This is McCook’s decade! I believe we’ll be sitting downtown after a Live at the Bieroc show in 2030 and look back and be amazed at what the community has accomplished. We’ll talk about how we built a new aquatics facility and new athletic fields. We’ll be excited about the improvements in programming and facilities at the Y. We’ll share about our visit with new business owners who purchased existing businesses and have kept the downtown active. Maybe we’ll even have someone at our table who is enjoying their new home in the new subdivision. It will be a great night.
2020 has been a challenging year for our nation. It is discouraging to see how the pandemic, systematic racism, and environmental crisis have affected our country. On the flip side, it has taught millions of people how to work from anywhere and longing for a higher quality of life.
This puts McCook in a great place and creates a sense of urgency to build a better community to call home. I’m proud to be part of the McCook Community Foundation Fund Advisory Committee as it is an organization that is the catalyst to move some of these initiatives forward. One of our core beliefs is we have abundance and assets in our community that we can build upon.
The idea of abundance has always been difficult for me, but I’ve had a chance to see it up close recently. I’ve been a part of the conversations with Senator Ben Nelson to create an endowment that will drastically improve our library programming. I’ve seen another large endowment gift come to the foundation. I’ve benefited from another funder who wanted to both make the Keystone Cowork Space a reality and to help MCFF get a $20,000 match to assist our local schools adapt to the pandemic.
People who live and grew up in McCook still love McCook. It is encouraging in my role as people reach out to me from across the country wanting to get updates and offer their assistance to make McCook a better place.
This being the case, we can’t wait for the calvary to save us or move us forward. For McCook to move forward, we need to move McCook forward. This will require some sacrifice as we give more of our time, talent, and treasures to our community. This will require us to examine our individual responsibilities to our community and neighborhood instead of parading around our individual rights. This will require us to invest in our community.
Rural communities that are moving forward have a vision for a better future, tell the positive side of their local story, and have strong public-private partnerships. The things we want to see happen this next decade will require the participation of city and county government, philanthropy, and our business community. The exciting thing is I know we have the people and organizations that can make it happen.
There’s big things in store for our community this decade, but we need your involvement. The McCook Community Foundation Fund has grown our endowment to be able to provide over $100,000 in grants on an annual basis. If you are a part of an eligible organization, our next grant application deadline is October 1. If you are able to give to build the endowment, let us know.
This It is our time! Help us know what you want to see a part of our vision and let us know how you can help. We have a strong heritage in McCook. Those of us working in the community today are standing on the shoulders of giants. Now is our time to move this community to the next level. I’m looking forward to that conversation we’ll be having at the Bieroc in 10 years because this is our decade.
Among his many affiliations, Andy Long is the executive director of the McCook Economic Development Corporation and a member of the McCook Community Foundation Fund Advisory Committee.
Once a month, a member of the MCFF committee will take over the Community Connection column to share why they belong to the fund and why it is important to the community.
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
