Stories from Friday, May 31, 2024

Those of us who are time travelers from the 1900s recall the exhilarating years between Sputnik and the moon landing when our imaginations ran free. We pondered, often incorrectly, the implications of space travel and how it would affect future life here on Earth...

McCOOK, Neb. — An update from the McCook Family YMCA leadership: The upper parking lot at the McCook YMCA will be closed Friday, May 31 for restriping. Parking will be available on the street and in the high school parking lot. The lower parking lot will be reserved for handicap parking and Summer Camp drop off and pick up...

Ruth Valjean Nunamaker Jan. 30, 1941 - May 29, 2024 BENKELMAN Neb. - Ruth Valjean Nunamaker, born on Jan. 30, 1941, in Templeton, Pa., embarked on her final journey on May 29, 2024, at McCook Community Hospital in McCook, Neb. She was a devoted wife to Paul Leslie Nunamaker, whom she married on April 18, 1959. ...

McCOOK, Neb. — As the calendar flips towards June, McCook’s City Council is gearing up for planning the city’s budget for the upcoming fiscal year. Set to commence discussions at their next meeting on June 3, 2024, at 5:30 PM, the council has a packed agenda, with budget preparation taking center stage...

McCOOK, Neb. — Speaking to about a dozen residents at the Loop Brewery Thursday night, Independent U.S. Senate candidate Dan Osborn made a plea for bipartisan solutions and a cleaner political landscape. A Navy and Army National Guard veteran, Osborn, whose background includes advocating for workers’ rights during a strike at Kellogg’s in Omaha, minced no words as he criticized the pervasive influence of money in politics...

McCOOK Neb. — “Kept in a small bowl, the goldfish will remain small. With more space, the fish will grow double, triple or quadruple its size.” — a quote from the movie Big Fish. With that in mind, how big would a goldfish get if it lived in a pond at Barnett Park? Three-year-old Kayson Knowles can tell you, because he caught one. ...

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts has announced his constituent casework staff will host Mobile Office Hours around the state. They include Friday, June 7, 3-4 p.m. at the Hayes County Courthouse, 505 Troth Street in Hayes Center.  At Mobile Office Hours, Ricketts’ staff will be on-site to assist Nebraskans with their casework needs. ...

Intergenerational care, a concept blending the care of children and older adults under one roof, is not just a compassionate approach but also a pragmatic solution to multiple societal challenges. Nebraska’s initiative to expand such programs through incentive grants represents a forward-thinking approach that deserves commendation and wider adoption...

COZAD, Neb. — McCook’s Rebels 18-and-under fastpitch softball girls are now 6-1 this season following a 5-2, 9-2 sweep of Cozad Classics White Thursday. The Rebels showed no letdown from winning last weekend’s Wahoo Memorial Day tournament where they pitched two shutouts among these four wins:...

STILLWATER, Okla. — The Nebraska baseball team starts NCAA Tournament regional play today at 2 p.m. against Florida. • Nebraska and Florida meet for the second time on the baseball diamond after facing off in the College World Series in 2005. • In their lone matchup against each other, the Gators came away with a 7-4 win over the Big Red in a winner’s bracket tilt at Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha...

McCOOK, Neb. — In a little more than 24 hours, McCook’s First Central Bank Juniors will try to revive that offense which scored 24 runs against North Platte earlier this week. The Juniors (4-3 record) haven’t delivered similar hitting heroics through two home games, falling 9-1 against Gothenburg’s Melons Thursday evening...

McCOOK, Neb. — The 47th annual Larry Samway Memorial Fishing Derby & Casting Contest is set for June 15-16 at Hugh Butler Lake. Derby begins at 7 a.m. on Saturday, June 15 and finishes at noon on Sunday, June 16. The casting contest is scheduled for 1 p.m. on June 15 at the North Boat Dock with divisions for both adult and children...

McCOOK, Neb. — While practice has started for the McCook Summer Swim Team, there is still plenty of time to get involved with swimmers able to join at anytime. Some swimmers are just practicing throughout the summer to stay in shape during the two practices offered every day at the YMCA...