Last weekend, I took the latest Graff child to college in northwest Iowa. It is a small school with a swimming program. Additionally, it was located in a small community, where he won’t get lost in the shuffle or just be a number. (The same can be said for McCook Community College and yet another reason for kids to stay here, if only they had a swim team.)
Having selected the school site unseen due to the pandemic, we had no idea where the school was located within the community. But with less than 3,500 residents, I figured we would just drive around until we found the campus, looking for a bunch of college-appropriate buildings.
That was actually easier said than done. We found the campus in the last place we looked. (But isn’t that always true, because you quit looking as soon as you find something).
In between, we stumbled across a Casey’s convenience store with two charging stations for electric vehicles, a lake with a beach and swimming area in the middle of town and a casino with an 8-story hotel attached, which my son first assumed was his dorm. He wishes.
I was in impressed with many of the things the town had to offer, not including the miles of walking and bike trails around the lake.
Yet, I’m sure many of the residents take these amenities for granted, because it often takes the view of an outsider to appreciate everything we have.
But this pandemic has given all of us the opportunity to take a step back and to be grateful for the things we do have…and even the things we don’t have. (We are pretty lucky not to face hurricane and wildfires on a regular basis.)
As I stood in line earlier this week waiting to order lunch at a local restaurant, I couldn’t help but overhear the conversation behind me. A couple - noticeably overdressed for McCook - was debating on what to order, not knowing the menu. Since I can’t pass up the chance to talk to someone, I told them that no choice was going to be bad and made a few suggestions.
The couple turned out to be two attorneys from Omaha, in town for a case at the courthouse. Having decided on their order, they proceeded to rave about the crowd at lunch, asked for a suggestion to narrow down their choice for dinner and how they hoped to stop at a few of the shops in town before they headed back.
And they aren’t alone. As I waited for lunch, I ran into a friend, who is also an attorney from North Platte, and he commented that he actually doesn’t mind the drive to McCook. In fact, he looks forward to the days he has cases in McCook because he gets to frequent some of his favorite restaurants.
Although North Platte may be larger and has a lot of chain restaurants, they don’t seem to have those unique, home-owned restaurants and businesses that seem to thrive in McCook, a fact that many of us take for granted.
Whenever family comes to visit, they arrive with a list of must-haves: fries from Mac’s Drive-In and donuts from Sehnert’s Bakery, to name just a few stops. And while the franchises are great to have in the community, it is the independent, unique businesses which get people to come back to McCook again and again.
And it isn’t just the businesses which outsiders seem to appreciate. We have three lakes in such close proximity of our community that it makes us the envy of many fishermen, boaters and outdoorsmen. We have the space to socially distance whether in our parks or on the walking trail or even our own backyards, while many people have been cooped up in an apartment for months on end.
When you have a moment, walk down Norris Avenue, drive along B Street or bike around town with the intention of taking it all in as an outsider. Yes, you’ll see things that could be improved. You’ll see that you forgot even existed. But most likely, you’ll see things that we have taken for granted, that someone from the outside would love to have in their own community.
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.
