Stories from Thursday, May 21, 2020

LINCOLN, Neb. — Finally! Shut off all those stop lights and let’s start some real football work again. Phalen Sanford certainly understands this remark. A bumpy and sometimes painful path has never bothered the Dundy County Stratton all-state athlete while pursuing his Nebraska Cornhusker hopes...

Anne Lamb Franceschini Feb. 2, 1935 - March 25, 2020 LUCCA, Italy — Anne Lamb Franceschini, 85, died March 25, 2020, in Lucca, Italy. She was born Feb. 2, 1935, to Ivan P. Lamb and Marjorie Estalene Lamb Herrmann. Anne was born in Palisade, Neb. She attended Palisade Public Schools and graduated with the Class of 1953. ...

McCOOK, Neb. — Since sadly there was no annual elementary school track-field meet this spring, here are all McCook heat champions who hold their titles an unexpected two years: SECOND GRADE Girls Rope jump heat one: 1. Stormi Knight. Heat two: 1. Rhilynn Bales. Heat three: 1. Brooklyn Rankin...

The NCAA Division I Council voted Wednesday to lift a moratorium on voluntary workouts by football and basketball players effective June 1 as a growing number of college leaders expressed confidence that fall sports will be possible in some form despite concerns about the coronavirus pandemic...

McCOOK, Neb. — The McCook Community College golf team has added a freshman from the Czech Republic for the 2020-2021 golf season. Filip Lanc has been part of the top young amateur golfers in his country. He competed for Golf Club Hodkovicky in the Extraleague ranking 20th in 2019 in the Czech Republic until sustaining a hand injury that required surgery last year...

McCOOK, Neb. -- “We haven’t canceled anything yet,” said Chamber President Dawson Brunswick about the 2020 annual Crazy Days event. He went on to explain that it is doubtful that all of the distancing restrictions will be lifted by July 9 to 11, when the event is scheduled...

McCOOK, Neb. — While other Nebraska cities have upgraded their city pools, or are in the process of doing so, the McCook City Pool has the dubious honor of being one of the oldest in the state. Ronda Graff wants to change that. The pool was built in 1937 as a WPA project and it’s not exactly a badge of honor to have an almost 90 year old public pool, Ronda Graff told the McCook City Council Monday night at the regular meeting...

McCOOK, Neb. — A McCook woman who plans to open a daycare center said she already has a waiting list of children and people calling about possible jobs. After a public hearing Monday night, the McCook City Council unanimously approved a special exception requested by Chelsey Eng of McCook, for a new daycare, contingent on creating additional parking space...

This column contains my comments (with some modifications) made during Monday’s McCook City Council meeting as part of citizen’s comments, which cannot have any further discussion or actions taken. In October 2015, the McCook City Council appointed 12 community members to the pool committee. ...

Justin Patras, top, Jeff Cole, left, and Pat Cribbs of the Red Willow Western Rural Fire Department raise the flag after repairing rope on the pole at the Southwest Area Training Services in McCook. Many Memorial Day activities have been curtailed as coronavirus precautions, but flags will still be placed on veterans’ graves at local cemeteries and the red, white and blue will be on prominent display throughout the area Monday...

There are bright spots associated with the coronavirus pandemic for those inclined to look for them, namely the chance to step back from our normal, hectic lives and be with our families or spend time reading, meditating, gardening, crafting, decluttering — all those things we’ve never had time for before...

McCOOK, Neb. -- The McCook Area Chamber of Commerce has announced that due to COVID-19, the nomination period for the annual McCook Area Educator of the Year Award has been reopened until June 12. The award is made possible by the Strunk Family who are founders and former publishers of the McCook Gazette...