The dog days of summer are definitely here. The temperature is hot, the days are long, and the kids are bored. Camp, softball, baseball, Bible school, the fair and vacations are over. The beginning of a new school year is looming. The only real fun left for children in McCook is to head to the city swimming pool where they can cool off during these blistering afternoons.

When I was growing up in McCook, the pool was the center of summer activities for my friends and me. It was here that we worked on our tans, caught up on gossip, flirted with boys, drooled over the male lifeguards, and occasionally even got into the water. It was the place to be and be seen!

Thank goodness the McCook City Pool is still a wonderful place for kids to while away their summer afternoons. Because of renovations undertaken by the city last year, the pool is now updated, clean, and bright. But what truly gives the pool its enjoyable atmosphere is its manager, Jody Crocker.

Jody has been the pool manager for the past five seasons and has done a great job. She is a tireless worker whose main goal is to make sure that the pool is a safe, yet fun, experience for all the swimmers. She is the first one there every morning to clean up and get things ready to open, and she stays until the last child heads home at night.

The users of the pool quickly learn that Jody expects them to follow the rules, especially the ones forbidding profanity and horseplay. They know that Jody means business and runs a tight ship. Yet, she makes all the swimmers feel welcomed and wanted at the pool each and every day.

Jody has a very special relationship with the lifeguards, clerks, and basket help that work for her. She makes sure they know all the rules and that they enforce them while they are working.

She expects them to act professionally, yet still allows time for fun and camaraderie while they are on duty. Most importantly, she is always supportive of her workers and backs them up 100 percent; especially when they have to discipline someone or make a tough decision. The pool help really respect Jody as their boss and don't want to let her down in any way.

My two daughters are blessed by having had Jody as their boss at the pool. Laura worked as a lifeguard for three years and Julia is now in her third year working in the pool house. They both enjoyed their summers at the pool and having Jody as their "second mother." She helped instill in them a sense of responsibility, pride in what they do, and a strong work ethic. She listened to their problems, gave them good advice, made them laugh, and shared stories about her life. One of the stories involves two dead horses, a missed concert, and running over her husband with a car. I would give you more details, but I don't think the statue of limitations has run yet on all the possible criminal charges!

You could say that being the manager of a swimming pool runs in Jody's blood. Her mother was Elva Backer; a fixture in McCook pools for years. Elva served as the aquatic director at our YMCA for over 30 years and was the city pool manager for 25 years. Jody learned the job from her mother, as she was a lifeguard under Elva during her high school and college years. Jody also served as aquatic director at the Y before taking over as manager of the city pool.

However, Jody probably would not be able to do the great job she does without the help of her husband, Richie. When not working for the railroad, Richie is at the pool, helping Jody with the cleaning and supervising. Richie is banned from doing any life guarding, however, since he can't swim a stroke. In fact, I have been told the only near-drowning they have had at the pool the last few years was when Richie tried to help clean the deep end of the pool without wearing a life preserver!

The kids at the pool like to tease Richie by calling him "Grumpy," due to the fact he always pretends to be in a bad mood. It's a name in which he takes pride! However, they also know that he is a softhearted character who cares deeply about them. He loves to tease our Julia about her taste in men and Julia must now run any potential suitors past him to get his stamp of approval. Keep up the good work Richie!

Swimming is certainly a family affair for the Crocker family. Unlike their father, the three Crocker siblings, Josh, Joe, and Riley, are avid swimmers. They have all taken swimming lessons from their mother and participated on the swim team at school. Joe and Riley have continued the family tradition by working at the pool as lifeguards. Jody's grandson, Ryder, seems to have the aquatic genes in his blood as well. He is a frequent visitor at the pool, and Grandma Jody often dons her swimsuit and takes Ryder in the pool for a swim.

At the age of 15 months, he is already a better swimmer than his Grandpa Richie is and is known to howl and throw a fit when he's not allowed to go into the pool. I am sure in a few years we will find him sitting in the lifeguard chair, spinning a whistle around his finger.

So during the next few weeks before the pool shuts down, please stop by and say hello and thank you to Jody.

She is an amazing woman who has given much of her time and energy to the youth of McCook. Without her spunk, her enthusiasm, and her zeal for life, the pool would certainly not be the popular place it is now. Just don't let her catch you running in the pool area or you might find yourself sitting out for 15 minutes!

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I have now reached the one-year milestone with this column. It has been an enjoyable experience and one that has helped to reinforce my belief in the goodness of people, especially those that live in Southwest Nebraska.

I hope you have enjoyed reading the columns as much as I have enjoyed writing them. As always, I would love any suggestions you might have for someone that deserves that extra pat on the back and recognition for all that they do. If you know of somebody or some organization that you would like to see featured in a future column, please email me care of the newspaper or call me at (308) 345-2189.

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On a personal note, I would like to thank everyone in McCook who has been so supportive to our family during the last couple of weeks. Laura had major jaw surgery in Lincoln last month that involved breaking both jaws and wiring her mouth shut. It has been an exhausting experience for the whole family. We have had such wonderful support from our co-workers, friends, church family, neighbors and acquaintances. The outpouring of prayers, cards, flowers, gifts, and food has been so touching and so helpful.

Laura enjoyed her week of recovery in McCook before she had to head back to Lincoln and more doctor appointments. She was overwhelmed by the concern and care that people in McCook showered upon her. Being here was very therapeutic for her, and she truly wished she could have stayed longer.

We are truly blessed to be members of such a loving community. Thank you!