Stories from Monday, July 1, 2019

McCOOK, Neb. — Stink bombs were not allowed during three brilliant McCook champion efforts at last weekend’s Firecracker fastpitch softball tournament featuring more than 20 teams from three states. Oldest proved to be the best as McCook’s Rebels 16-and-under threw three shutouts while going 4-0 against their competition...

Ellen Marguerite Ott March 29, 1921 - June 26, 2019 GRANT, Neb. — Ellen Marguerite Ott, 98, of Grant, passed away June 26, 2019, at the Imperial Manor. Marguerite was born March 29, 1921, southwest of Madrid, to Shirley and Elizabeth (Lorenger) Smith. She attended Perkins County High School in Grant...

McCOOK, Neb. — New building in Red Willow County and the City of McCook has reached over $20 million for the year. This was bolstered by last month’s $960,300 in commercial remodels (Black Hills Energy new location), according to the city’s building permit report for June. This construction, outside of city limits, includes new offices...

McCOOK, Neb. -- With everyone who streams in and out of Sehnert’s Bakery and Bieroc Cafe throughout the day, the group sitting in the middle of the room for lunch may not garner a second glance. But along with the daily coffee groups in the morning, the Sehnert’s Lunch Bunch can be found at least three days a week having lunch at the bakery...

Congratulations to organizers at McCook Christian Church, dozens of volunteers and sponsors who helped kick off the Fourth of July holiday with the Southwest Nebraska Freedom Festival. The church block was packed with kids enjoying inflatables and the petting zoo, with older kids and young adults braving the bungee drop and bungee trampolines...

A report recently released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) examines the impact of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in rural America. Widely viewed as a program that seeks to combat primarily urban poverty and food insecurity, the program has seen a greater percentage of utilization in rural areas since the late 1990s...

_ TOP: _ Innocuous-looking boxes and tubes wait in the northwest corner of the Red Willow County Fairgrounds until they are turned into a dazzling aerial display Sunday night at the conclusion of the Southwest Nebraska Freedom Festival. _ CENTER RIGHT:_ Nashville band Bernardus performs to a sweaty, yet appreciative crowd enjoying barbecued brisket, pulled beef, nachos and other festival feasts in tables under large tents on McCook Christian Church’s parking lot at West 5th and B in McCook. ...

SUTHERLAND, Neb. — A pool team from TJ’s Family Fun Center in McCook will advance to the American Poolplayers Association (APA) Masters Championship in Las Vegas in August after winning the Western Nebraska Masters Regional Championship held recently at Longhorn Bar...

McCOOK, Neb. — The McCook National Bank Seniors improved to 15-9 this season with two strong wins over visiting Omaha Northwest Friday afernoon. Game one MNB 5, Omaha NW 1 MNB Seniors got things moving in the first inning, when an error scored one run for MNB Seniors. MNB Seniors pulled away for good with three runs in the third inning. In the third Seth Dugger doubled on a 2-2 count, scoring one run and Konor Rakes doubled on the first pitch of the at bat, scoring two runs...

McCOOK, Neb. — The McCook Rebels Gray finished strong as they played a 7-7 final tie against Lady Jags to cap their Firecracker Tournament play Sunday afternoon. The Rebels Gray played three other games losing 9-1 to Alliance Aftershock, 8-2 against Cozad Classic Gray and 9-0 vs. McCook’s Rebels...

McCOOK, Neb. — Saturday morning agreed with McCook Rebels Pink as the 14-and-under team scored a 6-0 win over Brush (Colo.) Beetdiggers to start their Firecracker tournament. However, Rebels Pink ran into three other tough contests. They nearly erased a 10-2 deficit only to fall 10-8 against Scottsbluff’s Broadway Bombers Saturday night...