Stories from Thursday, June 17, 2021

HASTINGS, Neb. — In 1980, Jim Cole witnessed eight-man football for the very first time and fell in love with the game. He went on to dedicate 28 years of his life to his Hayes Center Cardinal players and 8-man football. In a career that lasted from 1980 to 2007, Cole compiled a spectacular coaching record of 211 wins and 113 losses...

McCOOK, Neb. — With barely a quorum — two of the five McCook School Board members were absent —the rest of the board approved a new teaching contract and transferring $40,000 to the activity account. Board members Mike Langan and Dennis Berry absences were excused. Board president Tom Bredvick said sometimes conflict can occur when board members are active in the community...

McCOOK, Neb. — McCook Public Schools will receive more funds in the latest round of federal funds created to address the impact of COVID-19 on elementary and secondary schools. This makes $2.5 million in the total amount of federal funds MPS district will be awarded, from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act, March 2020), the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (CRRSA Act), and American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP Act).McCook School District business manager John Brazell told the McCook School Board Monday night at the regular meeting that the district will receive $1.6 million from Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER) funding. ...

I’m not a huge fan of comedian Steven Wright, but I do appreciate his humor. Several years ago my wife, Linda, and I had the pleasure of attending a Steven Wright show, who is most famous for his one-liners. The line which most resonated with me was: “I want to live forever – so far, so good.”...

“One Nation Under God, Indivisible, With Liberty and Justice for All.” The Pledge of Allegiance of the Unites States of America. I have been thinking and saying, “There is much more that unites us than the differences that divide us.” But like many other quotes, it sounds good, but do we really understand it or live by it?...

Lyman Lee Black Feb. 22, 1942 - June 14, 2021 OBERLIN, Kan. — Lyman Lee Black, 79, died Monday (June 14, 2021), at Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney, Neb. He was born Feb. 22, 1942, to Eldon and Mildred (Hessenflow) Black in Oberlin. He married Sharon Smith on Aug. 21, 1960...

Warren Newcomb Sept. 4, 1927 - June 15, 2021 CAMBRIDGE, Neb. — Warren Newcomb, age 93, passed away at his home near Cambridge on Tuesday, June 15, 2021. He was born on Sept. 4, 1927, to parents, W. D. and Pearl (Cotton) Newcomb. Warren attended country school through the eighth grade at a one-room schoolhouse, one-half mile east of his farm home. ...

Thomas Joseph Ruda March 3, 1943 - May 31, 2021 ATWOOD, Kan. — Thomas Joseph Ruda passed away at the age of 78 on May 31, 2021, at the Good Samaritan Society Center, Atwood Kansas. He was born March 3, 1943, to John and Rose (Sis) Ruda in Colby, Kan...

McCOOK, Neb. — Wednesday’s game against My Family Vision Lugnuts was a heartbreaker for Mac Daddy’s Original Spices Rock Hounds, as they lost the lead late in a 3-1 defeat. The game was tied at 1-1 with My Family Vision Lugnuts batting in the bottom of the third when an error scored one run for My Family Vision Lugnuts...

McCOOK, Neb. — A night calling for cool drinks didn’t mean the Heritage Hills Ladies weren’t playing another hotly-contested Tuesday of league golf. Here are updated season points leaders. A League Susie Townsley/Jody Bennett — 58 Jennifer Baker/Mindy Haag — 55...

McCOOK, Neb. — Victoria Thomas, a 5-7 pin hitter from Houston, Texas has become the final recruit to sign on for the 2021 McCook Community College volleyball team. “I am excited to get another talented pin hitter added to our roster,” MCC coach Hayley Kobza said . “Victoria has a fun personality and is going to fit in well with our team.”...

McCook High cross country runners joined in the Cornhusker State Games Torch Run which went through McCook on Tuesday. The State Games are set to begin on Friday, July 16.

KEARNEY, Neb. — It’s not often a team delivers four hits, allows only three and still loses 11-1 on the baseball diamond. The McCook National Bank Seniors certainly hope they don’t see it again ever. Yet this did happen Wednesday evening, as Kearney Runza turned 14 walks into the 11-1 “mercy rule” victory at Memorial Park...

HASTINGS, Neb. — A foursome of area football players are preparing for Saturday’s Sertoma 2021 Eight-Man All-Star Game. Dundy County-Stratton’s Delton Haines, Serbando Diaz, Southern Valley’s Carter Bose and Arapahoe’s Keegan Benson have all been picked to play for the West. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m...

As I look through the many repetitive tropes found on social media, I frequently see populist opinions about term limits. There’s no question that folks overwhelmingly favor them, but I feel obligated to take the contrarian view of that matter. Having been exposed to some of the mechanisms of government, and having grown up in the household of civil servants, I am informed by a couple of long-held observations. ...

McCOOK, Neb. — W Design will be putting out bids for Phase I of the HVAC upgrade at the junior high. This could include a base bid and/or other bids, Superintendent Grant Norgaard told the McCook Board of Education Monday night at the regular meeting. The project will be funded with ESSER dollars, he said, money the school district received from the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER) from the CARES Act. The board will look over the bids by the July meeting, he said...