Stories from Tuesday, November 30, 2021

McCOOK, Neb. — McCook High activities director Darin Nichols released this announcement on Monday. “McCook High School is looking for a head volleyball coach for the 2022-2023 school year. All endorsements and coaching experiences will be considered...

One of Friday’s holiday tone setters was Dundy County-Stratton alum Phalen Sanford (37, above) who played special teams for the Nebraska Cornhuskers against No. 16-ranked rival Iowa at Memorial Stadium. Iowa’s Charlie Jones had shook loose for a 100-yard kickoff touchdown return against the Illinois Fightin’ Illini during a Hawkeye home victory one week earlier. ...

Complete names will appear soon with other details. Remember, the Bison debut at Chase County in Imperial Friday night and play their home opener against Valentine Saturday evening.

You have noticed the incessant television advertising urging all to check in and get all the Medicare benefits possible. Now understand that as a retired veteran Grannie and I receive generous medical benefits due to my previous military service. For us it starts with Medicare but continues with a supplement, paid for with your tax dollars, that covers prescriptions. I too received a flier noting that vision and dental could also be included in our plan...

Russell “Corky” Burton May 17, 1945 - Nov. 27, 2021 McCOOK, Neb. — Russell “Corky” Burton, age 76, formerly of McCook, passed away at Cambridge Memorial Hospital on Saturday, Nov. 27, 2021. He was born in Stratton, Neb., on May 17, 1945, to Lucius Cecile and Lois (Ungles) Burton. Corky had six siblings: Dick, Pat, Bob, Peg, Ray and Pam...

Billy Pack Beamgard Dec. 2, 1933 - Nov. 23, 2021 ATWOOD, Kan. — Billy Pack Beamgard, 87, died Nov. 23, 2021, in Atwood. He was born Dec. 2, 1933, in Atwood to C.W. and Gladys Innes Beamgard. He served in the U.S Army in Korea and was a teacher. He was preceded in death by his parents; siblings, Donald, Rodney and Patricia Beamgard Makings; and grandson, Austin Earle Oberly...

Dewey Alvin Harmon June 26, 1930 - Nov. 26, 2021 IMPERIAL, Neb. — Alvin was born in north rural Haigler, Dundy County, Neb., on June 26, 1930 to Roy Harmon and Mabel Irene (Lindsey) Harmon. He was the youngest of three children. In 1937 the family moved to the farm west of Imperial in Chase County, where he lived his entire life, except while in the U.S. Army. Alvin served his country from Oct 18, 1951, to Oct 17, 1953, attaining rank of Corporal on March 21, 1953...

Huskerlandpreps.com listed three Gazette-area football teams in its final state rankings. Class D-1 featured Dundy County-Stratton at No. 5 and Hitchcock County at No. 6 after both lost just two games all season. The defending D-1 state champion Tigers lost a quarterfinal game to eventual 2021 champ Howells-Dodge...

McCOOK, Neb. — Varsity basketball openers tip off Thursday and Friday leading into the annual Cattle Trail Tournament next week. Several Gazette-area teams are set to compete again in McCook starting one week from today. The tourney moves to McCook’s Graff Events Center for semifinal play on Thursday, Dec. 10...

McCOOK, Neb. — It’s winter time in McCook so don’t let the 75-degree expected temperatures fool you later this week. The Bison are hitting high speed for every winter sport starting with reserve home basketball games against North Platte on Thursday...

McCOOK, Neb. — Lexington outbowled Cambridge, McCook and two other teams to win the Unified Bowling district championship Monday at TJ’s Family Fun Center. Cambridge captured second place with a 780 score behind champion Lex (891), which advances its team to next week’s Nebraska State Tournament...

IMPERIAL, Neb. — After 69 years with the Johnson family, Johnson Publications, Inc. has new owners.  Brothers Jesse and Lloyd Mullen, doing business as High Plains News North, LLC, have purchased The Imperial Republican, The Grant Tribune-Sentinel and The Holyoke Enterprise (CO). These weekly newspapers are located in southwest Nebraska and northeast Colorado. Included in the sale were three office buildings housing the newspapers...

McCOOK, Neb. — A Community Hospital official is cautiously hopeful a federal judge’s ruling against a coronavirus vaccine mandate will make a difference. “This is preliminary but a win none the less,” said Troy Bruntz, Community Hospital President & CEO...

McCOOK, Neb. — The FDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have expanded the recommendations for booster shots of the COVID-19 vaccine to now include all adults ages 18 years and older. The decision to expand eligibility was based on the latest research data on boosters and third doses that have already been administered in the U.S. and in other countries, which showed the booster shots increase protection against COVID-19, including the widely circulating Delta variant...

Healthcare workers who risked their lives to care for patients during the dark months of the pandemic last year are facing loss of their jobs this year if their conscience or valid health concerns won’t allow them to submit to a series of injections ordered by Washington regulators...

Hope alone doesn’t go very far. Hope alone assumes we need only to sit back and wait for good things to happen. That our communities are predestined to succeed merely because that’s the expectation. There’s also a hint of resignation, like everything is just outside our control. We hope because we cannot see ourselves making a difference...

Mary Catherine Derauf March 5, 1946 - Nov. 27, 2021 McCOOK, Neb., Mary Catherine Derauf, age 75, of McCook, passed away Saturday, Nov. 27, 2021, at the Wyoming Medical Center in Casper, Wyo. She was born March 5, 1946, to Joseph and Margaret Hassler of McCook. She attended Saint Patrick Catholic School and graduated from McCook Senior High in 1964. Upon her graduation, Mary attended the University of Nebraska, Lincoln...