Stories from Tuesday, July 7, 2020

SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb. — Both the McCook Bison and Gazette-area top seniors have been picked to play in Annual West Nebraska All-Star contests this month. Contests will take place on Friday, July 24 at Scottsbluff as they’ve moved from their usual early June dates due to COVID-19...

Elaine Bley McCOOK, Neb. — Elaine Bley, 86, of McCook, died June 13, 2020, at Hillcrest Nursing Home in McCook. Memorial services are Saturday, July 11, 2020, 10 a.m., at McCook Evangelical Free Church with the Rev. Trevor Smith officiating. A private family inurnment will follow services in the Eden Cemetery in rural Hitchcock County, Neb...

Phyllis Berndt TRENTON, Neb. — Phyllis Berndt, 98, of Trenton, died Friday (July 3, 2020), at her home. Graveside services are Thursday, July 9, 2020, 10 a.m., at the Riverview Cemetery in McCook with the Rev. Lonny Felker officiating. Visitation is Wednesday, July 8, 2020, 2 to 5 p.m., at Herrmann - Jones Funeral Chapel in McCook...

Berdena L. Kleckner March 12, 1971 - July 3, 2020 McCOOK, Neb. — Berdena L. Kleckner, age 49, passed away at the CHI Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney, Neb., on July 3, 2020, following a courageous battle against cancer.   She was born in McCook on March 12, 1971, to Eugene E. ...

Ronald Alvin Warren March 18, 1944 – March 12, 2020 McCOOK, Neb. – Ronald (Ron) Alvin Warren passed away Thursday, March 12, 2020, at Community Hospital in McCook, he was 75 years old. Ronald was born to Guy William and Ruth Alpha (Rickard) Warren on March 18, 1944, at home on his mother’s 44th birthday in Indianola, Neb...

Clayton Loomis Dec. 7, 1933 - May 16, 2020 HAYES CENTER, Neb. – Clayton Loomis, age 86, of Hayes Center, passed away Saturday, May 16, 2020, at Kearney Regional Medical Center in Kearney, Neb. Clayton was born Dec. 7, 1933, in Hayes Center to parents, Joe E. ...

Charles Ed Purczinsky Feb. 28,1958 - July 3, 2020 SACHSE, Texas — Charles Ed Purczinsky, age 62, passed away July 3, 2020, in Sachse. He was the son of Roy and Jody Purczinsky who resided in McCook, Neb. He graduated from McCook High School with the Class of 1976...

McCOOK, Neb. — Cappel Sales Inc Nationals fell behind early and couldn’t come back in an 11-8 loss to My Family Vision Rockies on Monday at Felling Field. . My Family Vision Rockies took the lead on a home run in the first inning. Despite the loss, Cappel Sales Inc Nationals did collect 10hits in the high-scoring affair. Unfortunately, My Family Vision Rockies had ten hits on the way to victory...

McCOOK, Neb. — McCook’s First Central Bank Juniors have added a game at Wood River on Wednesday to their 2020 Legion baseball schedule. The first pitch is set for 6 p.m., McCook baseball officials announced today. McCook FCB would have gone more than a week since the previous two games at Ogallala. Both Pinnacle Bank and Herrmann Jones Junior B play games tonight at Holdrege...

McCOOK, Neb. — Another reminder the McCook Football League will be having equipment checkout on Monday, July 13 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Weiland Field. Checkout will be on the North West side of the stadium. The league is still accepting registrations for the 2020 football season...

McCOOK, Neb. — Twenty four student athletes from McCook Community College have been named to one of three National Junior College Athletic Association’s (NJCAA) all-academic teams for 2020. Every student compiled a grade-point average of 3.6 or higher...

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. — Getting the chance to shine in front of an Independence Day crowd, the competitors battled from beginning to end to punch their tickets to the winners circle at the Red, White and Boom Night of racing action at Lincoln County Raceway Saturday evening...

McCOOK, Neb. — Jeff Dusatko fired up the holiday weekend when he hit a hole-in-one at Heritage Hills on Friday. Dusatko made his shot from 190 yards at Hole No. 12 using his hybrid club, according to Heritage Hills golf pro Tyler Loop.

HASTINGS, Neb. — McCook High School golfer Payton Craw shot a one-over-par 73 to tie for first place at Lochland Country Club during a recent Nebraska Junior Tour premier event. The first-place finish qualifies Crawfor the Nebraska Junior Golf Tour Championship to be held at Firethorn Golf Club in Lincoln on July 29...

McCOOK, Neb. -- In March, when lack of COVID-19 testing became a key issue in the battle to flatten the coronavirus curve, a McCook Community College graduate shifted her biomedical research pursuits in Texas to help administer a backlog of COVID-19 tests...

McCOOK, Neb. — No restrictions for city water users are in effect — for now. But with high temperatures and no rain in the forecast for the week, that could change. On Monday, 5,000 gallons of water per minute were used between 3 and 10 a.m., the time many residential underground water sprinklers were in use, said City Utilities director Jesse Dutcher at the regular McCook City Council meeting Monday night. ...

PEARL HARBOR – Cmdr. Scott P. Maloney relieved Cmdr. Christopher J. Forch as commanding officer of USS Michael Murphy (DDG 112) in a ceremony at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, June 30. Forch, a native of Stratton, Nebraska, a University of Nebraska graduate and the ship’s sixth commanding officer, assumed command of Michael Murphy in March 2019...

BEAVER CITY, Neb. -- Two more men have been arrested in connection with an alleged child sex trafficking ring, bringing the total to 10 now facing charges. Justin Brooks, 30, and Paul D. Brooks, 61, both of Arapahoe were arrested last week, both on Furnas County charges of first-degree sexual assault of a child and Justin Brooks with an additional charge of sex trafficking of a minor, all felonies...

For the past several years (many) I have taken my 1925 Model T Ford to Culbertson to drive in the annual 4th of July parade. Bummer. The 2020 version of their Independence Day parade was cancelled due to an abundance of caution for the ongoing coronavirus pandemic...

McCOOK, Neb. -- Southwest Nebraska Public Health Department (SWNPHD) has been notified of two additional persons from SWNPHD’s health district that have tested positive for COVID-19. New cases include two residents of Red Willow County: • A male in his 60’s who is self-isolating at home, related to travel...

McCOOK, Neb. -- The City of McCook has been informed by the contractor that the armor coating of city streets will begin Wednesday July 8, 2020.  We request that citizens who live in these areas remove all vehicles from the streets listed below.   Once the oil and gravel are applied on your street, the street will be opened for use. ...

McCOOK, Neb. -- A hotdog feed is set for Modern Cleaners, 215 Norris Ave., 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday, with proceeds to go to equipment and repairs to return Christian radio station KNGN to the air. Replacement and repairs could keep the station off the air for as much as 6 weeks...