Stories from Friday, March 27, 2020

McCOOK, Neb. — Never before has a season turned into one big ‘L’ for virtually every high school, college or club sports team. However, coaches like McCook’s Matt Wiemers simply don’t allow losing to become big parts of a team vocabulary. Winning continues filling his messages or conversations with 37 girls who were comprising this spring’s McCook Bison tennis team...

Wauneta-Palisade senior Michaela Dukes (seated, second from left) recently signed a lot of intent to play volleyball for Central Community College in Columbus. Joining Michaela for the signing ceremony at Wauneta-Palisade High were (from left) Bronco coach Terra Higgins, mom Cammi Dukes, Bronco assistant coach Katie Lawless and dad Mike Dukes (standing). ...

Ursula Bernard Aug. 7, 1924 - March 25, 2020 KEARNEY, Neb. — Ursula R. Bernard, 95, of Kearney, passed away Wednesday, March 25, 2020, at Wel-Life in Kearney. In consideration of the concern of the COVID-19 virus, and the related mandate issued by the government, a private family graveside will be at St. ...

Alan Foster Meguire May 5, 1935 - March 23, 2020 BONHAM, Texas — Beloved grandfather, father, husband and friend, Alan Meguire, was called home to be with the Lord on March 23, 2020, in Bonham at the age of 84. He was born on May 25, 1935, to his loving parents, Anderson and Margaret Meguire in Stratton, Neb. ...

Wyatt J. Smidt July 25, 2014 - March 23, 2020 KEARNEY, Neb. — Wyatt J. Smidt, 5, of Kearney, died Monday, March 23, 2020, at his home following a two-year battle with pediatric cancer. Private family services are 10:30 a.m. today at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Kearney with the Rev. John Rasmussen officiating. Burial will follow at Kearney Cemetery. The public may watch the funeral livestream at www.holycrosskearney.org. A Youtube video of the service will be posted on the Holy Cross website...

Is there anyone else out there that detests “catch phrases” as much as I do? Probably not, but in this day and age we are subjected to them on a minute by minute barrage from every news channel. It makes you think that someone, sitting at home as an “abundance of caution”, is writing the captions for all newscasters and sending them out in an email each day...

90th birthday The family of Betty Cook, formerly of Culbertson, Neb., currently of North Platte, Neb., is requesting a card shower in honor of her 90th birthday on Wednesday, April 1, 2020. She was born in McCook, Neb., in 1930. Her family includes her late husband, LeRoy Cook; daughters, Linda (Roger) Patterson of Gold River, Calif., Laurie (Chris) Ryan of North Platte and Coni (Malcolm) Ward of Anthem, Ariz.; 3 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren. ...

94th birthday The family of Dale McNutt is requesting a card shower in honor of his 94th birthday on Monday, March 30, 2020. Cards of congratulations will reach him at 1500 East 11th, No. 34, McCook, NE 69001.

McCOOK, Neb. — After teaching driver’s ed classes in McCook for 60 years, Warren Everts found there were basically two types of students. One group were the students who had never gotten behind the wheel before. That was fairly common, Everts said. “Every year, I’d have students get in and say, what does that pedal do? What does this pedal do?” he said...

McCOOK, Neb. - Thanks to the generosity of two local organizations, an additional $100,000 in funds have been pledged toward a new account established to help respond to local issues connected with the COVID-19 pandemic. On Wednesday, the MNB Financial Services Inc. Board of Directors voted to donate $50,000 to the COVID-19 Response Account, which was established this week by the McCook Community Foundation Fund...

Catch The Fever! is an ancient Major League Baseball promo phrase that will hopefully be corona virus-free soon when McCook diamond action begins later this spring or summer. REmember the Parker Scrappers (above), who scored six runs in their final at-bat to win a Minors League tournament title at Felling Field last summer. The McCook fast-fast pitch softball team also plans to return with teams like McCook Rebels Gray (right)...

INDIANOLA, Neb. — At Christmas-time 2016, Lindsey Sughroue and Jeremiah Kerns thought they believed in long engagements. But when they decided during the last year that the time was right to tie the knot, they planned to get married on Lindsey’s dad’s birthday, April 4, 2020...

Fortunately before the current putrid peril arrived, Gazette scribbler R.B. Headley was able to attend many major league baseball games where he lists some of his favorite moments: 1. Nolan Ryan pitching to Pete Rose at the Houston Astrodome. R.B. also discovered jalapeno nachos during this early 80s contest, which was better than his favorite player Pete going 0-for-4 and dropping a fly ball...

McCOOK, Neb. — What else can we do but reflect on the days when we weren’t all watching depressing news reports? Starting today, the Gazette sports editor will take a quick look back at some memorable events appearing during better days of 2019 starting on March 26:...

McCOOK, Neb. -- The McCook Chamber of Commerce has launched a web site, shopmccook.org, an e-commerce website for the online purchase of gift cards to local businesses. Visitors to the site will be able to buy gift cards at numerous local businesses, and all the proceeds from the purchase will go to that business. ...

This week, my wife mentioned that a coworker of hers uses the word “normalcy” when speculating about the prospect of someday ending our current closure of schools, restaurants, churches and other social gatherings. Although the grammatical construction is a bit suspect, the word couldn’t possibly be more appropriate for our times...

CAMBRIDGE, Neb. -- Tri Valley Health System Diabetes Support Group on Monday, April 6 has been cancelled. Tri Valley Health System will be offering some informational videos on Facebook about Diabetes Footcare.

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. -- Sandhills State Bank has announced the Sandhills Support Plan - a plan designed to help Sandhills customers facing loss of income, business interruption, and economic uncertainty as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic. The plan includes the opportunity for 12 months of interest-only payments for agricultural and business term loans, and a 90-day deferral of payments for mortgages and consumer loans. Customers should contact their Banker to determine eligibility...