Opinion

Community draws former residents back

Monday, July 2, 2007

This may be the start of a growing trend. I'm talking about the increasing number of people who are moving back to the Great Plains because they are tired of the rat race in larger, congested cities.

I ran across three such people last week: Michael Wiggs and his mother, Jean, from Oceanside, Calif., and Bill Stokley, formerly of Port-land, Ore.

Bill has already moved back to McCook and Mich-ael and Jean will be following as soon as they get a house built in Countryside Estates.

Many of you will remember Bill. He was the golf professional at Heritage Hills from 1991 to 1996. After leaving McCook, he became a traveling consultant for leading golf companies. He was with Royal Precision in Scottsdale, Ariz. from 1997 to 2001. In this capacity, he custom fitted golf equipment for professionals from the PGA, Senior Tour, LPGA and Buy.Com tours.

Then in 2001, Bill joined Nike, helping the company expand its golf market. He was based in Portland, Ore., but traveled widely. Among his experiences was fitting both Tiger Woods and David Duval with Nike's newly developed golf equipment.

So, after living in sunny Scottsdale and picturesque Portland, where do you think Bill would want to go for retirement?

As I've already said, his choice was McCook. "Why?," I asked Bill.

"I really grew to like this community when I lived here," Bill said. "I have good friends here and the golf course is great. Also, McCook is much closer to my daughters and their families, who live in Wichita."

It's good to have Bill back. McCook Community College is taking advantage of Bill's expertise, hiring him as the Indians' new golf coach. "I've already started recruiting," he said. "We have some openings for tuition scholarships for 2007-08, so if you know of prospects, give me a call." Bill can be reached at his home number, (308) 345-2220.

Escape from Gridlock

Even though they have been gone for more than half a century, Jean Wiggs and her son, Michael, have kept warm places in their hearts for McCook. That's why they are returning.

"I'm going back to California to sell my duplex, then we're coming back to McCook to build a house," Michael said. "We hope to be living here by the end of the year."

The Wiggses are moving for two reasons: their affection for McCook and their distaste for what's happening in southern California. "We're tired of the congestion," they said. "In Oceanside, we are only 90 miles from the Mexican border. That brings many problems with drugs and illegal aliens. It's time to get out of there."

The Wiggses left McCook in 1951. At the time, they were living in the Victory Addition, which was located where Alco is now.

Some may still remember the barracks, which were built to provide housing for officers stationed at the McCook Army Air Base during World War II. After the base was closed, the barracks were rented out for several years before being torn down.

Michael has fond memories of living here. "My brother, Gary, and I used to walk through corn fields, located where the high school and YMCA are now, to go watch movies at the drive-in theater," he said.

Jean and Michael would dearly love it if anyone would share pictures or stories about the Victory Addition. You're invited to write: Jean E. Wiggs, 1717 Lemon Heights Drive, Oceanside, CA 92056-2943.

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Join me in welcoming Bill, Jean and Michael to McCook. If you know of others who are moving to this area, drop me a note at Life on the Plains, McCook Daily Gazette, P.O. Box 1268, McCook, NE 69001. I'll feature them in future columns. More and more people are discovering the Good Life in the Golden Plains and it's time to share the news.

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