Stories from Tuesday, June 26, 2018

If you’ve ever been or lived with a small-town volunteer firefighter, you know how it goes. You’re about to take the burgers off the grill, and the pager goes off. Just before the second bite of your hot dog, the town siren sounds. Yep, that’s the Fourth of July in rural Middle America...

Visiting with a friend recently who commented that she has never attended any of her high school class reunions. “I never liked any of those people so why would I go see them now!” she told me. Well, it is America and we don’t have to uncomfortably attend any event just because it is happening. In my opinion, though one might consider going and you might just find out how people have changed as they matured in life and suddenly you have new/old friends...

Francis ‘Frank’ R. Conley Sept. 11, 1929 - June 22, 2018 McCOOK, Neb. — Francis “Frank” R. Conley, age 88, of McCook, passed away at Hillcrest Nursing Home in McCook on June 22, 2018. Frank was born in Max, Neb., on Sept. 11, 1929, to Ray and Lela (Hennis) Conley. At the age of 16, Frank quit school and began to work on the railroad. He worked as a section laborer, retiring after 47 years...

McCOOK, Neb. — Red Willow County commissioners will continue on with their plan to incorporate juvenile pretrial diversion services into the county attorney’s office, following the additional action at their weekly meeting Monday morning. Commissioner Jacque Riener said this is the county’s “one-time chance” to change its diversion program since a contract was terminated two months ago with Lutheran Family Services, which coordinated the county’s juvenile diversion program for 12 years...

CURTIS, Neb. — The need for a special meeting Monday afternoon of the Middle Republican Natural Resources District board of directors was eliminated when board member and board chairman Buck Haag submitted his resignation Sunday. MRNRD manager Jack Russell said early Monday afternoon, just past the Gazette’s press deadline, that Haag’s resignation is not official until the board acts upon it at its regular monthly meeting, on July 10...

LEXINGTON, Neb. — Doing their best to brighten the skies and keep the storms away were the competitors that lit up the race track on Sunday evening at Dawson County Raceway in Lexington. Stepping into the spotlight after driving into the winners circle as feature victors were the quartet of Brandon Clough, Jacob Olmstead, Mike Nichols and Luke Wassom...

OMAHA , Neb. _ — McCook Bison alum Noah Hoffman shot 72 and was ninth when weeather overtook the first round of Stroke Play Qualifying at the 51st Nebraska Match Play Championship at Champions Run on Monday. Heavy rains made for difficult scoring conditions for all of the morning wave and some of the afternoon, before the sun came out and conditions improved...

McCOOK, Neb. — Five McCook Community College softball players have been named to the Omaha World-Herald’s all Nebraska junior college team including sophomore Alexis Moeaki, who was named the team’s honorary captain. Also named to the team were sophomore Taya Thorpe and freshmen Emily Charchuk, Jerusha Miner and Chanel Siebenthal...

McCOOK, Neb. — The McCoook Herrmann-Jones Bison 14-and-under baseball team weathered a scare by Cozad Thursday evening. Herrmann-Jones Bison 14U coughed up three runs, but still won 10-4 Herrmann-Jones Bison 14U got on the board in the first inning. Alex Anthony drew a walk, scoring one run...

McCOOK, Neb — More than $25,000 have now been raised on the gofundme.com page for McCook baseball player Calvin Corbett. Corbett, age nine, has only started against stage 4/group 4/high risk rhabodomyosarcoma, a rare and aggressive form of cancer. It was discovered when he went to the emergency room for an expected allergic reaction when tumors were discovered...

LINCOLN, Neb. — The final ultimate points race for 2017-18 was recently released and McCook High outscored 23 other Class B schools. McCook placed 11th overall in the Nebraska School Activities Association Cup, which recognizes this state’s most successful athletic and activities programs...