Stories from Tuesday, August 26, 2025

McCook’s projected varsity football starters when the Bison kick off their season Friday night at Weiland Field with Beatrice arriving for this 7 p.m. opener. 2025 McCOOK BISON Game captains: Tristan Campbell, Gabe Roberts, Trey Tiller and Simon Garcia...

McCOOK, Neb. — The YMCA of McCook Capital Improvement Project is in full swing as construction continues in the aquatic center and on the new gym/lobby addition. The next phase of the project is scheduled to begin in September, which means work will begin in the Weight Room, Multi-purpose Room, and Group Fitness Classroom...

Virginia Ross Zobel, known as Ginny was born at the family farm north of Culbertson on January 18, 1935. She died peacefully with her husband by her side at her home in Minnetonka, Minnesota on October 25, 2024, three months shy of her 90th birthday...

Rick Loshbaugh, of Irvine, California, passed away peacefully on July 8, 2025, at the age of 78. Rick was born on February 21, 1947, to Howard and Opal Loshbaugh in Brush, Colorado, and grew up in McCook. After graduating from McCook High School, he earned a full scholarship at the University of Nebraska through the Navy ROTC. He graduated from the University of Nebraska in 1969 with a degree in economics and entered the United States Navy...

Bernard Wayne Christner (Bernie) of Rapid City, SD, (formerly Sioux Falls) was welcomed by his Lord and Savior on August 17, 2025, at the age of 91. A prayer service will be held Wednesday, August 20, 2025 at 6:30 PM at Kirk Funeral Home, 1051 E Minnesota Ave., Rapid City, 57701. The family will be present for visitation from 5:00 to 6:30 PM...

Dennis K. Kofler, age 84, passed away in McCook, at the Community Hospital on Friday, August 15, 2025. Dennis was born November 4, 1940, to Henry James and Dorothea J. (Wendorf) Kofler in Milwaukee, WI. He attended school in Milwaukee, WI and graduated high school in Racine, WI...

Shirley May (Hatcher) Nelms passed away peacefully on August 21, 2025, at Hillcrest Nursing Home. Shirley was the third born daughter to Paul and May (Morosic) Hatcher on December 17, 1934, on the family farm near Indianola. She grew up simple and loved everything about the country life. ...

Robert (Bob) L. Waltemath, age 77, of McCook, Nebraska, passed away on August 21, 2025. He was born March 9, 1948, in McCook to Walter and Jennielee Waltemath. Bob grew up in Moorefield, Nebraska, and graduated from the University of Nebraska School of Agriculture in Curtis before earning his bachelor’s degree from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln...

Angie Garcia, age 78, Passed away August 21, 2025, at McCook Community Hospital in McCook, Nebraska. Angie was born on January 24, 1947, at Doctor White’s Maternity Hospital in Corpus Christi, Texas. She was born to Guadalupe and Josephine Ramos. In 1966 she married the late Jorge C. Garcia, and to this union three children were born Tammy, George, and Rachel...

McCOOK, Neb. - In early August, Senior Vice President and Omaha Branch Executive Nate Kauffman gained firsthand perspective into Southwest Nebraska’s economy. During a two-day visit to McCook, he interacted with business leaders and residents to learn about local economic conditions and concerns...

McCOOK, Neb. – “I need money for vaccines and labs” was the plea from Red Willow County Health Department Director Brandy Bird at Monday’s meeting of the Red Willow County Commissioners. Flanked by health department staff, Bird outlined the increases in vaccines and other costs at the agency that required additional funds in the 2025/2026 budget...

McCOOK, Neb. - A McCook Junior High School teacher has pleaded not guilty to a charge of contributing to the delinquency of a child. Court records identify the defendant as Deon J. Allen, listed on the McCook Schools’ website as an eighth-grade social studies teacher. ...

McCOOK, Neb. - Wagner Ford marked a significant milestone earlier this month when representatives from Ford Motor Company visited the dealership to recognize 25 years of partnership and service. The event highlighted a relationship that began with a handshake in January 2000 and has since grown into what company officials described as a collaboration rooted in trust, innovation and community. ...

This past week, in broad daylight, I observed an attractive young lady walking alone on the sidewalk of East J Street and then turning the corner to walk south of East 11th Street. Not an unusual sight in McCook, the future home of the “new” Ice detention center here in the middle of our nation. ...

Twice in the past week, I have been asked if I had ever heard of the “Weekly Reader.” I have, and I am a fan. The following is an abridged version of a column written for the Gazette in January of 2024. I don’t recall what I was looking for when I stumbled across a unique find on eBay last week, but it didn’t take long to hit the “buy now” button. A few shipping days later, a used copy of “Weekly Reader: 60 Years of News for Kids 1928-1988” was mine...

McCOOK, Neb. — Here’s how the annual Red-White McCook Bison tennis instrasquad matches finished on their home courts Friday afternoon. SINGLES Aaron Frank over Trev Wiemers, 6-3 Caleb Sughroue over Tysen Baker, 6-4 Cruz McCarty over Hudson Werkmeister, 6-3...

MILFORD, Neb. — McCook High’s softball girls were within one run of host Milford, but fell 4-3 and finished 0-3 in Saturday’s Milford Invitational. The Bison roared in following a huge 14-1 opening victory over Gothenburg Thursday evening. Yet the momentum didn’t quite last for a young team featuring nine new starters for coach Easton Gillen...

McCOOK, Neb. — Eleven volleyball teams from Kansas, Colorado, Iowa, Nebraska and Texas will be in McCook starting Thursday for the McCook Community College Labor Day Weekend Tournament. The tournament kicks off Thursday when MCC (0-3) hosts seventh ranked Indian Hills Community College at 6 p.m. in the Peter and Dolores Graff Events Center...

McCOOK, Neb. — Some remarks from coach Joe Vetrovsky about McCook Bison returning starters with more in the Fall Sports section set for Thursday. Senior center/ D-End Trey Tiller “He plays through the whistle in regards to finishing blocks. A great kid with a solid work ethic. He is a definite leader for our football team.”...