Stories from Tuesday, August 4, 2020

McCOOK, Neb. — McCook Community College baseball coach Jon Olsen has announced that three more of his players have signed on to continue their careers at four-year schools – two at NCAA programs and another at an NAIA school. Pitchers Anthony Kingsbury and Troy Shepherd signed on at Texas Wesleyan University and West Georgia University and infielder Charles “Trey” Taliaferro will play at St. Peter’s University in Jersey City, N.J...

McCOOK, Neb. -- Ten new COVID-19 cases and two deaths have been reported in the Southwest Nebraska Public Health Department district. Four of the cases were in Red Willow County and while the location of the two deaths was not released, they were one male and one female, both in their 80s...

Allen Clyde Richard March 4, 1944 - July 27, 2020 BARTLEY, Neb. — Allen Clyde Richard, 76, of Bartley, died July 27, 2020. He was born March 4 1944 in East Point, Fla., and graduated from Stranahan High School in 1962. He married Linda Armstrong on July 6, 1962. They later divorced...

Lois Ball BENKELMAN, Neb. — Lois Ball, 91, of Dundy County, died Sunday (Aug. 2, 2020), at the Dundy County Hospital in Benkelman. Survivors include daughter, Phyllis Howard of Benkelman; brother, Al Ball of Denver, Colo.; four grandchildren,12 great-grandchildren, and nine great-great-grandchildren...

Kenneth Rider April 7, 1957 - July 25, 2020 WAUNETA, Neb. — Kenneth Frank Rider was born April 7, 1957, at Imperial, Neb., to Eugene F. and Marilyn E. (Pflum) Rider. In his young years, he grew up and attended school in McCook, graduating from McCook High School in 1976. Kenny (as he was known) participated in track and was a member of the swim team...

William Boyd Mathews April 14, 1927 - Aug. 1, 2020 IMPERIAL, Neb. — William Boyd Mathews was born April 14, 1927, in rural Chase County, to William M. and Edna Marie (Bremer) Mathews. In his young years, he grew up in rural Chase County, attending rural District No. ...

Larry D. Kester May 16, 1934 - March 2, 2020 CAMBRIDGE, Neb. — Larry D. Kester passed away at the hospital with Kevin by his side on March 2, 2020. He was born in Manhattan, Kan., on May 16, 1934, to Howard and Louise Kester. His father, Howard, worked as a veterinarian in the military and his family moved frequently in their early years...

Mae Lorraine Emery Aug. 12, 1932 - March 17, 2020 STRATTON, Neb. — Mae Lorraine Emery, age 87, was reunited with her husband Lindy in Heaven above on March 17, 2020. Lorraine was born at her parents’ farmhouse on Aug. 12, 1932, in Red Willow County, Neb. ...

Edward Felt Dec. 13, 1941 - July 20, 2020 STRATTON, Neb. — Edward Eugene Felt was born to Glen and Viola (Deselms) Felt on Dec. 13, 1941, in McCook, Neb. He was the second of three brothers. After his mother died when he was three, Ed was raised by his grandparents, James and Cora Felt, in Culbertson, Neb...

McCOOK, Neb. — A few highlights and deadlines to note about YMCA leagues or programs which are rapidly approaching. Registration is now open for Fall Co-Ed Softball. The deadline to register is August 24, with games beginning the week of September 7. Get your team formed now! For more information and to register click the link below...

McCOOK, Neb. — McCook Footbal League director Joe Vetrovsky offered some final great reviews about the efforts during 2020: “We had a very successful league season! The participants competed hard throughout the three week league season and it appeared that they had a lot of fun, which is the number one goal...

LEXINGTON, Neb. — Hitting the door running was an understatement when describing the outstanding show that was seen by the jam-packed house of avid racing fans at the Dawson County Raceway’s S&W Auto Parts NAPA Night at the Races Sunday evening. Getting their season started off on the right foot at Dawson County Raceway by punching their ticket to the Chesterman’s Coca-Cola Winners Circle were the quintet of Dakota Sproul, Robbie Thome, Mike Nichols, Zach Olmstead and Rileigh Flohrs...

LINCOLN, Neb. — The McCook Bison will again compete against Class B in all sports this fall as practices are set to begin on Monday. Fall classifications are currently displayed on nsaahome.org and McCook finishes a few schools above the Class B-C or C1 dividing line whether it be volleyball, softball, girls’ golf or cross country...

OMAHA, Neb. — Brandon Crick has bigger things ahead this year than trying to climb the Korn Ferry Tour standings. But the McCook native and former Husker golfer took an important step in the right direction in that regard this week. Crick finished off a strong week at the Pinnacle Bank Championship with an even-par 71 Sunday at the Club at Indian Creek to finish in a tie for 11th...

McCOOK, Neb. — Sgt. Joel Smith of the Nebraska State Patrol has been selected as the new City of McCook police chief. Ike Brown, current police chief, is retiring at the end of the month after 39 years. City Manager Nate Schneider made the announcement at the McCook City Council meeting Monday night...

McCOOK, Neb. — The city sales tax revenue drop In March during the pandemic shut-down was not as drastic as first believed, McCook’s city manager said. But there was a higher than expected decrease in the electric franchise fee the city collects from Nebraska Public Power District, said Nate Schneider at the McCook City Council meeting Monday night...

The photographer was able to wrangle a ride for neighborhood kids Drex and Tenlee Werkmeister and Lilli Crosby Saturday when Carol Chalupa took her miniature horse and cart for a spin. Scooter is a 6-year-old registered mini horse gelding.

LINCOLN, Neb. -- Friends of the Nebraska Environmental Trust is a newly formed citizens group whose mission is to protect the integrity and promises of the Environmental Trust, which is funded with proceeds of the Nebraska lottery. Chris Beutler, chair of the new group and the former state senator who introduced the legislation creating the Trust noted, “Every county in the state has received Trust monies that have totaled over $330 million for local projects over the last 27 years.”...

The pandemic is affecting things in ways none of us could have imagined. In May, the Nebraska State Patrol put out a news release stating that 200 speeders had been ticketed for exceeding 100 mph over the previous two months. Perhaps the drivers were releasing pent-up energy from quarantine, or perhaps it was a fatalistic attitude that manifested itself in dangerous driving behavior...

Dear Editor, Medicine and science are busy working on coronavirus, cancer an Alzheimers disease. Cognitive ability of the brain is a common worry when a person suffers a reduction in important mental abilities such as memory and judgment. No drugs have been discovered that will reverse this decline in mental ability...

Methinks that Darrell Meister has too much time on his hands. Being quarantined could do that to a person. Of course I don’t know the rules for the 14 day quarantine rules for Hawaii. Can one stay in their own home? Can they get out and drive somewhere to enjoy the grand outdoors of Oahu. Bars and restaurants closed? How about groceries and outdoor markets if one wears a mask? If he has to stay home and watch too many hours of TV I can see how he could get fed up with the 14 day quarantine...

McCOOK, Neb. -- The McCook E-Free Junior High youth group is studying injustice in the community, and member Roslyn Wiemers says she's found injustice at the McCook Humane Society animal shelter. "The shelter is in need of supplies and volunteers to meet this injustice," she said. "Therefore, we are collecting supplies needed and also financial donations that can be dropped off at the McCook E-Free Church by Aug. 31...