Arts, Culture & Community

McCOOK Neb.— Every December, something magical happens behind the scenes at McCook Public Schools. Throughout the school day, trays of freshly baked cookies roll out of the cafeteria kitchens — more than 1,000 cookies every single day — all part of a tradition lovingly known as the “12 Days of Cookies.” Tammy Fawver, Director of Nutrition Services for Opaa! Food Management, has been leading the effort for nine years. During that time, the Opaa! team has baked and served more

McCOOK Neb. — Every January 6, families across Mexico and Latin America celebrate Día de los Reyes Magos (Three Kings Day) with a special bread called Rosca de Reyes — and thanks to Miguel and Mayra Camacho, owners of Carnicería CB, this beautiful cultural tradition is now part of the McCook community. The Rosca de Reyes traces its roots back to ancient Roman Saturnalia celebrations, later evolving through medieval Spain and France before arriving in Mexico during the Spanish

McCOOK Neb. — While many of us fumble through December with coffee and chaos, McCook resident Michelle Ervin has been greeting each morning with something entirely different — a cup of noodles and a Christmas movie. Her daily tradition, which she called “Christmas Movie Mornings,” began with a 25-cent find in Walmart’s discount aisle: pumpkin-spice-flavored noodles. She never even ate them. “I found them when I was stuck in the aisle waiting for people to move,” Ervin said. “

December 6, 2026 McCOOK, Neb. — Southwest Nebraska Community Theatre Association (SWNCTA) is bringing a classic whodunit to the stage this spring with its 2026 production of Clue, directed by Rachel Witt. Auditions will be held December 7–9 at Central Elementary in McCook. Witt, a longtime SWNCTA volunteer and McCook High School graduate, said she’s thrilled for the chance to direct a show she has loved since childhood. “Clue has always been one of my favorite movies,” she s

McCOOK Neb. — When Tanner Lytle turned 40, he gave himself a birthday present most people only daydream about: he decided to bet on his art full-time. “Starting today, I will be a full-time tattoo artist at the shop,” he wrote in a recent Facebook announcement, sharing that he’s “jumping all-in” at The Clever Fox Tattoo & Body Piercing in McCook, specializing in black and grey realism. It sounds sudden. It isn’t. A long road back to art Lytle has always been an artist. His gr

McCook Neb. — The holiday season is officially underway in downtown McCook, and the Chamber of Commerce has rolled out a full calendar of family-friendly activities, local shopping incentives, and festive community traditions through mid-December. From carriage rides to caroling, downtown tours to gingerbread creations, the coming weeks are set to bring light, music, and holiday cheer to Norris Avenue. Chamber/City/MEDC Mixer at the Keystone As holiday preparations continue,

Alicia’s Story — Love, Loss, and Building Families Through Openness McCook Neb. — November is National Adoption Month a time meant to honor families, raise awareness, and shed light on one truth many don’t often hear clearly enough: adoption begins with brokenness, but it does not have to end there. For Alicia, that truth lives inside her home every single day. She and her husband were already raising five biological children when adoption entered their lives, not through a

McCOOK, Neb. — In a quiet corner of Memorial Park Cemetery stands a large pine tree that, every December, becomes something extraordinary. What began more than two decades ago as one family’s gesture of love has grown into a community-wide tradition of remembrance, healing, and connection. A Tradition Rooted in Love Twenty-three years ago, Nancy and Jerry Renard hung a single ornament on the pine tree in honor of their son, Greg, who passed away on December 29, 2000. With the

McCOOK Neb. —  When you meet Jason and Chandele Hilker, you can tell right away they’ve been through a lot together — and not just the usual life stuff. Both served 20 years in the Marine Corps, raised kids through deployments, and somehow managed to retire still married, still laughing, and now finally settled here in McCook. It’s not common to meet a couple who both wore the uniform, especially for that long. Jason said it best: “You’ll see dual veterans, but you’ll rarely

McCOOK Neb. — A new local effort is coming together this week to help make sure no family in McCook goes without a good meal. McCook Meal Kits, a collaboration between local churches, businesses, and volunteers, will host its first free Meal Kit Giveaway on Wednesday, November 12, from 2–6 p.m. at the McCook Community Building on the Red Willow County Fairgrounds. Each kit will include shelf-stable ingredients and seasonings to prepare full family meals such as Chili Mac, Co

