Legislative Wrap-Up Breakfast

Since January, a group of 12-15 concerned citizens has gathered each Thursday morning at the Chamber office to participate on a conference call with State Senator Mark Christiansen. Political issues were followed very closely throughout the 90-day session. The last conference call was held on May 31. Reservations are being taken for the Legislative Wrap-up Breakfast which is scheduled on June 14. Senator Christiansen will be on hand to answer questions and to review the session. Government Affairs Committee members should please call the office at 345-3200 no later than June 8 to reserve your breakfast.

Educator of the Year Award

Judy Mousel, Cambridge Elementary teacher and Cambridge High School volleyball coach, was selected as the 2007 Educator of the Year Award winner which is funded by Mr. Allen D. Strunk, former publisher and editor of the McCook Daily Gazette, and facilitated by the McCook Area Chamber of Commerce Education Committee. Ms. Mousel is a 15-year veteran in the field of education with 12 of those at Cambridge. She was nominated by Mr. Don Sackett, Cambridge.

Educator of the Year Judy Mousel and Students

Mr. Strunk provides a monetary stipend each year to an area educator who exemplifies the purpose of the award which is as follows: To encourage and recognize outstanding performance in the all-important field of education with special emphasis on motivating students to reach their highest potential. All active teachers, administrators, counselors and coaches in Dundy, Chase, Hitchcock, Hayes, Red Willow, Frontier and Furnas counties in Nebraska and Decatur and Rawlins counties in Kansas, in both public and religious schools offering K-12 or parts thereof, are eligible for the award. The Education Committee of the McCook Area Chamber of Commerce confidentially scores the applications received with a numeric rank for each question asked in the application. Scores are tallied and the highest scoring application is declared the winner. Congratulations Ms. Mousel!

National Teacher Appreciation Week

National Teacher Appreciation Week (May 6-12) was celebrated by the McCook Area Chamber of Commerce Education Committee on Tuesday, May 8. Members of the committee delivered 243 “$100 Grand” candy bars to teachers, substitute teachers and paraprofessionals at all of the McCook schools as a token gesture of appreciation for the work they do each and every day. Every teacher has the opportunity to shape and direct the lives of our children. There can be no greater responsibility for our children are our hope for the future. Again, we express our heartfelt thanks!

Car Show

The 5th Annual Spring Car Show organized by Terry Sitzman was held at Barnett Park on May 5 with approximately 50 cars on display. Pam Harsh, Chamber Executive Director, selected a maroon 1967 Ford Mustang fastback owned and shown by Bob Funk of Culbertson, Nebraska as the “Chamber’s Choice”. The “Mayor’s Choice” was a 1968 GTO owned and restored by Randy Korgan of McCook. It was a gorgeous Southwest Nebraska spring day for the show but due to the flooding of Barnett Park a few weeks earlier, the cars utilized the parking areas rather than being able to spread out around the park.