When I mention that my husband and I are chaperoning a high school dance, people usually have one of three reactions: pity, sympathy or bewilderment.
I, on the other hand, really enjoy sponsoring dances. It gives us a chance to hear music of which we have no idea what they are saying...and probably don’t want to know. It gives us a chance to bust out our best 1980s dance moves, much to the chagrin of our own children at the dance. And it gives us a chance to just hang out with many of our great younger people, while they are doing something fun.
(And congratulations to Liv Wier and Bryce Dutton on being crowned MHS Color Day Queen and King this past weekend.)
Every year but especially this year, we need to be intentional about creating possibilities where our young people can have fun, can make memories, and can form those bonds with our community.
It is having a dance, even though everyone has to wear a mask - and did a great job wearing them all night. It is creating a inviting space, where kids feel safe and welcome. It is creating opportunities where they can be involved and make an impact and even have ownership of their own projects.
The McCook skate park is a great example of empowering and supporting young people and seeing their idea come to fruition. The idea started with young people who simply wanted a skate park, which so many towns already had. They were involved every step of the way and now McCook can say it has a skatepark. And even if you will never use a skate park, it is still an asset for the community. It could be the one thing that makes a family with young kids choose to move to McCook - or not.
It is investing in our young people, both with our dollars and our time.
Perhaps it is coaching a youth sports team at the YMCA. Maybe you have a passion for a sport that you could share with a young person. Maybe this is your chance to spend more time with your grandchild doing something healthy.
Just because you don’t have a child enrolled does not mean you cannot help. I have a picture of me standing in the middle of Weiland Field (yes, that’s where we played when the program began), six months pregnant with my first child, surrounded by a gaggle of 10 year olds during half-time of a soccer game. She’s now 24 and I’ve coached soccer every year since.
While we may not realize it now, investing our time and money in young people will pay off down the road when those kids become the employees we need to fill the many jobs open in our community; when those kids return from college with a spouse in a tow (the “better half” as I like to call myself) and start their family; or when those kids are our next leaders and volunteers for the many great organizations and programs which already exist or which they will create on their own.
Every day, each and everyone of us makes decisions which will have an impact on what our community will look like for future generations.
But we have a special opportunity next week to share what we would like our community to look like next year, 10 years from now, 20, 30 or even 50 years from now. Decisions made today will affect us, our children and our grandchildren for years to come.
The city of McCook is hosting a town hall meeting next Thursday, Feb. 18 at 7 p.m. in the City Auditorium on West 5th Street. Everyone will have a chance to provide input on what we would like our community to be, what projects we would like to see completed, what is important for our community to not just maintain the status quo but to actually thrive and grow.
Even if you can’t attend in person, there are still ways to participate. There are plans to Zoom the town hall, so check the city website for further instructions. Or you can always email or call the city offices to share your ideas and suggestions.
While posting on Facebook or calling the radio station lets a person vent, it is not the most productive way to get something accomplished. City officials would rather hear helpful suggestions before the fact, rather than negative comments when it’s too late.
While the meeting will focus on issues the city can address such as the pool project, street maintenance and annexation, there is no reason other ideas cannot be shared. Maybe those ideas will be picked up by other groups and organizations in our community or even individuals who share your passion.
And who knows? Maybe it is your idea which makes a 2021 graduate decide to stay in McCook after graduation. Maybe it is your passion which convinces an alumni to invest in their hometown. Maybe it is your creativity which pushes a former resident to return and raise their family here.
So plan on attending, speaking or even just listening at the Feb. 18 town hall meeting, so we can all make McCook an even better place to call home.
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.
