Red Willow County

McCOOK, Neb. — Red Willow County Commissioners will consider a bridge and an armor coating project, a contract for commercial reappraisal and courthouse security cameras next week. Opening the meeting at 9 a.m. Monday, the board will meet with David Blau of Miller & Associates at 9:15 a.m. ...

McCOOK, Neb. –– The controversial National Heritage Area proposal and cleaning up property lines scrambled by the 1935 flood were among topics for Monday’s meeting of the Red Willow County Commissioners. Dale Cotton of McCook Army Air Base Historical Society spoke in support of the National Heritage Area proposal, an idea opposed by Gov. Pete Ricketts and others concerned about government overreach...

McCOOK, Neb. — Red Willow County Commissioners accepted the lowest of three bids for commercial reappraisal services a bid that was slightly higher from two companies that wanted to provide grader blades. Meeting Monday morning, commissioners approved a $70,000 bid from Central Plains Valuation LLC for commercial reappraisal services, with $125 per working hour for protest hearings...

McCOOK, Neb. — Red Willow County could receive more than $2 million in pandemic relief money, but there will be “a lot of strings attached,” and needs to make sure it is used properly, Commission Chairman Earl McNutt said Monday. “We have to get it right or we’ll have to pay it back,” he said...

McCOOK, Neb. — Three recent disturbances or assaults in the courthouse have prompted the Red Willow County Sheriff’s Office to propose the installation of security cameras in the courthouse. Commissioners Randy Dean and Early McNutt tabled the proposal for more information after Deputy Joe Koetter and Sheriff Alan Kotschwar discussed the issue. Commissioner Cayla Richards was absent after her flight home from vacation was delayed by the snowstorm in Denver...

McCOOK, Neb. — Red Willow County Commissioners heard from two sides of an issue that, depending on whom you believe, will deprive property owners of rights or help provide income to help them preserve that property. Commissioners received a massive book by Norman L. Kincaide PhD, warning against the establishment of National Heritage Areas...

McCOOK, Neb. — Bill Elliott recently retired as the manager of a regional household hazardous waste program and Red Willow County’s noxious weed control official, but his legacy of public service extends far beyond those duties. While growing up in the Culbertson and McCook area, Bill Elliott saw the work of local firemen and rescue teams and felt a need to help...

McCOOK, Neb. — No action could be taken on a proposal to make Red Willow County a 2nd Amendment Sanctuary County, but the idea received a positive reception at Monday’s meeting of the Red Willow County Commissioners. After a presentation by Stacey Sandall in the citizens’ comments portion of the meeting, commissioners agreed to place the Red Willow County Nebraska Second Amendment Preservation Act on their agenda for 9:30 a.m. March 15...

McCOOK, Neb. — Red Willow County Commissioners won’t extend COVID-19 guidelines past April 1 but expect staff to continue the precautions that can help make that possible. After state guidelines for employees expired Dec. 31, commissioners voted to extend policies regarding pandemic-related absence and quarantine policies to April 1, but hope measures can be relaxed by the current deadline. ...

McCOOK, Neb. -- Crystal Dack was sworn in this morning as the Red Willow County Treasurer, replacing Sue Wesch who retired yesterday. Crystal is a 2007 graduate of McCook High School. She has been employed in the treasurer’s office for nine years, originally hired by Treasurer Marlene Garcia...

LINCOLN, Neb. -- Red Willow County shares a portion of $6.68 million in Waste and Litter Reduction, Recycling and Scrap Tire Grants, according to the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy. The county will receive $351,514 for the county’s Household Hazardous Waste program, to provide Central and Southwest Nebraska residents is a safe, reliable means to recycle or dispose of household hazardous waste. The program expects to collect 200,000 pounds of household hazardous waste in 2021...

McCOOK, Neb. — The Red Willow County Jail is less than seven years old, but some of its equipment is obsolete and new sentencing standards are pushing it past capacity. County commissioners tabled two bids for security system upgrades or replacement, and Sheriff Alan Kotschwar said three prisoners recently had to be transported to the Curtis jail because Red Willow County's was full...

