Stories from Tuesday, April 7, 2020

McCOOK, Neb. — Criminals are in future serious trouble if they suddenly see a grizzled state track medalist and 1,00o-yard rusher closing on their heels. “I’m thinking about law enforcement,” Corban Jernigan said as his McCook High School days have rapidly concluded this spring. “Maybe state patrol or the F.B.I.”...

Irvin Long Aug. 22, 1935 - April 3, 2020 McCOOK, Neb. — Irvin Dale Long was born Aug. 22, 1935, at Imperial, Neb., to Winifred H. and Hazel E. (North) Long. Irvin grew up in Chase County and graduated From Elsie High School, Elsie, Neb. Irvin assisted his parents on the farm and worked for farmers in the their area...

McCOOK, Neb. — For customers affected by job loss due to the COVID-19 pandemic, city staff is looking at options of waiving or postponing payments for water, sewer and trash bills, according to the McCook City Manager. Nate Schneider told the McCook City Council Monday night at the regular meeting that staff is “reviewing where we are” concerning the water/sewer/trash bills and the payment ability of customers who have lost their jobs or working reduced hours due to the pandemic...

McCOOK, Neb — The McCook City Council unanimously approved Monday night to temporarily give City Manager Nate Schneider the authority to manage disaster operations under the city’s emergency operation plan. The City of McCook’s Local Emergency Operation Plan names the mayor as the emergency management director; state statute allows the city council to appoint an emergency management director. ...

McCOOK, Neb. -- Chaos in the financial markets means Red Willow County taxpayers may not see savings from paying off jail bonds early, at least for a while. While county commissioners had hoped to save as much as $240,000 by paying off jail bonds a year early, the drop in the stock market and reaction in the bond market has made that saving less likely for the time being, board members learned in a teleconference with representatives of the D.A. Davidson Co. Monday...

Caution tape keeps kids off playground equipment in Norris Park, and traffic cones keep most RV’ers out of Karrer Park now that the city has imposed new restrictions because of the COVID-19 outbreak. Playground equipment in all city parks, including disc golf goals in Kelley Park, are closed to avoid the spread of contamination. ...

McCook firefighers were among the well-wishers who drove by Max Butterfield’s home in McCook Saturday to wish him a happy 10th birthday while maintaining social distancing and limiting the size of crowds. Friends and neighbors were urged to drive by and honk, which was greeted with a loud “Thank You!” shouted from inside...

Employees at McCook’s NebraskaLand Tires store are maintaining social distancing while making sure customers can get to where they need to be. James Branch, store manager, mans the service counter while Luke Petersen, Arnold Baumann, Mike Waddell and Nick Cerny, out on a service call, stay on the job...

Editor's note: The full story will appear in Wednesday's McCook Gazette. McCOOK, Neb. — After one season as McCook Community College men’s basketball coach, Kyle Drennan is leaving to take over as Director of Basketball Operations at the University of Illinois-Chicago...

Your old columnist is tickling a bit. Our President Donald Trump stated an observation for those suspected of contacting the COVID-19 virus that possibly treatment by chloroquine and/or hydroxychloroquine might work. The drugs have been tested and authorized for treatment and prevention of malaria. ...

Miles Morgan, civil engineer with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation office in McCook, discovered an aerial photograph of the city, taken in 1965. "It's pretty cool how things have changed since then," he said. Of particular interest are areas like the "Reservation' in north McCook, and much of western McCook where building was underway...