Anna LaBay

McCOOK Neb. — For Kim Johnson, Project Paint has never been about creating perfect art. Instead, it’s about giving people a place to try something new, be creative and leave with something they feel proud of. Johnson has been leading paint classes in McCook for years, though the project originally started in a much smaller way when her daughter, Lindi, was in high school. “It was just a way to help pay for dance uniforms and pom poms,” Johnson said. “I started small, maybe eight people at a...

McCOOK, Neb. — When someone in Red Willow County calls 911, the calm voice on the other end is often the first link in a chain of help. As Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, observed April 12–18, 2026, recognizes dispatchers across the country, McCook’s communications team is also being highlighted for the work they do behind the scenes every hour of every day. While the public often sees police officers, deputies, firefighters, and EMS crews responding on scene, those responses begin in...

Editorial: What I’ve Seen and What the Record Shows About McCook’s Water System There’s been a lot of frustration about the appearance of McCook’s water. That frustration is understandable. No one wants to turn on their faucet and see discolored water. But I want to add context, not as the City, not as a candidate, but as someone who has been consistently showing up and reviewing the public record. Over the past two years, I have attended nearly every McCook City Council meeting. I have...