Did You Know?

Did you know the Chamber maintains a Calendar of Community Events online? Are you planning an event? Be sure to visit the McCook Area Chamber of Commerce website at www.aboutmccook.com to submit your date(s) to the Community Calendar. Its just that easy to let others know what is going on in the area and the way to avoid scheduling conflicts. The Chamber calendar is the one-stop spot to consult when scheduling an activity or looking for something to do. Don’t miss the opportunity to utilize this free service provided by the Chamber.

Over 200 in Halloween Parade

  

More than 200 kids plus nearly that many parents participated in the Halloween Parade on Saturday, October 25, in downtown McCook. Ponies, bears, lions, frogs, caped heroes (and villains), pretty princesses, fairies, pirates, storybook characters and more met at the JC Penney parking lot to begin the parade. Winding through the downtown area in search of treats from the businesses, parents and children alike enjoyed the activities on a beautiful fall morning.

Several outlying Chamber member businesses also contributed to the fun. Those included First Central Bank, McCook Daily Gazette, Pepsi Company, Runza Restaurant, Viaero Wireless and WalMart.

Winners of the Best Decorated pumpkin contest were as follows: 1.Kayla Hughs; 2. Rebecca Mockry; and 3. Sarah Hughs.

Those with the Largest Pumpkin were: 1. Susan Messersmith; 2. Kayla Hughs; and 3. Jacob Mockry.

Parade escorts and other helpers included the Wicked Witch (Linda Thieben); Binkster the Clown (Virginia Fickle); Batgirl (Tammy Fickle); Runza Rex (Gavin Harsh); Mickey Mouse (Brenda McGuire); Minnie Mouse (Mary Seybold); Raggedy Ann (Pam Harsh); and the Chiquita Banana (Dee Shafer). Officers from the Police Department and the Sheriff’s Posse assisted with traffic control.

The Chamber Salutes . . .

the McCook Daily Gazette for co-sponsoring the Halloween Parade. The Gazette published and distributed special Halloween Coloring Books as well as promoted the event in their daily publication. We also thank all of the businesses that participated in the annual Halloween Parade for area children. Businesses “treated” over 200 kids who paraded through the downtown shopping area on Saturday, October 25.

....And Salutes....

the officers of the McCook Police Department and the Sheriff’s posse who took such great care of our parade participants by directing traffic at each intersection on the parade route. Their support allows the carefree fun of the Halloween Parade with no risk of injury by vehicles in the downtown area. Thank You!

Eighth Grade Ag Tour Postponed

Due to the inclement weather, the annual eighth grade “Ag Awareness” tour scheduled for Wednesday, October 22, was postponed until a later date. Mark Friehe and Nikki Cappel, Chamber Ag Task Force members and chairpersons of the ag tour committee, will re-schedule the tour once they have an opportunity to coordinate schedules of all the businesses involved with the school activities schedule. An announcement will be made once a date is determined.

McCook Farm & Ranch Expo

The McCook Area Chamber of Commerce will staff a booth at the McCook Farm & Ranch Expo on November 19 and 20 at the Red Willow County Fairgrounds. Expo organizer, Darren Dale, is pleased with the progress of the event and the participation of area businesses.

The Chamber is looking forward to promoting Southwest Nebraska, McCook and our member businesses during the Expo. We invite you to provide us with promotional items to distribute on behalf of your business. In addition, we will be putting together a coupon handout inviting Expo visitors to patronize your business while in McCook. If you would like to participate in that effort, please contact the Chamber office at 345-3200 or info@aboutmccook.com no later than November 10.

Health & Human Services Day for Leadership Class

Members of the 2008-2009 Leadership Institute spent their October class day learning about the health and human services field in the McCook area. Class members, Heather Bieker, MHS Student, and Terri Shipshock, Community Hospital Health Foundation, organized the itinerary for the day. Tours included the Community Hospital Sleep Services Unit, Community Hospital, the Hospital Rehabilitation Center and Willow Ridge Retirement Community. Class members listened to presentations from Terri Shipshock, Community Hospital Health Foundation; Kristen Besler, Community Hospital Sleep Services Unit; Jim Ulrich and Susan Harris-Broomfield, Community Hospital; Brian Rokusek, McCook Clinic; Diana Gross, Community Hospital Specialty Clinic; Myra Stoney, Southwest Nebraska Public Health; Denise Ringenberg, Hillcrest Nursing Home; and Linda Dixon, Willow Ridge Retirement Community. At the close of the day the group discussed ideas for their class project. They were also reminded to attend a public entity board meeting in the next several months. The deadline to submit a signed agenda from a meeting to the Leadership Institute Steering Committee is February 1.

