The McCook City Pool is again on the front page as there is progress on the project.
Earlier this week, the McCook City Council unanimously approved the hiring of an outside engineer to oversee the development of the city pool project.
It is great to see forward movement on this project which has been in the works for years...literally. It has been more than five years since a pool committee was formally created by the council. It has been more than 20 years since the last major improvement at the city pool took place, when a million dollars was put into the current facility. And even more impressively, it has been more than eight decades - 1937 to be exact - since the pool was built.
I try to imagine what those men (most likely only men) working during the Great Depression would think of the pool now. Would they be amazed that it is still functioning? Would they marvel that we haven’t replaced it since? Would they slap each other on the back and commend themselves that they built such a sturdy facility that has served its community for so long?
I also try to imagine the conversation in the mid-1930s when the country was deep in the throws of a depression, which had been raging for years and would continue until World War II began, yet the community came together to build something to improve the quality of life for its residents. A major world crisis didn’t make the community come to a grinding halt. Instead, they rolled up their sleeves, broke out their tools and got to work.
But along with the need for meaningful, paying jobs, what convinced the government that this was the right Work Progress Administration (WPA) project for McCook? What was the mindset of the community that this was important enough to warrant their time, their land and their effort? What convinced these leaders and workers that McCook needed a pool despite all the economic uncertainties at the time?
There had to be other priorities at the time, like food, education and housing, yet the leaders at that moment realized that this project was also important for its community.
I try to imagine the involvement of the community members in a town which was just 55 years old when the pool at the time. Did they have a say in the design of the pool? Why did they want multiple swimming lanes of two different lengths? What was the thought process behind its particular location? What was the role of McCook Junior College which had just opened its own building - McMillen Hall - in 1935 and was building True Hall in 1937? And most importantly, did anyone consider putting a natural slide from the pool down the hill at Kelley Park? (That would have been my most obvious addition.)
Obviously, these questions were considered along with others which were dismissed, but it would be interesting to know who and how those decisions were made. There is likely someone out there who has those answers or has the newspaper clippings with that information and at some point, I would like to find out the complete history of the project.
But we are here to determine McCook’s needs today. Community members should provide their input on what they want in their community on a regular basis. But it is even more important now and this isn’t just about the pool. Do you want an 8-field baseball complex? Do you want designated crosswalks at the obvious locations? Do you want to see local entities and organizations work together to make things happen? Have you seen something in another community that you think would benefit your hometown? Do you want a new green space with a playground for both kids and adults, because why should young people be the only ones who make themselves sick on the merry-go-round?
Then you need to speak up and be heard. And I’m not just talking about morning coffee groups where all the world’s problems are solved. It is contacting your local officials and asking to be a “stakeholder” in the decision making process as promised in the pool engineer’s contract. It is getting involved with local service organizations who are out there day-in, day-out making the community better. It is coming up with an idea and reaching out to those who can help make it happen or who know about funding opportunities.
Of course, we elect our local officials to make decisions for us, but they don’t make those decisions in a silo. They need our input (whether they like it or not) in order to make informed decisions. Are we always going to agree with their decisions? Probably not because it is impossible to know everything that goes into their decisions and because it is even harder to make every single person happy every single time.
But it is better to voice your opinion, holding your head high that you spoke up and tried to do your best for your community then lament never saying nor doing anything, wishing you had said something when it could have made a difference.
After all, we aren’t going to make our community even better by being silent. Instead, we can make McCook an even better place to call home by making our voices heard.
Jeremy Shaw named April 2025 McCook Volunteer of the Month
While the Bison Alumni Newsletter will still be available digitally, a new printed service is available.
During a recent performance at the Fox Theater by the Lied's Arts Across Nebraska, there was one group who was not thanked: those who showed up for the event, which is a big deal.
Mark Friehe named March McCook Volunteer of the Month.
Although the Bodensteiners no longer live in Southwest Nebraska, they are still connected and wanted to see if prosper and thrive.
From long-term projects to weekly events, you cannot say "there is nothing to do" or "nothing is happening."
