McCOOK, Neb – The Heritage Days Grand Marshal joked, “You don’t have to be good, you just have to be old to get an award,” adding, “I love this community, it has so much to offer.”
Dennis Berry was named the Heritage Days Grand Marshal during a mixer hosted by MNB Bank and taking place at the Keystone Business Center Wednesday evening. The award winners were announced from the balcony of the historic building, while attendees were able to social distance on Norris Avenue.
Berry has served McCook in many ways, including his long career as principal at McCook Junior High School. He has volunteered in many capacities throughout the community as well. He has served on the McCook City Council, holding the position of Mayor for 11 years. He is currently serving on the McCook School Board of Education and is the president of the McCook Economic Development Corporation. He is also a member of the McCook Community Foundation Fund committee. He has long been an advocate for youth and children, serving as a TeamMates mentor, coach for many sports, and has been involved in numerous child advocacy projects locally and across the state.
The Heritage Honor Family is the Matt and Shelly Sehnert family. Their family consists of daughter, son-in-law and grandson, Gretchen, Taylor, and Ty Dixon of Elwood, Neb.; daughter Becca Sehnert of Omaha, Neb.; and son Gabe Sehnert, a student at the University of Nebraska Lincoln.
The Sehnerts own and operate Sehnert’s Bakery and Bieroc Café on Norris Avenue in McCook, a gathering place and social hub for the community. The bakery has been distinguished as Nebraska’s first and only recipient of the James Beard Foundation America’s Classic award winner.
Shelly has been a teacher at McCook High School for 17 years, where she is a sponsor for the Youth Change Reaction group. Shelly was the recipient of the 2017 Strunk Family Educator of the Year Award.
Matt has served two separate stints on the McCook Chamber of Commerce board of directors, including chairperson in his second term. He has also served on the YMCA board. He is currently president of the McCook Arts Council and a member of the McCook Community Foundation Fund committee. He is one of the organizers for Buffalo Commons Storytelling Festival and the Prairie Roots Music Festival in McCook.
The Sehnerts have long been supporters of live music and were recently honored by the Nebraska Arts Council with the Governor’s Arts Award for Partners in the Arts. The award recognizes their continued support of the arts through time, energy expertise, and financial support. They have hosted a concert series of live musical performances called “Live at the Bieroc” for twenty years. The series features singer-songwriters from across the country, as well as showcasing local talent as the opening acts.
In accepting the Honor Family award, Matt said, “I see a lot of friends and I think about how you shaped us. Thirty years ago, we chose to leave the city and come back to McCook to create a life. It’s a great place to raise a family and earn a living and you’ve helped us create a wonderful life, so thank you.”
He went on to acknowledge his bakery crew, and especially his parents, Walt and Jean Sehnert, who are recognized as community leaders and owned and operated the bakery before Matt and Shelly took over.
Shelly shared with mixer attendees the reason they have become so involved in various community activities. “We have always had the philosophy that wherever you are, make it the best you can make it. So when we came to McCook, we said that we were going to make this a place we want to be. So that’s what we’ve done.”
Heritage Days activities continue tomorrow with the George Norris Prayer breakfast at 7 a.m. at McCook Christian Church and the Heritage Days Parade starting at 10 a.m. on Saturday on Norris Avenue.
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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.
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