The Chamber Salutes . . .

Schmick’s Market for hosting the October 1 Chamber Coffee Connection. Schmick’s provided coffee and rolls for those in attendance. We appreciate their generous support as we pursue this new event as a viable addition to our member services.

KFNF Christmas Lights Parade Scheduled

December 6 will be the date for the KFNF Christmas Lights Parade. Sporting the theme "Light Up The Holidays!", the parade will begin at 6:00 p.m. in Norris Park and head South to Norris Avenue and A Street. Watch for further details in the local media as well as our December newsletter.

Chamber Annual Banquet in Planning Stages

Members of the newly formed Chamber Annual Banquet Committee held their first meeting on Tuesday, October 21, and will continue to meet regularly to formulate plans for the banquet. The initial meeting focused on selection of an overall theme, decorating theme, date and location. The overall theme will be “We Treasure Our Members” in keeping with the goals of our current Chamber president, Janet Weber, which focus on our membership. The decorating theme will be built around ‘pirates’ and ‘treasures’.

Date selection was particularly challenging when reviewing community calendar schedules but the committee was able to choose Saturday, February 7, as the date. The gala event will be held at the Red Willow County Fairgrounds Community Building. Committee members plan to dress to the theme and invite guests to consider doing so also.

19th Annual Home & Leisure Show Scheduled

The 19th Annual Home & Leisure Show sponsored by the McCook Area Chamber of Commerce and coordinated with the assistance of Linda Frank will be held on February 20, 21 and 22. Please note the change in dates that were noted in the October Newsletter. Scheduling conflicts prompted the date change. Flyers, contracts and additional information were sent in the mail the last week of October.

The Home & Leisure Show has expanded its format to invite businesses promoting leisure products or services. The Army Reserve Building on Airport Road will be the location for the event again this year. If you are interested in participating in the Home Show and have not received information, please feel free to contact the Chamber office at 308-345-3200 or at info@aboutmccook.com.

Beautiful Fall Weather for Heritage Days

Patience with Mother Nature was rewarded for the 2008 Heritage Days Celebration organizers. Unlike the past several years, the celebration was held during some beautiful fall weather and the numbers in attendance reflected that welcomed change.

Visitors to our community did not have to look far for an event that suited their fancy as they were many and varied: great food, artwork, musical entertainment, crafts, a television game show, a football game, a car show, etc. Seven bands from the surrounding area participated in the parade. 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.

Parade trophy winners were as follows:

Governor’s Award Traveling Trophy - McCook Cordials
Class Reunion Traveling Trophy - MHS Class of 1958
Antique Car - Jim Foster, Bartley, 1917 Commercial Fuel Delivery Truck
Antique Farm Machinery - Melvin Duvel, Benkelman, 1941 - John Deere H, 1947 John Deere D, 1935 John Deere D, 1936 Farmall F12
Classic Car - Barbara Masur, Culbertson, 1956 Crown Imperial
Community Organization - McCook Humane Society
Equestrian - State Champion Senior Hippology Team
Large Business - Hillcrest Nursing Home
Small Business - Wells Fargo Bank
Youth Division/Large Group - McCook FFA (Future Farmer’s of America)
Youth Division/Small Group - McCook Skills USA

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

Superior Rating: Chase County Schools, Perkins County Schools
Excellent Rating: Cambridge Junior High School, Cambridge High School, McCook High School, Medicine Valley Schools
Good Rating: Sutherland Junior High School

The Chamber Salutes . . .

High Plains Radio and Hometown Family radio for announcing the 37th Annual Heritage Days Parade on location at Norris & F and Norris & D Street. Also, our thanks to Superior Auctions, Danny Berndt, for providing the sound system at West 1st & C Street and to our volunteers, Rex Nelson and Mike O'Dell for announcing.