With the goal of reaching 200 subscriptions, the Bison Alumni Newsletter is launching a subscription service.
Long-time volunteer Don Harpst was recognized as the first McCook Volunteer of the Month in March 2025.
McCook's youth survey shows that young people now value safety in their community, something McCook provides.
Building Connections in McCook Matters June in McCook will be abuzz with fun events including a Youth Summit, hosted by McCook Community Foundation Fund. Our young people in Youth Change Reaction will host the first Nebraska Community Foundation gathering for youth, which will bring youth from across Nebraska to McCook. While still in the planning stages, our students identified that McCook is great because of connections . Our young people easily recognize how critical this factor is to people attraction, to people retention, and to improve their futures. What I miss most about my high school classroom is connections with students and colleagues. In education, I taught first, second, and sometimes third generations in families. My husband, Greg, and I are not McCook natives, but I eventually knew who was related to whom and usually where the parent(s) were employed. Going to the grocery store meant greetings from students and sometimes their family members. I officially retired from my high school classroom nine years ago in May. When you retire, the most-asked question becomes “What do you do with your time?” I try to maintain those connections and make new ones by belonging. For the past seven years, Sharon Bohling and I have volunteered to help plan and organize Bison Days for our high school students, which took place February 10 and 11. It would not happen without the financial support of McCook Community Foundation Fund, plus the McCook High School, local businesses, and the talented people of Southwest Nebraska who say “yes” when one of us reaches out to ask for the donation of time and talent. I would venture that they allow us to be on the Bison Days’ committee because we both have connections within our community—it’s certainly not our computer savvy. Connections can also solve a problem. Recently, I signed up to help a local family in crisis. My morning plan revolved around delivering my donation at a designated drop-off place. That didn’t work out. Fortunately, I still work with youth in various capacities, so I know that Keri Wilkinson works for Camy Bradley. Keri was an organizer for the family fundraiser, so I walked in Camy’s office hoping to find Keri. She was not there, so Camy and I visited briefly. She knew someone (who I did not know) who could possibly give me further direction. Only in a town with connections are you able to interrupt someone’s business, have her reach out for you using her connections , and offer to keep the donations for me until Keri’s return. Another great example of connecting can be found over coffee. Dee Friehe and I are longtime teacher friends. During a chance meeting at the grocery store a few weeks ago, she shared how she was there following a funeral service and was gathering supplies to deliver supper to the grieving family that night. She also updated me on her group of adults who meet for coffee on Thursdays at Ember’s, which varies from 8-28 depending on the day. She recognized the need for adults moving to McCook or folks just wanting to get out to make connections . Dee’s husband, Mark, also hosts his own group of men who are new(er) to McCook. She regaled me with stories of their Christmas party and other special gatherings. Wanting to call McCook your home is solidified by building connections . Ronda Graff has written about McCook Connects which matches a McCook person with someone new to the community of similar interests. I earned my McCook Connects’ T-shirt welcoming a young family with children. We have since spent many hot summer days sitting on bleachers together cheering on our 4-H horse kids while they show their horses. Warning: I connected them with a “free” new-to-them horse. Be careful connecting with me or you’ll probably own a horse. You do not have to be retired to connect in this community. Volunteering is a surefire way to meet people. McCook has many civic groups looking for new faces. Attend a church here; we have many welcoming congregations. Go to ball games or school concerts, attend concerts in the park, learn a new skill through the college, show up at a Third Thursday event or invite the neighbors for a BBQ. Take your youngsters to story hour or Move and Groove at the library. Go watch an event at the Kiplinger Arena. You can even take it a step further: Make a friend or call a friend and invite him/her to go with you. It is human connection that keeps us healthy and happy. If McCook Community Foundation Fund can help you connect in some meaningful way, please reach out for advice or support. *** While Pam Wolford may be retired, she is just as busy serving on the McCook Community Foundation Fund committee and started a new Learn and Return Scholarship with MCFF, while stepping up to grandparent whenever the call comes in.
