Heritage Days Parade Enjoys Record Attendance

It is estimated that Heritage Days Saturday enjoyed a record attendance for the parade and the remaining activities throughout the day. Comfortable temperatures, in spite of gusty winds, made for a great day as residents and visitors alike enjoyed all of the festivities. As many as six class reunions boosted the attendance as they filled the hotels in McCook and spilled over into neighboring communities. Grand Marshals, Dr. Gene Budig and Jeff Kinney, expressed their pleasure to return home for the celebration. Heritage Days Royalty, Queen Samantha Jo Post and Princess Whitney Bracht, reigned over the 36th Annual Celebration and met with “Congratulations” throughout the weekend. As Royalty they will be recipients of $500.00 Scholarships to McCook Community College which were provided by the College. Marvin and Dixie Lorentz, along with their daughter, Kathy, attended the celebration as the Honor Family. Many of their extended family came to McCook to surprise the Lorentz’s and wish them congratulations. Seven bands marched in the parade which began at Norris Avenue and F Street, traveled South to C Street and then West to the City Auditorium. The parade was announced in two locations by McCook radio stations, High Plains Radio and Hometown Family Radio, as well as at a third location by Heritage Days Committee members.

Mother Nature told a different story on Sunday and brought in a cold front with a threat of rain. In spite of the cold, the Reverend Allan Jackson, First Baptist Church, and his congregation enjoyed a well-attended Church service in Norris Park. As the day wore on, the sun managed to warm the skies but even the hardiest of the hardy had long since taken refuge in their homes or other indoor activities.

Parade trophy winners were as follows:

Governor’s Traveling Trophy - Lewis & Clark Expedition Canoe/Neal Corey
Class Reunion Traveling Trophy - Class of 1957, Float
Equestrian - Carpenter Breland Funeral Home, 1859 Hearse w/Percherons
Classic Car - Byron Neiman, 1952 Rolls Royce
Antique Car - Kermit & Charlene Arterburn, 1921 International 1 1/4 T. Truck
Antique Farm Machinery - Southwest Implement, 30+ John Deere Tractors
Community Organization - First Congregational Church, Float
Large Business - Hillcrest Nursing Home, Float
Small Business - State Bank of Bartley, 1929 1 1/2 T. Grain Truck
Youth Division/Large Group - Boy Scout Troop #147, Flags of Our Fathers
Youth Division/Small Group - Shelby & Brandon Kolfer, Patriotic Bicycles

Band Parade Competition Awards presented by the McCook Community College were as follows:

Superior Rating: McCook High School, Cambridge High School, Hershey High School
Excellent Rating: Cambridge Junior High School, Chase County High School, Sutherland Jr./Sr. High School
Good Rating: Wauneta/Palisade High School

Heritage Days Challenge Provides Big Payout Opportunity

The McCook Area Chamber of Commerce sponsored the Third Annual Heritage Challenge as a fundraiser to help defray costs of Heritage Days. Seven teams, consisting of four members each, entered the competition and found themselves facing the CHALLENGE! All entry fees were utilized to assure an attractive payout for the first three places.

The first challenge was plunging into a wading pool of mud and gook in search of elusive 2 inch flat washers provided courtesy of Orscheln Farm & Home.

Next in the relay competition, the competitor had to test their balance and recovery from a dizzy spin to follow teammates' oral directions to insert one object (hanging from their forehead with a string) into a second stationary object.

YMMMM! Love those Hot Dogs! Bryan Payton of the Work Ethic Camp team races against Nic Shilling of the AmFirst team to see who can eat the "mostest" the fastest!

The most dreaded leg of the ‘race’ was the food category although it appeared that teammates thoroughly enjoyed devouring five raw hot dogs from a pool of mustard and ketchup. Of course, hands were not allowed, which resulted in their faces becoming somewhat a hodgepodge of brilliant hues of red and yellow much to the delight of spectators.

Karen Shephard, AmFirst Bank, races to climb the wall in her leg of the Heritage Challenge.

The fourth challenge was to climb the Rock Wall provided by the Nebraska National Guard.

Upon completion of the four stations, the team then had to put their minds together to answer multiple choice questions regarding McCook’s Historical Statesmen: Senator George W. Norris, Senator/Governor Ben Nelson, Governor’s Frank Morrison and Ralph Brooks. Answers could be easily found on the informational signs located at each Statesmen’s homes which are located on Heritage Square.

Winners of the Challenge were as follows: 1.) $350.00 to McCook Daily Gazette (Sarah Bryce, Corinna Horkey, Karry Coburn, Russell Kennedy) 2.) $245.00 to the City of McCook (Marc Harpham, Lirin Yost, Mike Jonasen, Joy Molcyk) 3.) $105.00 to Community Hospital ( Stacey Aguilar, Courtney Hardin, Sheri Sughroue, Misti Soderlund)

Celebrity Challenge participants were auctioned off at the McCook National Bank Heritage Days Mixer. Buyers were given the opportunity to “order” their 'celebrity' to complete one of the first four Challenge Stations. Celebrities and their respective tasks were as follows:

Cal Siegfried purchased by Terry Ellinger, CPA - Food
Jason Hauxwell purchased by McCook National Bank - Climbing Wall
Mike O’Dell purchased by Go Lite, Jerry Gohl - Balance & Recovery
Susan Harris-Broomfield purchased by Community Hospital - Mud & Gook
Rick Metcalf purchased by Morris Media - Climbing Wall
Rex Nelson purchased by McCook National Bank - Mud & Gook
Pam Harsh purchased by McCook National Bank - Food

Robin's School of Dance entertains a large crowd in Norris Park on Saturday during Heritage Days.		Large crowds of spectators enjoyed the Bandshell Entertainment which was scheduled on both Saturday and Sunday afternoons during Heritage Days.

The Chamber Salutes . . .

those involved in planning and facilitating all of the various facets of the 36th Annual Heritage Days Celebration. A celebration of this magnitude literally requires hundreds of volunteers. Thanks to the commitment of those who step up to this challenge each and every year, we are able to provide area residents and visitors a number of special activities to enjoy.

South Platte United Chambers of Commerce Monthly Meeting

The South Platte United Chambers of Commerce (SPUCC) held their monthly meeting on Tuesday, October 9, 2007, at the Eagle’s Club in McCook. The McCook Area Chamber of Commerce, community banks and businesses, and local SPUCC members hosted the meeting.

The SPUCC Tourism Committee met that afternoon at McCook National Bank. Don Reynolds, SPUCC Executive Director, guided discussions on several topics that included opportunities for regional cooperation, “branding” ideas, web sites, and possible region brochures and magazines.

That evening, the SPUCC held its monthly Board of Director’s meeting at the Eagle’s Club. Upon adjournment of the meeting, close to fifty members and guests enjoyed a social hour and dinner.

After dinner, Dr. Michael Chipps was introduced as the evening’s guest speaker. Dr. Chipps, President of Mid Plains Community College, gave a presentation, in part, on the Center for Enterprise, which is a division of Mid Plains Community College. In addition, Dr. Chipps discussed the proposed $10 million Event Center to be built in a location adjacent to the McCook Community College campus.