McCOOK, Neb. — Red Willow County Commissioners will open bids for a video security system for the jail, and conduct a quarterly inspection of the jail on Monday. Opening the meeting at 9 a.m. in the commissioners' room of the courthouse, the board will also review and discuss bridge inspection reports...

McCOOK, Neb. -- Following interviews with three candidates and an executive session, Red Willow County Commissioners appointed Crystal Dack as county treasurer. Dack, who will replace Sue Wesch, who is retiring on Feb. 15, has worked in the treasurer’s office for nearly nine years and has been deputy treasurer for four...

McCOOK, Neb. -- Red Willow County Commissioners will conduct interviews and consider candidates to replace County Treasurer Sue Wesch, who has announced her resignation. Meeting at 9 a.m. Monday, the board will interview candidates and, following an executive session, is slated to make a selection. Three candidates submitted applications to fill the post...

McCOOK, Neb. — Red Willow County Commissioners reached a compromise of sorts in the dispute over a newly elected member continuing to serve on the board of trustees of Hillcrest Nursing Home. Meeting Monday, the county board appointed Cayla Richards to serve as the county’s non-voting representative on the board of the county-owned nursing home, while new commissioner Randy Dean continues to serve on the board of trustees...

McCOOK, Neb. — 2020 wasn’t as big a disaster for the local tourism industry as one might expect, and officials are rolling out a new promotion to make upcoming years even better. In her annual report to the Red Willow County Commissioners, Carol Schlegel, visitors bureau director, said she had heard of counterparts elsewhere in the state suffering a 30% decline in lodging tax revenues...

McCOOK, Neb. -- Seating of Randy Dean as new commissioner and reorganization are among items on the agenda for the board of Red Willow County Commissioners on Monday. Among the offices to be determined are chairman and vice-chairman of the board of commissioners, equalization and noxious weed control authority...

McCOOK, Neb. -- Red Willow County Treasurer Sue Wesch submitted a letter of resignation to county commissioners Monday, saying family obligations no longer allowed her to perform her duties. Wench has been county treasurer for 38 years. Commissioners are expected to act on the resignation and the process to find a replacement at their next regular meeting...

McCOOK, Neb. - Steve Downer was serving on the Twin Valley School Board twenty years ago, when Red Willow County Commissioner Eldon Moore decided not to run for re-election. “I thought, I think I can do that job,” he told the Gazette. He said he lived out in the country and traveled country roads all the time. He was a farmer and understood the tax burden farmers faced. “I thought it was important that we have rural representation,” Downer said...

McCOOK, Neb. -- After some contentious debate, Red Willow County commissioners voted to take a “wait and see” approach to a commissioner-elect’s position on the board of trustees for Hillcrest Nursing Home. Randy Dean, who has served on the Hillcrest Nursing Home board of trustees for several years, was elected in 2020 to serve as county commissioner for District 2, replacing Steve Downer, who did not run for re-election. ...

McCOOK, Neb. -- Red Willow County Attorney Paul Wood will meet with county commissioners Monday concerning whether a newly-elected commissioner, Randy Dean, can continue to serve on the board of the county-owned Hillcrest Nursing Home. Wood is on the agenda for 9:30 a.m. at the meeting, which begins at 9 a.m. in the commissioners' room on the third floor of the courthouse...

McCOOK, Neb. — The Red Willow County fairgrounds are busy nearly every weekend, and county commissioners signed on in support of a project to help accommodate even more activity. Although no county money is directly attached to the support, it will carry weight with decision-makers who do have money for such a project...

McCOOK, Neb. -- With the county essentially borrowing money from itself to balance this year’s budget, and with unexpected expenses that could result from two murder trials, Red Willow County Commissioners declined Monday to commit $25,000 toward a low-interest workforce housing grant...

McCOOK, Neb. -- Meeting as a board of equalization Monday, Red Willow County Commissioners granted a homestead exemption and denied a valuation change requested in another protest. Commissioners voted unanimously to not change valuation for property owned by Scott Snyder, who filed a protest after three buildings, previously omitted from property rolls, were added at a prior meeting. Snyder can take the case to the Tax Equalization Review Commission as a next step...

