Stories from Friday, November 29, 2019

McCOOK, Neb. — McCook’s Unified bowlers scored one six-game sweep and won two of three matches overall to cap their home season at TJ’s Family Fun Center on Monday. Southern Valley was close to taking one game, falling just 66-65, but McCook rampaged through the other five: 188-89, 133-81, 125-77, 131-79 and 93-76...

85th birthday The family of Hazel Loomis of McCook is requesting a card shower to honor her 85th birthday on Monday, Dec. 2, 2019. Cards of congratulations will reach her at: c/o Hillcrest Nursing Home, 309 West 7th Street, McCook, NE 69001.

80th birthday The family of Harold Potthoff of Trenton is requesting a card shower in honor of his 80th birthday on Sunday, Dec. 8, 2019. Cards of congratulations will reach him at 35807 Drive 714, Trenton, NE 69044.

Let’s start down memory lane with a request for your memories. Robert (Bob) and Susan Ihrig, both SW Nebraska natives, are compiling a book about area bands and musicians. They are asking for any band or musician recollections or connections you might have so that they don’t miss one of our many talented artists. You can reach them on Facebook or contact me at sdoak@swnebr.net and I will pass your contact info along...

McCOOK, Neb. -- The McCook City Council will be asked to address demolishing an abandoned house in McCook, at the regular council meeting on Monday, Dec. 2, 5:30 p.m. at city council chambers in the city municipal building. As a consent agenda item that will not be discussed unless pulled by a council member, the council will be asked to authorized city staff to prepare a resolution fixing as a special assessment all costs incurred by the City for the demolition of the property located at 1107 West 4th Street, owned by Elisabeth Kleckner of North Platte, Neb. ...

McCOOK, Neb. — New building and plumbing/HVAC work done inside and outside city limits in November totaled over $600,000. Total building/ plumbing/mechanical work came to $698,600, according to the City of McCook permit report for November. This was led by a new single family home outside city limits with estimated construction costs at $483,000, followed by a 24 by 75 foot garage outside city limits at $150,000...

McCOOK, Neb. — A Red Willow County Sheriff’s deputy office recently responded to call about a noise disturbance. Once he arrived at the home, a man in sweat pants and T-shirt came out onto the porch, pacing back and forth, swearing at the deputy and demanding, “What do you want?” The deputy repeatedly attempted to calm him down to no avail, when suddenly the man jumped off the porch toward him. The deputy squeezed the trigger of his taser and the man crumples onto the lawn...

Santa Claus plans his 2019 Christmas season visits to the Museum of the High Plains in McCook on two Saturdays, Dec. 14 and Dec. 21, from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m. each day. The museum is located on the bricks in downtown McCook at 413 Norris Ave.; admission is free. Parents and grandparents are encouraged to bring along their cameras to capture special moments between their young ones, the jolly ol' elf and Santa's special dog, "Luna."...

We’re always skeptical of sweeping conclusions based on Nebraska statistics, with our sparse population and low number of examples of any one data point, but some reports are interesting nonetheless. The Safewise home security site issued a report that indicates McCook is the sixth safest city in the state...

There’s a popular meme going around on social media that reads, “How do you frighten a Millennial? Put them in a room with a rotary phone, an analog watch, a typewriter and a TV with no remote, then leave the directions for use in cursive.” Millennials present an easy opportunity for poking fun. To those of us who have been around just a bit longer, they are genuine curiosities; strange and fascinating creatures...

December is a good time to look back and look ahead. When I took the role of Economic Director a year and a half ago, I think I only understood about 15% of what the job entailed. It has been a steep learning curve. With the board’s guidance, we identified three areas of focus and I wanted to provide an update on where we are...