Stories from Tuesday, December 9, 2025

McCOOK, Neb. - The renewal of the contract for Carol Schlegel as Red Willow County Tourism Director has been rejected on a 3-0 vote. That was one of many developments at Monday’s meeting of the Red Willow Board of Commissioners. Earlier in the morning, Charlie McPherson, Executive Director of the McCook Economic Development Corporation and Director of Housing Development, Amanda Engell addressed the board during the citizens’ comments opportunity. ...

McCOOK, Neb. - The McCook School Board met Monday evening to review student achievements, safety updates, financial matters, and upcoming opportunities for staff and students. Highlights included a collaborative art project, strong academic ratings, and approval of a summer science trip...

CULBERTSON, Neb. - Culbertson and Trenton firefighters responded to a major blaze early Sunday morning after a backyard shed fire spread to a nearby garage and ignited a propane tank, sending flames 30 feet into the air. The fire was paged out at 4:19 a.m. ...

I was pleased to see that McCook’s Christmas Light Parade drew a robust crowd Saturday evening. It’s a welcomed confirmation that the event has become a permanent fixture on the community calendar and a must-do for families with young children. It is easy to assume that was always the case, granted, but the celebration’s success didn’t happen overnight, and its continuation was never inevitable...

Oh, but Nebraska got lucky when Nebraska native Tim Walz moved to Minnesota. Yes, it was an honorable move when he relocated to his wife’s home state. Born and raised in Nebraska, West Point and later in the Alliance area, he graduated from Chadron State University...

Timothy Wayne Teel, 72, of Maywood, Nebraska, passed away on December 5, 2025 after a brief battle with stomach cancer. Born in McCook, Nebraska on October 7, 1953, to parents Oral (Bud) and Delma (Hoschouer) Teel, the third of five children, Tim spent most of his life tending the family farm that he grew up on north of McCook...

Jewell Lee (Judy) Bair passed away at the age of 86 on December 4, 2025, at Hillcrest Nursing Home in McCook, Nebraska. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend. Judy was born in Independence, Missouri on March 11, 1939, to parents Robert and Berneice (Rice) Maxon. She graduated with the class of 1957 from William Chrisman High School...

Audrey Ann Larson was born in Palisade, Nebraska, on October 3, 1930. The beloved daughter of Lonnie and Bessie and younger sister to Victor, Audrey grew up swimming, playing baseball, and spending as much time as possible outdoors. After graduating from Palisade High School in 1948, she moved to McCook, Nebraska, where she worked at Brooks Studio. ...

Peggy Anne Poore, age 93 formerly of McCook, NE passed away Monday December 8, 2025, in Omaha. Visitation will be held Friday, December 19, 2025, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. with family greeting friends at Carpenter Breland Funeral Home in McCook. Funeral services will be held Saturday, December 20, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. at Peace Lutheran Church in McCook with Pastor Lonnie Felcher, officiating. Burial will follow in the Memorial Park Cemetery in McCook...

BARTLEY, Neb. — All results from the McCook Bison placers at Friday’s Southwest Invitational. 125B pounds: Eden McPherson (4-0) won the championship. She pinned C. Lippert, Ogallala, in 1:25; G. Garcia, Wray, in :22; Julea Moore, H-Line, in :55; A. Woff, Sedgwick County-Fleming in :45...

IMPERIAL, Neb. — Senior Saraie Barber made her first varsity basketball shot Friday night, but McCook’s two-for-21 three-point shooting doomed a 34-32 loss at Chase County Friday night. “We beat Chase County in about every category except, unfortunately, shooting,” Bison coach Amy Scheil said about the girls’ varsity season debut. “Defensively, we hustled well and rebounded the ball well.”...

ATWOOD, Kan. — Sophomore Camden Franklin’s 19 points needed more help from Rawlins County teammates as the Decatur Community-Oberlin girls scored a 55-35 win Saturday evening. Senior Kayte Shively mixed in nine points and junior Josie Ginter did collect 11 rebounds...

COZAD, Neb. — McCook senior Gabe Roberts did not allow a single point in four consecutive matches while senior Tristan Campbell and sophomore John White both won Cozad Invite titles on Saturday. Roberts placed third overall after a 10-6 opening defeat. He steamrolled through foes from Alliance, 5-0; Hastings 6-0, Plattsmouth and Gothenburg for a strong finish to his 190-pound effort after reaching state last winter...