Stories from Friday, June 10, 2022

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. — All gas and endless amounts of diamond fuel have driven the McCook Rebels through an amazing road-trip week. First, these 16-and-under softball girls ventured into Oklahoma City where the nation’s greatest eight NCAA teams were playing the College World Series...

McCOOK, Neb. — A Pinnacle Bank Pirate appears out at home Thursday night (below), but the ball escapes (bottom photo Carpenter-Breland Rockies’ catcher and ther unner clearly touches home again (above) to score this run. Games continue tonight.

McCOOK, Neb. — The McCook Economic Development Corp. wants the city to annex property the MEDC owns so tax increment funding can be considered to develop infrastructure needs on the property. The McCook Planning Commission will meet and consider the annexation request on Monday, June 6, 5:15 p.m., at the City Council chambers at the Municipal Building...

McCOOK, Neb. — The McCook Board of Education will be asked to ratify the superintendent’s salary, to increase school meal prices and approve a new teaching contract, at the regular meeting Monday, 6:30 p.m. at the Junior High conference room. The board will also be asked to approve three monetary donations to the district and 2022-23 school handbooks for McCook Elementary/Central Elementary and the Junior/Senior High...

50th anniversary The family of Dick and Carla Potts of Cambridge, Neb., is requesting a card shower in honor of the couple’s 50th wedding anniversary on Friday, June 24, 2022. They were married in Cambridge at the United Methodist Church in 1972. Their family includes children, Kelsi Potts and Michaela Breault of Omaha, Neb., Kimberlee Carruthers of North Platte, Neb., and granddaughter, Destry Jorgensen of North Platte. ...

50th anniversary The family of Jeff and Sue Ann Mollring of Lincoln, Neb., is requesting a card shower in honor of the couple’s 50th wedding anniversary on Saturday, June 18, 2022. They were married at First Congregational Church in Cambridge, Neb. ...

40th anniversary The family of Don and Lisa Felker of McCook is requesting a card shower in honor of the couple’s 40th wedding anniversary on Saturday, June 18, 2022. They were married in McCook in 1982. Their family includes children, Wade and Mandie Felker and Nicole and Jon Olsen, all of McCook, Morgan and Ty Sackett of Kearney, Neb.; and 8 grandchildren with one more on the way. Cards of congratulations will reach them at 25 Wedgewood, McCook, NE 69001...

Before we start on the last segment of A. Barnett’s memoirs, a reminder that this weekend is Buffalo Commons weekend. Artists will be featured throughout the three days and there are events that are free if you left your money at the gas pump this week...

McCOOK, Neb. — Kindergarten through third grade cap results from the recent McCook Elementary School track and field meet that closed the 2021-22 school year. Kindergarten GIRLS Softball throw: 1. Kazlyn Terry, 2. Everleigh Warren, 3. Leilani Lopez. Triple jump Heat one: 1. Collins Anderson, 2. Adley Bauer, 3. Emilia Mahrt. Heat two: 1. Rosalie Jordan, 2. Neely O’Brien, 3. Darika Lorentz...

McCOOK, Neb. — McCook’s Pinnacle Bank Junior B Legion boys were awesome on Thursday with a 15-0, 12-5 home sweep of Gothenburg at the Jaycees Complex. No other details were obtained for today’s Gazette. Coach Konor Rakes and his team are home again to play Minden at 7 p.m. tonight...

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. — The Mid-Plains Community College Rodeo Team will now send five members to the College National Finals Rodeo June 12-18 in Casper, Wyo. The team gained a qualifier in Quade Potter, of Stockville, who will represent MPCC in the steer wrestling...

Professional storytellers Kevin Kling, center left, and Shonto Begay were in fine form for a Buffalo Commons Storytelling and Music Festival warm-up Thursday night at the Bieroc Cafe, but they had nothing on local storytelling stalwart John Hubert, top left, who brought back memories and perhaps a few tears with a poem about festival founders, as well as laughs about his experience shopping for a talking dog named Gabby. ...

After the group inquired about their Airbnb and RV parking at their home near Trenton, Nel and Johnny Walker, back, arranged a resting place and showers in McCook for Tiffany Watkins, left, who is running from Wray, Colo., to Holdrege as part of a nationwide relay with 17 other runners to raise awareness and funds for multiple sclerosis through MS Run the U.S. ...

McCOOK, Neb. — Red Willow County Commissioners plan to open bids for a new courthouse roof at 10 a.m. Monday during their regular meeting. That item is followed at 10:15 a.m. by a public hearing to amend the annual budget. Other items include a yearly request for funding for the Family Resource Center, at 9:15 from FRC Director Kathy Haas, a discussion about fuel prices with Kent Davis of Frenchman Valley Co-op at 9:30 a.m., and, at 9:45 a.m., Deputy County Clerk Penelope Cooper with a discussion about the clerk’s Geographic Information System tab.. ...

Nebraska running back Anthony Grant will be presented with the David Rowlands Male Student-Athlete of the Year award during the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Foundation Awards tonight in Charlotte, N.C. Grant is being recognized as the top male student-athlete across all sports in the NJCAA ranks, and he is the first football player to win the award since 2017 and only the fifth since the award began in 1993...

I view much of the world through analogies, so when I’m not writing about something whimsical like UFOs or Bananas, I am usually on the lookout for historical experiences that might be applied to current events. Admittedly, I sometimes find myself reaching a bit and have produced my share of strained comparisons, but on other days, they just fall into my lap. ...

This spring we celebrated 7,200 new graduates of the University of Nebraska – new Husker, Maverick, Loper and UNMC alumni who are future leaders of our state. It’s one of my favorite times of year. Commencement brings to life the fundamental reason why public higher education exists: To create opportunities for students to build a better future for themselves and the world around them...

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. — Tickets for the 2022 North Platte Community College raffle car, a 1985 Oldsmobile Cutlass 442, will go on sale June 12. They will be sold everywhere the vehicle is displayed, at all Mid-Plains Community College campuses and at various area businesses...