Man dies after being found lying in snow

Connie Jo Discoe/McCook Daily Gazette

An elderly McCook man found laying outside in Friday morning's snow storm died that day at Community Hospital of McCook.

George A. Randel, 86, was discovered outside by his hired man, said Red Willow County Sheriff Gene Mahon this morning. No one knows how long Randel had been outside, the sheriff said.

McCook Police Chief Ike Brown said that the caller to 911 at 7:53 a.m. indicated that Randel was lying unconscious in the road ditch near his home, which is located on the county-end of Ravenswood Road in southeast McCook.

Randel was taken by McCook's ambulance to Community Hospital, where he died.

A heavy snow started falling about 6 a.m., piling up four to six inches deep throughout the morning. Friday's high was 34 degrees at 4:11 a.m. By mid-morning, the temperature was 24 degrees, with 20-mile-an-hour winds.

Randel's graveside services will be Thursday, at 10 a.m., in Memorial Park Cemetery. Memorial services will follow at 10:30 a.m., at First Congregational Church, with the Rev. Steve Bales officiating.