Stories from Wednesday, August 22, 2018

BEATRICE, Neb. — The McCook Community College volleyball team opens regular season play this weekend in Beatrice for the RKP Invitational Tournament Friday and Saturday. Third-year coach Hayley Kobza is looking for her team to improve over last year’s 20-19 mark – the school’s first winning record of the century...

McCOOK, Neb. — Trash collection in the city will cost a little more starting Oct. 1. The McCook City Council unanimously approved Monday night an ordinance that imposes a 50-cent increase for residential trash pickup. The ordinance will go through three readings before being enacted...

McCOOK, Neb. — The salary of the human resource officer in the McCook City Police Department will be increased. The salary increase was included in the 2018-19 fiscal year employee classification pay plan, approved unanimously by the McCook City Council Monday night...

McCOOK, Neb. — McCook was named as one of the 15 safest cities. McCook City Fire Chief Ike Brown told the McCook City Council at its regular meeting Monday that McCook was ranked number nine on the poll, up one spot from last year. He thanked not only his staff for their hard work but also citizens in the community as a “partner with us in keeping all of us safe.”...

McCOOK, Neb. — The McCook City Council will decide whether to buy or lease equipment next year for two city departments. The council approved on its first reading the proposed 2018-19 budget Monday night at its regular meeting but still has to determine whether to lease or buy two mini excavators for cemetery and water departments. The budget has two more readings before it is finalized in September...

Former State Sen. Mark Christensen of Imperial joined in a lawsuit to block a statewide vote on expanding Medicaid to an additional 90,000 residents in Nebraska. Along with State Sen. Lydia Brasch of Bancroft, Christensen technically argues that the proposal violates the Nebraska Constitution by including more than one subject, and violates other rules...

HASTINGS, Neb. — McCook High’s softball team will aim for better success when the Bison play two more games at Hastings Thursday. McCook slipped to 0-3 this season on Monday with shutout losses to strong Class B Beatrice, 13-0; and Norris 8-0. Individual Bison stats were not obtained from either game...

OXFORD, Neb. — The Southern Valley-Alma Saints trounced through Blue Hill and Chase County by a 20-0 score in Tuesday’s softball triangular. The Eagles (3-2 record) beat Blue Hill 8-0 behind Abby Cervera’s three hits and three runs scored. Cervera and Kynlee Marquez both smashed triples, while PJ Dubbs delivered a double to go with her team-high four RBIs...

SIDNEY, Neb. — McCook High’s first 18-hole golf tournament of the season brought a steady team-leading round from junior Hannah Goltl Tuesday afternoon. Goltl led the Bison trio with a 52 and 55 for 107. Her score topped a number of golfers in thi eight-team tournament including Alliance’s entire five-golfer lineup where none finished lower than 120...

Senior Grace Frederick (above) and the Dundy County-Stratton Tigers brought plenty of net power to Monday’s volleyball Jamboree at McCook High School. Frederick helped lead the Tigers’ 25-13, 25-21, 25-15 victory in this pre-season exhibition match against McCook. The Tigers return plenty of talent for another strong season and more details can be seen about coach Bill Wilson’s team in the Gazette Fall Sports Preview section later this week...