If you are like me, there are events and activities on your calendar which you wrote down or typed in months or even years ago. While the birthday reminders are still applicable, nearly everything else has been cancelled or moved online.
Just yesterday, I removed the reminder on my phone about the high school band trip to New York City, scheduled for later this month. That event was especially hard to delete because not only was this going to be my first trip to New York, but it was to be the conclusion of one of the longest-played practical jokes.
My sophomore son, Ethan, plays the baritone in the high school band and was excited for the trip. But not excited enough to invite his parents as chaperones. To make up for this slight, my husband and I coordinated with the band instructor, Nate Hudson, to go along as sponsors….without my son’s knowledge.
All year long, we made payments without Ethan seeing the checks. If Ethan wandered up to Mr. Hudson’s desk in the band room, his teacher would subtly cover up the hotel assignment list showing that Ethan was rooming with his dad. Even Ethan’s youngest brother was sworn to secrecy and he can’t stay quiet for two minutes.
My husband and I had this joke planned down to the last minute.
On the morning of the departure to the airport, our plan was to drive Ethan to the high school, even though he is old enough to drive himself.
Our excuse: “We don’t want a car sitting in town all those days.”
We would help him load his bags under the bus, as we subtly slipped our bags onto the other side.
Our excuse: “We’ll get your bags while you load your instrument. You wouldn’t want to leave without that.” Valid reason since another son forgot his saxophone for the band contest in Grand Island one year.
And then we would all step onto the bus to find a seat for Ethan.
Our excuse: “We just want one final hug before you leave and make sure you have everything you need.”
And that is when we would find our own seats on the bus and wait for his reaction as he realized that his parents were going along on his trip. It was a lot of work for just a few minutes of glee, but it was the start to a great trip with a great group of kids.
But like nearly every activity, the band trip was canceled. And when Ethan reads this, he will finally learn that his parents had been in cahoots with his band teacher, sneaking around his back, which is why he didn’t invite us in the first place.
This week has been a little rougher than usual as school comes to an end for high school seniors, ending in a way none of us had ever imagined.
On Tuesday night, I looked at my son, Erik, who is a senior and realized that 13 years worth of schooling had just come to an end.
Rather than cleaning out a cluttered locker, he sat at the dining room table and emailed an essay to his teacher. Rather than the traditional countdown to the last day of school, the kids have been scrambling to complete their online tests. Rather than hanging out in the school hallway, they are sending approximately 6 million snapchats.
And rather than prepping for a graduation party, seniors this year are - like the rest of us - just trying to figure out how their world will function the next few months and next few years.
And the schools are doing all they can to make the year special, especially McCook schools. Every senior has a yard sign created for them, which will be on display in front of the high school during cruise night on Friday. A virtual graduation is planned for Sunday. And an actual ceremony is planned for July 31 if we can gather together in large groups by then.
I hope it happens since I am sitting on 115 graduation gifts purchased by the McCook Community Foundation Fund for all the seniors, with the intention of handing them out at graduation practice in July. This is usually when we remind the students that we want them to stay or return to Southwest Nebraska after graduation. This is when we let them know that they can do just about any job they want from here. This is when we tell them they will never be forgotten. And for the Class of 2020, that statement has never been more true.
— Ronda Graff celebrated her oldest son’s graduation from college Friday and four years worth of work with a group text from his siblings of “Yay, you did it.”
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.
