Traveling along B Street in McCook, I cannot help but glance south as I pass Norris Avenue. Regardless of the time of day, I am always curious to see if the Amtrak train is at the McCook train depot. True, the westbound train is supposed to arrive at 3:43 a.m. and the eastbound train is scheduled in McCook at 11:49 a.m. - both times I am not usually cruising the streets.

Yes, the train is frequently late (I remind people it can’t be early because then it would leave people behind) but I love seeing the train in McCook because it not only represents an option of travel but it represents possibilities.

I frequently hop on the train, whether it is west to go skiing or east to visit my kids in Omaha and Lincoln. It is a blessing to have both air service and rail service serve our community. 

But that isn’t why I am focusing on the train. The train is just once option to travel for experiences in other places.  

My family and I travel a lot, whether it is for sporting events, for concerts, for visiting family and friends. Because of those travels, we get to experience new ideas, we get to see things we haven’t considered, we get to do things we may not get to do at home.

Traveling expands our minds to new possibilities, possibilities that we then want to take home and share with our community. That is why there is a group working to create a building-sized mural on West First Street. That is why Youth Change Reaction is working to build the Cars Under the Stars outdoor theater at the Red Willow County Fairgrounds. And that is why we have a thriving arts and culture scene right here in Southwest Nebraska, bringing entertainment to our doorsteps.

For example, in March alone, the historic Fox Theater will be hosting not one, not two, but three unique live productions - all without traveling for hours.

Once again, the Lied is bringing Arts Across Nebraska to McCook with the presentation of Henrietta Solway. The new, live production is based upon the short stories of Willa Cather. You could travel to Lincoln this weekend to experience the show - and pay for tickets. 

Or we can be thankful they are taking the performance on the road to Red Cloud, Kearney and McCook, where we can see the play for free, thanks to generous sponsors including the Kimmel Foundation. 

Henrietta Solway will be at the Fox on Thursday, March 2. There is a matinee at 1 p.m. for students but is open to the public and another second performance at 7 p.m., open to everyone. This is a world-class production coming to us rather than asking us to travel. 

So grab a friend or your family and let’s fill the Fox to experience a wonderful production and show appreciation for bringing live performances to Southwest Nebraska.

Then a few weeks later on March 14, the McCook Concert Association will host its third production of the year, the Hall Sisters, at the Fox Theater. Available to season pass holders or with tickets at the door, the Hall Sisters have played at the Grand Ole Opry, Carnegie Hall, and the Country Music Hall of Fame but will be performing for us right here at home. 

This will be followed a few days later by the Southwest Nebraska Community Theater Association’s spring performance of Freaky Friday. Directed by Christy Stevens, this musical will showcase some of the best talent - singing, dancing and acting - from across our area. Performances will be at the Fox Theater from March 18-26 with tickets sold at the door. These local performers have put in countless hours to bring us joy, laughter and entertainment, again all without traveling for hours.

And this doesn’t even touch on everything going on at the McCook High School and surrounding communities from school concerts to community performances.

We need to travel to experience all the world has to offer. We need to travel to learn about other possibilities. We need to travel to be exposed to new ideas. 

But we need to balance that with appreciating everything in our own “backyard.” These productions are coming to our doorsteps so we need to return home to enjoy what we have, to share what we have learned and to work together to make McCook and Southwest Nebraska an even better place to call home. 

Love for McCook Grows Through Internship

By Natalie Roberts • August 15, 2025
MCFF Summer Hometown Intern Natalie Roberts shares how her perspective on McCook changed over the past few months.

Summer and McCook Tradition Coming to an End

By Ronda Graff • August 8, 2025
With the McCook Aquatic Center closing soon for the season, another tradition - Mr. Bill and his 25-cent snow-cones - will likely be coming to an end soon too.

McCook Named to Revitalize and Thrive Communities

By Ronda Graff • August 6, 2025
McCook among five Nebraska communities in Revitalize and Thrive Program

