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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. - The McCook City Council approved the City’s new 2026–2036 Comprehensive Plan following a public hearing during Monday night’s regular meeting. The plan, developed over roughly two years with consultant firm Miller & Associates, is intended to guide future development decisions, land use, infrastructure planning, and growth strategy for the next decade and beyond. City Attorney Nate Mustion entered five exhibits into the record during the public hearing, includi

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. “

Dec. 15, 2025 MCCOOK, Neb. — McCook City Council met Monday evening for a lengthy agenda that included housing development actions, redevelopment studies, updates on the youth sports complex, a new ordinance governing use of public spaces, and a Community Development Agency discussion regarding the St. Catherine’s property. City announcements City Manager Nate Schneider announced: City offices will close at noon on Dec. 24 and remain closed on Christmas Day. Repairs are under

Community Hospital is excited to invite the public to a Community Open House celebrating the completion of the ROOTS Apartment Complex, a groundbreaking initiative designed to strengthen rural healthcare by providing modern housing for healthcare students. The event will take place on Thursday, December 18, from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM at 409 West 1st Street, McCook, NE 69001.

McCOOK Neb. — When McKenzie Schmitz plants a garden, she doesn’t go halfway. A few years ago, her backyard was producing so much that she simply couldn’t keep up with the fresh veggies. So she did what creative people do—she turned a “too much” problem into something special. “Prairie Sage started pretty organically for me. I’ve always had a full garden, and one year it was producing so much that I needed to find a way to preserve everything,” McKenzie said. She started maki

McCOOK, Neb. – When the days get shorter and the wind turns sharp, Brian Nally doesn’t head indoors for the season—he just swaps lawn mowers for ladders and starts loading up spools of Christmas lights. Nally is the owner of Fair Way Landscaping and its holiday counterpart, Fair Ways Christmas Lights. This is his second year installing lights in McCook, and he said the community has made it easy to feel at home. “Honestly, it’s been going really good,” he said. “I feel like I

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 you step into Longnecker Jewelry on Norris Avenue, it doesn’t feel like a store competing with big-city showrooms across the Midwest. It feels like what it is—a small, independent shop where customers are greeted by name, repairs are done in-house, and owner Bill Longnecker can often be found at the bench with a loupe in hand.  But behind that small-town storefront sits a much bigger story.  Recently, a marketing company contacted Bill offering to sell him

Thursday, December 4, 2025 McCOOKNeb. — McCook Community College sophomore Jackson Dellevoet presented original research Wednesday in the Student Union at MCC’s ninth Science Symposium. His presentation centered on “Diatomaceous Earth and its Effects on Deterring Terrestrial Isopods from Damaging Soybean Sprouts.” The research class, BIOS 2500, is a one-semester experience in being a scientist. Dellevoet’s research was part of a research class developed in 2014 by MCC biolog

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. — Southwest Nebraska Public Health Department (SWNPHD) is encouraging residents to take proactive steps to protect their mental well-being this holiday season, a time when emotional strain, stress, and crisis situations often become more frequent. While the holidays can bring joy and celebration, they can also magnify feelings of grief, financial pressure, loneliness, and family conflict. This can create moments when people feel overwhelmed, making early awarenes

eBay store helps support downtown vendor marketplace and holiday shopping in McCook’s Creative District McCOOK, Neb. — On most days at The Rustic Market on 1st, you’ll find owner Tammy Stevens doing a quiet juggling act—greeting customers, answering vendor questions, and, in between, carefully wrapping a glass cookie jar or vintage sewing machine to ship halfway around the world. What many people don’t realize is that behind the cozy vendor booths and antique displays, there

McCOOK Neb.— The Nebraska State Patrol has released an official statement regarding the incident that occurred Monday afternoon in McCook. According to NSP, McCook Police received a 911 call from a resident who stated he was considering self-harm. While officers were speaking with him on the phone, they heard a gunshot inside the home. Officers entered, attempted life-saving measures, and called EMS, but the man was pronounced deceased from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot

December 1, 2025 McCOOK, Neb. — The McCook City Council met Monday evening for a relatively short meeting covering infrastructure updates, upcoming planning items, funding policy presentations, and reminders of several community events scheduled in the coming days. Injection Well Repairs Completed After 14-Day Operation Water Department staff presented a detailed update on the city’s deep injection well, which is used to safely dispose of waste from the water treatment plant

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.— Handyman Stamm, a locally owned and newly BBB-accredited business, is launching a special holiday giveaway this season—one free home installation, with all materials and labor included, for a local family in need. The installation could be anything from a new furnace or water heater to plumbing repairs, flooring, HVAC work, accessibility upgrades, or other essential fixes that help keep a home safe and functioning. Cosmetic-only projects won’t be included, but t