Stories from Tuesday, June 10, 2025

McCOOK, Neb. – The 36th Annual Community Hospital Pro-Am at Heritage Hills concluded with remarkable participation and outstanding performances. With 27 teams nearly filling the 28 slots and 23 professional golfers, the event was one of the largest Pro-Ams in the past 20 years...

Wauneta Michelle “Shelly” Richardson July 8, 1964 - June 6, 2025 STRATTON, Neb. — Our loving wife, mother, sister, grandmother, aunt, niece, cousin and friend, Shelly, left us on June 6, 2025. Wauneta Michelle “Shelly” Richardson was born July 8, 1964 in Stratton to Robert LeRoy Turpin and Geraldine Gay (McEvoy) Turpin. Shelly, as she preferred to be called, had three siblings, Robert Francis, Tonya Sue and her so-called “spoiled” little brother, Vincent Norris...

April Lynn Ryan April 11, 1979 - June 8, 2025 CAMBRIDGE, Neb. — April Lynn Ryan was born on April 11, 1979 in Omaha, Neb., to George Roy, Sr. and Melony Sue (Hefti) Friend. She attended school in Bartley and graduated from Bartley High School in 1998...

Alejandro C. Martinez, Jr. Dec. 23, 1977 - May 9, 2025 McCOOK, Neb. — Alejandro Martinez, Jr. was born to Alejandro and Lucielle (Matson) Martinez on Dec. 23, 1977 in Benkelman, Neb. Alejandro was employed at the Chief Restaurant in McCook as well as Sears and most recently Taco John’s, also in McCook. ...

Clyde (Spike) Elmer Bell, Jr. Oct. 2, 1951 - May 28, 2025 WINTER SPRINGS, Fla. — Clyde Elmer Bell, Jr. (Spike) passed away on May 28, 2025.  Spike was born in Stratton, Neb., to Pete and Violet Bell in 1951. Spike lived and went to school in Culbertson where he was active in sports, playing both football and basketball throughout high school.  Spike graduated from Culbertson High School in 1969 and was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1971. ...

60th anniversary The family of Howard and Janet Kool of McCook is requesting a card shower in honor of the couple’s 60th wedding anniversary on June 12, 2025. They were married June 12,1965 in Oskaloosa, Iowa. Their family includes children, Annette and Chris Wagner, Mark and Shastyn Kool, five grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren and one on the way. Cards of congratulations will reach them at 903 West Q Street, McCook, NE 69001...

60th anniversary Please join us in celebrating the 60th wedding anniversary of Jack and Virginia Clark of McCook on Saturday, June 21, 2-4 p.m. at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church, 519 West 1st Street in McCook. Jack and Virginia were married at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church on June 5, 1965. ...

DURHAM, N.C. (AP) -- Luke Mistone hit a go-ahead homer in the eighth inning, Graham Kelham was solid in another long relief appearance and Murray State beat Duke 5-4 on Monday night in a winner-take-all championship game at the Durham Super Regional to advance to the program’s first Men’s College World Series...

MINDEN, Neb. — McCook High grads Jon Patel, Paige Bortner and Brooklynn Gillen are set to play in the New West All-Star Classic basketball games on Thursday. The starts at 4 p.m. with RPAC All-Stars taking on Fort Kearny Conference’s best. The Southwest Conference then plays Lou-Platte Conference...

Chase County’s Olivia Spady hits for the West against the block attempts of Broken Bow’s Addison Ellis, left, and Elm Creek’s Halle Knapp for their East team during Saturday’s West Nebraska All-Star volleyball game at the Cougar Palace on the Western Nebraska Community College campus...

McCOOK, Neb. — Just a reminder Thursday is the final deadline for Saturday’s McCook YMCA Summer Slam Adult Disc Golf Tourmament at Kelly Park. Registration fees are $30 per person for both YMCA and community members. Divisions include Mixed Pro Open, Mixed Amateur 1, Mixed Amateur 2, and Mixed Junior 15. This will be a two-round, singles tournament, beginning with a shotgun start...

Three McCook Community College softball players have been selected to the 2025 National Junior College Athletic Association Division 1 All-America team. Sophomore Laila Gutierrez was named second-team All-American while freshmen Payton Kinsley and Paige Warren were picked for the third team...

McCOOK, Neb. – The increasing cost of 911 services was the focus of discussion at Monday’s meeting of the Red Willow County Commissioners. McCook Police Chief Kevin Hodgson, accompanied by City Manager Nate Schneider and support staff, addressed the board regarding the use of the city’s dispatch staff and facilities. Hodgson began the conversation saying, ”We are looking at the fairest way to come up with a dollar amount for dispatching services.”...

Republican Valley RV Service and Repair were welcomed Friday as new McCook Chamber of Commerce members. Owned by William (Bill) and Angela Watts, the shop will take care of just about anything on an RV, other than engines, transmissions and generators...

If at first we don’t succeed, we try again. That’s the example set at Monday night’s meeting of the McCook School Board when members voted unanimously to launch a second bond campaign funding major school construction and remodeling. Board member Charlie McPherson made a motion to approve and adopt a resolution calling for a special election on August 12, 2025. ...

McCOOK, Neb. — The City of McCook has announced a temporary water service interruption and full road closure along a portion of West 5th Street as part of an ongoing infrastructure improvement project. Contracted crews from Van Kirk Brothers are working on upgrades to the water main and related services on West 5th Street, between West J Street and West L Street. The project is expected to continue until completion, with no specific end date announced...

McCOOK, Neb. - The City of McCook and the Nebraska State Patrol are warning about a scam that has targeted numerous Nebraskans today. The scam involves a text message purportedly from the Nebraska DMV claiming that the recipient has unpaid traffic fines and that several penalties are possible unless the recipient clicks a link to pay the supposed fines...

Yes, it’s coming this weekend. Our McCook community’s storytelling festival. Promises of a good time for all, plus learning a bit (more?) about our local history, the exceptional people who once lived here and made our city, and nation, what we know exists today. There will be entertainment, education and food, so what will be your excuse for not participating?...

Now that we’ve entered the third quarter of 2025, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has finally released its snapshot of the national labor market from the end of last year. It feels like ancient history, but that’s how these things work. From December 2023 to December 2024, employment rose in 256 of the nation’s 369 largest counties, part of a broader trend that saw national employment tick upward by 0.8% to 156.2 million. ...

Lorraine Hannah STRATTON, Neb. — Lorraine Hannah, of Stratton, passed away on June 10, 2025 at her rural home south of Stratton. She was 95 years of age. Cremation was chosen and services are pending at this time. Online condolences may be left at herrmannfh.com. Arrangements have been entrusted to Herrmann-Jones Funeral Chapel of McCook...