Editorial

A great organization celebrates a great team

Monday, November 22, 2004

The crowd at An Evening for Hospice was speaking for all of us Sunday night when they rose in unison to give a standing ovation to the captains of the McCook High School football team.

As a community, we are proud of the Bison for their remarkable three-year run in the Class B football playoffs. Two championships, a 38-game winning streak and a runner-up finish in this year's championship game show the talent, spirit and class of this outstanding group of student athletes.

In the 30-year history of the playoffs, no team has won more games in succession than the Bison. Although the narrow loss in the finals was disappointing for the Bison players, in years to come they will realize the magnitude of their accomplishment. The two state titles are the first, and only, for the Bison in football since the 1946 Bison team was ranked first in state ratings. There were no playoffs in those days, so the ranking determined the state's best.

On top of that, the 38 straight victories goes down as a McCook, as well as state Class B playoff, record.

McCook is fortunate to have an outstanding coaching staff, supportive parents and a united community of fans. That's shown by the large turnout of red-clad McCook boosters, who made up well over half of the crowd of 7,327 for Saturday night's championship game.

But it the student-athletes to whom we owe the most. With their excellence and dedication, they have uplifted their school and community.

An Evening for Hospice

An Evening for Hospice is such a special event, inspiring reverence and generosity for the community's program of support for those who have reached their final days of life.

Once again Sunday night, a capacity crowd rose in support of Hospice, giving a combined total of $33,000 at the fund-raising evening at the Coppermill.

There is no better way to tell of Hospice's importance than to hear from those whose loved ones have been served by the program. Jim Knott's account of his wife, Arlene's, encounter with Hospice, and Terry Peterson's donation of a diamond for a raffle, in memory of his wife, Donna, were touching and meaningful.

Hospice is a program of dignity, compassion and love. All who contribute to the success -- most especially caregivers, families and supporters -- deserve our gratitude.

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