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.”
Most likely, we aren't going to be good at something at the start. But that shouldn't stop us from trying.
August 2025 Volunteer of the Month Bruce McDowell can be found walking around McCook for his health, to be helpful or maybe even attend a meeting.
It takes work and effort to be social but its vital to our community.
McCook's young people are shaping their hometown through a various projects.
MCFF Summer Hometown Intern Natalie Roberts shares how her perspective on McCook changed over the past few months.
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 among five Nebraska communities in Revitalize and Thrive Program
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.
Judy McCune named July 2025 McCook volunteer of the month
Joyce Anderson named June 2025 McCook Volunteer of the Month
