Stories from Friday, May 1, 2026

Cook Community College softball team wrapped up the Region IX regular season championship Thursday with a doubleheader sweep over North Platte Community College. MCC won 11-0 and 12-3, both games decided by the eight-run rule in five innings. “Getting these games has been challenging with the weather, but I’m glad we were able to,” said MCC Coach Mike Mendenhall. “I appreciate north Platte being flexible as well.”...

McCOOK, Neb. — Trent Jollensten is a well-rounded guy. He’s worked in tar and asphalt, heating and air conditioning, concrete and pivots. He’s been employed as a general manager for Fastenal and a territory account manager for Hillman Group. He’s also been a finance manager and a salesman at a car dealership. ...

McCOOK, Neb. - In the April 29 edition of the McCook Gazette, a reader’s letter raised questions about the city’s decision to name the new sports complex after a single fallen service member and its connection to the purchase agreement for the property, which he noted was acquired at roughly $27,000 per acre. ...

McCOOK, Neb. — Longnecker Jewelry is marking its 30th anniversary in April 2026, celebrating a business that has grown from a one-man operation into a regional leader in fine jewelry across southwest Nebraska and northwest Kansas. Founded in August 1996 by Bill Longnecker, the store opened at a time when McCook supported six competing jewelers. ...

McCOOK, Neb. — The Ed Thomas YMCA of McCook is happy to announce that we have partnered with Bison Boys Basketball to offer atwo day skills camp. This two-day camp will be held on July 8th & 9th and offered to boys and girls entering the 1st - 8th grade in the 2025-2026 school year...

BEATRICE, Neb. – The McCook Community College baseball team snapped its four-game losing streak Thursday winning the first game of a doubleheader against Southeast Community College 7-4 then dropping the second game 7-6. “It was good to see us get back into playing better,” said MCC Coach Jon Olsen. “I’m happy with the Game 1 win, and I thought we had a shot in Game 2 as well just couldn’t quite get over the hump.”...

Hitchock County’s Jack Baker became a three-time RPAC golf champion while Dundy County-Stratton took home the team title from Thursday’s annual tourney on Thursday. Baker didn’t really need any drama for this title as his 75 was eight strokes below top challengers Houston Billeter from Southwest or Dundy County-Stratton’s Owen Mathews...

McCOOK, Neb. — The YMCA of McCook announces that registration is now open for the Midwest Liberty FCU Flag Football league. Divisions will be offered to children in Kindergarten throughsixth grade. The deadline to register for the leagues is Friday, August 7...

HOLDREGE, Neb. — Coach Ben Vetrovsky provivded some details from the McCook varsity golf team’s Holdrege Invitational experience on Tuesday. “The Bison golf team traveled to Holdrege Country Club to participate in the Holdrege Golf Invitational. The Bison ended up 7th in field of 12 team shooting a team score of 344...

owling League at TJ’s Family Center as this season rolls closer to its conclsion for another year... Men’s Major Maris General 216-5.113.5 Chipperfield Ag 204-122 Rednecks 199-131 Fullmomentum 197.5-132.5 The Krips 175-155 Kingpins 164-162...

McCOOK, Neb. — Isaac Snyder’s three individual titles topped the McCook Junior High efforts during their track and field home invitational on Tuesday. All four best finishers from McCook Junior High and McCook St. Patrick’s. The Bison are already competing again today...

Who among us is old enough to remember what we once called “election day?” Think back. It may take some effort, but there was a time when we all went out and voted on the same day, and it almost had a holiday feel about it. An election day, of sorts, still exists. For candidates, it’s a finish line, and for people in my line of work, it’s a news event, but for voters, it’s now just a deadline. It’s the last day to turn in our homework...