Stories from Tuesday, February 25, 2025

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. — Days before the season even began, any Bison fan could have seen junior Brecken Gale seriously focused on free throws after official practicing had finished. She didn’t crack a smile, never looked away or even barely blinked while smiling teammates approached...

The Nebraska State Swim and Dive Championship is set with a full slate of swimmers and divers from McCook making the trip to Lincoln. And it is an impressive group of swimmers with all four individual swimmers holding the McCook High School record in their events...

McCOOK, Neb. – From “Bonnie and Clyde: The True Untold Story” to “Bovine Psychology,” there was something for everyone at the book swap Feb. 22 at the YMCA of McCook. About 75 people attended Saturday’s event, according to coordinator Saraya Currier, Youth Development Director at the McCook YMCA. “It definitely blew away my expectations, I was expecting around 40 to 50 people,” she said...

BARTLEY, Neb. - The office of the Red Willow County Clerk has released the now-official results of the Feb. 11 Bartley recall election as certified by the Feb. 20 Canvassing Board. On election night, the results were recorded as an even 100 votes in favor of recall, and 15 votes against, with three additional provisional ballots in question. The final, official results were 103 votes in favor of the recall with 15 against...

McCOOK, Neb. - We have a national crisis, and it’s impacting nearly one out of every four students in our schools, yet many families are unaware and unconcerned. Chronic Absenteeism is an epidemic that comes with real-world consequences, and McCook Schools are taking notice. ...

McCOOK, Neb. - The Red Willow County Fair Board is looking for a new member, but it can’t be a resident of McCook. At the Feb. 24 meeting of the Red Willow County Board of Commissioners, an agenda item billed simply as “Discuss Membership of the County Fair Board,” members of both the County Board and the Fair Board reluctantly agreed that one of three members of the Fair Board would have to either resign or be removed...

I received a tip from a pastor friend this weekend. “Go to our big box retailer and pick up a magazine titled A.I. (Artificial Intelligence). He was also of the opinion that A.I. was not very compatible with our understanding of the Christian faith...

The Biden administration’s nursing home staffing mandate, however well-intentioned, is fundamentally unworkable for rural communities. Last week, Sen. Deb Fischer took action to address this pressing issue by rolling out the “Protecting Rural Seniors’ Access to Care Act.” Her bill aims to counteract the administration’s unrealistic regulations and ensure that seniors in rural areas, particularly in Nebraska, continue to have access to quality care...

Obituary Joseph Daniel Green Dec. 10, 1937 - Feb. 19, 2025 HERNDON, Kan. - Joseph Daniel Green was born Dec. 10, 1937, on the family farm north of Herndon, the youngest of six children born to Bernard H. and Elizabeth (Unger) Green. Joe passed away Feb. 19, 2025, surrounded by his wife, Nadine and five children...

Obituary Dorothy Lucille Evans Dec. 20, 1941 - Feb. 21, 2025 McCOOK, Neb. - Dorothy Lucille Evans (née Smith) passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, leaving behind a legacy of love, laughter, and the best peony bushes in McCook. Born on Dec. 20, 1941, in Lebanon, Neb. to Milo George Smith and Lucille Verle Morris, Dottie grew up with a strong sense of family and adventure...

Obituary Theodore “Ted” E. Travis March 8, 1941 - Feb. 20, 2025 ALBION, Neb. - Theodore “Ted” E. Travis, 83, of Albion, Neb. passed away Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025, at Boone County Health Center, Albion, Neb. Memorial services will be 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025, at the United Methodist Church, Albion, Neb. with Rev. Lynde Linde officiating. Visitation will be 5-7 p.m. Monday at Levander Funeral Home. Burial will be at a later date at Mount Hope Cemetery, Imperial, Neb...

Obituary Verdene L. (Shaffer) Cantrall May 13, 1928 - Feb. 23, 2025 TRENTON, Neb. - Verdene L. (Shaffer) Cantrall, age 96, of Trenton, Neb. passed peacefully at the Wauneta Care and Therapy Center on Feb. 23, 2025. Verdene was born on May 13, 1928, in Trenton, Neb. ...

Obituary Jay Russell Markwith, Jr. Jan. 21, 1960 - Feb. 15, 2025 McCOOK, Neb. - Jay Russell Markwith, Jr. was born on Jan. 21, 1960 in Lawrence, Kan. to Jay Russell and Darlene G. (Carr) Markwith. He attended school in McCook, Neb. Russ worked in the oil fields and was also a talented tattoo artist. ...

McCOOK, Neb. — Coach David Peterman with details about the McCook JV girls. This season was a great competitive year for the JV team finishing 9-6. We were right with every team that we played and most of the losses were very close with three losses being by three or fewer points. This group was very coachable and always tried their best. I’m very proud of them and look forward to seeing their skills grow in the future...

LINCOLN, Neb. — Nebraska had two chances in the final 10 seconds of a defensive struggle but No. 15 Michigan escaped with a 49-46 win over the Huskers Monday night. On a night where Nebraska (17-11, 7-10 Big Ten) shot just 26 percent, the Huskers’ defensive effort allowed NU to nearly complete the upset. Nebraska held the Wolverines to 29.5 percent and forced 14 turnovers as neither team led by more than six points the entire game...

BENKELMAN, Neb. — The Dundy County-Stratton girls allowed only eight second-half points to secure a 56-31 win over Hitchcock County in Friday’s D2-10 district final. Visiting Hitchcock was only trailing 27-23 until an 18-1 Tiger third quarter. They permitted the Falcons to make only eight field goals even though junior Madysen Carlson tallied 13 points while senior Kaiah Johnson added 10...

C2-8 District Final: Friday @ 6:00 PM CT Host (Site): Yutan (@ Yutan) Teams: Yutan (#8) VS Southern Valley (#9) D1-3 District Final: February 28, 2025 @ 6:00 PM CT Host (Site): Southwest (@ Southwest) Teams: Southwest (#3) VS Pleasanton (#14) D2-4 District Final:...

COTTSBLUFF, Neb. — As expected, the McCook High boys have earned a No. 2 seed for this week’s B-8 subdistrict basketball tournament. The Bison (15-8 record) will play Wednesday’s second semiifnal against No. 3 Alliance (13-10) with an expected start time of 7:30 p.m. — or 6:30 p.m. MST if traveling to Scottsbluff for this contest...