Stories from Thursday, December 12, 2024

McCOOK, Neb. — Results from the McCook YMCA’s Competitive Volleyball League tournament at the ‘Y’ last week. Diggin’ on a Prayer vs. Farrells Rx Side effects: Diggin’ on a Prayer wins 2-0 PSI Applications vs. MNB Bank: PSI Applications wins 2-0 92%ers vs. Volley Llamas: 92%ers wins 2-1...

On Monday evening, the North Platte public school board approved the sale of Osgood Elementary, plus a no-increase contract for Supt. Todd Rhodes, and the 2025-26 district calendar. After weeks of extensive discussions, the board made a pivotal decision regarding the future of the Osgood school building...

Donald Dean Crocker Oct. 8, 1943 - Dec, 10, 2024 McCOOK, Neb. - Donald Dean Crocker, age 81, lifelong resident of McCook, Neb., passed away on Dec, 10, 2024 in McCook. Don was born Oct. 8, 1943 to parents Tony and Lila A. (Gillen) Crocker in McCook. He was one of two children. Don attended school in McCook, graduating from McCook High School with the Class of 1961...

Carol L. Runge Dec. 6, 1956 - Dec. 9, 2024 NORTH PLATTE, Neb. - Carol L. Runge, 68, of North Platte, passed away on Dec. 9, 2024, at Great Plains Health in North Platte. Carol was born Dec. 6, 1956, in Manassas, Va., to Wilbert and Irene (Wean) Davis. She graduated from McCook High School in 1975, subsequently earning her nursing degree in 1990...

Robert John “Bob” Bishop Dec. 19, 1963 - Nov. 9, 2024 MANHATTAN, Kan. - Robert John “Bob” Bishop, age 60 of Manhattan, died Nov. 9, 2024, while vacationing in El Salvador. He was born on Dec. 19, 1963, in Elgin, Ill., the son of Derry and Elaine Bishop. In 1969, they moved to Oberlin, Kan., where he grew up along with his three siblings, and attended Decatur Community High School...

90th birthday The family of Darrel Banzhaf is requesting a card shower in honor of his 90th birthday on Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. His family is Lucile, Kathy and Tom, Gloria and Brad Masoner and family, and daughter-in-law Dorris and her family. Best wishes for Darrel can be sent to 500 South Street, McCook, NE 69001...

McCOOK, Neb. - Quarters are so fun to search through. That means a lot if I’m saying it, because I haven’t found a single thing searching through quarters. You might be wondering why I still love it. It’s because of the dozens of errors, silver quarters, and different designs that you can find. There are four types of quarters that you are likely to find including the American Women Quarters, America the Beautiful Quarters, State Quarters, and Washington Quarters...

Latest results from league bowling at TJ’s Family Fun Center where Taylor Lewis and Tony Rice both rolled games of at least 285. Men’s Major TJ’s Family Fun 54.5-32.5 The Krips 53.5-36.5 Git’ Em All 52-37 Fullmomentum 49.5-40.5...

OXFORD, Neb. — A 25-0 first quarter propelled the Southern Valley girls to their 55-16 win over Cambridge Thursday evening. The Eagles only allowed three Trojan two-point baskets all game. They took a 41-6 halftme lead which reached 53-9 through three periods...

McCOOK, Neb. — Despite some early injuries, Dundy County-Stratton’s girls dominated for a 42-26 win over Arapahoe to highlight Cattle Trail girls’ first-round action on Tuesday. Arapahoe (2-1) had already knocked off Class D-1 No. 1 Overton to start its season Thursday night...

LINCOLN, Neb. — Freshman Britt Prince pumped in a game-high 19 points to lead No. 24 Nebraska to a low-scoring 63-50 women’s basketball win over Tarleton State on Wednesday evening at the Pinnacle Bank Arena. The Huskers improved to 9-1 despite struggling through their worst shooting performance of the season, hitting just 17-of-57 field goal attempts (.298). ...

LINCOLN, Neb. — A full quartet of McCook High volleyball players appear among the Lincoln Journal Star’s Nebraska All-State honorable mention this week. Senior Bailee Fawver, juniors Jaylea Walgren, Karstyn Porter and sophomore Cali Crawford all captured among the best in Class B...

McCOOK, Neb. — McCook High School senior Quentin Terry signed a letter of intent to play baseball next year at McCook Community College. While Terry was a multi-sport athlete in high school and played several positions on the baseball field, MCC coach Jon Olsen said Terry’s bat is probably what will get him on the field the quickest...

Hometown fans cheered a third big McCook Community College hit when McCook High senior Lacyn Keller signed to play softball for those Indians Wednesday morning. She joins classmates Malia Hilker and Brooklynn Gillen from this fall’s 26-8 Class B district finalist team. ...

I cannot be the only one who is amazed that the year is nearly over. It’s a cliché to say that the days pass slowly while the years fly by, but it’s a cliché because it’s true. When my children were little, I was gifted a copy of the Family Circus cartoon, which showed the frazzled mom with four children, one hanging from each limb. ...

As reliably as the Sandhill Cranes return each February, Nebraska lawmakers are poised to revisit the long-debated Tax Equity and Educational Opportunities Support Act (TEEOSA) in the 2025 session. Governor Jim Pillen recently shared the 2024 School Property Tax Collection Report with state senators, signaling a renewed focus on school funding reform. With property taxes an enduring concern for Nebraskans, the discussion promises to be both spirited and consequential...

McCOOK, Neb. - The McCook Chamber of Commerce’s Noel on Norris event will continue this Sunday. Festivities will kick off at 1 p.m. at the Keystone Business Center. Chamber director Sarah Schneider shared her appreciation for the generous businesses that make these events possible...

McCOOK Neb. – On Dec. 10, the McCook Rotary Club hosted former District 5630 Gov. Deb McCaslin, who presented on the transformative “Girls Empowerment Project in Zimbabwe.” The initiative addresses critical barriers to education faced by thousands of girls in Zimbabwe, where inadequate menstrual hygiene results in missed school days – an average of five each month...

McCOOK Neb. - Less than a year after breaking ground on the Townhomes at the Parkview Addition, the McCook Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) celebrated significant progress yesterday with an open house for one of the new townhomes on Cheyenne Road. The event marks a milestone in MEDC’s ongoing efforts to enhance affordable housing options in the community...

McCOOK, Neb. – McCook Police Chief Kevin Hodgson has announced that the McCook Police Department will be participating in the Driver Sober or Get Pulled Over mobilization this holiday season. The mobilization will run through Jan. 1, 2025. During this time, the Police Department will have additional Officers working shifts to focus on enforcing traffic violations with an emphasis on driving under the influence. ...

McCOOK, Neb. - Every penny counts during the end of the year Coins for the Cause fund drive benefiting the McCook YMCA Community Strong Campaign. Beginning now through Dec. 27, the McCook YMCA will be collecting change to help continue their work of transforming lives through scholarships for programs and memberships for people of all ages in our community...

McCOOK, Neb. - At the recent McCook Public School’s Board of Education meeting, McCook High School science teacher Tracey Fisher, alongside junior Hannah Huff, presented their plans for the Nebraska Oceanic Research Education (NORE) trip to La Paz, Baja Sur, Mexico. Scheduled for June 26 to July 3, 2025, the trip marks a revival of the program that has been dormant since 2018...

LINCOLN. Neb. - On Wednesday, Dec. 11, the Gazette became aware of a “Wanted” poster, ostensibly originating from the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission (NGPC), circulating on social media regarding a discarded deer carcass found in the McCook area. At the time, the Gazette was unable to authenticate the via conventionalmeans, but reached out to NGPC for confirmation via email...