Stories from Thursday, October 16, 2025

McCOOK, Neb. — Last week’s identical 42-0 blitzings show just how tight the annual McCook vs. Scottsbluff football skirmish could become Friday night. The teams collide at 7 p.m. on Weiland Field and it’s no surprise: A Class B district title is on the line along with most likely home for that first-round state playoff game in two weeks...

McCOOK, Neb. — Coach David Peterman provided high praise and plenty of details about McCook Junior High’s superb seventh-grade volleyball team that just finished its 2025 season. “This group was awesome to coach; they were coachable, hardworking, and always eager to learn even when I switched up positions on them....

McCOOK, Neb. - A group of McCook residents and former state senator DiAnna Schimek filed a lawsuit Wednesday in Red Willow County District Court to block Governor Jim Pillen’s plan to repurpose Nebraska’s Work Ethic Camp as an immigration detention facility. ...

McCOOK, Neb. - The plan to convert the Work Ethic Camp in McCook, Nebraska into a federal immigration detention center originated well before it became public in August 2025. Internal planning documents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, last updated July 30, outlined a national strategy to double detention capacity by year’s end. The plan identified existing state and local correctional sites as candidates for rapid expansion...

TRENTON, Neb. - In a follow-up meeting held Thursday, October 9, the Hitchcock County Board of Commissioners revisited their unanimous decision to disapprove the Conditional Use Permit filed by Shane Rippen for a proposed feedlot north of Culbertson...

I pulled up in front of the small one-story building in downtown McCook, reaching for the bag of assorted shoes on my passenger seat. I had planned to just put the worn shoes into the night deposit slot, but the building owner waived me in as he switched the sign in the window from “open” to “closed.”...

I was contacted last night by one of our specialists at Community Hospital, concerned about the future of Essential Air Service in McCook. The short answer is that while the rest of the air transportation system will keep running during the government shutdown, EAS could run out of money in early November...

MAYWOOD, Neb. — Maywood-Hayes Center hosted the Sutherland Sailors in Hayes Center on Tuesday night. It was the Wolves who took the 3-0 sweep over the Sailors. Unofficially, for Maywood-Hayes Center, Addison Richards had eight kills, Karissa Stengel had seven kills, Blayklee Farr had seven kills, Haylie Gustafson had six kills, Jullian Johnson had three kills, and Grace Loomis had three kills...

LINCOLN, Neb. —Another stellar McCook boys tennis season featured just two gaining state seeds entering the Class B tournament Monday and Tuesday. Seniors Tysen Baker and Caleb Sughroue are eighth seed for the No. 1 doubles bracket at Lincoln’s Woods Tennis Center...

Lynn Biltoft, 52, passed away unexpectedly from a heart attack, leaving behind a lifetime of laughter, love, and unforgettable memories. His sudden departure has left a deep void in the lives of those who knew and loved him. A celebration of Lynn’s life will be held Wednesday, October 15th at 1 p.m. at First United Methodist Church in Columbus. In honor of his memory, the family encourages everyone to wear their favorite Hawaiian shirt, just as he would’ve wanted...

Sharon Rose (Dowling) Felker passed away on Tuesday, October 14, 2025. She was born in McCook, NE on March 17, 1940, to Russell Lyle and Fern Glee (Cassell) Dowling. She attended the McCook Public Schools, graduating from McCook Senior High School in 1958. She attended Doane College in Crete, NE...