Stories from Friday, April 8, 2022

McCOOK, Neb. — Just one night after the Kansas Jayhawks became college basketball’s national champions, the McCook YMCA decided its ultimate Adult Basketball League winners. Community Hospital conquered the Men’s League challenge, winning a 67-46 grand finale over Franklin and Friends Tuesday evening. Community Hospital’s victorious lineup is featured above from left...

McCOOK, Neb. — The McCook YMCA Youth Softball registration fee is due today. Register now. $30 for YMCA members and $50 for non member. Youth softball programs are: T-Ball (Pre-K – Kindergarten) Sluggers- (Grades 1-3.) Register on line at: www.mccookymca.org or register at the YMCA front desk. Practices begin the week of April 18. First games will begin the week of May 9...

It’s been an interesting week. One would think that with a war in Europe, rising oil prices and soaring inflation, there would be little bandwidth for other news, but I seem to be getting hit with Second Amendment-related stories from numerous directions. It began over the weekend with a shooting in Sacramento that resulted in six fatalities and 12 hurting. In keeping with the Rahm Emanual doctrine (never let a crisis go to waste), the administration quickly rolled out a new anti-gun agenda...

As this update goes to press, the Nebraska Legislature will have completed fifty-seven days of this year’s sixty-day legislative session. Much of the focus and debate this week has been on taxes. The road to tax relief this year has been difficult and circuitous as every effort has been challenged and delayed through the filibuster process. ...

My number one priority while serving the past 8 years in the Nebraska legislature is to pass meaningful property tax relief. Although we did not achieve the level that I was hoping for over the years I’ve been here, we have made progress. Last week we passed the first round of across-the-board tax relief. ...

100th birthday The family of Neal Callan of Alliance, Neb., is requesting a card shower in honor of his 100th birthday that was April 7, 2022. Neal was formerly of McCook until the passing of his wife, Anita (Unger) Callan. His children include Ron (Cindy) Callan of Orleans, Neb., Sandy (Mark) Hissam of Alliance, the late Sharon Brennemann and Randy Callan; 8 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great grandsons.  Cards of congratulations will reach him at  672 West 20th Street, Alliance, NE 69301.. ...

50th anniversary The family of Ken and Kathy Ralston of McCook, Neb., is requesting a card shower in honor of the couple’s 50th wedding anniversary on Saturday, April 16, 2022. They were married at Orafino, Neb., in 1972. Their family includes children, Traci Gudenrath and husband, Dan, of Omaha, Neb., Tonya Riley and husband, Tom, of Springfield, Neb., and four grandchildren. Cards of congratulations will reach them at 408 West R Street, McCook, NE 69001...

50th anniversary The family of Robert and Lavella Farr of Cambridge, Neb., is hosting an open house and card shower in honor of the couple’s 50th wedding anniversary. They were married on April 16, 1972, in McCook. The open house is Saturday, April 16, 2022, 5 p.m., at the Arapahoe Golf Course. ...

KANSAS CITY, MO. – On the heels of the Morningside dance team claiming the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics national title, the NAIA has announced its 2022 All-America award and honorable mention recipients. The Mustangs had five athletes receive honorable mention nods, including seniors Bryn Groff and McCook High grad Haley Potthoff, junior Madison Mahr, and sophomores Jocelyn Hendrix and Samantha Snyder...

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. — Five area poolplayers have earned a spot in the American Poolplayers Association (APA) Poolplayer Championships in Las Vegas after winning their skill level tier at the Western Nebraska APA 8-Ball and 9-Ball Singles Regional Championships held recently...

McCOOK, Neb. — The McCook Community College individual basketball camp for girls is set for June 1-3 at the Peter and Dolores Graff Events Center. MCC Women’s Basketball Coaching staff and players are presenting this camp. This camp is for girls in kindergarten through eighth grade. Girls in kindergarten through fifth grade will go from 9 a.m.-noon each day and girls in the sixth through eighth grade will go from 1-4 p.m...

AMES, Iowa — The Mid-Plains Community College Rodeo Team kicked-off its spring season with multiple top 10 placings over the weekend. Team members competed at the 59th Annual Cyclone Stampede hosted by Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa last weekend...

McCOOK, Neb. — Dangerous wildfires are forcing some alternate travel plans, but area spring sporting events are moving along at full speed this weekend. The McCook High track and field teams are taking a longer journey than originally planned for today’s Broken Bow Invitational...

McCOOK, Neb. — McCook senior pole vaulter Branson McDonald and junior triple jumper Adam Dugger are Class B early-season state leaders entering today’s Broken Bow Invitational. McDonald has already cleared 14’6” which matched state champion Bison alum Talyn Campbell’s Class B championheight last spring...

ELWOOD, Neb. — One of the largest and fastest-traveling grassfires in memory left a fire chief dead from a collision while responding and another in serious condition. A ditch fire was first reported 10 miles south of Elwood at 12:30 p.m. Thursday, which, fed by tinder-dry conditions and winds gusting to 60 mph, eventually covered 30 miles and battled by firefighters from at least 27 departments in Nebraska and Kansas, who were still at work this morning...

McCOOK, Neb. — In honor of Law Day, Nebraska Supreme Court Justices will hold oral arguments in the McCook High School auditorium at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, April 28. “McCook Public Schools is extremely excited to experience this wonderful learning opportunity for our students,” noted Public Schools Business Manager Jeff M. ...

McCOOK, Neb. — The McCook Board of Education will be asked to accept a teacher's resignation and the hiring of two teachers, at the regular meeting Monday, at 6:30 p.m. in the junior high conference room. It will also be asked to approve a $1,000 donation for children's winter clothing and up to $190,000 in new math materials...

Dear Editor, We hear a lot about misinformation campaigns these days. I would like to present some facts that were absent from Mr. Harpst’s letter. 1. The Red Willow County Board of Commissioners has no power over the sale of Hillcrest Nursing Home. That choice lies solely with the Hillcrest Board of Trustees...