November 8, 2025 McCOOK, Neb. — A new Little Free Library was unveiled Saturday morning in front of the Senator George Norris House at 706 Norris Avenue — a collaboration between McCook’s Rotary Morning Companion Club and the Nebraska State Historical Society. The project was made possible through a Rotary District Grant and represents the first major initiative of the Morning Companion Club, which meets at 6:30 a.m. on the third Thursday of each month at the CASA office (2nd

McCook Neb. — The Museum of the High Plains is proud to once again host the Sheldon Statewide Exhibit, continuing a vital, long-standing partnership that has brought fine art from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s Sheldon Museum of Art to McCook every year since 1987. This year’s captivating traveling exhibition, titled Nebraska’s Legacy, celebrates more than a century of artistic growth, education, and innovation at the University of Nebraska. The exhibit highlights the p

LAS VEGAS, Nev. — Allen D. Strunk, longtime publisher of the McCook Daily Gazette and a driving force behind decades of community progress, has died at age 95 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Strunk led the Gazette for more than 30 years, following in the footsteps of his father, Gazette founder Harry Strunk. Under his leadership, the paper transitioned from letterpress to offset printing and into a new facility in 1966—ushering in a modern era of small-town journalism. Beyond the newsr

McCook Neb. — The City of McCook is proud to announce that it has been awarded a Trees for Nebraska Towns grant from PlantNebraska , formerly known as the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum (NSA) . This grant will provide 20 trees to be planted in Kelley Park, at the west city entrance and at the Barnett Park K-9 Corners Dog Park.  These trees will enhance green spaces, improve community tree canopy, and promote environmental sustainability within McCook. The Trees for Nebraska To

McCOOK, Neb. — What began as an idea three years ago is now taking shape in bright colors and curved ramps at Kelley Park, where an inclusive playground is nearing completion. “I had this goal of what I wanted to see happen,” said Mariah Pierson, an occupational therapist and one of the project’s lead organizers. “But I just learned along the way — we all did. The city has been amazing. Without them, we would still have no idea how to make it happen.” Pierson first started e

INDIANOLA, Neb. (October 28, 2025) — The Indianola Historical Society marked a major milestone Tuesday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the opening of its restored one-room schoolhouse on D Street. Cutting the ribbon was Vickie Malleck, joined by members Don Behnke, Paul Schaffert, Ken Kircher, Jim Winchell, Randy Dean, Veronica Waddell, Marcy Rodriguez, and Donna Behnke. The event drew chamber representatives, community members, and local history enthusiasts from a

McCOOK, Neb. — A recent set of rankings from Niche.com , a national site that compiles data and user reviews on schools, neighborhoods, and towns, offers a mixed but generally positive snapshot of McCook — a community that scores high for affordability, stability, and family life, but draws some familiar critiques around diversity and entertainment options. What is Niche.com Niche is an online platform that gathers both government data and user-generated reviews to rank schoo

McCOOK, Neb. — In the southwest corner of her kitchen, where sunlight pours through a wall of windows, oil painter Skyla Hegwood spends countless hours bringing portraits and stories to life. Her easel — a cherished gift from her college art instructor — fits perfectly in that bright corner, transforming the space into a home studio that’s part of her daily rhythm. “It’s where everything happens,” she said with a small laugh. “I love that I can paint right here, close to my

McCook Neb. —  Hailing from Lincoln, Nebraska, Philip Daniel has built a career on emotion — weaving stories not with words, but with sound. A classically trained pianist and acclaimed film composer, Daniel’s music has been streamed more than 30 million times around the world, connecting deeply with audiences who crave music that feels as much as it sounds. Daniel’s journey began at the piano bench, earning a graduate degree in Piano Performance from the UMKC Conservatory and

McCook Neb.— One of America’s longest running traveling art exhibitions is in McCook for a six-week stop at McCook Community College’s Wrightstone Gallery. The 158th International Exhibition of the American Watercolor Society continues through Oct. 27 at McCook Community College. This is one of America’s longest running traveling art exhibits, is free admission and housed in the Wrightstone Fine Art Gallery, 1203 E. Third. The gallery is open to the public seven days a week.