Let's take a little jaunt around town. Let's find out what's happening. Let's see what's on people's minds.

TRIBUTE TO THE HAT -- To begin, let's stop by the Bieroc Cafe in downtown McCook. On the wall there, we discover a new addition to owner Matt Sehnert's gallery of paintings.

The new, thought-provoking painting features Harry Strunk's hat, which had fallen on a step leading to the platform at one of Southwest Nebraska's dam dedications.

Kathie McBride created the artistic rendering of the historic photo, which was taken by Lyle Axthelm in the 1950s.

"The photo impresses me as one of the most poignant of its era," says Kathie, who titled the picture, "Strunk's Hat."

The picture was taken at a time when audiences gathered to socialize, discuss issues and celebrate progress, Kathie says. "It also speaks of that era's leaders, whose commitment to progress has helped to form our present day lives."

We're grateful to Kathie for preserving this reminder of Harry Strunk's impact on Southwest Nebraska history. He was the founder of the McCook Daily Gazette and the president of the Republican Valley Conservation Association, which spearheaded area lake development.

LONG-USE LICENSE PLATES -- When renewing the plates for my wife Barbara's car Wednesday, I was chatting with Marleen Garcia, the Red Willow County treasurer. She told me something which I knew, but had let slip my mind. The Nebraska license plates now in use -- the one featuring dark blue numbers on a light blue and white background -- will be around for five more years. That's right ... five more years.

What's the deal? Well, as Marleen tells it, the state figured the screen-printed plates would last longer, prompting them to extend their use until 2011. But there's a problem. The plates are not holding up as well as the state officials had hoped. Some numbers are fading. Others are being scraped, scratched and bumped.

Oh, well. At least the state is avoiding the controversy which surrounded the previous sun-yellow and orange plates.

COMBINED LAW ENFORCEMENT -- With all the talk about the new jail and public safety center, Jim Hamill of 413 North Cherokee is wondering why more consideration is not being given to combining the Red Willow County Sheriff's Department and the McCook Police Department. In Jim's view, there is considerable duplication. "We could eliminate a lot of expense if we combined the departments," he said.

Anyone else thinking the same way? Why not stop by and talk with Jim about the possibilities. He's on duty at the McCook National Bank several days a week.

BEN IMPRESSES COACHES -- The coaching staff at the University of Nebraska has been praising the play of Ben Eisenhart of Culbertson. Ben, who combines strong safety work with special teams duty, has been placed on full scholarship. One of Nebraska's coaches, Bill Busch, calls him the surprise player of 2006. "He's just got this contagious energy," Busch told the Omaha World-Herald. "He brings that to the table. He's so conscientious about everything we've been doing. There's no cool breeze to anything with him. Everything is all business."

If you get a chance, tell Ben's parents, Rusty and Annette Eisenhart of Culbertson, how proud you are of Ben's efforts. But make sure it's during the week. Very soon, Rusty and Annette will be traveling on weekends to the Huskers' home and away games.