Red Willow County

Firefighters and demo derby judges rush to help Donald Ray Hunt whose car caught fire during competition at the Red Willow County Fair demolition derby in McCook Thursday evening. Hunt was transported to Community Hospital in McCook and then transferred to a hospital in Lincoln, where he is being treated for burns to his arm, hands, shoulder and back. ...

McCOOK, Neb. — The man seemed frustrated even before he sat down. He said he’d had to take time off work. Exasperated, he stacked and straightened his pile of papers. He was ready to fight. Everyone took a deep breath. And then the man protested — loudly and adamantly — the valuation of the house he owns in McCook. ...

Competitors descended on the Red Willow County Fairgrounds Tuesday afternoon, busily registering and displaying exhibits for judging this week. Among them, from left, Korey and Colton Sedlacek transport their submissions in the home environment, woodworking and small engine categories. Carnival preparations are underway, Tuesday afternoon, for the 2017 Red Willow County Fair in McCook. The carnival is open today through Saturday, 6:30 p.m. to close...

McCOOK, Neb. — When the Nebraska State Patrol busts a meth lab, it’s required by state law to inform the owner of record that there may be hazardous substances or hazardous waste on the property. The patrol also has to tell county officials. At their weekly meeting Monday morning, Red Willow County commissioners received a list of chemicals found at the bust of a suspected clandestine drug lab at a rental house on West 15th in McCook in early June...

McCOOK, Neb. — Red Willow County commissioners discussed budgets for 2017-18 with county department heads during their weekly meeting Monday morning. Board chairman Earl McNutt told the department heads — maybe a little facetiously — that the board “loves that challenge,” adding that “it’s nice when it’s done. We do the best we can.”...

From left, Shyann Worm of Taylor and Chyanne Friehe of Culbertson compete in horsemanship for the 2017 “Miss Southwest Nebraska Rodeo Queen” title during activities in McCook Saturday. The lone junior queen contestant was Lacey Langer of Superior. The new royalty will be crowned before the Red Willow County Fair Rodeo scheduled at 8 p.m., Saturday, July 22, in McCook...

McCOOK, Neb. — Red Willow County commissioners continued the county’s support of the Family Resource Center in McCook, agreeing Monday morning to contribute $5,000 for the second year in a row. FRC director Kathy Haas told commissioners the center continues to operate on a shoestring and “by the grace of God.”...

McCOOK, Neb. — Nebraska District 44 Sen. Dan Hughes told Red Willow County commissioners Monday morning that he has “no complaints with how counties spend their money,” as they discussed property tax relief and inheritance taxes during a summer run through his district after the end of the legislative session...

McCOOK, Neb. — Red Willow County’s 2016 mission against noxious weeds earned a high grade from the Nebraska Department of Agriculture. Timothy Stortz of Holdrege, an inspection specialist with the Ag Department’s Bureau of Plant Industry, told county commissioners during their weekly meeting Monday morning that the county’s noxious weed control efforts and its weed supervisor earned 3,126 points out of a possible 3,400, or a 91-92 percent grade, in meeting the requirements of the state’s noxious weed act.. ...

McCOOK, Neb. — Trying to think “out of the box” — outside county lines — Red Willow County commissioners are considering hydraulic studies on three possible bridge/culvert projects on which they can coordinate equipment, manpower and supplies with Frontier County...

McCOOK, Neb. — Prairie Plains CASA volunteers aren’t given much time to settle in these days. Five new advocates sworn in Wednesday afternoon received case assignments immediately after leaving the courthouse, according to Program Director Cathy McDowell...

Response prepared, not needed McCOOK, Neb. — With 20 to 40 vehicles stranded along snow-packed and icy Highway 25 between Trenton and Atwood during the April 30 blizzard, McCook was the closest town that could have provided refuge for what might have been 160 or so people...

McCOOK, Neb. — On Wednesday evening, a three-person committee will interview eight applicants for the vacancy on the Red Willow County board of commissions created when District 3 Commissioner Vesta Dack resigned in early April. County clerk Tami Teel said the committee — she and county treasurer Sue Wesch and county attorney Paul Wood — will begin interviews of all eight applicants at 7 p.m., Wednesday, in the Community Building on the county fairgrounds...

McCOOK, Neb. — Red Willow County commissioners took no action following a closed session with the Hillcrest Nursing Home administrator during their weekly meeting Monday morning. Colinda Nappa, administrator of the county-owned nursing home, commissioners Earl McNutt and Steve Downer and county attorney Paul Wood discussed personnel issues during the 25-minute-long session that was closed to the public...

McCOOK, Neb. — The McCook attorney who serves as a public defender for Red Willow County will get a raise to $72,000 annually in a new four-year contract approved by county commissioners Monday morning. Commission chairman Earl McNutt thought the $12,000 request was “a pretty good increase all at once,” and agreed to it only after Wilcox agreed to lock it in for four, not five, years...

McCOOK, Neb. — The Red Willow County Sheriff’s Department is seeking local donations to help fund the daily services of beloved K-9 Officer Luna, as well as to offset upcoming expenses associated with a new kennel purchase. Several local businesses have been particularly generous supporters of the county’s K-9 unit and Chief Deputy Joe Koetter hopes to take some of the pressure off by way of local fundraising efforts. He is in the early stages of seeking partners, as well as donors...

Equalization board meets on Monday McCOOK, Neb. — The Red Willow County Commissioners will meet at as a board of equalization Monday at 9 a.m. in the courthouse. County assessor Sandra Kotschwar, deputy county attorney Phil Lyons will join in an executive session at 9:15 p.m...

McCOOK, Neb. — Money. “M-O-N-E-Y,” says Eldon Moore of Bartley. That’s the reason the former Red Willow County commissioner prefers corrugated tubes over concrete box culverts to replace bridges. The right-sized tube installed properly is not “better” than a box culvert, Moore explained Monday afternoon, after he visited with commissioners Earl McNutt, Vesta Dack and Steve Downers during their weekly meeting Monday morning. “But it’s cheaper,” he said...

McCOOK, Neb. — A company from Texas thinks it’s the Nebraska wind that has caused problems with its new road hazard signs. The company, from San Antonio, Texas, will help counties across Nebraska that are experiencing problems with new hazard markers, although the company indicates that it’s the winds on the plains of Nebraska that are causing the trouble, not defects in their workmanship or materials...

McCOOK, Neb. — Red Willow County commissioners and county roads superintendent Gary Dicenta talked about summer armor coating projects during the commissioners’ weekly meeting this morning. Commissioners discussed armor-coating about six miles of the Lebanon-Bartley road and/or two miles of the Marion/Danbury Cemetery road. ...