Stories from Wednesday, July 20, 2016

It's one thing to burst forth with those heart-stirring words, "Cheer! Cheer! For Old MHS!," and it's quite another to do it for three generations, stretching all the way from 1955 to 2016 and possibly beyond. What am I talking about? I'll tell you true: I'm talking about three generations of the Fahnholz-Pearson-Simmonds family, who have contributed cheerleaders for McCook High School's pep squads in the 1950s, the 1980s and, now, the 2000s...

This week we continue our Cook's Tour of the constellation Scorpius. Located in the south about an hour after local sunset, look for the distinctive backwards "J" or the fishhook shape of the constellation. The head is marked by three second-magnitude stars in a straight up and down line...

If you were around in 1936, this weather may feel familiar. Nebraska's all-time highest recorded temperature was 118 °F on July 24, 1936 in Minden. That was just one of many days and weeks of weather over several years that led to vast dust storms, crop failures and depopulation of parts of the Plains and migration to California during the Depression...

McCOOK, Neb. -- Red Willow County commissioners conceded Monday morning that the county can't afford to develop and operate its own dispatch system, so they'll pay what the City of McCook is requesting for the use of its dispatching service. Commissioners agreed to pay $52,439 for dispatching sheriff's officers during 2016-17, and then a committee of city and county officials will determine how the county can "catch up" to the city's actual costs of dispatching for the sheriff's department...

McCOOK, Neb. -- Red Willow County commissioners agreed to an increase in the county's support of the McCook Economic Development Corp., during their weekly meeting Monday morning. Following a presentation by new MEDC director Kirk Dixon, commissioners raised the county's 2015-16 contribution of $750 to $1,000 for 2016-17...

McCOOK, Neb. -- Live, outdoor music is coming to Barnett Park in McCook on Sunday, Aug. 7 as part of the Hear Nebraska Good Living Tour. The free, family-friendly concert will appeal to all ages and begins at 5:30 p.m. on the west end of Barnett Park, near the tank...

SIDNEY, Neb. -- First Central Bank Juniors Red ended its season with a second loss to Hickman in the state tournament, 805. Hickman goes on to play Waverly for the championship. FCB started off with an unanswered run in the first inning and three more in the second, but Hickman came back with three runs in the third to close the gap, 4-3 before going ahead 6-5. Later adding two more runs, Hickman was able to hold on for the 8-5 win and the championship berth...

McCOOK,Neb. -- The ladies of the Heritage Hills Tuesday night golf league will "rally for the cure" in two weeks, kicking in an extra $20 each at their Aug. 2 golf outing to benefit the Susan G. Komen Foundation. All the extra funds will go for the Komen Foundation's Breast Cancer Awareness campaign...

LEXINGTON -- The McCook summer swim team wrapped up the season Saturday at the Plains Tsunami swim league championships in Lexington. The McCook team was led by Elizabeth Barenberg, who earned fourth overall in points in the 13-14 year-old girls division...

Celebrating the Coppermill Steakhouse's selection as this quarter's McCook Area Chamber of Commerce Honor Business are, from left, Jamie Ulrich, Ken Johnson, Adam Sigfreid, Janet Stalder and Tara Jernagin. Not pictured is business partner Tyler Loop...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- One of the longest established businesses "on the bricks" of downtown McCook -- now known as Brown's Shoe Fit -- has a new owner-manager. The store at 303 Norris Ave. -- which in the old days was known as Pat's Booterie -- is now owned and managed by Jeromy Millette, a man of French heritage who formerly lived and worked at a Brown's Shoe Fit store in Longmont, Colo...

McCOOK, Neb. -- A McCook woman arrested on a felony drug charge in March was sentenced to probation recently in Red Willow County District Court. The woman, 36-year-old Courtney J. Modrell of 808 E. Third Street, accepted a plea agreement in May admitting guilt to a misdemeanor offense for attempting to possess methamphetamine and dismissing an infraction alleging possession of drug paraphernalia. ...

2016 4--H Champions Frontier County Fair ------ Stockville Photography: Photography Unit 1 Grand Champion -- Colton Stubbs Reserve Champion -- Ashley Easterday Photography Unit 2 Grand Champion -- Ansley Williams Reserve Champion -- Janae Oberg...