Getting Outside to National Night Out

By Ronda Graff • August 4, 2025
Getting Outside of National Night Out Nearly everyone can tell you their last interaction with the police or the fire department. And unfortunately because of the nature of the organizations, it is usually not at a positive moment. My last contact with the McCook Police Department was just a few weeks ago, when I was pulled over on B Street in McCook…on my scooter. I pulled into the wrong lane when making a turn, which is illegal. But in my defense, it was an act of self-defense to just get through the intersection of East B and Sixth streets alive. Since the drivers haven’t seen a stop-light since Holdrege, cars and semis regularly run the traffic light, which makes me a wee bit vulnerable as I pass through the lanes. I got off with a warning but the true punishment were the texts throughout the day from everyone who saw me with my scooter and the police officer. Since most exchanges with police and fire are not on good terms, National Night Out was created to have an evening of positive interactions, to remind the public that the police and fire departments are just normal people, doing their jobs, looking out for their friends and neighbors, trying to create a safe community for everyone. National Night Out is designed to simply join your friends and neighbors for an evening of fellowship and fun. It is an opportunity to meet local law enforcement, creating safer and more caring neighborhoods. McCook is joining thousands of other communities across the country in hosting National Night Out, which typically takes place on the first Tuesday of August every year. Planned for Tuesday, Aug. 5 from 5:30-7 p.m. in and around Norris Park in McCook, the night includes a bike parade, a walk, awards for bike decorating, desserts and more. In other words, it is simply a block party to hang out. Numerous organizations have come together to make the evening possible. CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) and the McCook Rotary Club are hosting a bike parade that starts at 6 p.m. Linda Maiden with State Farm, a bicycle helmet advocate, will also be in Norris Park. The streets around Norris Park will be shut down to provide a safe area to ride, as well as more space to cruise around the block. Participants are encouraged to decorate their bike, scooter, roller skates or anything on wheels. This could mean streamers, pompom balls, markers or even the old classic - playing cards in the spokes of your wheels. Some supplies will be available at the park for use if you show up and realize you are the most underdressed person at the party. If your bike has an inch of dust on it, this is a great time to get it out, wipe it off and get it rolling. And if your bike needs minimal fixes like a flat tire or a brake adjustment, bike tools will be on hand along with myself and my hubbie, who know just enough about bike repair to be dangerous but did manage a 300-plus mile bike ride last week so we must be doing something right. But let’s say you don’t have a bike or biking isn’t your cup of tea? Then you are still encouraged to join the “Walk in the Park,” hosted by Community Hospital. Designed to encourage a healthy lifestyle, walkers will stroll around the park and the neighborhood at whatever pace you feel like with strollers and dogs on leashes welcomed. And perhaps most importantly, there will be a chance to meet members of the McCook Police and Fire Department, getting to see police cars and fire engines close-up in a non-emergency manner, always the best way to see them. And if the weather cooperates, there may be a fire hose, water and spraying involved. If you have been at the Culbertson Fourth of July parade, you know it is up to you to stay out of the line of fire if you want to remain dry. We all have excuses for why we don’t want to go out at night, especially after a long day at work. But National Night Out in McCook on Aug. 5 is a great reason to get out your bicycle and lace up your walking shoes. Hang out with your friends, get to know your neighbors and meet your first responders. That is what makes our communities just a little bit better.

July 2025 Volunteer Makes Positive Impact At Chamber and Across Community

By Ronda Graff • July 29, 2025
Judy McCune named July 2025 McCook volunteer of the month

June Volunteer of the Month Key to Numerous Organizations

By Ronda Graff • July 29, 2025
Joyce Anderson named June 2025 McCook Volunteer of the Month

Sharing Books and Bikes Great Use of Resources

By Ronda Graff • July 29, 2025
Sharing our resources, such as books and bikes and even benches, help our community better for everyone.

Celebrating a Flurry of Activity in Our Community

By Ronda Graff • July 19, 2025
For many years, McCook did just enough to get by but now there is a flurry of activity - with much more possible - which we should be celebrating.

Family Resource Center Using Grant for New Ideas

By Ronda Graff • July 15, 2025
Family Resource Center is using a grant from MCFF to support current and new projects.

Picking up the Lost Baton That Lead To Cars Under the Stars

By Gavin Harsh • July 9, 2025
It was fall of 2012. I was a senior in high school and preparing for the next chapter of my life, college. I was determined that I was going to the University of Nebraska in Lincoln for physical therapy. I also knew to go through undergrad and graduate school I was going to need a lot of scholarships or “student debt” would be my middle name. With that mindset, I ultimately decided not to play basketball my senior year to allocate my time to scholarship applications and a part-time job. It was a tough decision since I enjoyed playing basketball and being around my friends, but it was an investment toward my future. Flash forward to early spring, where I was absolutely blessed by being recognized as a recipient of numerous scholarships that alleviated a major financial burden! Leading up to that point, I was already active in community service projects. But upon receiving those scholarships, I was motivated to give back and say “thank you” for the investment in my education by others. I wanted to do something big, something that would impact the community. Through various conversations and research, I decided to bring back an iconic memory to many McCook natives, a drive-in movie. Through strong partnerships with many local businesses and volunteers, we held a drive-in movie not only my senior year but also my first two years of college, as I returned to help coordinate the project. During the three years of shows in McCook, we rented all the equipment from Dallas, but the dream was to build a permanent, non-profit drive-in for the community to use. However, as I progressed further in my new career of farming, my resources of time and energy were capped and the event sat idle. That is until a group of young, ambitious, and talented students picked up the lost baton. During numerous discussions, Youth Change Reaction members, otherwise known as YCR, shared that they wanted to complete a big project. Many ideas were tossed around, but when the idea of bringing back the drive-in movie came about, it stuck for two reasons: these young adults had memories of attending drive-in movies plus it would meet their goal of going BIG. In the process of picking up the lost baton, their journey into uncharted waters included raising $75,000, building partnerships with community businesses and organizations, and finding the proper equipment. It was truly humbling and at that point, because life really had come full circle. I was once a YCR member and had this dream nearly 10 years ago. But now these young adults went above and beyond in building McCook’s very own “Cars Under the Stars” non-profit outdoor drive-in theater. This project was a true philanthropic endeavor that not only will last for many years, but leaves a legacy, young or old, that we all play a vital role in our community. The power of community collaboration, teamwork, and dedication pulled off a tremendous feat and now our community has a long-standing asset to enjoy. I encourage everyone to take these philanthropic efforts exemplified by our talented youth and implement them into our communities. Embodying the mission of making our rural Nebraska community a better place to live and call home. Those efforts may not result in fulfilling the entire dream you have, but it may be planting the seed and laying the foundation for someone to pick it up. We all have our blessed talents. What are we doing to help move our community forward? What has someone done before you to help set the stage for you to improve? Is there a lost baton in your community that you can pick up and make better? *** Gavin Harsh is an original member of Youth Change Reaction, the youth organization for the McCook Community Foundation Fund, and now serves as a volunteer member on the MCFF Advisory Committee.