In my house, we have a bookshelf in every bedroom and on those bookshelves is every genre of book. But I repeatedly return to one book on our shelves, which I stumbled upon years ago at the McCook LIbrary and then had to purchase because little hands like to color in inappropriate places but am glad I own.
It’s simply titled “Traffic.” It is all about how traffic works, why traffic is the way it is and how we could improve our experience on our roads and make it safer to be on our roads. I also listen to podcasts and read articles about traffic, picking up many interesting facts.
Such as why narrower lanes are actually safer because people have to pay attention more, why drivers should use zipper merging to use every last inch of available road and how speed limits are sometimes determined by the speed drivers have decided to go rather than the other way around.
So after a couple local incidents this week, it is time once again for the annual public service announcement to be a little more aware while out and about, whether driving, biking or even just walking the dog. As the weather gets nicer and more people are outside enjoying themselves, It is time to look out for others - literally.
As someone who is on the roads and streets biking and walking and who puts people on the streets and trails for the fitness series, I have a vested interest in keeping people (including myself and my family) safe.
And it isn’t just those on the outside of the vehicles I am concerned about, but also those inside.
One of my side gigs is driving the St. Patrick Elementary school bus to activities.
On Wednesday as I was taking the St. Pat track team back and forth to a meet in Trenton, the bus was passed not once, twice but three times by an impatient driver. I say impatient because it isn’t unusual for the bus to be passed because it is a large vehicle struggling to reach the speed limits sometimes.
What was different this time was that I had to slam on the bus brakes not once, not twice but three times as these vehicles passed the bus just as an oncoming car was traveling toward us. I didn’t want to see that vehicle get into an accident, nor did I want the kids on my bus to witness the accident.
I have no idea if these were local drivers or out-of-staters, but no appointment, no meeting, no destination is worth getting into an accident over just to save a few minutes. And most likely, that is all the time they were saving...a few minutes.
In college, I opted to take a Safety Training Option Program or STOP class to avoid a ticket and higher insurance. After four hours sitting in a classroom with a former police officer, I learned two things.
First, it is O.K. to drive a few miles over the speed limit if you are traveling long distances, perhaps from Omaha to Chicago. Yes, we were told it was OK to speed. Those extra five miles an hour will add up and could ultimately save you an hour of drive time and it is safe to do so.
But the second thing I learned was that speeding over short distances was pointless, wasteful and dangerous. The point the officer made was that speeding across town doesn’t save much time, maybe a few seconds. But are those few seconds worth the possible accident you could cause if you aren’t able to stop in time?
When it comes to traffic, it isn’t just the speed which we need to consider. We need to be looking at accessible sidewalks so people don’t have to walk in the road; it is bike lanes so people are encouraged to ride their bicycle in a safe environment; it is cross-walks so both drivers and pedestrians know each other will be interacting.
I have to admit that I was driving down B Street the other day, envisioning a bike lane. How could that happen? Kurt Vosburg at the Department of Roads would say I’m nuts, but I would take away a foot from each of the four lanes to create a three-foot wide bike lane on one side of B Street. It is hard to imagine, but turn signals, crosswalk signs and even yellow lights didn't exist at some point but are now hard to imagine living without.
Perhaps you would like to see a walking trail in one of our parks. Maybe you would like to see a walking bridge over the highway to safely cross to a business. Or what about a stoplight which is just in use during McCook’s “rush hour”...dropping kids off at school. Just because something doesn’t exist right now doesn’t mean it can’t happen.
There is movement on adding to McCook’s walking trail, which is great to see. But if you would like to see more miles of trails or if you have ideas about bike lanes or crosswalks, get involved. Contact the city. Contact the county. Contact the Games and Parks. It is up to each and every one of us to make McCook an even better - and safer - place to call home by looking out for one another.
As the year comes to a close, members of the MCFF Advisory Committee share "why" they do their community work.
Whether it is the hustle and bustle of the holidays or just every-day activities, it is good to remember that "this too shall pass."
Linda Graff named McCook Volunteer of the Month for December 2025
By focusing on what is important, we can make an even better impact in our communities.
After a 10-year hiatus, the McCook Holiday Home Tours return focusing on downtown upstairs apartments.
