Stories from Tuesday, April 29, 2025

Obituary Donald Ray Harrier July 3, 1932 - March 24, 2025 OBERLIN, Kan. - Donald Ray Harrier “Doc” was born near Ingalls, Kan. on July 3, 1932 to John and Martha (Imel) Harrier. He grew up in Cimarron, Kan. graduating in 1950. Shortly after graduation, he joined the United States Air Force where he served in the Security Command reaching the rank of staff sergeant during the Korean War. ...

Obituary Christopher Lance Fidler Nov. 8, 1953 - April 20, 2025 IMPERIAL, Neb. - Christopher Lance Fidler, 71, of Imperial, Neb., passed away Sunday, April 20, 2025 at Great Plains Health in North Platte, Neb. Born Nov. 8, 1953 in McCook, Neb., Chris was the son of the late C.V. “Babe” and Helen (Cappel) Fidler. He was also preceded in death by his brother, Keith Fidler, sister-in-Law, Virginia Fidler (Flynn) and infant brother, Randy...

Obituary Carol Poese Sept. 3, 1939 - April 25, 2025 O’NEILL, Neb. - A Celebration of Life for Carol Poese, age 85, of Elkhorn and formerly of O’Neill will be at 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 3, 2025 at Biglin’s Mortuary in O’Neill. There will be a family burial in the O’Neill Cemetery. Memorial Visitation will be from 10 a.m.- noon at Biglin’s Mortuary on Saturday, May 3, 2025...

KEARNEY, Neb. - Giving up her childhood dreams of becoming a “pirate-haircut-mommy” Jenna Ebbers, originally from Cambridge, Neb., has earned the 2025 Outstanding Young Nebraska Journalist Award from the Nebraska Press Association. The award was presented to Ebbers Saturday afternoon at the organization’s annual convention held in Kearney, Neb...

Mika Lentz, left, the new administrator at Highland Park Retirement Community, joins staff and board members at the McCook Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting ceremony Monday at Highland Park. According to Lentz, major upgrades have taken place at the retirement facility, including renovations of the living room, kitchen and several rooms. ...

McCOOK, Neb. - A Registered Nurse at the McCook Clinic, Andrea Burmaster, is anticipating what the resumption of student loan repayments will mean for her in the coming weeks.  The Trump administration recently announced that, after a nearly five-year pause, repayments must resume. ...

McCOOK, Neb. - On a 3-0 vote, Red Willow County commissioners accepted the “voluntary resignation” of former commissioner and 47-year county employee Earl McNutt at Monday morning’s regular board meeting. With numerous supporters in attendance, the board reached the agenda item titled “discuss and act on potential termination of District three Foreman” and immediately went into executive session. ...

McCook Gazette intern Maryann Kassner accepts a scholarship from the Nebraska Press Association Foundation during the annual NPA conference April 26, 2025. The award, presented “in recognition of academic achievement and dedication to journalistic excellence,” honors Kassner’s accomplishments as a senior at McCook High School. She plans to attend the University of Nebraska at Kearney, where she will major in mass communication...

Dear Editor, We would like to congratulate the Bison Men’s Swimming Medley Relay Team, sorry we’re a little late, for breaking our 1978 record. Gotta say, It’s about time! We are very proud of our swimming careers in McCook, and now yours, and all of the past swimmers who dedicated so much time and effort to the sport. ...

The Boss Lift went off without a hitch. Many of you asked about the helicopters flying low (legal altitudes) over McCook and circling around over the Lake and countryside. Yes, it was the Nebraska Army Guard giving rides, in their UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter, to deserving area residents who make accommodations to care for their employees who serve in the Guard...

The principle of term limits is a sound one. In the U.S. Congress, where too many seats are held by creatures of the Paleolithic era, the idea of rotating new blood into elected office is overdue. Some lawmakers seem determined to age in place rather than yield to the next generation of public servants. In that context, extending term limits would be the wrong direction...

McCOOK, Neb. — McCook freshman Blake Willis unleashed another career-best triple jump and his title led the Bison boys at their JV track-field invite Monday afternoon. McCook took second to only Gothenburg among 13 teams while Hitchcock County edged Chase County, 64.5-60, for third place overall...

McCOOK, Neb. — McCook High won three events but Chase County took four to win Monday’s McCook JV Track-Field Invitational. Freshman Paige OWens swept the hurdling titles while two Longhorn relays also captured first place. It was enough to overcome the Bison champion triumvirate of senior Leni Henderson (pole vault), junior Cali Crawford (800 meters) and freshman Alice Weimer (shot put)...

Obituary Richard (Dick) Confer Sept. 2, 1935 - March 31, 2025 LINCOLN, Neb. - Richard (Dick) Confer passed away March 31, 2025. Dick was born Sept. 2, 1935 to Claude Welcome Confer and Esther Charlotte (Brown) Confer. He attended school in Trenton, Neb. After graduation, he attended McCook Community College where he was active in wrestling and football...