Arts, Culture & Community

McCOOK, Neb. — Longtime children’s librarian Diane Lyon joined the McCook Rotary Club this week to share the remarkable story of how McCook’s public library came to be — and how it continues to evolve as a vital community resource. From Temperance to Carnegie: The Birth of a Library McCook’s first public reading space appeared in 1885, when the Women’s Temperance Union offered newspapers and magazines in their reading room. At the time, most libraries were private or charged

McCook Neb. — The McCook Rotary Club welcomed guest speaker Mariah Pierson at their September 16 meeting. Pierson is the founder of Rise Therapy, a mobile outpatient occupational therapy practice serving McCook and Omaha. Pierson, who grew up in Indianola, shared her journey from working as an occupational therapy assistant at Community Hospital to pursuing her master’s degree and ultimately starting her own pediatric-focused practice. After nearly a decade in the hospital s

McCOOK, Neb. — The Fox Theatre came alive this morning as area students filled the seats for a special matinee by Omaha Street Percussion (OSP), a high-energy percussion ensemble that turns everyday objects into instruments. The group is in McCook as part of the Lied Center’s Arts Across Nebraska program, and tonight, the community will get their chance to experience the rhythm. What makes OSP stand out isn’t just their unconventional instruments — buckets, paint cans, garbag

September 18, 2025 McCOOK, Neb. — Heritage Days officially opened Tuesday evening with the MNB Bank Mixer, a community tradition that blends celebration with recognition of local service and leadership. Resilience After the Storm Welcoming guests, MNB Bank CEO Brian Esch noted the resilience of McCook residents, many of whom were still recovering from Monday’s hailstorm. “This says something about all of you to show up tonight after what happened,” Esch said. “You should be

McCOOK, Neb. — Prairie Plains CASA invites the community downtown tonight, Thursday, September 18, for Come to the Table, a special event on Norris Avenue as part of the Third Thursday series. The initiative was first started by Judge Anne Paine before the COVID-19 pandemic, when she visited schools to talk with students about the importance of sitting down with their families for dinner. Since then, a coalition of community partners — including CASA, Nicole Peterson from HHS

September 17, 2025 McCOOK, Neb. — The McCook High School Class of 1965 has come together to honor two of their classmates in a lasting way. As part of their reunion during Heritage Days, members of the class dedicated two new picnic tables in Norris Park in memory of Ernest “Ernie” Weyeneth and Garrett Wagner. Classmates first set out to recognize Ernie, who passed away in 2022 after a long career in business and community service. When the idea of a picnic table came up, the

September 17, 2025 McCOOK, Neb. — The countdown is over. Heritage Days 2025 kicks off this week, bringing four days of community celebration, food, music, and tradition to McCook. Organizers say the festival will once again fill Norris Park, downtown streets, and Norris Alley with activities for all ages. The official schedule runs Wednesday, Sept. 17 through Saturday, Sept. 20, highlighted by the annual parade, family-friendly contests, live music, and the always-popular Okt

September 4, 2025 McCOOK, Neb. — Omaha-based artist and industrial designer Christopher Prinz visited McCook in late August with hundreds of pounds of meticulously formed metal, headlining an exhibit at ArtBank titled “Prototypes.” The presentation offered a close look at his process—how flat steel sheets become rigid, terrain-like sculptures and furniture through a unique wrinkling technique executed on a large press brake—and how small, hand-creased models in aluminum foil

September 2, 2025 McCOOK, Neb. – Members of the McCook Rotary Club welcomed guest speaker Dr. Richard Lawton, orthopedic surgeon at Community Hospital, during their Tuesday meeting at the McCook Community College East Campus. Lawton was invited by Rotarian Lori Savery-Hinze to share updates on orthopedic care available locally. From Denver Broncos to McCook Lawton completed his medical degree at Emory University, followed by an orthopedic residency at the Mayo Clinic and a fe

August 26, 2025 McCook, Neb. – Pharmacist, Katie Stagemeyer, was selected as Community Hospital’s 2025 Caring Kind Award recipient. Chosen by her peers for her outstanding compassion, dedication, and commitment to patient care, Katie exemplifies the values that define excellence in healthcare. Nominated by co-workers and chosen by Community Hospital employees and the PACT Committee (Pride, Activities, Communication, Team), her nomination reads: “Katie consistently goes above

