Stories from Tuesday, January 27, 2026

By RONDA GRAFF LINCOLN - Nearly every meet for the McCook High School swim and dive team brings new accomplishments and new firsts this season. The meet on Saturday, Jan. 24 at Lincoln Northeast is no exception with the swimmers bringing home a new team trophy...

McCOOK, Neb. - The County Commissioners have filled two vacant positions. Elizabeth Aguirre has been named the new part-time tourism director, and Ron Soden has been named as Weed Superintendent. The Red Willow County Board of Commissioners met in regular session at 8:30 a.m. ...

McCOOK, Neb. — Community Hospital employees demonstrated the power of collective generosity through the 2025 Heart of Giving Employee Appeal, raising nearly $60,000 in support of patient care, staff education, and emergency assistance through the Community Hospital Health Foundation...

I’ve recently read a report on the population “out migration” from states of the U.S. New York leads the pack, but California, as expected, isn’t far behind. I was surprised to see that our own state of Nebraska was included in the top ten. Yes, I have also noticed that McCook and Red Willow County have been slowly shrinking in population numbers over the years. Memory tells me that the population of Red Willow County was 12,615 back when I was County Commissioner; Nebraska was 1.8 million...

Stop the presses. Hunter S. Thompson is still dead. That was the unmistakable takeaway from a news release that crossed my desk this weekend from the Colorado Bureau of Investigation. The release announced—again—that Thompson died in 2005 by his own hand. ...

McCOOK, Neb. - Last week, the Gazette received a visit from Sarah Schneider, Director of the McCook Chamber of Commerce and Acting Tourism Director. Recapping the most recent chamber meeting, Schneider began by saying, “We have two new members already this year.” AngelsCare Home Health and Good Life Golf Carts...

Kirk Alan Nixon passed away on January 3, 2026 at the age of 63. He was born in McCook, Nebraska to James and Margie (Durner) Nixon. At the age of two he moved with his parents to Bartley, Nebraska. Kirk attended special education classes in McCook and lived in a group home in McCook during the school week. As a young adult, Kirk moved to a group home with Mosaic at Holdrege, Nebraska. Eight years ago, he moved to a host home with a caregiver...

Anthony John “Tony” Horinek, age 81, passed away Sunday morning, January 25, 2026, after a brief battle with cancer, in his home, surrounded by his family. Anthony was born in Colby, Kansas to Anton E Horinek and Henrietta (Kacirek) Horinek. Anthony graduated from Saint Thomas Moore Prep school in 1964. ...

CAMBRIDGE, Neb. — Cambridge’s four double-figure scorers were enough to overcme a 36-point effort from Southwest senior Houston Billeter on Saturday. The Trojans-Roughriders topped RPAC boys action on Saturday as Cambridge survived, 68-66. Senior Brady Ahlemeyer’s 21 points and tag-team partner Hodge Raburn with 20 inspired another Trojan victory...

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. — Junior Cali Crawford oustcored the North Platte Bulldogs, 31-30, and McCook’s girls mixed in another 26 for their 57-30 victory Friday evening. The Bison (5-10) scored their second dominating win in a week after blasting Lexington on Tuesday...