Stories from Friday, December 10, 2021

McCook swim-dive teammates Leah Spencer, Natalie Roberts and Izzy Renner join classmate Madison Tarencz-Rasmussen in exhorting senior Kailynn Rodewald (below) during the home swimming meet at McCook's Ed Thomas Family YMCA on Friday. Watch for results here at mccookgazette.com and in the next Gazette edition...

GOODLAND, Kan. — The McCook High School girls and boys scored 50 points more than their opponents in Friday's Topside Tournament consolation semifinals. Girls McCook 62, Burlington (Colo.) 34 The Bison (2-2) shot to an 18-3 lead through one quarter which reached 35-11 going into halftime Friday afternoon...

McCook High honored all-time track and field great Molly Sughroue (above) during halftime of Saturday’s home basketball games against Valentine. Bison girls coach Brent May (above) presented Molly with her Oklahoma State University jersey which will be retired into the McCook High School Athletic Hall of Fame for all fans to see. ...

Donald “Rusty” George Lepper DANBURY, Neb. — Donald “Rusty” George Lepper, 85, of Danbury, died Nov. 16, 2021, at his home. Memorial services are Thursday, Dec. 16, 2021, 3 p.m., at Herrmann-Jones Funeral Chapel in McCook with Jim Jones and Michael Simmonds officiating. Committal services will take place at a later date at Fort McPherson National Cemetery in Maxwell, Neb., with full military honors...

Steven “Pete” Hamel Aug. 20, 1958 - Dec. 8, 2021 ARAPAHOE, NEB. — Steven “Pete” Hamel, age 63, of Arapahoe, passed away on Wednesday Dec. 8, 2021, at the Cambridge Hospital. He was born on Aug. 20, 1958, to Hollis and Darlene (Elston)Hamel at Cambridge, Neb...

Steven William “Steve” Bailey April 4, 1947 - Dec. 9, 2021 HOLDREGE, Neb. — A memorial service for Steve Bailey will be on Monday, Dec. 13, 2021, at 2 p.m. at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege, Neb., with Pastor Daren Popple officiating. Inurnment will follow at the Prairie Home Cemetery in Holdrege...

91st birthday The family of Twila Woods of Bartley, Neb., is requesting a card shower in honor of her 91st birthday on Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2021. She was born in Hayes Center, Neb., and grew up around the Trenton, Neb., area. She now resides in Bartley. Her family includes her daughters, Carol (Jim) Ault, Regina (Juan) Toledo, Penny (Randy) Klumpe; 9 grandchildren, 8 great-grandchildren and 9 great-great-grandchildren. Cards of congratulations will reach her at P.O. Box 264, Bartley, NE 69020...

There’s a gas mask from World War I at the museum whose provenance appears to be linked to Dr. R. T. Jones who lived and practiced in McCook long after that war was in the history books. Robert Turner Jones was born in Steuben, Indiana to Robert Perry Jones and Elizabeth (Turner) Jones on January 31, 1877. While his early history is somewhat of a mystery, we do know that he had a brother, John Turner Jones, born in 1879...

McCOOK, Neb. — It was good news/bad news last month concerning Boutique Air passenger numbers for November. Boutique Air is the federally subsidized passenger airline service at McCook Ben Nelson Regional Airport. It offers daily trips to and from Denver, Colo...

McCOOK, Neb. — The City of McCook is in the same boat right now with others trying to buy a new vehicle. A global shortage of semiconductor chips because of the pandemic has caused a production slowdown of vehicles. Chips are used in cars, computers, cell phones and other technology...

McCOOK, Neb. — There is an increased need for employees amid a shrinking workforce, and the workers who are available need a place to live, according to the director of the McCook Economic Development Corp. Speaking Monday night on his report from the recent Citizens Advisory Review Committee, MEDC director Andy Long told the city council that demographics show six million baby boomers retired last year and women’s labor participation rates are the lowest they’ve been since 1986. ...

McCOOK, Neb. — The McCook Board of Education will be asked to approve a trip to Costa Rica for Spanish students and after the regular meeting, have two closed, executive sessions, at its meeting Monday, 6:30 p.m., at the conference room at the junior high...

McCOOK, Neb. — The McCook Planning Commission will hear two requests Monday night, one to replat a tract of land and another to allow a 169-foot tall telecommunication tower, at its meeting 5:15 p.m. at the city council chambers at the City Municipal Building...

McCOOK, Neb. — A new coffee shop with local roots is already a busy place, but plans a grand opening next week. Scooter’s Coffee, best known for its fast drive-thru, specialty coffee, and baked-from-scratch pastries, added a new location at 1203 West B Street in McCook...

HOLDREGE, Neb. — McCook Junior High wrestlers captured five titles at the Holdrege Quad on Thursday. Kalen McCorkle scored two pins in less than 55 seconds each to win the weight division of 134-145 poiunds. Gunner Kaps outscored three opponents, 32-1, while winning three major decisions for the 97-105 title...

McCOOK, Neb. — The latest MCC volleyball recruit got her taste of McCook when she helped her high school teammate move into Brooks Hall this fall. Jordan Duzenack, of Thompson Valley High School in Loveland, Colo,, was pretty interested in the MCC volleyball program and wanted to take a closer look at the school and decided to help move her high school teammate, McKenna Crews, into her dorm room on freshman move-in day...

COZAD, Neb. — McCook’s young varsity wrestling team challenged a strong Cozad team in the season’s first dual and lost 73-0 Thursday evening. Coach Nick Umscheid offered these remarks: “We did not match up well with Cozad obviously. The message to the wrestlers was that we are a team with lots of growth ahead of us. We want to be a much different, and improved team at the end of the season...

GOODLAND, Kan. — Give them 16 minutes and the McCook High girls were really ready to play Kansas 6A’s No. 7-rated team Thursday. The Bison outscored Dodge City, 36-35, after halftime as reserves Riley Werkmeister, Gracie Wiemers and Brooklyn Gillen didn’t miss one shot (three for three)...

GOODLAND, Kan. — A literal bonzanza of three-point shooting featured Dodge City, Kan., hitting 12 long shots during the 70-48 win over McCook Thursday. The Bison (2-1 record) were on target with seven made threes in 11 attempts for 63.7 percent. McCook’s quick trigger featured senior Brendan Gillen draining a bomb just before the halftime buzzer sounded...

EDITOR’S NOTE: State Sen. Dave Murman has sent the following letter to officials of the nonprofit corporation that recently closed a nursing home in Arapahoe: Mr. Randy Bury President & CEO Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society Sioux Falls, SD...