Seeking Educator of the Year Nominations

The McCook Area Chamber of Commerce Education Committee will be accepting nominations for the annual Educator of the Year Award beginning today. The purpose of this award 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. Any parent, student, former student, general citizen or fellow educator may submit nominations. Nomination forms are available at the Chamber office and must be returned to the office no later than April 8, 2008. For more information regarding the award, please contact the Chamber at 308-345-3200 or by e-mail at info@aboutmccook.com.

Chamber to Launch New Website

A new website to market McCook will be launched on March 26, 2008 by the McCook Area Chamber of Commerce. The marketing campaign was made possible with funds allocated by the City of McCook. The website was developed with the purpose of inviting individuals and/or businesses to come to McCook. The attractively packaged website is full of helpful information to assist in making the decision to do so. More photography and information will be added as it becomes available. The launch of the site was strategically planned to align with an insert in the Spring 2008 Bison Alumni Newsletter targeting those who may be looking for an opportunity to come home. Be certain to log on the site at www.mccookopportunities.com, check it out, and share it with anyone you know who might be interested. Brochure.

Ag Appreciation Breakfast in Third Year

Each year men and women involved in agriculture are honored during National Ag Appreciation Week. In recognition of the contributions ag people make to our American way of life, the McCook Area Chamber of Commerce Ag Task Force hosted their third annual Ag Appreciation Breakfast on Wednesday, March 19, at the Red Willow County Fairgrounds Community Building. Nearly 30 businesses sponsored the breakfast which brought 160 people to the Community Hall this year. The event has grown from 70 in attendance the first year. Door prizes were awarded to Glen and Norma Berndt of Culbertson and also to Virginia Clark of Palisade. Businesses sponsoring the breakfast include: Adams Bank & Trust, AmFirst Bank, N.A., Bass & Stagemeyer, PC, Cornerstone Cattle Company, Edward Jones - Ron Friehe, McPherron Skiles & Loop, CPA, Heartland Cattle Company, Tier One Bank, McCook National Bank, Farm Bureau Insurance: Alan Gunther and Candi Brennan, Terry Ellinger, CPA, Olsen’s Agricultural Laboratory, L & B Johnson, PC, Wal-Mart SuperCenter, Orscheln’s Farm & Home, Garrison’s/McCook Lettering, Gifford & Cox, LLC, Wagner Ford Mercury Toyota, First Central Bank, Willow Creek Meats, Kugler Company, Frenchman Valley Coop, Farm Credit Services of America, Wells Fargo, Red Willow Aviation, Country Kitchen, Lords of Indianola, and McDonald’s Restaurant.

Ag Appreciation Breakfast		Masters of the Grill

Leadership Institute Class Nears Graduation
Seeking Applications for 2008-09 Class

Seventeen Leadership Institute class members for 2007-08 are making plans to graduate. The class has been engaged in learning about our community and area since their retreat in September, 2007. The program, which provides avenues for participants to obtain optional college credits, takes a regional approach to building leadership skills in communities across Southwest Nebraska. In January, they selected their class project which is worked on at the close of the regular class day each month. Progress on the project is monitored by the Leadership Institute Steering Committee. Project plans will be announced at a date in the near future with a detailed report presented at the graduation ceremony.

The McCook Area Chamber of Commerce Leadership Institute Steering Committee wishes to announce that applications are currently being accepted for the 2008-09 class. Letters were sent in March to community leaders requesting nominations for the class. Congratulatory letters and an invitation to apply were then sent to those nominees. Applications for the next Leadership Institute are due no later than April 15.

The Steering Committee is also in the process of soliciting sponsor funds for next year. A portion of the tuition is expected to be paid by the class member, however, expenses exceed that figure which subsequently requires support of sponsors to fund the class. Through the monetary support of sponsors, the tuition fee can be held to a minimum so that potential class members are not discouraged from participating. Sponsors for the current class include:

PLATINUM SPONSOR		GOLD SPONSOR		SILVER SPONSOR
Don and Alice Harpst McCook National Bank Wells Fargo Bank		AmFirst Bank Community Hospital Wagner Ford Mercury Toyota		McCook Clinic Pinpoint Communications WalMart Supercenter

Legal and Law Enforcement Day

The objective of Legal & Law Enforcement Day was to give future leaders an overview of the law enforcement and criminal justice system in McCook, Red Willow County and the State of Nebraska. Darryl Volquardsen and Cory Gaston, members of the Leadership Institute Class of 2008, organized and facilitated the day’s activities. The morning session included information presented by Fire Chief Marc Harpham; Chief of Police, Ike Brown; Probation Officer Tracy Loker; County Sheriff Gene Mahon and State Patrol Officer Joel Smith. The group toured the Public Safety Center and Jail. Carol Bridgmon and Trish Sanchell, dispatchers, explained the E911 system capabilities and other responsibilities of their position. First Central Bank graciously hosted the noon meal for class members in the bank conference room. The afternoon session was spent touring the Work Ethic Camp. Superintendent Barbara Lewien and Kyle Clapp, Caseworker, shared statistics regarding camp offenders and the facility in general. The highlight of the visit was the opportunity to speak with a panel of offenders. Next on the agenda was a visit to the Red Willow County Courthouse where County Attorney Paul Wood, District Court Magistrate Bev Dodge, County Court Magistrate Kathy Jones and County Court Judge Ann Payne spoke to the class.

Upon returning to First Central to wrap-up the day, class members completed Thank You notes and discussed the class project. Several local artists will be asked to submit rough sketches of possible designs for the ‘sign structure’ which will be located at Norris and B Streets. Further investigation with the State Department of Roads will be reported upon at the next class meeting.

City & County Government Day is scheduled for March 26 and will be facilitated by Hank Lichtenwaldt and Cassie Spencer.

Hank Lichtenwaldt and Amy Been learn about the E911 system at the Public Safety Center.		Amy Been, Amy Lester and Cory Gaston try out the jail cell at the Public Safety Center.