Stories from Tuesday, July 29, 2025

Connie Gene (Eller) Miller Rooney passed away suddenly on July 5, 2025, at her home in Stratton, at the age of 71 years, 11 months, and 18 days. Born on September 8, 1953, in St. Francis, Kansas, Connie was the eldest of two children born to Gene Loyd and Eunice Marie (McGriff) Eller. ...

Karen Joyce (Gettman) Meister Lieske was born June 16, 1938 in McCook, to Reuben and Irene Gettman. Karen entered eternal rest on July 24, 2025. She graduated from McCook High School and attended Cottey College in Nevada, Missouri. On September 6, 1958, she married Ronald Paul Meister at St. Patrick Catholic Church in McCook. They had four children...

Linda L. Thurman was born July 21, 1953, in Hot Springs, South Dakota to C. Robert and Dorothy Todd. She went to glory on Tuesday July 22nd surrounded by her family. She was preceded in death by her father, C. Robert Todd, Her son, Todd Grimm, Kim Jamison and beloved sister-in-law, Jayne Todd...

Jeani L. Davenport, age 65, passed away on July 23, 2025 at her home in McCook. Born on March 12, 1960 to James C. and Sherry L. (Hircock) Davenport in North Platte, Jeani was the second of nine children. Jeani attended school in Arnold, where she played the clarinet, was part of the team that won the state FFA Range Judging Competition, and graduated in 1978. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Agnes Catholic Church, where she was a member...

Colton Glenn Ketterl, 23, passed away on July 19, 2025, in Traer, Kansas. Colton was born on August 13, 2001, to Jay and Annetta (Andis) Ketterl in McCook. Colton was raised in Traer Kansas and graduated from Decatur Community High School in 2020. After high school, Colton went to Kansas State University for a year and studied agriculture. After school he resided back home with his parents to continue farming and raising cattle...

Gary Lee Guinn was born May 12, 1935, in Oberlin, Kansas to Bruce and Dorothea (Bowser) Guinn, the third of four sons. He lived on the family farm southeast of Oberlin, moving into town in second grade. He attended Oberlin City School and graduated from Decatur Community High School in 1953. ...

Crystal Dawn Ward, mother, wife, grandmother, and friend, passed away peacefully at Hillcrest Nursing home in McCook, on May 19, 2025, at the age of 88. Crystal was born to William W. and Darlene D. (Rains) Carroll on August 1, 1936, in Castana, IA. ...

Charles Richard Druse Sr., born to Alice Lucille Ross on February 21, 1937, at St. Joseph Hospital in Omaha. He passed away on Sunday, July 27, 2025 at the age of 88. He lived in St. Thomas Orphanage in Lincoln, until the age of 4 when he was adopted by Charles M. Druse Jr. and Hazel J. (Banwell) of Cambridge and graduated from Cambridge Public Schools in 1955, where he was on the Class C State Champion football team earning Allstate honors his senior year...

Dennis and Kem McConville of Bartley, will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary this year. The couple was married on August 1, 1975, at St. Catherine’s Church in Indianola, Nebraska. The McConvilles are the parents of three children: Dannette and her husband Jason Kloepping of Bartley; Dustin McConville of Hemingford; and Derek and his wife Paige McConville of Lexington. They have been blessed with seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren...

BOULDER, Colo. (AP) — University of Colorado football coach Deion Sanders announced Monday that he underwent surgery to remove his bladder after doctors discovered a tumor there. Sanders said that since the surgery there have been no traces of cancer, and that he will continue to coach this season...

McCOOK, Neb. — Weiland Field’s all warmed up for the McCook-Beatrice season opener on Aug. 30 after another tremendous MFL season in 2025. The boys kicked off with an epic triple-overtime, delivered eight scoring plays of at least 59 yards and even a Cowboys winning record...

Thirty-three McCook Community College student-athletes have been recognized by the National Junior College Athletic Association for their efforts in the classroom. They were selected for one of three 2024-25 NJCAA All-Academic teams. Also, 47 MCC student-athletes were named to the 2024-2025Academic All-Region IX men’s and women’s teams...

McCOOK, Neb. - A vocal group of eight Red Willow County residents have made it clear that they do not want the county to become a member of the West Central Development Nebraska District (WCNDD). Why? County residents have seen McCook’s nuisance abatement program, as implemented by WCNDD, and they don’t like it...

McCOOK, Neb. — Running elections isn’t for the faint of heart—especially when the ballots all travel by mail. As glitches go, however, the McCook School Bond election has seen the kind of manageable hiccups that test, and ultimately affirm, the safeguards in place...

Following concerns raised by community members and oversight from the Hitchcock County Board of Commissioners, the Planning Commission will hold a new meeting on Friday, Aug. 1, at 3 p.m. The move comes after procedural irregularities surfaced during the July 23 hearing for a conditional use permit filed by Shane Rippen...

The TV weatherman predicted 104, my car thinks 107, but the “official” aviation weather at McCook Airport sez 106 degrees Fahrenheit. So it is hot out, but you already knew that! Ah, but we chose to live here in Nebraska, so there should be no complaining...

In late June, the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) released a report titled “De-Skilling the Knowledge Economy,” authored by Brent Orrell, a senior fellow specializing in workforce development and job training. The report offers a sobering view of how artificial intelligence is reshaping employment in the United States, particularly in the professional and service sectors that form the backbone of the modern economy. ...