McCOOK, Neb. -- Red Willow County commissioners set final budget levies as well as conducting other routine business Monday. Previously, the board passed a 2020 budget of $19.218 million including a property tax request of $4.184 million, both at the 3% increase limit, and levy of 0.331457 cents per $100 valuation, an increase of 4%, also the limit...

McCOOK, Neb. -- Red Willow County commissioners approved the issuance of county sales certificates for delinquent property taxes. Meeting for a total of 37 minutes this morning, commissioners reviewed a list of 36 parcels of land with unpaid taxes, a slightly higher number than last year's 31. If property owners do not redeem the property by paying the company that purchases the taxes at a tax sale, they could eventually lose the property to the high bidder at the property tax sale...

McCOOK, Neb. -- A week after passing the annual budget, one of their biggest tasks of the year, Red Willow County commissioners have a relatively light agenda Monday. After calling the meeting to order at 9 a.m., the board will meet with County Treasurer Sue Wesch at 9:25 a.m. on issuance of county sales certificates, and with County Assessor Kristi Korell at 9:30 regarding a contract with the Pritchard & Abbott appraisal firm...

McCOOK, Neb. -- With the chairman admonishing county offices to tighten their belts as much as possible, Red Willow County commissioners passed a $19 million budget with provisions for borrowing from the road and inheritance funds if that becomes necessary...

McCOOK, Neb. -- Red Willow County commissioners won't ask Hillcrest Nursing Home to take over its own bond payments just yet, but will set up a system to rob Peter to pay Paul should that need to happen to meet state budgetary requirements. At the end of Monday's meeting, commissioners voted unanimously to put off purchase of a new motor grader, budgeted at $200,000, reduce the county's self-insurance health insurance funding from $1.866 million to $1.6 million, and set up a system, if it becomes necessary, for the general fund to borrow $400,000 from the roads budget and lend it to the self-insurance fund.. ...

McCOOK, Neb. -- Red Willow County Commissioners made some progress in chipping away at an $800,000 budget gap, but the most painful cuts may be yet to come. The fair board would not be able to spend a $200,000 windfall for a year if one should appear, the sheriff’s office is crossing its fingers in hopes that an obsolete jail security system holds up, the county health department hopes increasing cooperation with the regional health department results in a better bottom line, and the extension office agreed to continue taking advantage of virtual meetings.. ...

McCOOK, Neb. -- Red Willow County Commissioners will conduct a hearing on a property valuation protest and one- and six-year road plans before getting down to the business of the annual budget Monday. The regular meeting opens at 9 a.m. in the commissioners room on the third floor of the courthouse...

McCOOK, Neb. -- Department heads have offered some cuts, but more will have to be made to bring the Red Willow County budget increase in under the state-mandated lid. County commissioners set budget hearings at their next meeting, Monday Aug. 17, for the sheriff office, jail, county fair, county health and extension office. ...

McCOOK, Neb. -- Red Willow County office holders are being asked to sharpen their pencils on both the income and expense side to trim more than $800,000 from a county budget shortfall. Meeting with commissioners Monday, Dan Miller, CPA, said preliminary figures showed increased income or decreased expenses would have to be found to keep the county budget increase under the state 2.5% lid as well as the additional 1% allowed as already approved by commissioners...

McCOOK, Neb. -- The Red Willow County Commissioners will consider continued financial support of the local Domestic Abuse/Sexual Assault Services for fiscal year 2020-2021. The item is listed for 9:15 a.m. Monday, with the regular meeting set for 9 a.m. in the commissioners room at the courthouse...

Monday as chairman Earl McNutt conducted the weekly meeting of the Red Willow County Commissioners from home quarantine via telephone with fellow commissioners Cayla Richards, left, Steve Downer, right, and County Clerk Tami Teel taking minutes. In public comments, Todd Weimer, who had filed a tax protest, complimented the board on its professionalism, commissioners a request by MPPD to bore a hole through a county road north of Indianola, approved a tax roll correction and three homestead exemptions, and began a budget workshop using a preliminary 2.5% raise for salaried and 50 cent an hour raises for hourly employees, as well as $1.8 million for employee health insurance. ...

