Opinion

Amazing things happen around the Golden Plains

Friday, May 24, 2002

Snow flakes in May! It happened ... it really happened ... today in the Golden Plains of Southwest Nebraska and Northwest Kansas.

We should have known it was coming. The whole week has been filled with surprises.

Here are some of the highlights:

No Peer Pressure

Scores of friends and colleagues sent cards and made calls to extend best wishes to Frank Morrison on his 97th birthday. Among the well-wishers was Don McGinley, former lieutenant governor and a long-time friend of Frank's. "How's it feel to be 97," Don asked the man who served as Nebraska's governor from 1961 until 1967. "I'll tell you this," Frank said. "There's sure a lot less peer pressure than there used to be."

Time for 'Rocky' Talk

Speaking of bithdays, we couldn't let this week pass without extending a 70th birthday tribute to John F. "Jack" Rogers, the Gazette's editor emeritus. A meticulous practitioner of the journalistic arts, Jack served with distinction at the Gazette from 1967 to 1995. Those of us who worked with Jack remember fondly his daily lyrics. As the press roared to a start, Jack would break into a rousing version of the "Rocky" theme. It's been seven years now since Jack's retirement, but we are still uplifted by his example. Rock on, Jack, Rock on!

We'll Miss You, Ray

With the passing of Ray Real, Sr., the McCook area lost a treasure trove of enthusiasm and experience. For many years to come, we will hold fond memories of Ray at Christmastime, dressed up as Santa, ringing a bell in greeting to those driving by his spectacular display of lights at 1014 West L Street. Ray also gave long and faithful service as a volunteer fireman. Our prayer is that others will be inspired by Ray's example and carry forth his generous spirit.

Let's 'STEP' on It

While attending a housing meeting in North Platte this week, several McCookites viewed a video showing how Smith Ridge, Va. attacked and solved its water supply and quality problems. How did they do it? By taking matters into their own hands. Smith Ridge was a mountain community which could only get water by putting out buckets to catch rain water or by hauling it in. So, to solve the problem, scores of community members donated their time and equipment to dig trenches with backhoes and lay PVC pipe by hand. The result: the community obtained a safe, abundant water supply for $350,000, which was a fraction of what it would have cost to follow the conventional planning, design and construction path. Is such a bold strategy possible in McCook? One of McCook's council members, Dick Trail, was at the meeting and is going on the Internet to find out more about the program called STEP. We'll be waiting to hear what you find out, Dick. It's an intriguing idea and, with the scope of the McCook water problems, we need to look at every angle.

Ideas and special occasions. It's all part of a week featuring late May snow flakes and Tuesday afternoon winds gusts of 50 mph plus. Stay tuned. More wild and wonderful developments are yet to come in the Golden Plains.

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