Stories from Thursday, June 5, 2025

Ronald Leon Wallace April 7, 1947 - May 29, 2025 McCOOK, Neb. — Ronald Leon Wallace was born in McCook to Helen Arlene Wallace. Ron grew up in McCook with his parents, Guy and Helen Shepherd and his brothers and sisters. Ron served in the United States Army from 1966 to 1968. He served in Vietnam receiving the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, and the Vietnam Campaign Medal. He was honorably discharged on June 18, 1968...

Reta Ann (Vacura) Barratt Oct. 22, 1946 - June 2, 2025 OBERLIN,Kan. — Reta Ann (Vacura) Barratt passed away Monday, June 2, 2025 at Kearney Regional Medical Center in Kearney, Neb., at the age of 78. She was born Oct. 22, 1946 in Oberlin to Frank and Margaret (Krizek) Vacura...

Sherry A. Harsh Oct. 28, 1945 - June 1, 2025 CAMBRIDGE, Neb. — Sherry A. Harsh was born in Genoa, Neb., on Oct. 28, 1945. Her parents were Philip A. and Anna (Westerman) Stec. Sherry spent her youth in Hastings, Neb., where she graduated from Hastings High School in 1964. From there she spent the next two years attending Kearney State College. In May of 1967, she married Howard Kester, Jr. Within their marriage, they had three children, Kipp, Kari and Kirby Kester...

McCOOK, Neb. — As rural hospitals face growing challenges in recruiting and retaining medical staff, shifting demographics and limited housing options are often to blame. In McCook, organizers of a new apartment complex hope their project will help address those issues...

TRENTON, Neb. - While Hitchcock County residents are embroiled in a heated battle to stave off a proposed feedlot just one mile north of Culbertson, many are asking a deeper question: What does it truly mean to be designated a Livestock Friendly County in Nebraska?...

McCOOK, Neb. — Fresh off their Class B girls state title, coach Matt WIemers’ McCook High tennis athletes have turned their attention to power snacks and peach cobbler. The Bison have began selling Georgia’s peaches along with pecans for their fundraiser again this summer...

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. — They came down to earth from Colorado for one half-inning and then sent happy North Platte one clear and humbling message: “That’s all, boys. We’re scoring 18 runs to your one the rest of this night.” Message received. The McCook First Central Bank Juniors turned 5-0 into a 13-5 victory then beat down the Class A town foe, 5-1, to finish this Tuesday night sweep...

HOLDREGE, Neb. — Every run was huge for Holdrege during a 4-3 win over the McCook National Bank Seniors and 2-1 vs. First Central Bank Juniors Wednesday evening. MNB outhit Holdrege, 6-3, but the home team won an equally important number of no errors to MNB’s three...

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Texas slugger Reese Atwood knew that if her Longhorns were going to rally to beat Texas Tech and superstar pitcher NiJaree Canady in Game 1 of the Women’s College World Series finals Wednesday night, she would have to take a risk...

Football’s in the air along with cool temperatures as about 140 youths are part of the McCook Bison football camp this week. It’s never too early to grind and several Bison varsity players (above) were assisting with blocking drills. At left, McCook coach Jeremy Young several younger campers before they started tackling practice on those fields just west of McCook High School. The camp features football prospects entering second through eighth grades in 2025-26 and continues through Friday...

Time and time again, I hear people say that there is nothing to do in McCook or Southwest Nebraska. But if you need evidence that there is more than enough to keep you occupied or entertained, just look at the upcoming events in June. Kicking off the weekend early is Community Hospital Health Foundation’s 36th annual John Mullen Pro Am Golf Tournament. ...

We read the headlines and convince ourselves the problems are distant, even abstract. Until they aren’t. On the same day Nebraska State Patrol troopers arrested an Arizona man on I-80 near York, seizing roughly 19 pounds of suspected fentanyl pills and another five pounds of methamphetamine, law enforcement agencies at our end of the state were confronting tragedy of their own...