Help Wanted

ASSOCIATE EDITOR The McCook Gazette The McCook Gazette, a 114-year-old community newspaper with a tradition of accuracy, integrity, and public service, seeks an Associate Editor to join its small, professional newsroom. This position combines editorial judgment with hands-on page production. The successful candidate will be responsible for copy editing, headline writing and pre-press page layout using Adobe InDesign and Photoshop. Strong command of spelling, grammar, punctuation, and AP style is essential, along with a sharp eye for detail and visual presentation. We are looking for someone who takes pride in clean copy, balanced pages, and meeting press deadlines. The role includes occasional public contact and requires maintaining a professional business appearance suitable for public-facing institutional representation. Newspaper or magazine production experience is preferred, but demonstrated proficiency in professional publishing software will be considered. Position offers: $17/hour starting wage, Health, dental, and vision insurance, 401(k) retirement plan, Paid holidays, Opportunity to work in a respected 114-year-old institution serving Southwest Nebraska To apply, send resume, work samples and a brief letter of interest to publisher@mccookgazette.com.

We're Hiring: Freelance Community Writer The Gazette is seeking freelance writers to cover local news and events. Applicants must have a strong, confident command of the English language, write clearly and accurately on deadline, pay close attention to detail and have a genuine dedication to Southwest Nebraska. Digital photography skills are essential, and you should be comfortable with basic digital tools like email and file sharing. Flexibility is key - assignments may include attending government meetings, participating in community events and covering human-interest stories. We're seeking reliable and professional contributors with local knowledge and a genuine interest in sharing the stories of our community. Interested? Send a brief introduction and a writing sample to publisher@mccookgazette.com.

Are you an unstoppable people-person? The McCook Gazette is looking for a high-energy, self-motivated extrovert to join our advertising sales team. This is not a desk job - you'll be out in the community, meeting business owners, sparking ideas and closing deals that help local businesses grow. We are seeking someone who builds lasting partnerships, listens to our customers' needs, and helps local businesses tell their stories. We value people who bring their own motivation, focus their energy and work creatively toward success. If you have the drive, creativity and charisma to sell advertising that works, we want to hear from you. Send your resume to: publisher@mccookgazette.com

Special Projects Coordinator Are you passionate about local news and current events? Do you thrive on variety, live for a deadline, and know your way around both people and pages? We're looking for someone who's curious, adaptable, and committed to good storytelling and community service. We're always working on special sections, niche publications, and creative side projects that fall outside the usual news cycle. Each one needs someone who can chase down stories, design pages, and work with advertisers. If you can do two of the following - reporting, layout, or sales - we'd like to hear from you. If you can do all three? Let's talk today. We're looking for someone who: -Cares deeply about community journalism -Is comfortable striking up a conversation with anyone -Can take ownership of a project from brainstorm to press -Wants to be part of a tight-knit team where individual effort matters Whether you're a reporter with an eye for content design, a designer who likes a good interview, or a people-person who also happens to write, we want to hear your story. Full-time. Benefits. Small-town charm included. Send a resume, writing samples, or just a thoughtful note to publisher@McCookGazette.com. Let us know how you'd help us get the job done - and why you think local news still matters.

THE CITY OF MCCOOK NEBRASKA is now accepting applications/resumes (both required) for the position of FIREFIGHTER/EMT, or FIREFIGHTER/PARAMEDIC or LATERAL FIREFIGHTER/PARAMEDIC in accordance with the McCook Civil Service Act. The city offers an excellent benefit package, aggressive protocols, up-to-date equipment and quality continuing education. The assigned shift is a rotating 24-hour shift. This is public safety work in firefighting and emergency medical response. An employee in this class is responsible for fire prevention and suppression and for providing basic and advanced emergency medical care. Work involves an element of personal danger, and requires knowledge and skill acquired only through specialized training. This position serves under the Shift Supervisor, and the employee exercises considerable public trust in judgement and in application of standard procedures. Applicants must possess high school diploma or equivalent; possess or be able to possess by time of hire a valid Nebraska Driver's License without any record of suspension or revocation in any state; felony convictions or disqualifying criminal histories within the past seven years are not allowed. College level course work in fire science, fire administration or a related field is desirable. A combination of education, training, and experience, which produces the knowledge, skills and abilities required for the job and related to the essential functions of the position, is helpful. Applicant must be a Nationally Registered Paramedic and have a Nebraska license at the EMT or Paramedic level upon date of hire. LATERAL FIREFIGHTER PARAMEDIC candidates shall have a minimum of three years of experience as a full-time Firefighter/Paramedic with a fire department with no break in service at the time of application in a comparable system. This is a Civil Service position and requires the applicant to successfully complete a competitive written and agility test. LATERAL FIREFIGHTER/PARAMEDIC candidates are not required to participate in FIREFIGHTER Written Examination and Agility Test. Oral interview with the Civil Service Boad is required. LATERAL FIREFIGHTER/PARAMEDIC MAY BE HIRED AT APPROPRIATE STEP WAGE BASED ON EXPERIENCE. The written test will take place on Thursday, April 16, 2026, at 8:00 a.m. at the McCook Municipal Training Room, 505 West C Street, McCook, Nebraska followed by the agility test for candidates who pass with a 70% or higher. Oral interviews will begin at 1:00 p.m. Base rate salary is based on experience and credentials. Opportunities exist for overtime in addition to the base pay. Application process will close on April 3, 2026 at 4:00 p.m. To request an application packet, contact Lilia Dimas, Human Resource Coordinator at 308-345-2022 ext. 220 or download off website at www.cityofmccook.com. Mail or deliver applications/resumes to McCook Municipal Building, 505 West C Street, PO Box 1059, McCook, NE 69001 or email them to apply@cityofmccook.com. EOE/AAE.

Dan's R Us Sanitation located in McCook has Truck Driver Positions, Shop Help. Requirements would be a Class B CDL and a good driving record. Pick up an application at 1111 East H or call for more information 308-345-4264.

Secretary Wanted - The Middle Republican Natural Resources District is accepting applications for a field office secretary. The person selected for this position will work in the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Hayes Center Field Office, located at 317 Tate Street in Hayes Center, NE. Applications will be accepted until 4:00 PM on April 10, 2026 at the MRNRD Office in Curtis, NE. Computer experience, phone skills and working with the public are required. Duties include filing, record keeping, answering the telephone and providing information to the public. Applications are available at www.mrnrd.org, the MRNRD office in Curtis, the NRCS office in Hayes Center or call (308) 367-4281.