Stories from Thursday, March 18, 2021

KEARNEY, Neb. — The McCook Bison’s boys and girls featuring more than 100 track-field athletes will unleash many to compete at Friday’s University of Nebraska-Kearney Indoor Invitational. What a beautiful sight it should be considering last year was just when everything was stopping for 2020-21...

McCOOK, Neb. — The McCook YMCA’s Men and Co-Ed basketball leagues are both running strong as they enter their season’s final two weeks. Community Hospital currently leads a close Men’s title race with its 3-1 record. McCook 36ers 1 and GTA are tied at 2-2 with Pippen Ain’t Easy 1-3...

Merle L. Cox Aug. 30, 1941 - March 15, 2021 McCOOK,Neb. — Merle L. Cox, age 79, of McCook, passed away on Monday, March 15, 2021, at Great Plains Health in North Platte, Neb. Merle was born Aug. 30, 1941, in rural Hayes County, Neb., to parents, Elmer L. ...

McCOOK, Neb — A local businessman is interested in buying a piece of city property, on the corner of Norris Avenue and B Streets. The McCook City Council heard Monday night the request from Richard Haag but took no action on his proposal to buy or lease the property, at 201 Norris, that is directly south of his business. Councilman Gene Weedin said he would be interested in finding out how the public feels about selling the corner property...

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. -- Mid-Plains Community College governors gave administrators and classified staff salary increases delayed during last year’s pandemic uncertainties. Noting that MPCC was one of the few colleges that reopened last fall with minor capacity restrictions while maintaining precautions, the board approved, retroactive to July 1, 2020 a 2 percent increase in administrative salaries including the president’s as well as a 35 cents-per hour increase for classified staff wages...

McCOOK, Neb. — The McCook City Council will try something new concerning public comments at meetings. Nobody wants to shut down the ability of the public to speak at council meetings, said City Manager Nate Schneider at the regular council meeting Monday night. Unfortunately, the “best practices” used by the city during public meetings is for the council not to respond to any topic brought up by an individual during “Citizen Comment,” that is not on the meeting agenda...

McCOOK, Neb. — The McCook City Council affirmed an engineering firm for updating a master plan of improvements at McCook Ben Nelson Regional Airport. At the 8 a.m. March 4 meeting, the council approved the recommendation from the city’s Airport Consultant committee to use the engineering consultant firm of Garver of Kansas City, Mo., and W Design as the sub-consultant, to provide engineering consulting services for the airport. ...

McCOOK, Neb. — The Garden Prairie United Methodist Church will hold a pancake, sausage & eggs supper this Sunday March 21 from 5 to 7:30 p.m. at the church on Highway 83 north of McCook about 15 miles. A free-will offering will be taken to help with bathroom repairs to church...

When my family and I travel, we tend to notice the things we like in other communities as well as all the things we don’t appreciate as much -- mostly the traffic. But we take special note of those things we think would be possible in McCook, which would help McCook thrive and grow, which would make McCook an even better place to call home. It can be as minimal as a dog park, which is a great asset for both residents and visitors alike...

Last week and early this week, things continued to be busy around here. Committees were busy meeting in executive session, trying to advance bills so that senators could decide on what bill they would like to prioritize for the session. Each senator can prioritize one bill and each committee can prioritize up to two bills...

ALVA, Okla. – The McCook Community College baseball team took advantage of a couple big innings Tuesday on the way to a doubleheader sweep over Northwestern Oklahoma State JV’s, winning 10-4 and 12-8. The Indians spiked the plate six times in the fifth inning in Game 1 and scored six times in the second inning of Game 2 to even the season slate at 10-10...

Finally, some happy Madness to offset all the reports about killer hornets and Rumblin Bumblin Headley trying to dance like a leprechaun last night. Several Gazette-area basketball fans offered their NCAA tournament forecasts as the men’s basketball 68-team showdown tips off today with First Four contests...