Stories from Monday, August 12, 2019

Kyle Vandike of Stratton (72) was on a real high while taking a different path to success than most during the Decatur County Fair demolition derby at Oberlin, Kan., Friday evening. The action was clearly catching fire for Brian Gutchweski (48) from Gutchewski Farms as he crashed into some tough competition during Friday night’s demolition derby at the Decatur County Fair in Oberlin. ...

Strong, gusty winds embedded in thunderstorms Sunday night and early morning today damaged trees and rearranged Dale and Roberta Blake's back yard in Danbury. Roberta reported .60 of an inch of rain; additional rain reports include 1.30 at McCook and 1.77-1.80 in rural areas around Oberlin. ...

The lull before the “storm” that accompanies the fall start of school is no break for local governmental entities that are busy working on budgets for the upcoming year. City and county governments, in particular, are increasingly dealing with expenses associated with aging infrastructure, up to a century or more after much of it was installed as our communities were settled and built into modern towns and cities...

Dear Editor, Two centuries ago, my great-great-grandmother Phoebe Adams Hancock was born on July 11, 1810, near the Canadian border. It was called York State and in the northeast corner of New York. Phoebe had an interesting life. By the fall of 1851, she had traveled to Missouri from Ohio and along the Mormon Trail across the state of Nebraska...

The Toasted Ponies and the Old Time Pickers had the crowd singing along at the Haigler Music Festival in the Park Sunday, and even the storms waited until evening lest they spoil the fun. Food supplied by the Lutheran and Methodist churches was popular, and the village park was in beautiful condition for the event. Mark your calendars for next year’s festival, Aug. 9, 2020...

LINCOLN, Neb. — John Cook hasn’t been able to sleep the past few nights, knowing the official start of practice for the 2019 Nebraska volleyball season was about to begin. Don’t worry. Cook, the veteran Nebraska coach who’s led the Huskers to four straight Final Four appearances, including two national titles in that time, generally regards his lack of sleep as a positive...

McCOOK, Neb. — Friday’s Gazette focused on McCook Bison football, but it’s time to mark many other great dates as all fall sports teams officially started practices today. Aug. 22: McCook golf girls at Cambridge Triangular, 4 p.m. The official first varsity sporting event of 2019-20 as McCook putts with not only Trojans but familiar district foe Lexington at Cross Creek Golf Course...