base rate increase to $14.00 effective immediately for all classified staff. They also approved increases for hourly employees based on the years employed by the district.

Howard and Valaine Kester will be celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary on February 19th! Let’s help them celebrate with a card shower! Please send them a card at 109 Paxton st. Apt.

ALMA - A night after a comeback effort fell short at Norton, the Cambridge boys basketball team hit the road again and grabbed a 55-45 victory at Alma. the Trojans controlled the contest from the outset and maintained a comfortable lead throughout in handing the Cardinals just their fourth loss of the season. Cambridge improved to 11-10.

The Southern Valley boys basketball team picked up its eighth win of the season with a 50-37 win at Gibbon Tuesday, then dropped its 11th contest of the season with a 60-40 defeat at Dundy County-Stratton Friday.

BARTLEY - The Southwest boys basketball team struggled to slow down visiting Axtell Friday night and wasn’t able to keep up with the scoreing pace in a 61-31 home loss to Axtell. The Wildcats jumped on the Roughriders with 18 points in the first quarter and maintained a double-digit led through much of the first half while taking a 28-16 lead to the break.

The Hi-Line boys basketball team got off to a strong start Friday against visting South Loup, but the Bobcats controlled the final three quarters and rolled away to a 57-41 win over the Bulls. Hi-Line scored 15 in the first quarter and led 15-13 at the end of one.

BERTRAND - In a game where Arapahoe shot just 21 percent from the field, the Warriors’ boys basketball team still had a great chance to pick up a win at Bertrand Friday night. Arapahoe led almost throughout the first three quarters and enjoyed a 27-25 advantage through three.

Cambridge advances past Sandhills Valley HAYES CENTER - The Cambridge girls basketball team exploded late in the first quarter and never looked back in rolling to a 73-34 win over Sandhills Valley Tuesday in the Subdistrict D1-11 opener. The Trojans scored 19 in the first, 19 more in the second and 22 in the third, coasting to the finish in the fourth after building a lead of 60-26 through three.

As the dust settled from district competition at Southern Valley, Thayer Central and Pender Saturday, 16 area athletes had qualified for the Boys State Wrestling Tournament, which begins Thursday in Omaha. Cambridge qualified six individuals from the District D-1 Meet in Pender as Angel Rodriguez (113), Jacob Corbett (138), Tye Stanton (152) and Jordan Ruf (285) each finished district runner-up.