Stories from Friday, June 5, 2020

HAYS, Kan. —Time to have a blast in the first big Summer Blast. That’s how the McCook Rebels-18 are approaching every game all season as fastpitch softball finally begins at Hays, Kan., this weekend. “We’ll go in having a good time and just see what comes out,” coach Darrin Morgan proclaimed...

TestNebraska.com COVID-19 Testing Events in SWNPHD Southwest Nebraska Public Health Department (SWNPHD) and the team at TestNebraska.com announce three COVID-19 testing events that are being held in southwest Nebraska in June. The free testing is open to all individuals from the nine-county health district and neighboring Nebraska county residents...

Back in 1971, the United States Navy paid a Stanford University professor, Dr. Phillip Zimbardo, a substantial sum of money to research the social dynamics between guards and prisoners of the Navy and Marines (AKA the brig). You have probably heard of it. Zimbardo’s research has been the subject of several books, a movie, numerous documentaries, and a cautionary tale recounted in a broad variety of academic works...

Larry Charles Haag Aug. 7, 1941 – May 29, 2020 LONGMONT, Colo, — Larry C. Haag was called home to Heaven on Friday, May 29, 2020, after living 78 years on this Earth as one of the most respected, loved, and deeply admired brother, husband, father, and Papa...

Chester “Chet” Francis May 12, 1951 - June 1, 2020 WILSONVILLE, Neb. — Chester “Chet” Francis, age 69, of Wilsonville, passed away suddenly on Monday, June 1, 2020.  He was born in McCook, Neb., on May 12, 1951, to Leonard “Vike” and Pauline (Eliker) Francis.  Growing up, Chet spent time in Moab, Utah, mining with his dad.  The family settled in Wilsonville in 1961. He graduated from Wilsonville High School with the Class of 1969 and attended Colorado School of Mines in Golden, Colo., and Hastings College. . ...

Bonnie Jo Gardner Jan. 2, 1930 - May 20, 2020 FORT WALTON BEACH, Fla. — Bonnie Jo Gardner, age 90, from McCook, Neb., passed peacefully on May 20, 2020, from natural causes. She married her loving, life partner and high school sweetheart, retired U.S. Army Colonel Jack Junior Gardner. They were happily married for 67 years. As an Army spouse of 31 years, she traveled the world: living in Germany, Brazil, and Panama before retiring to Fort Walton Beach, Florida in 1977...

100th birthday The family of Martin Fortkamp of McCook is requesting a card shower in honor of his 100th birthday on Saturday, June 13, 2020. He was born in rural Chase County and grew up on the family farm south of Wauneta, Neb. He married Erma Donze in 1951 and farmed southwest of Hayes Center, Neb., until retirement. ...

I have been working for a couple of weeks on a story about the Spanish influence on our area, but as I sat down to finish that work, I realized that tomorrow our mother, Rhoby (Davison Bridenstein) Coady, was born 108 years ago and I felt the need to re-visit all the things that helped to shape her life and the calm with which she met each storm...

McCOOK, Neb. — One McCook Gazette poll participant said he’d gladly “travel and sit among 120,000 fans” at his favorite sporting event this weekend. However, a nearly even divide developed among those who responded to three sports questions being asked on Thursday...

During the “downtime” created by the coronavirus, McCook Community College staff was able to move up the schedule for refinishing the gymnasium floor at the Peter and Dolores Graff Events Center. The bottom photo shows the floor sanded with the bottom photo revealing the new paint scheme before the finishing coat was applied. Officials are planning to have the gym ready for use in a couple weeks. The work was performed J & J Floors of Pine Bluffs, Wyo...

McCOOK, Neb. — Another outlet to turn off the depressing news has arrived with Saturday’s Firecracker Open at Heritage Hills Golf Course. Sure enough, Hertage pro Tyler Loop said this two-person scramble has been completely filled for its 11 a.m. shotgun start...

McCOOK, Neb. — The McCook Board of Education will be asked to approve an increase in school breakfast/lunch prices, a $5,000 donation to athletic programs and a teacher’s contract, at its regular meeting Monday, 6:30 p.m. at the Junior High School conference room...

McCOOK, Neb. — Voters in the November 2020 general election will have the choice of one incumbent and two challengers vying for the two open seats on the McCook City Council. Incumbent Jerry Calvin has filed to retain his seat on the council. Current council member Janet Hepp has not re-filed, leaving another position open...