McCOOK, Neb. — A young man with a mission will pass through McCook this week, carrying not only a backpack but also a message of health, resilience, and hope in the fight against addiction. Andy Kaucic, known online as Andy’s Ventures, began his walk five months ago on a beach in Maine. Since then, he’s traveled down the East Coast through Boston, New York, and Washington, D.C., before turning west across the mountains and into the Midwest. His route will take him through McC

McCook has a rising star, and she’s ready for your vote! McCOOK Neb. — Fifteen-year-old Angelina Cruse is one of the finalists in the Galaxy of Stars People’s Choice competition at the Nebraska State Fair — and she’s representing McCook with her powerful vocals and big dreams. “I’ve been singing since I could talk,” Angelina said, pushing herself to get better every day. A sophomore-to-be at McCook High School, she’s the daughter of Courtney and Robert Wagner. Angelina recen

McCOOK, Neb. – Two McCook youth soccer teams made an impressive showing at the 2025 Cornhusker State Games in Lincoln earlier this month, proving that local talent can hold its own against experienced travel teams. Southwest Seabreezers 12U Team Coach Leah Christensen with players, back row: Caleb Christensen, Bentley Stritt, Luis Almanzo; front row: Beckett Fox, Chase Reichert. The McCook Crossfire 15U team earned a silver medal in their division, while the newly-formed Sou

McCook, Neb. — When you sit down with Norma Stevens, you don’t need to ask many questions—her love for McCook’s art community overflows in stories, names, and memories that paint a vivid picture of the area’s creative history. Stevens, a retired language arts teacher, didn’t set out to become an artist. But after years in the classroom, she decided to take a chance on something new. “I always had an interest, but I didn’t have the background—color, value, all of that,” she re

McCook, Neb. — The Southwest Area Training Service (SWATS) is on a mission to help individuals with developmental disabilities live self-determined, independent lives—and under new leadership, that mission is taking on a renewed energy and focus. “Our primary mission is to support the individuals we serve to live their lives in a self-determined manner—to make their own choices, take risks, and learn from those risks, just like anybody else,” said Kayla Rork, Services Directo

McCOOK, Neb. — Texas musician Josh Weathers, who recently helped raise more than $500,000 for Central Texas flood victims, will bring his high-energy country-soul sound to the Red Willow County Fair this week. Weathers spoke by phone Monday from Ingram, Texas, where he has been assisting flood victims. “It looks like a third-world disaster area down here,” he said. “Everywhere I look, there’s debris piled up. I’ve never seen anything like it in my life.” The Fort Worth-based

McCook, Neb. — “I’m not here,” Irene Delka McCray’s mother said one day, pressing her hands to her face during a video call in the middle of the COVID-19 lockdown. For McCray, those words were heartbreaking, funny, and profound all at once—and they became the title of one of her most powerful works, a large-scale colored pencil portrait included in her exhibit Mother, Lasting. On Saturday afternoon, the ArtBank in McCook hosted McCray for an intimate artist talk that was as

McCook Neb. - The McCook ArtGuild will host its monthly artist reception tonight, Friday, July 18, from 5 to 7 p.m., featuring three unique exhibitions on display through July 31. In the Main Gallery The Association of Nebraska Art Clubs (ANAC) Traveling Show brings some of Nebraska’s most celebrated artwork to McCook. ANAC is the only organization in the U.S. that unites all of a state’s art clubs. Each year, hundreds of entries are judged by a nationally recognized artist,

McCook Neb. - The ArtBank will open a deeply personal and thought-provoking exhibition this week, welcoming renowned artist and educator Irene Delka McCray with her series “Mother Lasting.” The show, curated by Lucas Kotschwar of the 6th Floor Project, opens Thursday, July 17 (1–8 p.m.) and continues through August. McCray will give an artist talk on Saturday, July 19, at 2 p.m., offering visitors the chance to hear firsthand how her work developed out of an intimate and emot

McCOOK, Neb. — On Saturday night, something truly unexpected happened behind the ArtBank: a music and skateboarding event that felt fresh, inclusive, and unlike anything McCook has seen before. “Break the Bank” was a collaboration between organizers Brigham Larington, Devon Strunk, and Elise Larington, who helped bring the evening to life. It combined live music, a skate competition, and a vibrant atmosphere—without a drop of alcohol, and with free hot dogs and water provided