McCOOK, Neb. -- It’s official. McCook did not win as “Nicest Place in America.” But McCook can still be proud it received Nebraska’s nomination from Reader’s Digest in the annual contest to determine who has the nicest place in the country.
Columbiania, Ohio, was named “Nicest Place in America” from the national magazine. The town of 6,000 has focused its efforts on its Main St. Theater, which allows everyone to be a star and symbolizes that no one is left behind.
The “Nicest Place in America” contest included more than 1,100 nominations, 49 finalists, tens of thousands of online votes and eight judges, who selected the nominations and the eventual winner.
McCook got into the running after a visit by national journalist David Brooks, who was brought to Southwest Nebraska by the Nebraska Community Foundation and the McCook Community Foundation Fund..
The New York Times Columnist visited McCook last March as part of a listening tour and community dinner to encourage communication between those with different viewpoints. Brooks also spoke at the McCook Rotary Club lunch during his two days in McCook. The visit even resulted in a column in the New York Times about McCook and rural America.
After the visit, several community members were encouraged to submit a nomination for McCook. Coincidentally, Brooks was one of the judges for the Reader’s Digest contest this year.
McCook’s nomination focused on the great quality of life in McCook, specifically citing Sehnert’s Bakery and Bieroc Cafe’s positive role in the community. The online comments raved about the hospitality of the bakery and its employees, its’ wonderful selection of baked goods and just a welcoming environment in general, which has been created by Walt and Jean Sehnert and Matt and Shelly Sehnert.
As part of the contest, the McCook Gazette ran more than 20 news articles about all the nice things in McCook that we can just take for granted. Ideas ranged from those who responded after a home north of McCook was destroyed by a tornado to a McCook youth baseball team traveling to Tennessee to visit and play with a sick teammate.
There were more ideas than space in the paper...just showing how nice McCook and Southwest Nebraska can be.
McCook may not have won Reader’s Digests’ 2019 Nicest Place in America contest, but at the end of the day, McCook is still a pretty nice place to live and great place to call home.
Sara Rippen named February 2026 McCook Volunteer of the Month
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To kick off the new year, Jo Beebe has been selected as the January 2026 McCook Volunteer of the month. While many people might know Jo for her years at the Sports Shoppe, she can be found giving hours of her time to the community, especially at St. Patrick Church. Whether during the weekly Mass or for a funeral or wedding, Jo shares her beautiful voice from the choir loft, as well as leading the choir members. Jo, along with her husband Harold, also has served as the St. Pat’s GALA host couple in the past and continues to help with set-up and cleanup of the annual event. Jo is also active with the Fall Festival, the Rosary Rally and the Wild Game Feed in Curtis every year. She attends every the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults class and helps students prepare for confirmation. And since retiring from the Sports Shoppe, she is active in the Altar Society, and volunteers at the Bargain Bazaar thrift store. According to her nomination, “The way Jo gives of her time and talents to our parish and community is a reflection of her faith,” and the community and the church are better because of her generosity. The McCook Philanthropy Council selects the monthly recipient for the McCook Volunteer of the Month award as part of the McCook Community Foundation Fund’s McCook Volunteer program. If there is a volunteer in the community who should be recognized, please contact the McCook Chamber of Commerce at 308.340.3200 or visit McCook Volunteers on the MCFF 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. Please have information about the nominee along with where and how they volunteer in the community.
Master Storyteller Will be Missed but Memories Remain
Maintaining the status quo or not doing anything may be cheaper initially but long-term, the costs are more.
Make 2026 memorable by getting involved and making an impact in your community.
As the year comes to a close, members of the MCFF Advisory Committee share "why" they do their community work.