McCOOK, Neb. -- Only three of 10 scheduled prairie chicken viewing sessions could be held because of the coronavirus pandemic, and tax receipts from hotel stays are down dramatically, Red Willow County Commissioners learned Monday. However, many of the prairie chicken tours are rescheduling for next year, and there are more requests for information on hunting and year-round camping, so things look brighter for next year, Red Willow County Tourism Director Carol Schlegel told the board...

McCOOK, Neb. -- Red Willow County Commissioners on Monday discussed the future of the county's Household Hazardous Waste facility, as well as the noxious weed program. Long-time manager of both programs, Bill Elliott, retired as of July 1. Commission Chairman Earl McNutt said there was some interest in taking one or both programs, so that option will be explored further...

McCOOK, Neb. -- The retirement of a long-time county employee is among items on the agenda for Monday morning’s meeting of the Red Willow County Commissioners. The board will discuss Bill Elliott’s retirement as superintendent of the noxious weed program, as well as the future of the Household Hazardous Waste Program, which he administers...

McCOOK, Neb. -- Red Willow County Commissioners approved a $16,900 contract with a Red Cloud construction company to redo $70,000 in repairs made last year to the road to Harry Strunk Lake. Figgins Construction was also the sole bidder for three armor coating projects, including one on Road 407 to the lake, one north and south of Danbury and one north of McCook, at 36 cents per square yard, 2,736 yards for a total of $34,553.64, with the county hauling the gravel...

McCOOK, Neb. -- Red Willow County activities are slowly returning to normal, according to the few items on the Board of Commissioners agenda Monday. The commissioners approved a special event liquor license for Aug. 29, expected to be attended by about 400 people, and reviewed a letter from the Village of Bartley on plans to reopen the city office today...

McCOOK, Neb. -- Red Willow County Commissioners approved a request from Jim Bowen of Southwest Weed Management for a letter of support for a grant application. This year, about three-fourths of a mile of Arikaree Creek was cleared of a heavy infestation of salt cedar and Russian olive trees. ...

McCOOK, Neb. -- Thanks to generous donations of time, money, clothing, in-kind services and many other items, the Family Resource Center in McCook is able to provide important services to families who may not be able to obtain them anywhere else. And, the center is able to do it on a relatively tiny budget, according to figures that director Kathy Haas provided to the Red Willow County Commissioners Monday...

McCOOK, Neb. - After being closed to the general public for more than nine weeks, the longest time in its 94-year history, the Red Willow County Courthouse is again open -- with restrictions. The public is still encouraged to wear masks and may be asked to have temperatures taken, observe social distancing and visitors may find themselves separated from the staff more than usual by plexiglass barriers or other enclosures...

McCOOK, Neb. -- The Red Willow County courthouse is preparing to cautiously open June 1 after the state Directed Health Measure expires May 31, but visitors will still be restricted to enter by one door and are asked to avoid bringing children into the building...

McCOOK, Neb. -- While it is impossible to predict the scale of this Covid-19 pandemic and for our concerns for the health and safety of our community, the Red Willow County Fair Board has decided to cancel all public events for the 2020 fair including any vendors, entertainment and carnival. The...

McCOOK, Neb. -- The Nebraska Extension office for Red Willow County has issued the following in connection with activities this summer: 'In light of the announcement that the 2020 Red Willow County Fair has been canceled, we would like to let our 4-H community know what is being planned in regard to the 4-H events. ...

McCOOK, Neb. -- Commissioners met with representatives of three insurance companies, one in executive session, to discuss the options as time grows short to select a health insurance plan for Red Willow County Employees. At a regular meeting Monday, they heard from Curtis Smith of Partners Health Alliance, Dennis Maggart of McInnes Group Inc., representing the state employee pool NACO, and, in executive session, with Mitch Lyster and Brad Swiggert of Northwestern Mutual...

McCOOK, Neb. — Several events are being planned to recognize McCook High School seniors graduating this year. Due to the COVID-19 social distancing recommendations, MHS graduation was postponed until July 31. A live Facebook recognition of 2020 McCook High School graduates is in the works for Sunday, May 17, at 6 p.m...

