Stories from Thursday, October 19, 2017

LEXINGTON, Neb. — One of the most disturbing names in Nebraska football history will bring his 10-touchdown ability to test the McCook Bison Friday evening. Callahan. No, not the coach who saw his Cornhuskers surrender 10 TDs against those mighty Kansas Jayhawks 10 years ago...

Trees take on their fall colors at the north end of Swanson Lake, west of Trenton, earlier this week. Ducks fly over a creek as cows eat nearby.

McCOOK, Neb. — Matt Nielsen, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at McCook National Bank was awarded a diploma on Aug. 11, 2017, at commencement exercises during the 73rd annual session of the prestigious Graduate School of Banking at the University of Wisconsin-Madison...

Richard L. Renken July 1, 1967 - Oct. 11, 2017 BERTRAND, Neb. — Celebration of Life Service for Richard L. Renken will be held on Monday, Oct. 23, 2017, at 11 a.m. at the Hope Lutheran Church in rural Smithfield, Neb., with Pastor Tim Glendening officiating. A private family inurnment will be held at the Hope Lutheran Cemetery in Gosper County, Neb., prior to the service...

Dr. Elizabeth Edwards Oct. 25, 1929 - Oct. 6, 2017 CENTERVILLE, Mass. — Dr. Elizabeth Edwards of Centerville, Mass. passed away peacefully on Oct. 6, 2017. She was born on Oct. 25, 1929, in Aquascalientes, Ags., Mexico. The family moved to San Luis Potosi where she grew up, studied at medicine school and graduated with honors. ...

Cheryl Lynn Greunke April 26, 1947 - Oct. 16, 2017 ST. CHARLES, Mo. — Cheryl Lynn Greunke (nee: Rauch) of Saint Charles, passed from this life on Monday, Oct. 16, 2017, at the age of 70 years. Beloved wife of 44 years to Alvin “Al” Greunke; she was born in McCook, Neb., April 26, 1947, the cherished daughter of the late Grant Rauch and Arlene Rauch; dear stepdaughter of Carolyn Rauch; devoted mother of Kelly (Patrick Girten) Greunke and Christy (Harvey) Dunbar, loving grandmother of Taylor Lynn Dunbar; dear sister of Debbie Rauch, Steve Rauch, and Mike Rauch.. ...

60th anniversary The family of Gene and Marge Malleck is requesting a card shower in honor of the couple’s 60th wedding anniversary today, Oct. 19, 2017. They were married 1957 at St. Patrick Church in McCook. They enjoy spending time with their five children: Dan (Kay) Malleck of York, Neb., Lori (Kent) Hilker of McCook, Lisa Malleck, Dale (Kim) Malleck and Lois (Kent) Dodson, all of Lincoln, Neb.; 13 grandchildren, and 7 great-grandchildren. ...

A preview of Week 9 games involving area teams...

Lexington blockers couldn’t stop McCook Bison from pouncing on ballcarriers (left) during a 12-0 seventh-grade home win at Weiland Field Tuesday afternoon. Jadon Karp intercepted a Lexington pass for the McCook eighth-grade football team Tuesday night, not Jordan Karp as reported in Wednesday’s Gazette. The Bison fell short 12-8 when Lexington scored a final touchdown with 19 seconds remaining at Weiland Field...

McCOOK, Neb. —Sign-up is underway for the Community Hospital and YMCA Turkey Trot on Saturday, November 18 at 10 a.m. Early registration for the 5K run/walk is available on-line at the Republican River Fitness Series’ website: http://republicanriverfitnessseries.com., or by going to the hospital website at www.chmccook.org, or the YMCA website at www.mccookymca.org...

There are a few area schools who enter Week 9 uncertain if they’re going to play next week. Some control their own destiny, while others need some help. I’ll be looking at who’s playoff bound, who isn’t and who’s in limbo...

McCOOK, Neb. — The Nebraska State Highway Commission is coordinating a public meeting at Community Hospital Friday morning to discuss transportation-related items and receive public input on Nebraska’s roadways. “These are your roads, Nebraska! Tell us what you think,” according to the press release...

McCOOK, Neb. — If you own residential property located in a Highway Commercial District in McCook, technically, you couldn’t make updates or improvements to the property prior to this week. City leaders advanced a measure Monday evening clearing up what was described as an unintended oversight...

McCOOK, Neb. — American Legion past national commander Mike Helm of Norcatur, Kan., told high school juniors Wednesday that nothing will touch their lives as much as county government. Driver’s licenses, marriage licenses, traffic tickets, court appearances, paying taxes, keeping an eye on local government … Helm said, “Nothing will touch you and your family’s lives as much as county government. County government is built upon trust … your trust in each other. Be trustworthy, and obey the law.”...

McCOOK, Neb. — The new Armadillo Arms & Sporting Goods LLC store will celebrate its grand opening Saturday by serving pulled pork sandwiches and offering a series of in-store specials. They’re planning some nice surprises, said Larry and Matt Eden, the father-and-son team that own and operate the Armadillo Arms business at 210 Airport Road...

McCOOK, Neb. — No dreams of government service are too big, even for kids growing up half-a-country away from their national capital. During the 2017 County Government Day in McCook Wednesday, Red Willow County Sheriff Alan Kotschwar told McCook and Southwest high school juniors that his and his wife Jeannine’s youngest son, Adam, is in the U.S. Secret Service, Uniform Division, in Washington, D.C. Adam worked in the Secret Service K9 Division until his dog, Nero, retired a year ago...

A mom friend of mine recently texted after a crazy busy week and asked if I remembered the news stories about moms who suddenly disappear and then are found states away with no excuse why they left. She said she understood them now, so I responded by asking her where she was. ...

George Washington, William Shakespeare, and Carl Sagan may be some of history’s greatest minds and most celebrated figures, but they’d all probably be in prison today if they were still alive. What would make these unlikely cellmates so dangerous that they’d have to be kept off the streets? Was Shakespeare a serial arsonist? Did Carl Sagan fly into a homicidal rage whenever somebody claimed to have invented a perpetual motion machine? No, the threat these historical icons posed to the public is much worse: They all smoked marijuana. ...

LINCOLN, NE, Oct. 12, 2017 – Farmers and ranchers interested in preventing erosion, improving soil health, conserving water and wildlife, or making any other natural resource conservation improvements to their property are encouraged to apply now for funding available from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. Those interested in receiving funding should sign up before Nov. 17, 2017...