Stories from Thursday, May 7, 2020

LINCOLN, Neb. — We’ll get through this together or — better yet — step up and do your own work as many Gazette area student-athletes did again this spring. The Nebraska Chiropractic Physicians Association honored many across Nebraska with their Academic All-State Awards...

Mark Anthony Nowka Sept. 21, 1955 - May 2, 2020 GRETNA, Neb. — Mark Anthony Nowka, age 64, of Gretna, passed away May 2, 2020. He was born on Sept. 21, 1955, in McCook, Neb., to Dale Nowka and Dorothy (Blobaum) Nowka Benscoter. Mark grew up in McCook, Culbertson and Omaha. ...

Jim Dean Greenlee Aug. 28, 1932 - April 29, 2020 COLUMBIA, Mo. — Jim Dean Greenlee, 87, of Columbia, Mo., passed away April 29, 2020, at his home. Jim was born Aug. 28, 1932, in McCook, Neb., one of eight children to Alva and Vilma (Masters) Greenlee. He graduated from Curtis High School in 1950. He then served his country as a Sergeant in the Army...

93rd birthday The family of Millie Housley of McCook is requesting a card shower in honor of her 93rd birthday on Sunday, May 10, 2020. She was born in McCook in 1927. Cards of congratulations will reach her at 711 East 1st, McCook NE 69001.

Hurdles are still appearing on the McCook High track for exercise and to keep those athletic skills during this coronavirus pandemic.

Mid-Plains Community College Rodeo Team coach Garrett Nokes has been named coach of the year for the Great Plains Region. The coaches and captains from every team in the region vote for a Coach of the Year at the end of every season. It’s the first time Nokes has received the recognition...

McCOOK, Neb. — Myra Stoney, director of the Southwest Nebraska Public Health Department, gave kudos to area residents for following the COVID-19 social distancing guidelines. However, she reminded citizens to remain vigilant, as those testing positive for the virus has increased to 11 as of Monday, she told the McCook City Council at the regular meeting Monday night. “It’s important to not let down our guard…to keep us healthy,” she said...

McCOOK, Neb. -- May’s Coffee with a Cop was supposed to be Sen. Dan Hughes, but because of coronavirus, it has been canceled. However, Sen. Hughes has agreed to meet virtually with the McCook Rotary Club on Tuesday, May 12 at 12:30 p.m. through Zoom...

McCOOK, Neb. — Advertising will soon begin for a new city police chief. After 39 years, McCook City Police Chief Ike Brown will retire Aug. 31. The local Civil Service Commission will meet May 13 to declare a vacancy, followed by advertising in multiple publications beginning mid-May, said McCook City Manager Nate Schneider...

A member of the Nebraska National Guard prepares a COVID-19 swabbing test at the Red Willow County Fairgrounds Wednesday. About 20 members of the Army and Air Force National Guard conducted the free testing, in conjunction with the Southwest Nebraska Public Health Department and the Nebraska State Patrol. ...

Let’s be up-front about this: I am not going to win the best homeschool parent award. (Let’s be honest about that too: We aren’t really homeschooling either because we don’t develop the curriculum and we don’t do the grading; we are just doing what we are told to do during this crisis, so really we are crisis-schooling parents.)...

KEARNEY, Neb. -- A McCook girl is recovering in a Kearney hospital following an ATV-pickup collision that claimed the life of a Holbrook girl on Wednesday. Allysha SueAnne Fischer, 17, Holbrook, and Hailey Farr, 15, McCook were riding an ATV that entered Drive 415 in Gosper County from a private driveway when it was struck by a pickup truck driven by Chad Johnson, 48, Cambridge...