McCOOK, Neb. -- Red Willow County Commissioners approved a Paycheck Protection Program application for Hillcrest Nursing Home which should provide two months' payroll for the nursing home. While the county owns the building, Hillcrest's budget is funded by Medicare, Medicaid and private pay. ...

McCOOK, Neb. -- Meeting as a board of equalization, Red Willow County Commssioners approved a tax exemption for an Indianola church property which was purchased by McCook Christian Church. The board heard from U.S. Rep. Adrian Smith's representative Eric Kamler via telephone in lieu of a regular mobile office, with discussion about the Payroll Protection Program, funding for rural hospitals and other issues...

McCOOK, Neb. -- Two new leaders are on duty at the Red Willow County Health Department. Brandy Bird RN, BSN was recently promoted to nurse director and Jaymie White was promoted to business manager at Red Willow County Health Department. She started part-time with Red Willow County Health Department in May 2017 as a Public Health Nurse. Brandy received her Bachelor’s in Nursing from UNMC-Kearney in 2006 and has had an array of experiences in Nursing...

McCOOK, Neb. -- A drop-box for early election ballots is in place at the Red Willow County courthouse, and a scarcity of poll workers and popularity of mail-in ballots means primary election polling places will be pared down to four, Red Willow County Commissioners learned Monday...

McCOOK, Neb. — Red Willow County Commissioners will meet as a board of equalization and in closed session to discuss pending litigation Monday. After tax roll corrections as aboard of equalization at 9:15 a.m., and with County Attorney Paul Wood at 9:45 a.m. concerning the pending litigation...

McCOOK, Neb. -- A telephone conference with a bonding company is on the agenda for the Red Willow County Commissioners Monday. The county had planned to refinance jail construction debt before the market upheaval related to the coronavirus, but that has been put on hold until bond prices stabilize...

McCOOK, Neb. -- Chaos in the financial markets means Red Willow County taxpayers may not see savings from paying off jail bonds early, at least for a while. While county commissioners had hoped to save as much as $240,000 by paying off jail bonds a year early, the drop in the stock market and reaction in the bond market has made that saving less likely for the time being, board members learned in a teleconference with representatives of the D.A. Davidson Co. Monday...

McCOOK, Neb. — Red Willow County courthouse maintenance director Greg Holthus will hang a drop box at the front door of the courthouse in McCook, helping the county’s residents do business with county officials without personal contact. During orders to “keep your distance” and “limit your exposure” necessitated by the coronavirus crisis, customers can place their documents in the drop box at any time and officials will retrieve them in time for morning business...

McCOOK, Neb. — “Luckily,” there are no cases of confirmed COVID-19 in Southwest Nebraska, and, Red Willow County commissioner Earl McNutt said Monday morning that he wants the county government to help keep it that way. “The Southwest Nebraska Public Health Department and the Red Willow County Health Department are monitoring this situation closely,” McNutt said, during the commissioners’ weekly meeting Monday morning. ...

McCOOK, Neb. — Keeping a close eye on activities and events that affect U.S. stock and bond markets, Red Willow County commissioners Monday morning authorized the bonding company D.A. Davidson, of Omaha, to prepare documents and continue analysis of re-financing the bonds sold in 2013 to build the new county jail...

McCOOK, Neb. — Red Willow County commissioners talked about roads and bridges at their weekly meeting Monday morning. Drivers are concerned with the condition of “the lake road” in eastern Red Willow County and a country road that seems to be used “as a race track” in western Red Willow County. And reports on 2019 bridge inspections indicate that bridges need new load postings and attention to debris and erosion...

McCOOK, Neb. — The deadline for incumbents to file for re-election, Feb. 18, has passed, and these are the latest and last incumbent filings in the Red Willow County clerk’s office in McCook: -- Bradley Hays, of McCook, McCook Public Schools board of education, filed Feb. 10...

