Stories from Friday, January 16, 2026

From McCook High activities director Darin Nichols this morning: "McCook vs Hastings has been postponed for today. We are working on rescheduling the game for Tuesday, February 10with a 4:00 jv start followed by girls at 5:45 and boys to follow."

OBERLIN, Kan. — A towering jungle of color, imagination, and literacy now fills the stairwell of the Oberlin City Library. The Jungle Books, a hand-drawn and hand-painted mural by local artist and educator Ladd Wendelin, spans more than 300 square feet and rises 14.6 feet at its highest point, transforming the space into an immersive visual story about the joy of reading and a love of the natural world...

Thomas “Tom” Ellsworth Jones passed away surrounded by loved ones on January 14, 2026, at the Community Hospital in McCook, NE, at the age of 76. Tom was born on April 12, 1949, to parents Donald William Jones MD and Maxine Phyllis Clara Morral in Holdrege, NE. ...

LINCOLN, Neb. - In early September 2025, as McCook was still absorbing the effects of the imposed WEC/ICE transition, the U.S. Department of Justice formally requested that Nebraska turn over its unredacted voter registration database. In a letter dated Sept. 8, the department requested that Secretary of State Robert Evnen provide the state’s complete voter file, including names, addresses, dates of birth, driver’s license numbers and the last four digits of Social Security numbers...

Elaine W. Parmenter Burgess was born on January 16, 1928, in McCook, Nebraska, to Dr. E. W. Parmenter and Doris Russell Parmenter. She passed away peacefully on December 28, 2025, in Chicago, Illinois. Elaine grew up in McCook, Nebraska and graduated from McCook High School in 1945. She attended the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, earning her Bachelor’s degree in education in 1950. In 1947, she married Warren A. Burgess, and together they had three children...

McCOOK, Neb. - The McCook City Council will meet on Monday, Jan. 19, 2026, at 5:30 p.m. in the city council chambers. After announcements and recognitions, the council will hear from AMGL CPAs and Advisors on the city’s financial statements for the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 2025. The council is scheduled to formally accept the audit...

As we look toward Martin Luther King Jr. Day next week, it is worth remembering how uneasy the holiday’s creation was. Although the observance was signed into law by Ronald Reagan in 1983, the adoption was not immediate. Martin Luther King Jr. Day was not fully recognized by all 50 states until 2000, when South Carolina became the last to do so...

BARTLEY, Neb. — Gladys Mues will be celebrating her birthday on January 26, 2026. Cards of congratulations may be sent to Gladys Mues, PO Box 255, Bartley, Nebraska 69020.

MCCOOK, Neb. — Audrey Suiter of McCook will celebrate her 90th birthday on January 28th, 2026. Cards of congratulations may be sent to Audrey Suiter, 916 East 7th St., McCook, Neb. 69001.

OBERLIN, Kan. — The Phillipsburg, Kan., Panthers won a 52-27 dual over Decatur Community, Kan., Thurdsay evneing. Grant Anderson earned a 9-7 win for the Red Devils over Byron French at 126 pounds. With just 22 seconds remaining in regulation, Cown Anderson scored a pin over Phillipbrg’s Carter Bogart at 150...

MINDEN, Neb. — The Minden Whippets will be McCook’s main basketball focus with Hastings games tonight postponed due to strong winds. Both Whippet teams deserve plenty of attention as they bring 8-4 season records into this 3:30 p.m. varsity doubleheader...

EAST LANSING, Mich. - No. 24 Nebraska led No. 15 Michigan State 69-66 with 1:35 left, but the Spartans made the plays down the stretch to escape with a 73-71 win over the Huskers at the Breslin Center on Thursday night. Nebraska slipped to 14-4 overall and 3-4 in the Big Ten with all four losses to top 20 teams, while the Spartans improved to 17-1 and 6-1 in the conference...

OGALLALA, Neb. — The developing winter winds did not deter McCook High’s bowling teams from rolling to victories on Thursday as coach Jana Sides reported: “Weather conditions during travel were VERY rough. The wind was pretty nerve-racking. Shout-out to bus driver Russ Ankerson for keeping our very noisy crew safe...

McCOOK, Neb. — McCook American Legion baseball Boosters, INC will be having its2026, annual meeting and election of board members and officers. The meeting is to be held on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. The meeting is held in the Graff Event Center conference room...