Stories from Friday, May 13, 2022

McCOOK, Neb. — Emblazen across McCook’s tennis team poster are the words “Be Fierce” along with players standing ready for any gale-force challenge this spring. Could any pre-season forecast ever be proven more accurate? The Holdrege Dusters were a perfect final home opponent Tuesday afternoon...

McCOOK, Neb. — City staff says goose poop is wreaking havoc at Barnett Park and the McCook City Council will be asked to authorize the USDA to conduct a goose round-up to reduce the goose population, at the regular meeting Monday, 5:30 p.m. at City Council Chambers at the Municipal Building...

DALLLAS-FORT WORTH, Texas — An award-winning investigative reporter from McCook has been named to a CBS News lab dedicated to explore next-generation storytelling. Nicole Vap, a 1987 McCook High School graduate and daughter of Mary and the late Doug Vap of McCook, was one of four investigative journalists recently named to the local news innovation lab in Dallas-Fort Worth...

Diane Nealeigh Jan. 17, 1949 - Jan. 23, 2022 TRENTON, Neb. — Diane Nealeigh passed from this life on Jan. 23, 2022, at the age of 73 years and 6 days. Diane Lynne Taylor was born Jan. 17, 1949, to Stanley and Norma (Campbell) Taylor of rural Montgomery County, Iowa. Diane grew up in rural Montgomery County with her beloved dog, “Rex” and a host of family and friends. She attended school in Grant and graduated from Griswold High School in 1967...

Maxine Hilker CAMBRIDGE, Neb. — Maxine Hilker, 92, of Cambridge, died Thursday (May 12, 2022) at the Elwood Care Center in Elwood, Neb.. Funeral services are Tuesday, May 17, 2022, 10:30 a.m., at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church of Cambridge. Burial will follow in the Fairview Cemetery, Cambridge...

60th birthday The family of Bruce Solko of North Platte, Neb., is hosting an open house/card shower in honor of his 60th birthday. The open house is Sunday, May 22, 2022, 1:30-4 p.m., at the North Platte Community Playhouse, 301 East 5th Street, in North Platte. He was born May 28, 1962, in Stratton, Neb., and has family from Benkelman to Cambridge, Neb., and in the Atwood, Kan., area. Cards of congratulations will reach him at 419 S. Welch Ave., North Platte, NE 69101...

Owen Douglas Skiles The Skiles family is enjoying a new tax deduction with the arrival of Owen Douglas Skiles on April 19, 2022 at 8:14 p.m. Owen weighed 6 pounds, 6 ounces and was 19 inches long. His parents are Ben and Megan Skiles of Papillion, Neb. Grandparents are Doug and Shary Skiles of McCook, Neb., and Doug and Jan Stokebrand of DeWitt, Neb. Great-grandparents are Charlotte Bell of Red Cloud, Neb; Kathy and Harold Stokebrand of DeWitt, Neb; and James and Alice Rotter of Lincoln, Neb...

I’m going to move away from genealogy and local history for a few moments today. Perhaps I am the only person who was sick to death of the duel between the two “front-runners” for governor. Unlikely, but possible. Unfortunately, in a year we will begin to start listening to the race for President of the United States heat up. ...

McCOOK, Neb. — McCook Community Foundation Fund awarded six scholarships this spring for the 2022-23 academic year, including the Bernard and Nelda Haag Scholarship and the Barbara Fassler-Neumann Nursing Scholarship. The Haag Scholarship, worth $1,000, was given to Naomi Farnsworth, who graduated from Wallace High School in May 2021 and attends Casper College in Casper, Wyoming. ...

OXFORD, Neb. — Sophomore Ann Bose jumped a career-best 5’5” for the C-8 district title while four other Southern Valley Eagles qualified for state Thursday afternoon. Bose won the high jump while two-time state medalist Brianna Russell cleared her season-best 5’3” for second place on Thursday...

MITCHELL, Neb. — Chase County’s defending Class C state champion girls scored 186 points and the Longhorn boys scored 146 to sweep Thursday’s C-8 district track-field titles. A rundown of the top finishers who qualify for Class C state at Omaha next week. Additional Chase County qualifiers will be included in the next McCook Gazette...

OGALLALA, Neb. — McCook golfed to a trio of top 15 places and finished tied for third overall at Thursday’s Ogallala Invitational. Senior Jonas Somerville shot 80 for eighth overall, freshman Reid Loop shared 12th at 92 and senior Hunter Hansen took 14 wtih an 83...

ODESSA, Texas – For the second straight day the McCook Community College golf team shaved a few more strokes off their team score Thursday carding a 306 in round three of the four-day National Junior College Athletic Association Championship tournament...

Team scores, champions and all top four area placers from Thursday’s D-7 district meet. The top three individuals and two relays qualify for Class D state next week with additional qualifiers to be determined: BOYS Teams: 1. Cambridge 130, 2. Hitchcock County 81, 3. Loomis 65, 4. Bertrand 57, 5. Arapahoe 49, 6. Dundy County-Stratton 44, 7. Medicine Valley 39, 8. Southwest 34, 9. Wauneta-Palisade 20, 10. Wallace 8...

CAMBRIDGE, Neb. — Both Cambridge Trojan teams continued a super season of championships with Thursday’s sweep through the D-7 district track-field meet. “It was a remarkable day!” coach Margo Kent declared. Between our boys and girls teams, we qualified an athlete in every event except the 200 meters and we will proudly display the District D7 Championship plaques for both teams.”...

McCOOK, Neb. — Sheri Hink-Wagner has been named McCook Community College’s winner of the Gene Budig Outstanding Faculty Award. The announcement came Friday during MCC’s Commencement Ceremony at the Peter and Dolores Graff Events Center. Hink-Wagner was selected by the college’s Gene Budig Award selection committee and submitted to the Mid-Plains Community College Cabinet. Budig who was an MCC graduate, provides a $1,000 award each year to recognize and honor outstanding educators...

McCOOK, Neb. — The following is the McCook Community College commencement address given by student speaker Kimberlee Sweeney at today’s graduation: 1. No great things are ever accomplished unless you try. Hello! Welcome graduates, families, faculty, and staff to this year’s graduation. ...

I like teachers. While it’s true that I’m no fan of Teacher’s Unions, and I think school choice should be considered seriously, teachers, as individuals, are a special breed. We entrust teachers with our most treasured assets, but as public employees, we also ask them to work with limited resources. Our teachers always rise to the challenge and should be appreciated accordingly. I certainly do...

The National Day of Prayer Last Thursday, May 5th, was the National Day of Prayer in the United States. I had the privilege of being the sponsoring senator for the event held in the Capitol rotunda in Lincoln. The prayer gathering was sponsored by Nebraska Family Alliance. ...