Stories from Tuesday, June 24, 2025

McCOOK, Neb. — McCook Summer Swim Team hosted its first meet since 2022 on Saturday and the first meet in the new pool as part of the 2025 Plains Tsunami Swim League. In addition to 30 McCook swimmers, teams at Saturday’s meet included Frontier County, Perkins County, and Imperial, as well as Holyoke and Sterling, both in Colorado...

Winners of the Father’s Day Huck Finn Fishing Derby sponsored by the McCook Lion’s Club are, left to right, Roman Lytle, Kaylee Lytle, Bryer Ruppert, Levil Bird, Brehyn Ruppert, Syndia Bird and Evalyin Huffman. Not pictured, Rowan Bird.

McCOOK, Neb.— The Community Hospital Health Foundation is pleased to announce a $100,000 grant toward the purchase of the AlignRT system for the Anderson Center for Radiation Oncology. This state-of-the-art technology enhances cancer treatment precision, improving the quality of radiation oncology care. The system was installed in January and is now in use...

McCOOK, Neb. - Red Willow County will continue to support Southwest Area Training Service, the Family Resource Center and the McCook Humane Society. The Red Willow County Board of Commissioners met Monday morning for a regularly scheduled session. Commissioners opened the meeting by approving the agenda and reviewing accounts payable and payroll claims. While reviewing upcoming tax protests, the board agreed to meet each Monday in July and return to the semimonthly schedule in August...

An older, longtime Democrat friend asked, “Can you think of a time when the U.S. committed an act of war against someone who hadn’t struck us first?” It was at breakfast just after our successful B-2 plus strike against the nuclear facilities of Iran. I stammered a bit and suggested the start of our Civil War when the North went against the Southern Confederate forces. Somehow, that really doesn’t count because that is in the country, and my friend had a more worldwide view...

Last year, we warned on these pages that proposed federal staffing mandates for nursing homes would deepen workforce shortages, force facility closures, and reduce access to care—especially in under-resourced states like Nebraska. That warning has now become vindication. A federal court has vacated the rule, and state officials—including Governor Jim Pillen and Attorney General Mike Hilgers—are right to celebrate the decision...

McCOOK, Neb. — Broken Bow kept throwing curve balls and Kooper Rakes happily crushed one over the left-field fence to give McCook’s First Central Bank Juniors a 7-5 victory Saturday afternoon. The Juniors (14-6 record) salvaged a doubleheader split and more details appear from gamechanger.com...

McCOOK, Neb. — The glorious return of Wild West All-Star Volleyball on Sunday featured many winning shots with perhaps that best truly saved for last. Cambridge grad Erin Johnson had played through a major knee injury last fall and never stopped while helping her Trojans reach the Class D-1 state volleyball tournament...

McCOOK, Neb. — The Ed Thomas YMCA of McCook announce they’ve partnered with Bison Boys Basketball to offer a two day skills camp. This two-day camp will be July 31-Aug. 1nd offered to boys and girls entering the 1st - 8th grade in the 2025-2026 school year...

McCOOK, Neb. — The McCook Community College annual alumni/community golf tournament is set for July 12 at Heritage Hills Golf Course in McCook. Alumni are encouraged to gather friends and/or former classmates or teammates but you don’t have to be an MCC graduate to participate in this four-person scramble...

KEARNEY, Neb. - Terry Michael Hotchkiss passed away May 27, 2025 at CHI Health Good Samaritan in Kearney, Nebraska. Mike was born April 7, 1966 in Grand Island, Nebraska. Memorial services for Mike are scheduled for June 28, 2025 at 2 PM at the Cambridge High School with Jim Jones officiating. A Celebration of Life for friends and family will be held after the memorial service at the Cambridge Community Building...

BRIDGEPORT, Neb. - Kathleen Irene (Haag) Miller, 80, of Bridgeport, Neb. passed away Saturday, April 26, 2025, at the Morrill County Hospital in Bridgeport. Kay will be laid to rest on Friday, June 27, 2025 at 2:00 PM in the St. Catherine Catholic Cemetery in Indianola, Nebraska...

April 4, 1937 – June 4, 2025 WESTMINSTER, Calif. -Fay Marie Uerling passed away in Westminster, California, on June 4, 2025. Born to Tony and Fay (McCool) Malleck, Fay grew up just south of Indianola, Nebraska. She graduated from Indianola High School in 1955 and married Harry F. Uerling, that same year in St. Catherine’s Catholic Church in Indianola...

Dec. 26, 1932 -June 19, 2025 COLUMBIA, Mo. - Viola Nellie (Ruppert) Greenlee, age 92 of Columbia, MO, passed away on Thursday, June 19, 2025. Vi (as she was known by many) was born December 26, 1932 in Quick, Nebraska to Clifford and Nellie (Boson) Ruppert. ...

Jan. 11, 1944 - June 21, 2025 TRENTON, Neb. - Darlene Ann (Linenberger) Leahy, 81, of Trenton, passed away at her home in Trenton on Saturday morning, June 21, 2025. A Rosary will be recited at St. James Catholic Church in Trenton on Sunday evening, June 29, 2025, beginning at 7:00 PM. Visitation will begin an hour prior to the Rosary, at 6:00 PM at the church...

LINCOLN, NE – Today, Governor Jim Pillen announced the resignation of K.C. Belitz, director of the Department of Economic Development (DED). His final day with the state is July 18. Belitz, appointed to oversee the agency in July 2023, led the implementation of several new initiatives like Read Nebraska, 6 Regions, One Nebraska and the Governor’s New Venture Competition. ...

June 14, 1965 - June 16, 2025 BENKELMAN, Neb. - Christine Kay Barenberg was born to Walter Stephen and Sharon Ann (Maranville) Barenberg on June 14, 1965, in Benkelman, NE and passed away peacefully on June 16, 2025, in her home, in Benkelman, NE. She was 60 years old...

The family of Norma Crocker of Kearney, Neb. (formerly from McCook, Neb.) is requesting a card shower in honor of her 90th birthday on Tuesday, July 15, 2025 Norma was born in McCook, Neb. on July 15, 1935 and lived in McCook for 83 years. Norma’s family includes four daughters: Cathy and Dan Winder of Kearney, Neb.; Barbara and Chuck Henwood of North Richland Hills, Tex.; Lisa Horsley of Kearney; and Karen Wilhelm of Lincoln, Neb. She has 11 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren...