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The season for the McCook Aquatic Center comes to an end Wednesday, Aug. 13. The outdoor

facility is wrapping up its first full season after opening in July 2024. For more than 80 years, the

original McCook pool operated in the same location until it was replaced with a modern pool.

One constant at the old pool and now the new pool is a maroon van parked nearby with Bill

Donze sitting inside and a sign outside promoting 25-cent snow cones. Most people know him

simply as Mr. Bill.

Whether you think he is crazy for sitting in a vehicle registering 120-degrees on the interior or

odd for selling candy to kids by the side of the road, Mr. Bill is the constant every summer.

But those summers with Mr. Bill peddling Little Debbies and Slim Jims through the open van

doors is coming to an end.

For those who don’t know, Mr. Bill has cancer and faces a grim prognosis. He is very open

about the fact that his chances of being around next summer are slim. He is fighting the disease

with all the modern methods and says that when those options run out, he’ll consider all the

alternatives. But even if, as he puts it, he can find something on the internet to help him, there is

only a small chance he’ll be around to serve snow-cones to kids next summer.

Everyone has a Mr. Bill story.

One of my favorites involves Mr. Bill parking his van alongside Norris Park when the pool wasn’t

open. My mother-in-law lived across from Norris Park at the time and backed into Mr. Bill’s van.

As Dolores was going slow, it caused just a small dent but she wanted to pay to have it

repaired. Mr. Bill refused to have it fixed and declined to take any cash for the damage. Instead,

he would only accept the money for it to be used for free snow-cones for the kids. I believe kids

didn’t have to scrounge quarters for a snow-cone all summer long.

Just this week, I got to introduce someone new to Mr. Bill. I was talking with a friend at the

McCook pool, who was visiting from North Platte. In town for a meeting, she and her kids vowed

to do “McCook” things like lunch at Citta Deli, a donut from Ember’s, walk past the Frank Lloyd

Wright-designed Sutton House and swim at the new McCook pool.

I pointed at the maroon-colored van in the McCook Community College parking lot and asked if

she was stopping at Mr. Bill’s before heading north.

“Who is Mr. Bill?”

That concept seemed implausible to me but I explained that Mr. Bill sat in the searing heat,

selling candy and snow cones to the kids. I added that yes, when I explain it like that it does

sound like the very thing we tell our kids not to do. But in McCook and with Mr. Bill, it’s a right of

passage and the essence of summer.

I added that I hoped she had a stash of quarters in her mini-van and wasn’t against processed

food but it was something she needed to do before leaving town.

And the timing was especially important as the chances to visit with Mr. Bill are very limited, with

a McCook tradition coming to an end.

This doesn’t just apply to Mr. Bill.

We all have a limited time on this Earth. If we wait until the perfect moment to do something, or

the best time to visit with someone or only when we have time to reach out to someone, we may

miss our opportunity.


When my father-in-law Pete Graff was nearing the end, I asked my own dad to go visit him with

me. My dad’s response was that he would wait until Pete felt better. Of which I responded that

there wasn’t going to be a better time. We visited on a Monday and Pete passed away later that

week. There is never a perfect time. There is only now.

That opportunity existed because we knew time was short. And the same is true with Mr. Bill.

But we don’t have to know someone is dying to reach out or make a connection. We don’t have

to be on our death-bed to try something new or reach for a far-off dream. Again, there is no

perfect time. There is only now.

Mr. Bill plans to operate his candy van up until the end, as long as he is able. He could be sitting

in the unforgiving heat next summer if his body allows it, but this may be the last time our kids

get to experience the “25-cent snow cones since 1982.”

Mr. Bill and his candy van is one of those things that makes McCook unique and if you have the

chance, stop by his van, just to say “hi.” To say we appreciate you watching out for our kids. To

say thank you for making McCook a place where it is O.K. for our kids to buy candy from a guy

sitting in a van in a parking lot. And do it today because there is no perfect time…there is only

now.

Love for McCook Grows Through Internship

By Natalie Roberts • August 15, 2025
MCFF Summer Hometown Intern Natalie Roberts shares how her perspective on McCook changed over the past few months.

McCook Named to Revitalize and Thrive Communities

By Ronda Graff • August 6, 2025
McCook among five Nebraska communities in Revitalize and Thrive Program

Getting Outside to National Night Out

By Ronda Graff • August 4, 2025
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.

July 2025 Volunteer Makes Positive Impact At Chamber and Across Community

By Ronda Graff • July 29, 2025
Judy McCune named July 2025 McCook volunteer of the month

June Volunteer of the Month Key to Numerous Organizations

By Ronda Graff • July 29, 2025
Joyce Anderson named June 2025 McCook Volunteer of the Month

Sharing Books and Bikes Great Use of Resources

By Ronda Graff • July 29, 2025
Sharing our resources, such as books and bikes and even benches, help our community better for everyone.

Celebrating a Flurry of Activity in Our Community

By Ronda Graff • July 19, 2025
For many years, McCook did just enough to get by but now there is a flurry of activity - with much more possible - which we should be celebrating.

Family Resource Center Using Grant for New Ideas

By Ronda Graff • July 15, 2025
Family Resource Center is using a grant from MCFF to support current and new projects.

Picking up the Lost Baton That Lead To Cars Under the Stars

By Gavin Harsh • July 9, 2025
It was fall of 2012. I was a senior in high school and preparing for the next chapter of my life, college. I was determined that I was going to the University of Nebraska in Lincoln for physical therapy. I also knew to go through undergrad and graduate school I was going to need a lot of scholarships or “student debt” would be my middle name. With that mindset, I ultimately decided not to play basketball my senior year to allocate my time to scholarship applications and a part-time job. It was a tough decision since I enjoyed playing basketball and being around my friends, but it was an investment toward my future. Flash forward to early spring, where I was absolutely blessed by being recognized as a recipient of numerous scholarships that alleviated a major financial burden! Leading up to that point, I was already active in community service projects. But upon receiving those scholarships, I was motivated to give back and say “thank you” for the investment in my education by others. I wanted to do something big, something that would impact the community. Through various conversations and research, I decided to bring back an iconic memory to many McCook natives, a drive-in movie. Through strong partnerships with many local businesses and volunteers, we held a drive-in movie not only my senior year but also my first two years of college, as I returned to help coordinate the project. During the three years of shows in McCook, we rented all the equipment from Dallas, but the dream was to build a permanent, non-profit drive-in for the community to use. However, as I progressed further in my new career of farming, my resources of time and energy were capped and the event sat idle. That is until a group of young, ambitious, and talented students picked up the lost baton. During numerous discussions, Youth Change Reaction members, otherwise known as YCR, shared that they wanted to complete a big project. Many ideas were tossed around, but when the idea of bringing back the drive-in movie came about, it stuck for two reasons: these young adults had memories of attending drive-in movies plus it would meet their goal of going BIG. In the process of picking up the lost baton, their journey into uncharted waters included raising $75,000, building partnerships with community businesses and organizations, and finding the proper equipment. It was truly humbling and at that point, because life really had come full circle. I was once a YCR member and had this dream nearly 10 years ago. But now these young adults went above and beyond in building McCook’s very own “Cars Under the Stars” non-profit outdoor drive-in theater. This project was a true philanthropic endeavor that not only will last for many years, but leaves a legacy, young or old, that we all play a vital role in our community. The power of community collaboration, teamwork, and dedication pulled off a tremendous feat and now our community has a long-standing asset to enjoy. I encourage everyone to take these philanthropic efforts exemplified by our talented youth and implement them into our communities. Embodying the mission of making our rural Nebraska community a better place to live and call home. Those efforts may not result in fulfilling the entire dream you have, but it may be planting the seed and laying the foundation for someone to pick it up. We all have our blessed talents. What are we doing to help move our community forward? What has someone done before you to help set the stage for you to improve? Is there a lost baton in your community that you can pick up and make better? *** Gavin Harsh is an original member of Youth Change Reaction, the youth organization for the McCook Community Foundation Fund, and now serves as a volunteer member on the MCFF Advisory Committee.

'Tis Better to Give Than to Receive

By Ronda Graff • July 8, 2025
We are entering the holiday season. Not the typical cold, wintery time of year but the hot, sultry Fourth of July festivities. As part of this holiday, there are many upcoming celebrations to mark the United State’s birthday. Many have likely seen in the news and on social media that Kearney had to cancel its Freedom Festival, due to a lack of volunteers. This led to some confusion that McCook’s event was not happening July 3, which is understandable since they literally have the same name. But McCook’s event is taking place (may have already taken place by the time you read this) at the Red Willow County Fairgrounds. This event and others like it happen because several things need to be in place including people, businesses and organizations providing the funding needed to make it a reality. But perhaps more importantly, people, businesses and organizations step up to help by volunteering their time. If you don’t have people to plan and organize, the events can’t happen. If you don’t have friends and families willing to give of their time working, these events can’t happen. If you don’t have volunteers who see the value in spending an evening with others, these events won’t happen. And as we have seen, the reality is not that far away in Kearney. But we have proven that residents in McCook and Southwest Nebraska are willing to step up and help and make these projects happen, most recently this past weekend with the Tour de Nebraska (TDN) bike ride, the McCook Chamber’s Bash on the Bricks and Wagner’s Cruise Night. These events took dozens - if not hundreds - of volunteers giving hundreds of hours to make it happen. I was most involved with the Tour de Nebraska, the five-day bicycle ride that had more than 300 riders plus support staff in McCook for two days and nights. As the last of the bike riders headed north to the finish at Curtis on Sunday morning, what was left behind was a sense of joy by those who played a role in the event. There were numerous roles for the volunteers involved in TDN, from visiting businesses to let them know about the increased foot traffic to unloading luggage for the riders. There were the Community Hospital employees who staffed the welcome tent as the riders rolled into town. While the hill up to the staging area by McCook Community College event center is not normally that daunting, it proves to be a challenge after riding 60 miles from Cambridge in 90-degree weather. Nearly everyone pulled up the tent, exasperated over the hill, but was then overjoyed as a hospital employee draped an ice-soaked towel around their neck. There were literally sighs of relief and cries of joy due to this small gesture. Perhaps the biggest undertaking was the van shuttle system to get riders around the community. While the cyclists could have walked or ridden their bikes, it is hard to balance a load of laundry on your handlebars or to get across town from the movie theater late at night. Instead, for two days, nearly two dozen volunteer shuttle drivers drove a route around McCook, picking up and dropping off riders at local businesses. When it was all said and done, the shuttle drivers commented on how quickly their time went and how much fun they had. Some asked to take additional shifts, while others brought along a family member to be part of the joy of meeting others and to share the pride they have in their community. The drivers did receive a t-shirt for their time, but if you ask them, I’m betting that they will say they received more than they gave. Person after person who volunteered had stories from the two-day event, such as how friendly everyone was, how they enjoyed meeting people from across the U.S. and from other countries, and how they loved sharing what they love about their community. By volunteering, they came into contact with people they might not normally meet. There was a group from Denver who took the train from McCook after celebrating a bachelor party on the bike ride. There was the weatherman from Des Moines, who may have offered up his autograph. And there were the former McCook-residents who did the ride because it was in their hometown. This sense of joy and pride is not unique to this event. In fact, it is usually true of almost everyone who steps up to volunteer. Ultimately, you may give of your time and your talent and your treasure but usually you receive much more back in return. And if we all take that to heart and give back to our community by volunteering, we will all end up with so much more in return because it is better to give than to receive.