Stories from Tuesday, October 6, 2020

McCOOK, Neb. — Her final three holes topped every B-4 district golfer except one on Monday. That’s why a great trivia question to test all McCook High alums in 50 years or so arrived Monday afternoon: Who was the first Bison state tournament sports qualifier during 2020-21?...

Terry L. Smith Sr. Dec. 24, 1950 - Oct. 3, 2020 HOLBROOK, Neb. — Terry L. Smith Sr., age 69, of Holbrook, passed away on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2020, at CHI St. Elizabeth Hospital in Lincoln, Neb. He was born on Dec. 24, 1950, at McCook, Neb., to Harry and Mary Joyce (Jacobson) Smith...

Gene Mahon McCOOK, Neb. — Gene Mahon, 79, of McCook, formerly long-time Red Willow County Sheriff, died Monday (Oct. 5, 2020), at his home. Services are pending with Herrmann Jones Funeral Chapel of McCook. Friends can leave online condolences at herrmannfh.com...

Jerry Elton Morgan JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Jerry Elton Morgan, 78, formerly of McCook, Neb., died Sept. 24, 2020, in Jacksonville. Graveside inurnment is Saturday, Oct. 10, 2020, 11 a.m.,at Memorial Park Cemetery with the Rev. Jeff Kelley officiating. Online condolences can be left at at herrmannfh.com...

Hugh Patrick “Pat” Sughroue Jan. 25, 1951 - Sept. 29, 2020 HAYS SPRINGS, Neb. — Hugh Patrick “Pat” Sughroue was born on Jan. 25, 1951, at St. Catherine’s Hospital in McCook, Neb., to Kenneth James and Clara Ruth (Dutcher) Sughroue. He passed away on Sept. 29, 2020, at his home in Hay Springs...

Donald Ewald Wendland Carol Jean Wendland ARAPAHOE, Neb. — Donald Ewald Wendland, 80, and Carol Jean Wendland, 76, died Sunday, Aug. 23, 2020, and Sunday, Sept. 20, 2020, at Cambridge Hospital, Cambridge, Neb. Memorial services are Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, 10:30 a.m., at Trinity Lutheran Church in Arapahoe with Rev. James Moshier officiating...

McCOOK, Neb. -- Red Willow County commissioners set final budget levies as well as conducting other routine business Monday. Previously, the board passed a 2020 budget of $19.218 million including a property tax request of $4.184 million, both at the 3% increase limit, and levy of 0.331457 cents per $100 valuation, an increase of 4%, also the limit...

McCOOK, Neb. -- Local leaders making local decisions has led a former McCook resident to make a very generous financial gift to the community. Former McCook Gazette owner and publisher Allen Strunk has donated $500,000 to the McCook Community Foundation Fund’s unrestricted endowment account...

McCOOK, Neb. — With the average age of her volunteers at 70 and positive cases of the coronavirus on the rise, Barb Ostrum considered at one point cancelling the annual ToyBox giveaway. But ultimately she decided to forge ahead as this year, “it’s more necessary than ever,” Ostrum told the McCook City Council Monday night...

City of McCook Utilities Director Jesse Dutcher shows the commemorative plaque that recognizes the 10 billion gallons of water taken into the city’s water treatment plant, since the plant first began operations Feb. 15, 2006, 5,329 days of operation. ...

McCOOK, Neb. — The Southwest Nebraska Public Health Department has changed the COVID-19 risk dial from yellow (moderate) to orange (high) for the nine counties in Southwest Nebraska. As a result, McCook Public Schools will require staff, students, and visitors to wear masks while in or on school facilities beginning today, Oct. 6...

You may have noticed that our President is in the hospital with a case of the dreaded coronavirus. It is number one subject for the twenty four hour news stations as one would expect. Fox News seems to portray it in a more positive light than the Main Stream Media as one would also expect. ...

McCOOK, Neb. -- McCook Mechanical, a commercial heating, air and refrigeration company based in McCook, Nebraska has announced an agreement with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation to add supplemental heat and air capacity to the Casper Control Center at the Wyoming Area Office in Mills, Wyo...

DICKINSON, N.D. — The Mid-Plains Community College Rodeo Team is leading the Great Plains Region following a successful run in Dickinson, N.D. over the weekend. MPCC competed in two rodeos at the Blue Hawk Stampede Thursday through Saturday. The men’s team won its first rodeo and finished third overall at the second rodeo – giving Mid-Plains a 700-point lead going into spring...

SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb. — McCook finished an action-packed Scottsbluff Tournament with a 13-10 record on the volleyball season. The Bison took Sidney to three sets before those Red Raiders prevailed 25-21, 15-25, 25-20. McCook then beaten Scottsbluff in three sets and swept Rapid City Stevens, S.D....

MAYWOOD, Neb. — Freshman quarterback Haydyn Farr completed 69 of his passes to highlight a 29-8 Maywood-Hayes Center defeat against Overton Friday afternoon. The Wolves (0-6 record) continued their tough adjustment into Eight-Man football after a historic first Six-Man state playoff run during 2019...

ALMA, Neb. — Arapahoe’s defense held Alma to 13 rush yards and 79 total during a 28-8 Warrior road win. The Warriors (3-3 record) featured four players scoring touchdowns including one memorable quick score to erase Alma’s early 8-6 advantage. Reilley Einspahr returned tthe ensuing kickoff 62 zooming yards through Alma’s coverage for a lead Arapahoe never relinquished...

CURTIS, Neb. — Senior Hudson Stout rumbled to nearly 12 yards a rush and three touchdowns as unbeaten Medicine Valley routed Brady, 36-6, on Friday. Stout gained 164 yards on 14 carries when he wasn’t completing nine passes for another 99 yards. Junior Lane Lenz caught seven of those throws which covered 76 yards...

STAMFORD, Neb. — The Southern Valley-Alma Saints are subdistrict champs and will take a 26-8 record into an anticipated Class C district final on Saturday. Southern Valley-Alma won both games on Monday to get their shot at a possible state tournament spot...

HASTINGS, Neb. — Coach Jason Cochran knew neither the final scores nor record will show what McCook’s softball seniors meant this fall. “They did an awesome job of leading this team through this troubling time - very difficult with all the restrictions that they have had to go through but they did a tremendous job of bringing us together,” Cochran said following the 13-5 loss to Lexington and 10-5 vs. Holdrege in Monday’s B-9 subdistrict tournament...

SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb. — A talented Scottsbluff Bearcats team challenged the McCook Bison, but three division titles were more than enough for their third consecutive GNAC team championship on Saturday. “We knew we would be the favorite going into that tournament and we challenged the guys to be the hunters,” coach Mat Wiemers said. “Not the hunted.”...

McCOOK, Neb. — All McCook Bison leaders from Friday’s 21-7 loss to Aurora Friday night at Weiland Field: TEAM STATS Rushing yards: Aurora 261, McCook 239. Passing yards: Aurora 89, McCook 55. First downs: Aurora 23, Aurora 12. Key stat: McCook 3 turnovers, Aurora 0...

McCOOK, Neb. — Narrow misses were all that stopped McCook from catching Aurora’s Huskies in a Class B Top 10 football battle at Weiland Field Friday evening. Instead, the talented-tenacious No. 7-ranked Huskies left with a 21-7 win in this first meeting between familiar football powers since 2017...