Stories from Thursday, October 23, 2025

McCOOK, Neb. — Make no mistake, the Cambridge volleyball girls saw that towering challenge or two or three blocking their plans to win an RPAC tourney title Tuesday night. “They are very intimidating,” Trojans senior Mallory Springer about Dundy County-Stratton sophomore Abi Spargo, senior Clara Spargo and junior Emily Schack...

LEXINGTON, Neb. — McCook will need to move a lot of Lexington “beef” while regaining the right directon in Friday’s football regular-season finale. The 2-6 Minutemen feature a front line with 280-pound center Trevan Berry, 255-pound sophomore Manny Garcia, 250-pound junior Drew Reynolds and 245-pound senior Edgar Ayala...

TRENTON, Neb. - Clear, healthy vision is essential for student success in school and beyond. Yet for many local children, access to eye care remains out of reach. To help close that gap, VSP® Eyes of Hope® has partnered with the Nebraska Optometric Association, the Nebraska Foundation for Children’s Vision, and the Nebraska Department of Education to offer free eye care to students in need during Children’s Vision Month this October. ...

McCOOK, Neb. - For our October Coffee Talk, the Gazette spoke with Lisa Felker and Ronda Graff of the Southwest Nebraska Big Give. The Nov. 6 event will be a 24-hour giving campaign designed to rally support for local 501(c)(3) nonprofits in McCook and southwest Nebraska. During the event, donors choose the organizations they wish to support and can give online or in person at designated “giving stations,” while matching funds are made available to increase the impact of every dollar...

McCOOK, Neb. - Last week, a lawsuit was filed by former State Senator DiAnna Schimek and 13 McCook residents against Governor Jim Pillen and the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services Director Rob Jeffreys. The Gazette reached out to the Nebraska 13 for details and was referred to Robert McEwan of Nebraska Appleseed to address inquiries...

One word has been repeated over and over recently in McCook and Southwest Nebraska and even across the state: sad. It is not very often that a singular event can bring people to the same emotion, but sadness is what many have felt with the closing of the last hometown bakery in McCook this week...

This just keeps getting more interesting, doesn’t it? At the annual Pete Ricketts “Steak Fry” north of Fremont on Sunday, Gov. Pillen casually dropped the news that he’ll hold an opening ceremony at the former Work Ethic Camp on Friday. That was news to us, and naturally, the governor’s communications staff can’t comment on it. They are, after all, the governor’s communications staff — under no particular obligation to communicate...

OGALLALA, Neb. — Chase County’s girls were champions of the C-5 district cross country race last week with varsity runners advancing to state at Kearney Country Club on Friday. A quick rundown of the results for both Chase teams running Crandal Creek Golf Course as they were not included in the Gazette...

McCOOK, Neb. — All the noses, knees, shoulders and Southwest’s momentum were pointed in the right direct following a sweet 3-0 RPAC tournament win over tough Maywood-Hayes Center Thursday evening. The Roughriders (25-5 record) secured third place among 12 league teams with their 25-20, 25-23, 25-19 triumph...

All the latest standings and results from Men’s Bowling league at TJ’s Family Fun Center in McCook. Men’s Major Rednecks 183-87 Lickity Splitz 169-101 Kingpins 165-104 Hayes Const. 140.5-128.5 Chipperfield Ag 133-134...

GOTHENBURG, Neb. — Junior Cali Crawford splattered 16 kills with only two errors yet McCook dropped a tight Southwest Confernce tourney final to Broken Bow on Tuesday. The Bison (15-14 overall) lost 25-19 but then won 25-26 before those Indians escaped 25-23...