McCOOK, Neb. — The president of the McCook Army Air Base Historical Society asked Red Willow County commissioners at their meeting Monday morning to retain an old county easement adjoining the society’s property and to help preserve 70-some-year-old concrete, which he says will help the air base qualify for historic recognition and create history tourism and jobs in McCook...

McCOOK, Neb. — Andy Long, executive director of the McCook Economic Development Corp., told Red Willow County commissioners Monday morning about MEDC incentives to provide early childhood care in McCook. Deadlines — one in February and one in March — to participate in two programs are approaching quickly...

McCOOK, Neb. — Red Willow County commissioners decided at their weekly meeting Monday morning to have the bonding company the county has worked with for years help them investigate refinancing the bonds sold in 2013 to build the new county jail. Commissioners heard proposals from Paul Grieger and Andy Forney of D.A. Davidson, of Omaha, and from Brad Slaughter of Piper Jaffray, of Lincoln, (formerly Ameritus), each firm foreseeing savings by refinancing the jail bonds...

McCOOK, Neb. — Red Willow County Second District commissioner Steve Downer of rural Bartley said this morning he’s not filing to run again for the commissioner’s position he has held since 2020. Twenty years will be plenty, Downer said at the commissioners’ weekly meeting this morning...

McCOOK, Neb. — Red Willow County’s fair board manager for 28 years sees changes on the horizon, and she says, “They’ll all be good.” Deb Lafferty introduced Jiles Bowman of Gordon, the new fair board manager, to county commissioners at their meeting Jan. 6. It’s time that the fairgrounds office moves forward technologically, she said, and Bowman was the best of 80 applications for her position. “The board interviewed seven really good applicants,” Deb said...

McCOOK, Neb. — Red Willow County doesn’t have a lot of salt cedar or phragmites; musk and Canada thistles are just always going to be a challenge; and cedar trees … what about redcedars? “Redcedars are a giant issue,” Bill Elliott, the county’s weed superintendent, told county commissioners Monday morning in his report on 2019 weed control efforts...

McCOOK, Neb. — Southwest Weed Management, with the Red Willow County Noxious Weed Control Authority, plans a public meeting to inform landowners of programs to remove eastern red cedar, russian olive trees, salt cedar and phragmites from property in Red Willow County. The meeting will be Thursday, Feb. 6, at 7 p.m., in the 4-H Building on the Red Willow County Fairgrounds in the 1500 block of West Fifth in McCook...

McCOOK, Neb. — Red Willow County sheriff’s deputies’ investigation of a multi-vehicle accident west of McCook Thursday evening unscrambles the movements of a semi truck, three pickups and one SUV, and identifies the driver of each. The accident happened at 6:05 p.m., at the intersection of Highway 6&34 and County Road 380 (at the “Perry” Frenchman Valley Coop grain elevator three miles west of McCook), as a westbound pickup (pulling a trailer) stopped on the highway to turn south onto County Road 380 and waited for oncoming, eastbound traffic. ...

McCOOK, Neb. — Prairie chicken dance tours in March and April are selling out quickly, and this year, one dedicated bird-watching couple will make their third trip in three years to Red Willow County to watch the elusive greater prairie chickens perform their annual mating dance...

McCOOK, Neb. — Red Willow County’s District 1 representative, Earl McNutt, of McCook, was unanimously re-elected chairman of the county’s board of commissioners Monday morning during the commissioners’ first meeting of 2020. This will be McNutt’s 17th year as chairman of the three-member board of commissioners...

McCOOK, Neb. — Red Willow County commissioners accepted the resignation of the county's veterans service officer during their weekly meeting this morning. A letter from Tom Stritt, of Indianola, dated Friday, Dec. 13, indicated that he is resigning the veterans service office position effective March 1, 2020...

McCOOK, Neb. — By their meeting Monday morning, Red Willow County commissioners had received just one bid for a new four-wheel-drive vehicle for the sheriff's office. The bid, for a 2020 Dodge Durango, came from Deveny Motors, McCook. Commissioners unanimously approved the $24,147 purchase. Commission chairman Earl McNutt said he and his fellow commissioners were surprised they received just one bid...