While many people think volunteering is for older residents, serving your community has no age restrictions. And young people can regularly be found lending a hand or offering their services in their hometown. The November 2025 McCook Volunteer of the Month recognizes one of many young people are working to make their community an even better place to call home: Grady Riemenschneider. Currently a senior at McCook High School, Grady volunteers with a wide variety of organizations and groups. As a four-year member of the McCook Community Foundation Fund’s Youth Change Reaction, Grady serves as the ambassador for the youth group’s “Cars Under Stars,” the outdoor movie theater at the Red Willow County Fairgrounds. At nearly every showing, he can be found operating the projector and setting up the parking lot, as well as passing along his knowledge to the next ambassador. In McCook’s FFA program, Grady has held officer roles the past four years and is currently the chapter vice president, organized the chapter banquet in 2025 and coached for the conduct of chapter meetings. Along with serving as the president of the Driftwood Feeders 4-H Club, he assists with setup, tear down and fundraising for the dog show and helps fellow members train their dogs. Grady steps in to help and lead at local events, including Prairie Plains CASA’s Kick in’ It Up for CASA and the Cajun Broil; the Edward Jones Alzheimer’s Walk; operating sound boards for various groups; and Feed the Farmer. And he has served as a youth leader at McCook Christian Church for elementary youth since approximately 2018 as well as stepping up to ensure the ag program ran smoothly during a teacher’s maternity leave Upon request from his mother about some of Grady’s activities, Sharleen noted that he is the “Chief Household Operations Officer: first responder for Mom’s to-do list, go-to chauffeur and caretaker for his favorite sidekick (a.k.a. his nephew), and the family’s unofficial event planner who somehow keeps everyone together without a clipboard.” The McCook Philanthropy Council recognizes a volunteer every month who is doing good work in McCook and Red Willow County. If there is a volunteer in the community who should be recognized, please contact the McCook Chamber of Commerce at 308-345-3200 or visit McCook Volunteers on the McCook Community Foundation Fund’s website, mccookfoundation.org to complete a nomination form. The only requirement is that the nominee must be a resident of McCook or Red Willow County but please have information about the nominee along with where and how they volunteer in the community. The volunteer honoree is selected monthly by the McCook Philanthropy Council.
With the holiday's nearing, MCFF member and Mayor Linda Taylor reflects on the many things to be thankful in McCook.
The names of those people who have made a generational impact on McCook and Southwest Nebraska is a long list. Many of them are working day-in, day-out right now to make their mark on the community. And then there are those people who no longer call McCook home but still make an impact long after they are gone. Allen Strunk is one of those people. Allen passed away on Nov. 1 at his home in Las Vegas, Nevada but he never lost the love of his hometown. Born and raised in McCook, Allen was a member of an already well-known family, Harry and Arlene Strunk. The Strunks started and published the McCook Daily Gazette, with the motto, “Service is the rent we pay for the space we occupy in this world.” A saying that was so important that Harry had it etched at the top of his downtown newspaper office on Norris Avenue. That sense of service was passed along to Allen, who continued to serve his community as he took over leadership of the Gazette. I didn’t know Allen personally until he came back for visits years later. Even though my first job upon arriving in McCook was at the McCook Daily Gazette and Allen had turned over the publishing reins to Gene Morris many years prior, the Strunk legacy loomed large. He was instrumental in the building of the then-new YMCA, moving the facility from downtown to its current location next to the McCook High School. He was a key player in the new hospital, again moving from one location to a new expanded space. And McCook Community College benefitted his involvement in an expansion. Those projects continue to impact McCook today. And the support didn’t stop just because Allen retired from the Gazette and left McCook. There are programs the Strunks are involved in that benefit McCook and Southwest Nebraska. The Strunks continue to support Santa Claus Lane, which is overseen by the McCook Chamber of Commerce. And which after a few years of decline is seeing a resurgence of enthusiasm and nostalgia for the decorative holiday pieces lining Norris Avenue. Allen funds the annual McCook Area Outstanding Teacher award, which provides a financial prize to several teachers every year. And Allen recognized the work of the McCook Community Foundation Fund, providing a donation several years ago so that he could see its impact while he was still alive. This has led MCFF to consider how they will recognize and remember Allen for years to come. Because of his belief in service to his community, this could mean more recognition for the countless volunteers who keep our community thriving. It could be a day of community service, to see how many people can come together to make something happen. It could be a celebration for all the great things happening in our community. During Allen’s memorial service this past week in McCook, his step-daughter-in-law read the poem, “The Dash" by Linda Ellis, who published it in 1996. It reflects on the meaning of the dash between the birth and death dates on a tombstone. The dash is a reminder of everything that happens between the moment a person is born and the moment a person dies. The dash emphasizes the importance of how one lives their life during that time. The dash prompts a person to think about living, rather than worrying about dying. Ultimately, the dash is where all the good - and the bad - happens. And Allen Strunk made the most of his “dash,” both in his community and within his family. We can’t all run a newspaper. We likely aren’t going to etch our favorite saying into a building. But we all need to consider how we are paying the “rent for the space we occupy in this world.” And we can all make a difference in our hometowns, whether we currently live in them or even if we haven’t stepped foot on the main street in years.
Everyone feels a need to be needed and it is shown through the Big Give and Meal Kit Giveaways
