Stories from Friday, June 21, 2019

McCOOK, Neb. — On Saturday, athletes from McCook and the surrounding areas will celebrate the life of the late Michelle Walters by taking to the pool and McCook streets in her honor. The third annual Michelle’s Tri will be Saturday morning, starting and ending at the McCook City Pool...

Gordon Kenneth Petersen March 8, 1929 - June 17, 2019 NORTH PLATTE, Neb. — Gordon Kenneth Petersen, 90, of North Platte, died Monday (June 17, 2019), in McCook, Neb. He was laid to rest in a private service in the Curtis, Neb. cemetery. To sign the online guest book, go to www.blasestrauser.com...

It seems many people no longer subscribe to a newspaper. Perhaps they purchase one only when a front page grabs their attention as they stand in line at the grocery or I am sure there are some who take it on-line as I do for the Lincoln Star Journal. No reason to cut down a tree so I can read a distant newsprint, but, then again, I love holding books, magazines, and newspapers rather than reading on a screen...

Kindergarten through second graders were learning some volleyball skills during the McCook Community College camp Thursday afternoon. Remember, the Wild West All-Star Volleyball Classic at MCC featuring many area players takes place at 3 p.m. on Saturday in the Graff Events Center...

Bouncing along with some quick NBA draft remarks is the Gazette’s own basketball-shaped bouncing babyish idiot R.B. Headley: 1. R.B. doesn’t even like the NBA much. “I enjoyed it this year because there was no Lebron,” he said. 2. So his first guarantee surrounds NBA star Anthony Davis, now a Laker with LeBron after his trade last weekend...

McCOOK, Neb. — Quentin Terry pitched a two-hitter as Team Pollmann Pirates defeated CrossFit McCook White Sox 10-0 on Thursday. Team Pollmann Pirates got things started in the first inning. Trenton Raile drove in one when he doubled. They tallied three runs in the sixth inning...

McCOOK, Neb. — A glance at the top five season points leaders in each division of this year’s Republican River Fitness Series entering Michelle Tri competition on Saturday: FEMALES Age 19 and younger: 1. Chayse Keith 37 points, 2. Rinlee Blomstedt 34, 3. Emma Graff 31, 4. Alexis Hanson 29, 5. (tie) Sienna Dutton 15, 5. (tie) Joslyn Hammond 15...

COZAD, Neb. — A 20-run top of the first inning started McCook’s Pinnacle Bank 14-and-under boys to their 32-1 win over Cozad Youth Rec Thursday evening. Leadoff batter Jacob Gomez-Wilson set the pace all game when he batted four times, ripped four hits, scored four runs and drove in another four...

McCOOK, Neb. — As Oprah Winfrey would say, free snow cones for everyone! A Good Samaritan (or a big kid at heart) recently gave Mr. Bill, a curbside candy vendor in McCook for the past 36 years, a donation of $50. Like he does with other donations, Mr. Bill will use the money to give out free snow cones. At 25 cents per foam cup, that’s 200 free snow cones...

LINCOLN, Neb. – Enjoy an evening of food and outdoor recreation at Red Willow State Recreation Area’s Family Fun Nights. Family Fun Nights will be held June 26, July 10 and 24, and Aug. 7. Incorrect dates were included in a previous release. A typical Family Fun Night kicks off at 6 p.m. ...

McCOOK, Neb. — During their regular monthly board meeting Thursday, Community Hospital directors reviewed and approved the latest stage of the strategic planning annual process, a run-the-business report which is a compilation of the most critical operational measures of the hospital, and approved an updated CEO succession plan...

Live music, a corn hole contest, diabolo demonstrations, food trucks and many other fun activities were part of the second Third Thursday event in downtown McCook. Chamber Manager Jamie Mockry estimated 250 people attended the event, far above last month’s edition, which was cut short by an approaching storm. Watch for future Third Thursday events throughout the summer...

I suspect Gretna, Nebraska is very similar to McCook, Nebraska and the other towns around us. We’re separated by distance (Gretna is 268 miles from McCook) but because our population size is similar (Gretna has about three thousand people less than McCook) one would conclude that culturally and socially we are much more alike than different...

Benevolent despotism. These days, when Congress is firmly divided by ideology and even our beloved nonpartisan unicameral has some trouble doing its chores, one can understand the appeal. I mean, leaving decisions to one person is so much more efficient: “I speak, and it is done.” How tempting, especially compared to the near gridlock of our democratic system and its vaunted checks and balances!...

BRIDGEPORT, Neb. -- The Morrill County Sheriff’s is able to release additional details regarding the crash that claimed the life of Nebraska State Trooper Jerry L. Smith, #373, on Thursday, June 20, 2019. At approximately, 7:36 a.m., the Morrill County Sheriff’s Office received several 911 calls in reference to a three-vehicle crash west of Bridgeport on Highway 26, near mile marker 59. ...