Stories from Thursday, December 11, 2025

McCOOK, Neb. - Horses might dream of lazy days grazing in the pasture, but the team at Dusty Trails, LLC of North Platte gives them another kind of joy — spreading Christmas cheer. Christmas fans were blessed by three of the ranch’s horse-drawn carriages and a wagon for the fourth year at Saturday’s Noel on Norris in McCook. ...

LINCOLN, Neb. - The Nebraska Department of Revenue has released sales tax receipts for September 2025, offering a delayed but detailed look at taxable sales activity across southwest Nebraska. Red Willow County reported $15.18 million in net taxable sales for the month, a 1.9 percent increase from September 2024. ...

It has been a while since anything out of the Governor’s Office invited genuine optimism, but yesterday brought welcome news. Gov. Jim Pillen announced that Nebraska will participate in the next round of the federal Opportunity Zone program, a tool designed to direct private investment into communities that have struggled to attract it. ...

We are in the season of lists. Santa is looking at his naughty and his nice lists. Many are working on their New Year’s resolution list. Others are making their way through their long gift lists. One of the lists we should be considering is what we want to be involved in and what we need to remove from our schedule as we start the new year...

Scoring leaders from other Cattle Trail girls games on Tuesday: Dundy County-Stratton (45) — Abi Spargo 15 points, Clara Spargo 11, Emily Schack 9, Kimberly Escobar 3. Wauneta-Palisade (24) — Mesa Cox 9 points, Cheyenne Parrish 5, Peyton Dyer 4, Kamyrn Fanning 3...

LINCOLN, Neb.— The No. 23 Nebraska men’s basketball team emphatically opened Big Ten play with a 90-60 rout of Wisconsin Wednesday evening at Pinnacle Bank Arena. The Huskers, whose 10-0 start and 14-game win streak tied school records in both categories, shot 54 percent from the field and put five players in double figures, led by Rienk Mast’s 17 points and 10 rebounds...

eventh-ranked Indian Hills Community College ended the first half strong Wednesday night and started even stronger in the second half and coasted to a 95-61 win over the McCook Community College men. “It was an extremely disappointing night,” said MCC assistant coach Drake Henderson. “Our guys weren’t ready for this kind of game.”...

CAMBRIDGE, Neb. — Both rival RPAC schools went home with a win when Cambridge and Southern Valley met on the basketball floor Tuesday night. Southern Valley’s boys earned their first victory this, 55-50, as senior Isaac Hamilton has been on fire so far averaging 25 points per contest...

McCOOK, Neb. —Hitchcock County’s boys were ready and focused on a 27-2 start that led to their 60-14 Cattle Trail Tournament win over Wauneta-Palisade Tuesday afternoon. The Falcons (1-1) returned to their typically stout defense following a tough season-opening loss against Cambridge last week...

McCOOK, Neb. — The feisty, talented Arapahoe Warriors couldn’t quite contain that one warrior who ignited her Decatur Community-Oberlin Red Devils on Tuesday. Following a scoreless first half, senior Brylee Minnick netted 14 points which turned around this Cattle Trail Tournament opening game...

McCOOK, Neb. — The Maywood-Hayes Center Wolves wiped out a 12-point deficit while Dundy County-Stratton never allowed any hope. Both annual Cattle Trail Tournament top contenders powered to double-digit opening wins Tuesday. May-Hay senior Charlie Callis scored 14 points in the third quarter of a 55-36 triumph over Southwest at McCook High School...

Mary Alice Duffield, a longtime resident of McCook, will celebrate her 90th birthday on Wednesday, December 24, 2025. She was born on December 24, 1935, in Chappell, Neb. Mary Alice is the mother of Milton of McCook; Gregg (Kim) of Chadron; and Janella (Karl) Clark of Sioux City, Iowa. She is also a grandmother to four granddaughters and a great-grandmother to seven great-grandchildren...

Don and Joyce Green recently celebrated their 73rd wedding anniversary. They were married on Dec. 10, 1952 at the Presbyterian Church in Danbury, Neb. They were residents of McCook from 1964-1975. Cards and best wishes can reach them at Primrose Retirement Village, 1865 S. Beverly St. #127, Casper, Wyo. 82609...