Stories from Tuesday, May 5, 2026

McCook High School Thespians performed School of Rock: The Musical (Youth Edition) at the high school auditorium at Friday, Saturday and Sunday for their last play of the school year. The show, based on the hit movie, featured stellar student vocal numbers, high-energy choreography and music by Andrew Lloyd Webber. ...

The McCook Community College baseball team will open Region IX Tournament play Thursday at noon against Luna Community College. The tournament will be held at Damon Runyon Field Sports Complex in Pueblo, Colo. Northeastern Junior College won the regular season title with a 24-4 mark and received a first round bye in the double-elimination tournament. ...

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. — McCook High’s boys regained their high place-contending form with a solid 317 team total at the North Platte Invitational on Monday. The Bison finished fourth overall among just three strong teams: champion Class A Kearney shot 298, Scottsbluff 304 and host North Platte 310...

McCook High School Thespians performed School of Rock: The Musical (Youth Edition) at the high school auditorium at Friday, Saturday and Sunday for their last play of the school year. The show, based on the hit movie, featured stellar student vocal numbers, high-energy choreography and music by Andrew Lloyd Webber. ...

McCook High School Thespians performed School of Rock: The Musical (Youth Edition) at the high school auditorium at Friday, Saturday and Sunday for their last play of the school year. The show, based on the hit movie, featured stellar student vocal numbers, high-energy choreography and music by Andrew Lloyd Webber. ...

McCOOK, Neb. - On Monday, Sara Schneider, Director of the McCook Chamber of Commerce, presented the McCook Area Educator of the Year Award to McCook Elementary School second-grade teacher Kim Johnson. Johnson brings a lengthy and well-rounded background in education to the classroom. ...

McCOOK, Neb. - At Monday night’s meeting of the McCook City Council, the council approved both an option agreement for a multi-unit housing development and renamed newly created streets in the Four Corners Addition. Guided by the introductory comments of MEDC Director of Housing Development, Amanda Engell, the Project Development Manager for Hoppe Development, Evan Clark, described the proposed development of a mixed‑income, multi‑unit housing complex near the sports complex, called “Prairie Run.”. ...

Lesson learned! It has not been a great idea to try to write a column on the day of my birthday. My cell phone keeps dinging with a happy birthday message on Google Messenger, which I acknowledge and then lose that train of thought. Then Facebook keeps responding with birthday wishes. Grannie Annie sez that I need to admit to 89 years. I am blessed; thank you!...

In the process of writing this column, the calendar often serves as a starting point. Our religious institutions do a fine job of preserving the meaning behind their high holy days, but many other observances drift into commercialization or simple recreation. In those instances, I try to bring myself up to speed on the topic, and if I find anything interesting, I share what I have learned...

McCOOK, Neb. — Ralph W. Bretton was born April 6, 1940, in Phillipsburg, Kan., and passed away May 3, 2026, at Kinship Pointe in McCook, Neb., at the age of 86...

WAUNETA, Neb. — Eva Russell, 80, lifelong resident of Benkelman, passed away May 2, 2026, at Wauneta Care and Therapy Center in Wauneta, Neb...

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. — Lynn B. Melchert, 68, of North Platte passed away April 30, 2026. He was born January 9, 1958, to Burdette and Patricia (Shackelford) Melchert in McCook...

ARKANSAS — Lloyd "Douglas" Helberg died April 26, 2026,...

OMAHA, Neb. — Roger Brougham of Cambridge passed away on May 2, 2026,..