Stories from Thursday, September 2, 2021

McCOOK, Neb. — Lightning bolts struck last week, but now his old stomping grounds are rumbling in anticipation for something else. “Oh yeah, I’ve heard from and gotten texts from coaches who are still there,” former Doane College starting center Joe Vetrovsky revealed. “They are looking forward to seeing us.”...

McCOOK, Neb. — Rainfall along with more expected throughout Thursday has caused tonight’s McCook home softball games to be postponed. The Bison (2-4 record) were scheduled to host Holdrege at McCook’s Jaycees Complex. The games have been rescheduled for Monday, Sept. 13 with JV action starting at 5 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. varsity start time...

McCOOK, Neb. — The 2021-22 City of McCook budget includes funds in anticipation of the new employee position of assistant city manager. The salary for the position is budgeted at $93,345, according to the preliminary budget. A full job description is pending as to what the position would entail, said City Manager Nate Schneider...

McCOOK, Neb. — Planned capital outlay purchases in the City of McCook’s 2021-22 budget remain fluid, due to what can or cannot be funded with federal COVID-19 stimulus funds. The city has received $741,952 from American Rescue Plan, plus additional funds from FEMA. The city is working with Miller and Associates to see what can be considered qualified expenditures, City Manager Nate Schneider said at the special meeting Monday night for the second reading of the 2021-22 budget...

80th birthday Lorraine Bauguess of McCook is celebrating her 80th birthday on Sunday, Sept. 5, 2021. Cards of congratulations will reach her at 808 E. Fourth, McCook, NE 69001.

Representatives of the EPA, K-State and the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy were among those attending a workshop hosted by the McCook Economic Development Corp. and and Benkelman CRA Tuesday to learn more about resources for brownfield redevelopment, which included a visit to the former St. ...

McCOOK, Neb. -- The proposed budget for Mid-Plains Community College would leave the levy unchanged for the 2021-22 fiscal year and lead to a relatively small increase in property taxes. Under the proposal, which will be voted on Sept. 15, the levy would remain at 7.456 cents per $100 of valuation. Of that, two cents would go toward the capital fund and 5.456 cents would be for operations...

Three Farnam photographers have won recognition for their work in the Nebraska Department of Agriculture’s Poultry Photo contest. Open to Nebraska 4-H and FFA members, the contest highlights the diversity of the poultry industry in Nebraska. They are Elisa Oberg, Janae Oberg and Jon Oberg, all of Farnam. ...

LINCOLN, Ncb. — A Fairbury man was elected chairman of the Nebraska Wheat Board and a Stratton man vice-chairman at a meeting of the board Aug. 24 in North Platte. Mark Knobel of Fairbury was elected as the Chair of the NWB for 2021-2022. Mark was re-appointed to the board in 2019 by Gov. ...

Results through last week of the Heritage Hills Men’s League golf playoffs with final-round scores appearing in Friday’s McCook Gazettte: A League First Flight Semifinals No. 4 Old Sarge’s Bar 20.5, No. 1 Samway/Michaelis 15.5 No. 2 Golight 18.5, No. 3 Arrow/Kohl 17.5...

ELWOOD, Neb. — Medicine Valley made 75 digs but lost a four-set volleyball conflict with Hi-Line Tuesday evening. Sophomore Kylie Rose’s 18 digs led the Raiders (1-1 record) while junior Milla Farr (15), sophomore Stella Heapy (14) and senior Kaylyn Roblee (10) all reached double digs...

McCOOK, Neb. — All those diving saves showed McCook High’s girls were digging up plenty of energy and effort at Tuesday night’s volleyball triangular. “The girls’ energy is good, and we need to just keep working and fighting toward our end goal for this season,” coach Audrey Feeney has the Bison continue their first full week with Hastings visiting tonight...

McCOOK, Neb. — The McCook Bison reserve football team opened up its season with a 17-8 win over Grand Island Northwest at Weiland Field last wweek. Brett Fraker scored first for the Bison with a 68-yard run from scrimmage on the second play of the game...

COZAD, Neb. — McCook’s softball girls dropped a 4-0 deficit to 5-4 before Cozad finished an 8-4 varsity victory Tuesday night. The Bison (2-5 record) saw more great hitting from Lainey Schmidt and Brenna Carner, who both blasted a double among their two hits...

McCOOK, Neb. — A complete lineup of games and start times for Saturday’s Bison Softball Invitational at the Jaycees Complex. 9 a.m. — McCook receives a bye; North Platte vs. Holdrege on southwest diamond. 10:45 a.m. — Alliance vs. Gothenburg on southeast diamond; Gering vs. Chadron on southwest...

McCOOK, Neb. — A couple of coyotes along the home path to Imperial wasn’t shaking these Chase County girls any more than two tough volleyball matches. The Longhorns took a tough loss against talented Minden, but shook it off with 25-23 and 25-11 victories over determined host McCook...

Under the “when life hands you lemons” category, consider this: Nebraska students have an advantage when it comes to remote learning. Nobody wants to return to those miserable days last year when students were forced to huddle around a screen at home on a Zoom call with their teachers, but if that day ever comes again, they’ll be enjoying better lemonade than their cousins in, say, New Mexico, where five times fewer students have access to broadband internet...