Stories from Thursday, September 10, 2020

McCOOK, Neb. — Rain? Sleet? Big flies or little snowflakes? Locusts flying in from the corn fields? The McCook Bison don’t care. Steam will be rising from York’s Levitt Stadium no matter what Mother Nature decides to bring Friday evening. The Bison have waited 14 days for “Week Two” and heaven help anything that tries to stop them outside of stupid COVID-19...

McCOOK, Neb. — The McCook City Council added two requests to be included in the the 2020-21 city budget, before approving the budget Tuesday night. Upon the request of Mayor Mike Gonzales, funds will be set aside in the budget next year to repair the steps at Memorial Auditorium. ...

McCOOK, Neb. -- State Sen. Dan Hughes has two years left to serve on his second four-year term representing Southwest Nebraska, and he would really like to see more engagement from his constituents during the time he has left. “The decisions that I make are going to affect you all every day, whether it is on taxes, criminal penalties, or speed limits,” Hughes told a gathering at the Gazette-sponsored Coffee With A Cop on Tuesday. ...

McCOOK, Neb. -- The McCook Fire Department plans a 9/11 Stair Climb fundraiser Friday to honor 343 first responders lost in the September 11, 2001, attacks. A donation boot will be placed by the stair climbers at the YMCA and Anytime Fitness in McCook all day Friday as participants try to climb 110 floors to honor those lost that day...

McCOOK, Neb. — Toxicology reports from the City of McCook’s waste water treatment plant accident are still pending. Two city employees, Ken Keslin, 43, and Larry Dicke, 65, were found dead inside the city’s wastewater treatment facility on Sept. 6. A welfare check was made after one of the employees did not return home after a routine check of the facilities...

McCOOK, Neb. -- While the same number of organizations will take part of Big Give McCook this fall, the one-day of giving event will have a different look from new non-profits and giving stations in 2020. Since originating in 2016 with just over a dozen organizations participating, Big Give McCook has been consistently growing year after year. The 2020 event will be Thursday, Nov. 5...

McCOOK, Neb. -- Southwest Nebraska Public Health Department has had 12 new cases of COVID-19 reported since Aug. 31s. Cases are updated several times per week on Tableau located at www.swhealth.ne.gov on the COVID-19 page and under General Info and Maps. This cumulative information is reported out by age, sex, county and exposure. A daily county and cumulative case count is also available...

McCOOK, Nebraska—The public is invited to wellness blood draws hosted by Community Hospital, Friday, September 25 from 8 to 10 AM at the Community Building, Red Willow County Fairgrounds. For the safety of attendees, masks are required as well as socially distancing. A goodie bag is available after each blood draw containing breakfast items, juice, and promotional gifts. For questions, call Tricia Wagner, Community Hospital Community Outreach Coordinator at 308-344-8550...

McCOOK, Neb. -- Community Hospital has made the decision to allow visitors in to see inpatients due to low positive cases of COVID-19 in the area over the past few weeks. Effective immediately, inpatients will be allowed one visitor at a time. Visitors will be screened and must wear a mask at all times while in the facility. Children under age twelve are not permitted at this time. Strict visiting hours will be adhered to, 9 AM to 4:30 PM. The front doors will be locked at 4:30 pm...

McCook’s landmark Mac’s Drive-In, citing a labor shortage, recently announced it was temporarily eliminating the night/dinner shift but adding Monday hours.The new hours, which went into effect Sept. 1, are Monday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. ...

CAMBRIDGE, Neb. — The Cambridge Trojans took a 26-24, 25-12 match from Dundy County-Stratton to split their home volleyball triangular Tuesday night. Cambridge earlier dropped a 25-16, 25-23 with North Platte St. Pat’s as those Irish (6-3 record) rallied in set two...

Latest results from TJ’s Family Fun Center in McCook: Men’s Major Quality Irrigation 71-19 Diamond Vogel 67-23 Fullmomentum 52-38 Stockman’s Feed 46.5-43.5 Glass Express 42.5-47.5 Burton Well Drilling 34-56...

McCOOK, Neb. — McCook Go-Karts delivered another great day of racing on Aug. 28 entering their season’s final challenge this weekend. The final races are set for Saturday and Sunday at McCook Mini-Speedway. Those Aug. 28 fastest finishers: Rookies Heat #1 - Kaden Caudillo...

McCOOK, Neb. — Ogallala’s 95 digs stopped the McCook Bison from scoring a big volleyball home win Tuesday evening. The Bison (1-4) brilliantly took that first set, 25-23, only to see Ogallala (2-2) rally for 25-15, 25-14 and 25-23 victories. No fewer than eight Bison drilled kills with senior Liviya Wier smashing six, senior Harley Cribbs blasting five along with four each for senior Elsa Wilcox and junior Addison Randel...

YORK, Neb. — York High officials are encouraging fans to wear masks and follow social distancing at Friday’s McCook-York football game. No policies about how many fans can attend are being stressed at Levitt Stadium.

BARTLEY, Neb. — There’s no containing the fever about Southwest’s second Six-Man football game of 2020 against Red Cloud Friday afternoon. “Oh yeah, there is definitely a buzz,” coach Christian Arterburn said about the 2:30 p.m. kickoff for a Top 10 showdown in Red Cloud. “People are talking about it. It’s been a long time since we’ve started 1-0 and even longer since we’ve been rated.”...

This past weekend, I stood atop a 14,000 foot mountain in Colorado and was thankful for the opportunity to be there. While my family are regular skiers, we had never purposely climbed to the top of these mountains. Yet, there we stood, gasping for air and gazing for miles in every direction...