Stories from Thursday, May 10, 2018

OMAHA, Neb. -- Megan Vetrovsky wanted to do cross country. Her parents and grandparents suggested golf instead...

Today is the day! Your final last day of school. Yet, I remember your first day of Kindergarten like it was yesterday. I slept in your bed that night before because you were nervous, but mostly so I could soak up the last few hours of you being my baby girl. ...

McCOOK, Neb. — Barely one month after thinking he’d realized the dream of a lifetime in McCook, Chinedu Myles Okonkwo -- from the Enugu state of Nigeria, Africa -- crawled into his bed in Brooks Hall, screamed into his pillow, and wept in shame. As a McCook Community College freshman, he’d missed a few classes, he’d disappointed his basketball coaches, his body was betraying him, and he dreaded going to practice, where his deficiencies would be on blatant display...

McCOOK, Neb. — The federal Department of Transportation has confirmed Boutique Air as the essential air service at McCook’s airport for four years. The city was notified of the confirmation last week, said McCook City Manager Nate Schneider at the regular city council meeting Monday night...

McCOOK, Neb. — it was double the fun for Heritage Hills Ladies Golf with their “Most Pars” 2-Lady Scramble and “Lucky 7” Tuesday evening. Flag prize winners Closest to the pin in two shots on No. 3: Katie Ackerman. Longest putt on No. 6: Karen Miller...

McCOOK, Neb. — The public is invited to a town hall meeting 6:30 p.m. today at the city council chambers at the Municipal Building. The town hall is the second coordinated by city staff for citizen input on what direction the city should take regarding future city improvements and where city sales tax proceeds should be directed. City Council members will also be present...

cCOOK, Neb. — Both teams were strong on the mound Wednesday, but the B Street Auto Spa Tin Caps defeated the Bradley Machine and Pump Storm 3-2. The B Street Auto Spa Tin Caps pitchers allowed just one hit to the Bradley Machine and Pump Storm. Bradley Machine and Pump Storm got on the board in the first inning when Oliver Corbett grounded out, scoring one run...

McCOOK, Neb. — McCook police officers eliminated the initial threat of an armed intruder in 1 minute and 45 seconds during a drill at McCook Senior High Wednesday afternoon. At that point, a change in existing practice took place, and paramedics were inside to treat “victims” in six minutes...

PAXTON, Neb. — All team scores, champions and Gazette area top six placers at Wednesday’s B-8 district track-field. The top two placers in each event qualify for state next week. GIRLS Teams: 1. Mullen 106, 2. Hitchcock County 87, 3. Sandhills-Thedford 81, 4. Maywood-Hayes Center 76, 5. Brady 49, 5. Wauneta-Palisade 49, 7. Medicine Valley 35, 8. Wallace 25, 9. Paxton 11, 10. McPherson County 4, 11. Stapleton 2...

McCOOK, Neb. —There have been wars fought for oil, land and freedom but in the future, wars may be fought over water. Drinking water, the “heart blood of every community,” is becoming a more scarce and costly commodity, according to Jesse Dutcher, McCook water department director...

PAXTON, Neb. — Wauneta-Palisade’s boys were only four points from winning a D-8 team title while many Gazette-area athletes made state on Wednesday. The Broncos did take home one championship with a 400-meter relay of Dalton Harchelroad, Joel Maris, Austen Rozelle and Ben Anderjaska...

OMAHA, Neb. — Robert Botsford of McCook was recently inducted into the Black Belt Hall of Fame through the United States Kido Federation in Omaha. Botsford, a fifth-degree black belt, has been a martial arts instructor in McCook since 1998. “I would like to show my appreciation to my students past and present, my family for their support and my wife for allowing me to follow my passion of being part of the martial arts,” Botsford said. ...

te area athletes qualified for state in every event of the D-8 district championship meet on Wednesday. The Hitchcock County Falcons led this contingent with 87 points and second place among 11 teams competing for state trips to Omaha Burke Stadium next week...

McCOOK, Neb. —Imagine you or your loved one has an accident in a rural area in southwest Nebraska. First responders arrive at the scene and need to talk to a doctor, ask for backup or request an air ambulance at the scene. There’s only one problem; the first responder’s cell phones won’t work due to poor cell service...

If you’ve signed up for anything online, you may have been amused by the final box you’re asked to check. It’s the one that’s labeled “I am not a robot.” Soon, we may all be hoping for a similar, more effective system for our telephones. If you’re like most of us, you’ve probably noticed an uptick in nuisance calls trying to sign you up for insurance, “free” vacations or credit cards...

On April 11th my priority bill, LB 1009, was passed by the Legislature. This bill authorizes the Nebraska Department of Transportation to increase highway speed limits. The speed limit can be increased by a maximum of 5 mph on two-lane highways, four-lane divided highways that are not part of the state highway system, expressways and freeways that are a part of the state highway system, and on portions of highways in Douglas, Lancaster and Dakota counties...