News

McCOOK, Neb. — The entry fee for athletic events at McCook Public Schools may go up in the future. Currently, it costs $5 to enter events at MPS. While discussing student fees at the public hearing Monday night prior to the regular McCook Board of Education meeting, Superintendent Grant Norgaard said there is room in the policy to increase entry fees to $6. ...

INDIANOLA, Neb. — Anyone interested in old-time harvesting and farming methods or just a good old-fashioned farm show will want to mark this Sunday, Aug. 14 on their calendar. That is the date of the 14th Annual Bum Malleck Memorial Threshing just 4 miles South of Indianola, Nebraska. The event is held in conjunction with the annual Indianola Old Settlers Celebration...

McCOOK, Neb. — If you think you have to haul a lot of salt to your water softener, you should work for the city. Sixty-one times last year, a semi-truck loaded with about 30 tons of solar salt arrived from Utah to keep McCook’s water treatment plant in operation. During heavy use in the summer, two trucks a week are required, at $5,000 a load, for a cost of $286,000, about $66,000 more than budgeted for...

McCOOK, Neb. — As it stands now, Red Willow County’s tax request is $800,000 more than last year, but that number is likely to come down. For one, commissioners plan hearings with individual office holders to see where trims can be made. Another factor affecting the final budget will be property valuations, which the county assessor has a few more days to provide...

McCOOK, Neb. — The process for approving the budget will change this year, according to McCook Public Schools' business manager. Jeff Gross, MPS business manager, told the McCook Board of Education Monday at the regular meeting Monday night that per state law, a joint public hearing of Red Willow County, the City of McCook and the MPS district will be held if their budgets for this year are more than 2% higher than last years’. ...

McCOOK, Neb. — The McCook City Council will have its first budget workshop on Monday, 6:30 p.m., at the the city council chambers at the city’s Municipal Building.

McCOOK, Neb. — The City of McCook Planning Commission will be asked to approve a preliminary plat that will be the first step in creating a new subdivision to the city, “North Pointe Addition,” at its meeting Monday, Aug. 8, 5:15 p.m., at city council chambers at the Municipal Building...

OMAHA, Neb. — Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol have arrested one person following a pursuit and standoff on Interstate 80 near the Missouri River bridge in Omaha. At approximately 9:25 a.m., NSP received a report of a pickup driving erratically and at a high rate of speed on eastbound I-80 in Omaha. A trooper located the vehicle near 42nd street on I-80, observed the erratic driving behavior and attempted a traffic stop. The driver refused to stop and continued eastbound...

McCOOK, Neb. – A new Jimmy John’s sandwich shop located at 109 W 5th St is now open and ready to serve gourmet sandwiches to the people of McCook. “This will be our first store in McCook and our team is excited to serve fresh, fast and tasty sandwiches to a new set of customers in the area,” said owner Sydney Lorandeau. ...

McCOOK, Neb. — A Lincoln, Neb., - based Christian radio network has purchased the tower and transmission equipment from a local Christian station that went off the air because of financial difficulties earlier this summer. The purchase does not include the studio facilities...

McCOOK, Neb. — American Rescue Plan Act funds are being requested to repair the ag complex on the Red Willow County Fairgrounds. Jiles Bowman will meet with the board at 9:15 .a.m., during Monday’s regular meeting of the Red Willow County Commissioners. If approved, 10 a.m. Sept. 12 will be set to review bids for repair work on the building, which houses the Red Willow County Health Department and the Farm Service Agency...

McCOOK, Neb. — U.S. Rep. Adrian Smith says he spends a lot of time “fighting the bad stuff” in Washington, and at least one constituent has some ideas for where he could start. Angie Langan of U-Save Pharmacy explained a number of abuses of Pharmacy Benefit Management, a third-party prescription drug management system, which results in higher costs for consumers and taxpayers and hurts small independent pharmacies...

McCOOK, Neb. — Free art classes for students were offered this summer at the repurposed Barnett Building (103 Norris), now informally called Creation Station. Southwest Nebraska Arts Center (SNAC) is the name a group of students chose for their summer arts program that is wrapping up next week. ...

LAUREL, Neb. — After fire suppression efforts were successful this afternoon at the scene in the 500 block of Elm Street in Laurel, investigators have been able to examine the crime scene and now identify that gunfire is suspected to have played a part in the incidents at both homes. ...

McCOOK, Neb. — Traffic was diverted for several hours after fiery crash killed a Hitchcock County man Wednesday. Red Willow County Sheriff Alan Kotschwar said Patrick Bryan Grossman, 48, lost control of an eastbound truck on U.S. Highway 6-34 and the truck rolled and burst into flame. McCook and Red Willow Western Rural Fire Department, Nebraska State Patrol and Red Willow County sheriff’s officers responded to the scene...

Both the drive-through and county were busy for today's opening of the new Jimmy John's franchise, West 5th and B in McCook.

McCOOK, Neb. — Traffic was being diverted about three miles west of McCook on US Highways 6-34 because of a fatal single-vehicle accident, involving a rollover and fire. More information will be reported as it becomes available.

Housing is an issue in almost every community and McCook is no exception. So the McCook Economic Development Corp. is taking a proactive step to address the issue with the addition of a Housing Development Director. Amanda Engell (formerly Slattery) stepped into the newly-formed role last month, joining the team at the MEDC...

McCOOK, Neb. — The McCook City Council took no action Monday night on the request for funds for the McCook Chamber of Commerce. Although listed as an action item, the council decided to wait for the budget workshop to make the decision to use $6,000 from Ace funds for the chamber’s 2022-23 budget. The council has traditionally allocated that amount each year from Ace funds for the Chamber...

McCOOK, Neb. — Three new vehicles have been delivered to the McCook City Police Department. The black Ford Explorer SUVs were parked in front of the city’s Municipal Building Monday night, so citizens and others attending the regular City Council meeting could get an up-close view...

Scenes from the weekend’s “The Fifties in Focus” Chautauqua include: Sue Doak leads a walking tour down Norris Avenue; Becky Stone portrays civil rights pioneer Rosa Parks; Lenneal Henderson portrays Chief Justice Thurgood Marshall; visitors enjoy a Norris Avenue Farmers Market; Dr. ...

McCOOK, Neb. — Red Willow County Commissioners need to know how much property tax money will be available, and where various departments may be able to cut their requests before next year’s budget can be finalized. Property values, which are expected to increase, don’t have to be certified until Aug. 20, and the board still has to hear preliminary numbers from CPA Dan Miller, so it’s likely the budget won’t be finalized until late this month...

McCOOK, Neb. — More was revealed during a discussion Monday night at the City Council meeting about a potential new ballpark. After a presentation by Lloyd and Elizabeth Benjamin, who are offering funds and land for a ballpark with two four-plexes, soccer fields and other amenities, the council then discussed and unanimously voted to include a potential ball park project as part of a local option sales tax backed ballot question and for city staff to create the necessary documentation to include a ballpark on a ballot question.. ...

McCOOK, Neb. — Competitors from McCook, Hershey and Maywood were crowned at last weekend's Red Willow County Rodeo royalty contest. Amber Gonzales of McCook was crowned queen, Angellynn Wardyn of Hershey junior queen and Brooklynn Tidyman of Maywood junior queen...