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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While the Bison Alumni Newsletter will still be available digitally, a new printed service is available.
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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.
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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.
