Community Voices

✨ Exciting News ✨ I’m honored to share that I’ve accepted the position of McCook Creative District Coordinator beginning this month. This new role feels like a natural extension of what I’ve been building with McCook News Now — telling our community’s stories, highlighting local talent, and making sure people feel connected to the place we call home. As coordinator, I’ll be working to support arts, culture, and creative opportunities in McCook, while continuing to report on t

August 21, 2025 McCOOK Neb. — I want to be clear: I oppose the creation of an ICE detention center in McCook. Not because I believe our community is unsafe, and not because I think immigration is something that can be solved with razor wire and steel bars — but because the system itself feels like a violation of human rights. If I trusted that only dangerous criminals were being detained, that might be one thing. But the truth is harder. Immigration in the U.S. is made delibe

McCOOK, Neb. — National media outlets are reporting that McCook could be part of a nationwide expansion of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facilities. According to the Washington Post, internal planning documents indicate ICE is preparing to open a 300-bed facility near the Work Ethic Camp in Red Willow County, potentially as soon as next month. The reports come as part of a broader plan to more than double detention capacity nationwide — from 41,000

McCook Neb. - Today marks an important milestone in my journey with stage 1 triple negative breast cancer. I am starting round 4 of Chemotherapy. After today's treatment, I am down to potentially just two more sessions. Next week, I'll undergo an MRI to determine whether I need another round of chemo or if I can move forward to surgery. Receiving a breast cancer diagnosis can feel overwhelming, and the word "cancer" carries so much weight and fear. However, it’s crucial to

Dear Readers: In recent news, it has come to light that Arlington National Cemetery has removed links to pages featuring notable Black, Hispanic, and female veterans from its website. This decision, reportedly part of a broader initiative by the Department of Defense to eliminate Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) related materials, has sparked significant concern and debate. While it is true that the biographies of these brave individuals remain accessible through other

McCOOK Neb. - Every August comes some sort of sadness over me, as time goes on it’s lessened but hopefully one day it’ll be just another day. August 17, 2017 my life changed forever in a split second. Even as the years pass, and things get better it’s just naturally engraved in your mind when your life flashes before your eyes at the hands of another person. You practice forgiveness, give yourself hella grace and you pray for that person more than for yourself. And you PUSH.

On Monday, I attended my first Red Willow County Commissioners meeting. What I anticipated to be a two hour session stretched into nearly five hours, prompting reflection on the process and its implications for our community. Several complaints regarding the Visitor Bureau and the Fair Board had seemingly been allowed to fester rather than being addressed promptly. Commissioner Charles Fritchie is meant to be the liaison between the Commissioners and the Visitor Bureau commit

McCOOK Neb. - As someone who tends to stick to routine, I usually order my groceries online, selecting ingredients for a rotating menu of about 20 meals that my kids will actually eat. Because of this, it took me some time to realize there was a new brand at Walmart. Here’s what I’ve discovered: Bettergoods, which launched in April 2024, offers a range of food items that extend beyond the usual choices found in Walmart’s established Great Value line.. As shoppers have increa