Only Impossible, Until It's Not

Only Impossible, Until It’s Not

A little over a year ago, a group of enthusiastic pickle ball players came to the McCook Community Foundation Fund, asking both about possible funding to improve McCook’s outdoor pickle ball courts and how to make the project happen.

The location of the two pickle ball courts at the time had a direct tie to MCFF, which played a role in the development of Russell Park a decade earlier thanks to the generous donation by the Russell family.

To get the ball rolling on new courts, several questions had to be answered.

Would it be possible to upgrade the entire site? Was it realistic to find the funds to make those improvements? Was it feasible to add a third court, due to the explosive popularity of the sport? How hard will it be to get all the contractors lined up? And by the way, could all this be done this summer?

On the surface, the project would look impossible, especially considering all the other projects happening in the community. But something is only impossible…until it happens.

But determination by the pickle ball players, especially Brian Michaelis, made the project happen. The collaboration among several entities, including MCFF, the Community Hospital Health Foundation and the City of McCook, made the project happen. And the financial support from the community, including a matching grant from MCFF and several other generous individuals and organizations, made the project happen.

And now whenever the weather is nice - or sometimes even when it is not so nice - the pickle ball courts are full with players, laughing at the balls they missed and high-fiving their partner on the balls they returned.

The pickle ball court renovation project also gained momentum thanks to the Wellness Initiative, being led by Community Hospital.

This same initiative was the primary backer behind McCook’s bond issue last fall, which will provide funding for a new outdoor city pool and new or upgraded ballparks.

Both of those projects could have been seen as impossible, especially the pool renovation which had been languishing for years trying to happen.

But the right entities came together to make it happen and if everything goes according to plans, the old McCook pool will be torn out this summer, rebuilt over the fall and winter and be open to the public at the beginning of next summer.

These projects didn’t just happen.

It takes dedicated people working tother, working through problems to make the impossible possible. It takes organizations working to find the resources necessary to fund these projects. It takes individuals willing to give of their time and willingness to get others involved.

Renovating the Keystone seemed like an impossible project, with its future destined to end with a wrecking ball. During the mortgage burning a few years ago for the Keystone, former McCook Economic Development Corp. director Rex Nelson shared that the contractors said the 6-story building was within months of needing to be demolished because of pipes leaking within the columns.

But the right people were in the right place at the right time in the late 2000s and the Keystone Business Center went from impossible to save to impossible of a downtown McCook without the Keystone.

McCook is in the verge of several large projects, many of which may seem impossible.

And true, some of them may not happen; we only have so many volunteers, donors, and man-hours available.

But with individuals passionate about an idea, organizations enthusiastic about a project and everyone willing to work together to make our community an even better place to call home, we can make the impossible possible.

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By Ronda Graff • January 22, 2026

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.