Public Safety & Notices

McCOOK Neb. — Southwest Nebraska Public Health Department (SWNPHD) is encouraging residents to take proactive steps to protect their mental well-being this holiday season, a time when emotional strain, stress, and crisis situations often become more frequent. While the holidays can bring joy and celebration, they can also magnify feelings of grief, financial pressure, loneliness, and family conflict. This can create moments when people feel overwhelmed, making early awarenes

McCOOK Neb.— The Nebraska State Patrol has released an official statement regarding the incident that occurred Monday afternoon in McCook. According to NSP, McCook Police received a 911 call from a resident who stated he was considering self-harm. While officers were speaking with him on the phone, they heard a gunshot inside the home. Officers entered, attempted life-saving measures, and called EMS, but the man was pronounced deceased from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot

McCook Neb. — A fifth positive case of rabies in an animal has been reported to Southwest Nebraska Public Health Department (SWNPHD). This positive rabies test was from a bat in Frontier County. This is the second positive bat in southwest Nebraska for 2025, and the highest number of rabies cases in a year since 2015. Rabies is a deadly virus that affects the brain and is found in bats and other warm-blooded animals. Rabies is spread through the saliva or blood of an infecte

September 20, 2025 McCOOK Neb. — As text messages and social media posts about possible concerns spread through McCook on Friday night, McCook News Now reached out to local law enforcement to confirm the facts. McCook Police Chief Kevin Hodgson responded directly to an inquiry from McCook News Now on Saturday morning, confirming that officers had investigated the rumors and found no credible threat. “The rumors were investigated and we could not confirm they were credible,”

McCOOK, Neb. — A helicopter spotted circling McCook on Sunday afternoon was assisting local law enforcement in the search for an individual with an active warrant, according to a statement from the McCook Police Department. Police say the situation began on Sunday, August 3, when an off-duty officer observed the wanted individual in the area of West F Street. The officer notified the on-duty sergeant, and patrol officers responded to attempt to locate the subject. The indivi

July 3, 2025 For Immediate Release Contact: Melissa Propp RN, Clinic Manager 308-345-4223 Hugh Butler Lake Health Notice McCook Neb. - Southwest Nebraska Public Health Department (SWNPHD) has been notified of high levels of E. Coli at Hugh Butler Lake in Frontier County also known as Red Willow Reservoir. This means the water has a higher than usual number of bacteria, and residents should take extra care to not swallow any lake water. “With the assistance of DHHS, we careful

LINCOLN, Neb.– June 13, 2025 – The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has officially declared Alpha-Gal Syndrome (AGS), commonly known as the “red meat allergy,” a reportable condition in the state. This move aims to better understand the prevalence of the tick-induced allergy, which has seen 15 cases recorded in Nebraska so far in 2025, with 60% reporting serious anaphylactic reactions. AGS is an allergy to a sugar molecule called alpha-gal, found in mo

McCOOK Neb. - In our hyper-connected world, a sense of digital privacy can feel like a rapidly fading luxury. Between relentless data harvesting, eerily precise targeted advertisements, and applications that trace our every digital footprint, it’s natural to ask: Is genuine privacy still attainable? This article will delve into common digital privacy concerns, demystify how different messaging platforms handle your personal information, and equip you with actionable steps to

McCOOK, Neb. -The McCook Police Department has concluded a focused enforcement period between March 26, 2025, and May 21, 2025, leading to numerous arrests for drug-related offenses and outstanding warrants. The concentrated effort aimed at addressing criminal activity within McCook and the surrounding areas. Among those arrested during this initiative were individuals facing serious charges related to controlled substances, weapons offenses, and outstanding warrants from var

McCOOK Neb. - In a powerful presentation at the McCook Rotary Club, District Governor Amelia Stansell of Warrenton, Virginia, shed light on the pervasive issue of human trafficking. Representing Rotary District 7610, which encompasses 53 clubs in northern and central Virginia, Stansell is also a dedicated member of the Rotary Action Group Against Slavery (RAGAS), serving on its board of directors and as the RAGAS state coordinator for Virginia. Dressed as Wonder Woman, Stan

McCOOK Neb. - On Saturday afternoon, two McCook Junior High students went for a walk and spotted a bag of chips on the ground. However, they noticed something else appeared to be inside it. Their curiosity piqued, they picked it up and discovered what they believed could be drugs. Without hesitation, they called the police, and an officer collected the item as evidence. In an email, McCook Police Chief Kevin Hodgson stated, “I cannot confirm what the substance was inside the