Stories from Thursday, May 28, 2026

OXFORD, Ala. – The McCook Community College softball team knocked out another rated opponent Wednesday at the NJCAA D1 College World Series. In a game that was pushed back eight hours by 1.5 inches of rain, the Lady Indians exploded for five second-inning runs and held on win 5-2 to eliminate No. 10 McLennan (Waco, Texas)...

McCOOK, Neb. — The Buffalo Commons Storytelling and Music Festival is in its 29th year of providing an experience of music, art and storytelling integration, and the much-awaited gathering seems to get better every year. This year, June 12 through 14, the festival will feature Grammy-award-winning musicians, well-known scholars and nationally in-demand artists, as well as tours, open mic events, food, kids events and performances...

McCOOK, Neb. - While the Southwest Nebraska Big Give is still more than five months away, plans are underway for the 11th annual one-day of giving on Thursday, Nov. 5, 2026. Non-profit organizations that would like to participate in the Southwest Nebraska Big Give must register between June 1 and 30 on the Big Give website, www.swnebiggive.org. This includes those groups that have participated in the past and those that would like to be included for the first time this year...

At least once a week, I take my two dogs for a walk on the gravel roads near my house. Nothing unique or exciting about that unless you factor in my 14-pound dog thinking it can take down a passing motorist occasionally. But every other month, I take along four or five plastic grocery bags and a pair of gloves on our walk for the purpose of picking up trash along the mile and one-half stretch of road we cover...

LINCOLN, Neb. – Barbara LaVonne Ingersoll, 95, passed away on May 21, 2026, in Lincoln, Neb...

COLUMBUS, Neb. – Marjorie Louise Hamilton, 89 of Columbus, Nebraska, went to her heavenly home peacefully on May 25, 2026,...

OMAHA, Neb. – Charles “Dick” Stitt, of McCook, Neb., passed away on Tuesday, May 26, 2026,...

McCOOK, Neb. – Carla Louellen Thieben beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, gister, aunt and friend went home peacefully to be with her Lord and Savior on Sunday, May 17, 2026,...

The family of Don and Glynn Fagerstone of Hayes Center, Neb., is hosting a card shower in honor of their 65th wedding anniversary...

The family of Gwen Miller of Beaver City, Neb., is hosting a celebration and card shower in honor of her 90th birthday...

LINCOLN, Neb. — Chester “Chet” DeVaughn, (Pappy), 76 of Lincoln, passed away May 23, 2026...

BENTONVILLE, Ark. – Margie Mable (Baldonado) Lovitt passed away on Sunday, May 10, 2026,...

With McCook’s shiny new Aquatic Park now open for the season, it seems like an appropriate moment to reflect on water safety — particularly for young children who may be drawn to water long before they fully understand its dangers. That thought recently brought to mind the story behind Josh the Otter Water Safety Foundation, a Lincoln-based effort devoted to drowning prevention and early childhood swim education...

The McCook High golf boys were a solid seventh among 12 qualifying Class B teams competing at Scottsbluff Country Club Wednesday. The Bison totaled 335 overall with Lincoln Pius X leading at 305. Complete details will appear on Friday. Junior Cruz McCarty shot 80 to lead the Bison through Wednesday while sharing 47th place overall...

COLUMBUS, Neb. — Hitchcock County senior Jack Baker and Southwest senior Houston Billeter are both within title striking distance as Class D state golf play resumed today. Baker shot 75 in Wednesday’s first round, sharing third place and only two strokes behind state leader Lukas Armstrong from Red Cloud with 73...

McCOOK, Neb. — McCook First Central Bank Juniors 2026 could not keep pace with Heartland Chevrolet Lexington Post 111 Juniors 8-4 on Wednesday at McCook. A walk by Bryant Edwards put McCook First Central Bank Juniors 2026 on the board in the bottom of the first...

OGALLALA, Neb. — McCook National Bank’s Seniors hit the jackpot with a 14-1, 4-3 doubleheader sweep of Ogallala Tuesday night for their first two wins of this Legion baseball season. The Seniors (2-1 record) shook off their 18-7 opening defeat to Broken Bow on Memorial Day as an eight-run fourth inning ignited that 14-1 road victory...

McCOOK, Neb. – Mark Ward Carman was born December 8, 1958, in Goodland, Kan., to Max D. and Janice L. (Claar) Carman. He passed away Wednesday, May 27, 2026,...