Stories from Monday, June 26, 2017

McCOOK, Neb. -- The feelings during a triathlon can run the full spectrum, especially the first Michelle Walter’s Memorial Triathlon in McCook on Saturday...

OXFORD, Neb. -- No. 4 McCook Herrmann-Jones outlasted No. 5 Cozad in a wild 13-12 contest Friday night...

Adeline Virginia Ballou Nov. 28, 1926 - June 23, 2017 CAMBRIDGE, Neb. — Adeline Virginia Ballou, age 90, formerly of Wilsonville, Neb., passed away surrounded by her family at the Cambridge Manor on Friday, June 23, 2017. She was born in Hastings, Neb., on Nov. ...

McCOOK, Neb. — Hillcrest, the county-owned nursing home in McCook, is a 1-2 star facility. A surveyor hired to look into the operations and financial struggles of Hillcrest told Red Willow County commissioners this morning that nursing homes want to be 5-star facilities...

Red Willow County’s 2017 county fair will host a demolition derby on Thursday, July 20, on the fairgrounds in McCook. The pits open at 4 p.m., followied by heats in limited weld and ‘90’s and newer divisions. New this year will be a “Power Wheels” division for kids 4-10 years old. ...

Holbrook celebrates summer and family with its annual “Holbrook Days” parade Saturday. Albert Hayes and 3-year-old great-grandson Luke Hamel drove a red 1953 IH Farmall tractor, and Bruce Helms on a green 1952 John Deere tractor, pulled a wagon filled with descendants of Lois and Clarence Helms, who started “Flying H Ranch” in 1948. Holbrook’s weekend also included a ham and roast beef supper, old-time movie night, pre-fair livestock show, street dance, and, of course, river rat volleyball...

Ten-year-old Brianna Strecker of McCook volunteers to distribute desserts at the “Mobile Pantry” in McCook Saturday morning. The Pantry served 247 households. The goal of the Mobile Pantry division of the Food Bank for the Heartland, based in Omaha, is to provide food where there is a high need but limited resources. ...

Gov. Ricketts and other fiscal conservatives saw to it that Nebraska didn’t participate in the Medicaid expansion part of Obamacare, with one argument being that the state couldn’t depend on federal funding over the long term. That seems to have become a self-fulfilling prophecy, with the election of President Trump and Republicans intent on repealing the Affordable Care Act...

McCook Rebels 14-and-Under Gray finished the softball weekend in fine style with an 11-3 victory over Cozad Sunday afternoon. The Rebels were tied 1-1 until they unleashed an eight-run third inning. Emily Gosch and Kendall Miller both delivered three hits among McCook’s 14 total...

FELLING FIELD – The Tigers Muckdogs defeated the Roberts Farms Grasshoppers 4-0 in a Minors Division tournament semi-final contest on Sunday as two pitchers combined to throw a shutout. Landon Kmoch earned the win for the Tigers Muckdogs, allowing two hits, striking out 10 and walking one.Bryson Gullion struck out one to finish the game...

FELLING FIELD -- Alex Anthony didn’t allow a single run as the O’Brien Electric Royals defeated the First Central Bank Tigers 5-0 in a Major Division postseason tournament semi-final matchup on Friday. An early lead helped propel the O’Brien Electric Royals to victory. The Royals loaded the bases in the first inning and then Grant Cappel scored on a bases loaded walk issued to Lucas Gomez-Wilson giving the Royals a 1-0 advantage...

McCOOK, Neb - Retiring after 50 years in the banking business, Van Korell said what he learned growing up on the family farm helped him most during his career. Korell, along with his younger sister, grew up on a farm outside of Culbertson, Neb., later attending country school for his elementary education. He graduated from Culbertson High School in 1963 and then from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1967, with a degree in business administration and accounting...