Ericka Hoyt and Grant Dixon of Farm Credit Services of America, McCook offices, serve pancakes and sausage patties this morning to Lori and Robert Goltl of rural Palisade at the free breakfast opening event of the annual "McCook Farm, Ranch and Hemp Expo." Coordinator Darren Dale of Star Expos has more than 400 venders from 20 states, Canada and Australia, presenters, demonstrators, booths, live cattle displays and ranch horse sales for "farmers and ranchers, home decorators and those seeking education on all things ag." One of Dale's presenters is Brian Waldrip who has 13 years in cannabis-specific cultivation and is a leader in sustainable practices of the emerging U.S. ...

McCOOK, Neb. — Myra Stoney, director of the Southwest Nebraska Public Health Department, told Red Willow County commissioners Monday morning she wants them to consider "No Smoking," "No Tobacco" and "No Vaping" restrictions on county property. Stoney would also like to see more school children vaccinated against the flu, and changes in the procedure of reporting flu vaccinations...

McCOOK, Neb. — Red Willow County's sheriff will attempt to collect $42,313.61 in unpaid taxes after the county's treasurer presented him with 52 distress warrants on Oct. 31. There are penalties for filing late, and the sheriff shows up when they're not paid at all...

McCOOK, Neb. — Red Willow County commissioners adopted the county's 2020 One- and Six-Year Road Plan at their regular weekly meeting Monday morning. During a short public hearing on the plans, David Blau, an engineer with Miller and Associates, which performs the work of the county road superintendent, explained projects on the One-Year Plan:...

McCOOK, Neb. — At their weekly meeting Monday morning, Red Willow county commissioners approved a total county operating budget of $18,604,853, a property tax request of $4,058,114 and a tax levy rate of $0.320068 per $100 of property valuation for 2019-2020...

McCOOK, Neb. — Red Willow County Commissioners will take a number of steps connected to the annual budget Monday. After acting as a board of equalization, the commissioners will vote on increasing the base of restricted funds by an additional 1%, conduct a public hearing and consider adoption of the fiscal 2019-20 budget, and take action concerning the final tax request, transfer of 2019 levy taxes from the general fund to the road/bridge fund and self-insurance fund and transfer of $500,000 from the inheritance fund to the general fund as needed.. ...

McCOOK, Neb. — Ah, gee. It's tough to cuss rain … However, an over-abundance of it makes a mess of graveled county roads. Add that to shortages of gravel suppliers and gravel, and the situation is trying the patience of rural residents and county commissioners alike...

LINCOLN, Neb. — The World War II German prisoner-of-war camp north of Indianola has been nominated for inclusion in the "National Register of Historic Places." The Nebraska State Historic Preservation Board is considering the nomination, and will discuss it at a board meeting in McCook on Friday, Sept. ...

Connie jo discoe Regional Editor McCOOK, Neb. — Red Willow County commissioners reviewed proposed 2019-2020 budgets with the veterans services officer, Extension officers and the health department director during their weekly meeting Monday morning...

McCOOK, Neb. — Red Willow County commissioners and county treasurer Sue Wesch were impressed Monday morning with the number of distress warrants upon which the sheriff's office collected $49,726.83 in taxes and interest for the county. Wesch reported to commissioners during their weekly meeting that the sheriff collected on 52 of the 56 warrants issued to delinquent tax payers in August, October and November 2018 and in February 2019. ...

McCOOK, Neb. — Red Willow County commissioners conducted two tax valuation protests at their weekly meeting Monday morning, ultimately reducing the valuation on the two properties by $122,742.50. They also conducted a public hearing to listen to comments on a tax exemption application from the McCook First Church of the Nazarene...

McCOOK, Neb. — It's early in the budget process, according to Red Willow County commissioners, and numbers are "very preliminary," the county's budget preparer told them at their regular weekly meeting Monday morning. Commissioners are tentatively considering 2 1/2 percent wage increases, and commission chairman Earl McNutt doesn't foresee much change in the county's valuation over last year...

McCOOK, Neb. — Red Willow County commissioners are asking drivers on the county's rural roads to proceed with caution — watch for washouts and patchy gravel cover after frequent, heavy rains this spring and summer have pounded some roads to smithereens...

