Stories from Friday, August 24, 2018

McCOOK, Neb. — The disappearance of a white Ford pickup from a rural Red Willow County residence may be connected to the escape of an inmate from the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services' Work Ethic Camp in McCook Thursday evening. The missing pickup is a white 2016 Ford F250 four-door Super Duty diesel with "48-114" and "Cappel Motors" dealer plates...

McCOOK, Neb. — McCook High’s freshman football team stepped up to its first challenge and trounced Grand Island Northwest 28-14 at Weiland Field Thursday night. The Bison (1-0) fell behind 6-0 on opening kickoff touchdown return. However, they responded with four touchdowns from Cole Cappel (nine-yard run), Branson McDonald (six-yard run), McDonald again (three yards) and Dylan Paschall (three yards)...

Viola Mae (Clary) McBride Sept. 4, 1931 - Aug. 22, 2018 COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Viola McBride, 86, of Colorado Springs, passed away peacefully on Aug. 22, 2018. Viola was born in McCook, Neb., to Charles and Martha Clary on Sept. 4, 1931. She is survived by her children, Michael (Debbie Dalton) McBride, Cheryl (Rick Vondra) McBride Miller, and Karen (David) Ende. ...

90th birthday The family of Ivan Schmid is requesting a card shower in honor of his 90th birthday on Thursday, Aug. 30, 2018. Ivan was born at Curtis, Neb., in 1928. His family consists of his wife, Pat, of nearly 63 years, daughters, Debbie (Keith) Weber of Graham, Wash., and Cathy Schmid of Lincoln, Neb., and son, Donald Schmid of Chadron, Neb.; 6 grandchildren, 5 great-grandchildren, 3 great-great-grandchildren and 4 step-great-grandchildren. ...

60th anniversary The family of Larry and Jeniene Lashley of Culbertson, Neb., is hosting an open house and card shower in honor of the couple’s 60th wedding anniversary on Thursday, Aug. 30, 2018. They were married in 1958 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in McCook, Neb. ...

80th birthday The family of Marilyn Betts of McCook is requesting a card shower in honor of her 80th birthday on Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2018. Cards of congratulations will reach her at 309 Elizabeth Lane, McCook, NE 69001.

John Eugene Siegfried Cody and Shelby Siegfried of McCook announce the birth of their son, John Eugene Siegfried, who was born June 14, 2018, at Hastings, Neb. He weighed 5 pounds, 12 ounces and measured 20 inches long. He has one sister, Maggie, 3, and a brother, Joe, 2. Grandparents are Beth Siegfried and Cal Siegfried of McCook and Elaine and Gayle Haag of Bartley, Neb. Great-grandparent is Ethyl Siegfried of McCook...

Several stories have been written about the infamous train wreck of 1911 but Mike Fidler’s search for answers concerning the Feekins led me to do a little more digging. Mike’s family lore had the Feekins as newlyweds killed on their wedding day in the wreck, but we found that they had been married for two years...

McCOOK, Neb. — Trenton Agency Red closed within a half-point of Old Sarge’s for the A League lead, but now two playoffs begin to finish this 2018 season. MNB Financial Group remains first in BLeague. The updated standings: A League Old Sarge’s 162...

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. — Mid-Plains Community College rodeo team coach Dustin Elliott will be inducted into the Chadron State College Athletic Hall of Fame. Elliott is one of eight former CSC athletes chosen for the prestigious honor. The ceremony is scheduled for Oct. 27 in the CSC Student Center...

CURTIS, Neb. — Opening-night drama dominated area volleyball as Medicine Valley and Southern Valley both rallied for five-set victories on Thursday. The Medicine Valley Raiders went toe-to-toe with Maxwell’s Wildcats through a wild season opener. Both teams traded momentum along with set victories...

BARTLEY, Neb. — The season’s first set showed what Southwest volleyball could achieve with perhaps just a little more positive belief. “The first set we served tough,” coach Kim Barnett declared following a 25-18 Roughrider victory over visiting Bertrand Thursday night. “We had the lead in the third set but let them come back.”...

Making strides and movin’ on. That’s how the McCook High softball girls are reacting to four skirmishes with top Class B competition this week. “We’re definitely battle tested,” coach Jason Cochran said to local media following Thursday’s game against No. 1-ranked Omaha Skutt Catholic...

McCOOK, Neb. — Though he’s probably capable, McCook High senior Nick Baker is not starting at two spots on the offensive line tonight against Hastings tonight. Some miscues occurred in the Gazette opening starters box that appeared on Thursday. The correct offensive line starters submitted this week:...

McCOOK, Neb. - An east-side McCook park is seeing much more action lately, thanks to the efforts of a dedicated group of pickleball players, city staff, several business organizations, and the McCook Rotary Club. Known as Russell Park, the city block area previously housed the east water tower, some nice playground equipment, a basketball court, and some beautiful green space. ...

I know that since North Platte is three times larger than McCook, its airline service is going to be significantly different than ours and it is. Many of you remember that after my last flying fiasco with Boutique Airlines in Denver, I said in this column I would never fly them again and I meant it. On two trips to Arkansas since, I drove the first one and took United out of North Platte last weekend. The difference in the two airlines was as dramatic as daylight and dark...

The recent conviction of Paul Manafort is yet another indication that Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russian election interference is not what President Trump persistently claims it to be: a witch hunt. For a witch hunt to exist, there needs to be proof of baseless targeting. And in this case, that simply doesn’t exist...

The community is invited to a free choir workshop and community concert as part of the McCook Community Hymn Festival this weekend. The choir workshop will be 10 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday at the Memorial United Methodist Church in McCook. Tom Trenney from the First Plymouth Church in Lincoln will be directing and teaching several songs with participants, which is open to individuals as well as entire choirs. ...

McCOOK, Neb. — Nebraska is known all over the world for our tasty beef.  It is estimated that five million head of cattle and a million horses were moved from Texas to the Great Plains in the late 18th Century to begin our Nebraska cattle herds.  Various trails were used to bring the cattle to Nebraska.  Until recently the most important trail was called “The Great Western Cattle Trail” and local historians have been working to mark that trail so future generations can follow the path taken by the livestock and hear the colorful history. . ...

McCOOK, Neb. — A McCook citizen who wants to build a carport in his backyard is requesting a variance from the six-feet setback from adjacent buildings as required by city ordinance. The McCook Board of Zoning Adjustment will have a public hearing on the request from Thomas Trujillo of 303 E. Third to amend the property line setback from six to three feet on Monday, 5:30 p.m. at the City Council Chambers at the McCook City Municipal Building...

FREMONT-BENNINGTON, Neb. — The prisoner who escaped from the work ethic camp in McCook Thursday evening has been apprehended, along with three others, and all are in jail in Bennington following a pursuit Friday afternoon by Nebraska State Patrol troopers...