Stories from Thursday, September 4, 2025

McCook’s projected varsity football starters when the Bison play game two at always-challenging Aurora Friday evening. Opening kick is set for 7 p.m. 2025 McCOOK BISON Game captains: Tristan Campbell, Gabe Roberts, Trey Tiller and Simon Garcia. Offense...

McCOOK, Neb. — The McCook Community College golf team opens the 2025-2026 season Thursday and Friday at the Cottonwood Golf Course in Torrington, Wyo. Second year MCC Coach Grant Case, will lead a team of two sophomores and five freshmen this season. Last year the Indians finished sixth among seven teams in the season-ending West Region Championships at Loveland, Colo...

The final hearing for an annual budget signals an accomplishment for the city council and even more so for city staff, but is otherwise anticlimactic. The spreadsheet work has been filed, and the tough decisions have already been made. The final hearing allows the public a chance to have a last look before the gavel falls, but by that point, the course is set and the machinery is in motion...

My family is hosting an exchange student from Bolivia as part of the Rotary Exchange Program. David is a fun, outgoing young man who seems to have made the seamless switch from his home of two million people in South America to McCook and its slightly smaller population...

There has been a cooling of tempers, but still considerable unease in the wake of the August drama that put us in the center of national politics, human rights issues and an historic migration. As a community, we seem to be cooling down, but are not yet back to normal—whatever that is...

McCOOK, Neb. - The City of McCook has finalized its financial roadmap for the coming fiscal year, which runs from Oct. 1, 2025, through Sept. 30, 2026. The $15 million budget balances revenues and expenses, maintains the current property tax levy, accounts for inflation, and funds essential services, capital improvements, and infrastructure projects...

MAYWOOD, Neb. — Junior Caylie Softley’s nine kills and four ace serves fueled a Maywood-Hayes Center victory over Paxton 25-17, 25-20 recently. Freshman Ensley Lawless stepped up to serve three more aces as the Wolves reached 2-0 entering more matches this week...

IMPERIAL, Neb. — Seniors Marley Randall, Harley Markee and junior Brittny White batted in three runs apiece to lead a 15-14 softball win over Holyoke, Colo., on Tuesday. Markee totaled three hits while Randall scored four times. Courtesy runner Violet Sparrow scored five runs...

Men’s League rolled through week two at TJ’s Family Fun Center where two fun team names — Lickity Splitz and Rednecks — have moved just above Kingpins for top spots in these latest standings. Men’s Major Lickity Splitz 50-10 Rednecks 46.5-13.5...

COZAD, Neb. — McCook’s home run power hit again when Hannah Peterson hammered a three-run, go-ahead blast against the Cozad Haymakers on Tuesday. Unfortunately, the hosts retaliated with 10 unanswered runs to score an 18-9 varsity softball victory. Cozad unleashed 17 hits against the Bison while evening its season record at 5-5...

McCOOK, Neb. — McCook’s No. 1 leaders set the tone that flowed through an entire lineup even down to “rookies” slamming home victories Tuesday. “I was pleased how some our freshmen (Walker Coleman, etc.) stepped up and played doubles today,” coach Matt Wiemers declared after a home triangular sweep for his Bison tennis boys. “And our No. 1 guys like Tysen (Baker) and Caleb (Sughroue) dominated today.”...

SCOTTBLUFF, Neb. — The McCook High varsity girls made top two again as a golf team at Tuesday’s Scottsbluff Invitational. Senior Kapri Loop shot 92 for fifth place and sophomore Hailey Smalley was 12th at 99. The Bison placed second overall at their own hoe tournament on Friday...

McCOOK, Neb. — Freshman Emma McConville’s three ace serves helped some nerves and ignite McCook’s 25-22, 25-17 win over a strong Chase County team Tuesday evening. The Bison (2-1 record) hit a rough patch going from last week’s opener at Lexington to playing powerhouse Minden in Tuesday’s first triangular match...