McCOOK, Neb. — Neb. Sen. Dan Hughes told Red Willow County commissioners Monday morning that he was glad to hear earlier in the year from concerned constituents when Medicaid reimbursement shortfalls challenged the county-owned nursing home. "I appreciated the community involvement," Hughes said, explaining that he feels lawmakers...

McCOOK, Neb. — Red Willow County commissioners agreed to continue support for the Family Resource Center and the McCook Humane Society through 2019-2020, at their weekly meeting Monday morning. On a motion by commissioner Cayla Richards, commissioners increased the county's support for the Family Resource Center from $5,500 to $6,000. Fellow commissioner Steve Downer said, "Five hundred dollars won't break us. These are dollars well spent."...

McCOOK, Neb. — Red Willow County will pay Figgins Construction of Red Cloud $58,071.16 for the labor and equipment used to complete the county's six armor coating projects for 2019. Figgins Construction of Red Cloud once again was the only bidder for the county's summer AC projects. Commissioners opened Gary Figgins' bid at their weekly meeting Monday morning...

McCOOK, Neb. — It seems to be a problem for law enforcement agencies across the state, not just in Red Willow County. But locally, Red Willow County commissioners are going to have to figure out a budget that attracts and keeps quality employees in the sheriff's department and on the jail staff...

Red Willow County Sheriff Alan Kotschwar, left, and Red Willow County jail administrator Gerry Hunter display the 2018 "Excellence in Detention Facility Administration" award presented to the county's jail by the Nebraska Jail Standards Board during the NJS annual banquet in Kearney April 19. ...

McCOOK, Neb. — At their regular weekly meeting Monday morning, Red Willow County commissioners finalized plans for 14 miles of armor-coating projects to be completed this summer. Tyson Bardsley, the county's roads superintendent, estimates the per-mile cost at $15,333, compared to $14,772 per mile in 2018. The summer 2019 AC projects are expected to cost about $214,662, although commissioners have not yet set a date to accept bids...

McCOOK, Neb. — Red Willow County's new zoning administrator will be in Kearney. After the resignation of county assessor Kristi Korell as the county's zoning administrator effective April 15, commission chairman Earl McNutt went looking for a replacement who could provide services within the courthouse or at least within the county...

McCOOK, Neb. — At their meeting Monday morning, Red Willow County commissioners agreed to renew the county employees' existing health insurance coverage with Northwestern Mutual as broker, RCI as third party administrator and claims processor, and American National as insurance carrier...

Ninety high school rodeo competitors are expected for the two-day Southwest Nebraska High School Rodeo Friday and Saturday in the Kiplinger Arena on the Red Willow County Fairgrounds in the 1500 block of West Fifth in McCook. Rodeo events start at 9 a.m. ...

McCOOK, Neb. — At their weekly meeting Monday morning, the Red Willow County commissioners unanimously accepted a recommendation from the planning board and will add the words "and private" to their zoning regulations for airports. The county's zoning book will now state that the intent of Section 4.09.01 is "to protect the safe use of public and private airports and their airport hazard area, in the county, by limiting the location and height of structures within the operation, approach, transition and turning zones around airports, as designated on the official zoning maps of Red willow County.". ...

McCOOK, Neb. — Red Willow County commissioners will discuss the county's airport zoning regulations at a public hearing at their next meeting Monday, April 15. The county's zoning board recommends to commissioners that the intent of the county's airport zoning regulations now add the words "and private" to read, "the safe use of public and private airports, and their airport hazard area, in the county, by limiting the location and height of structures within the operation, approach, transition and turning zones around airports as designated on the official zoning map of Red Willow County, Nebraska.". ...

Ryan Hurd will open for High Valley in the headline concert at this year’s Red Willow County Fair, July 24-28. The concert is Friday, July 26 in the grandstands, weather permitting, with gates open at 7 p.m. and concert at 8. In case of bad weather, it will move to the Alice arena. “Free” SundayFunday is set for the last day of the fair again this year. Call the Fair Board office for details or if you would like to be a vendor or sponsor 308 345-4650...