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McCook Gazette
Editorial

Program provides tools to make our towns better

Monday, March 10, 2008

Most of us are happy with where we live, but why is that?

Is it the small town atmosphere? The community betterment? The parks? The youth sports? The golf course? The churches or the recreational opportunities?

More than likely, it's that and more.

But without an organized effort, it may be hard to figure out exactly what makes our towns great places to live. More importantly, it may be hard to figure out how to make them better.

That's exactly what the Nebraska Community Improvement Program has been helping towns do for the last 45 years.

It's not that a lot of towns aren't already doing the things that make for community improvement; it's that the process of entering the state contest requires local leaders to step back, look at their town and present their efforts to the state judges in the best possible light.

If their entry wins, local volunteers receive the recognition they deserve. It's when new NCIP entrants don't take the top prize, however, that the true value of the program kicks in. Over the next year, organizers can take the actual community improvement steps needed to put their town in contention for recognition at the next year's banquet.

A program of the Nebraska Department of Economic Development, NCIP recognizes both individual projects as special awards, and overall community development efforts, as represented by Community Notebooks. The latter receive on-site visits by judges who are trained in community and economic development.

All award winners will then be recognized by Gov. Dave Heineman at the 2008 NCIP Awards Banquet, set Nov. 14 at the Kearney Holiday Inn.

If your community is interested in getting involved in the NCIP program for the first time, or wants a refresher course, several workshops are set around the state.

The closest will be 2 to 4 p.m. Tuesday, April 15, at the Senior Center in Eustis, 111 N. Main.

The program is sponsored by investor-owned utilities such as Aquila, Glenwood Telephone, NorthWestern Energy, SourceGas, Northern Natural Gas and Great Plains Communications.

To register for the training workshops or for more information on NCIP, contact Lindsay Papenhausen at (800) 426-6505 or (402) 471-6587, e-mail lindsay.papenhausen@ded.ne.gov, or at www.neded.org

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  • I hate to be a party pooper, but we do not need any contest to regain, or relearn, how to be a great community. Ask anyone over sixty, "What is missing today that made life so great when you were a child." I hate to mention the 'unmentionable' things I feel made Southwest Nebraska the greatest place to live, in the world. (My young adult years were spent traveling the world, seeing many, many countries, and none comparred to the McCook area)

    The things that need rebuilding are called: Work, Pride, Support, and Faith.

    I remember people like the family, who lived in Jones' salvage yard, had nothing of value except their pride of working for what they did have, and had great pride in not being on welfare. I saw people support and defend groups like the Girl, and Boy, Scouts. Half (plus) of the town seemed to show up for every football game. We not only had 'Pep' Leaders, we had a 'Pep' Club. People brought refreshments to the firemen, when they were fighting a fire. Oh-yes, it was VERY legal for Scouts and Church groups to use the City facilities. Fill the pews again with believing Christians, and put Mothers, and Fathers back in charge of their children.

    Enough said from this sixty-year-old (plus).

    Apathy, and 'Rule by the minority,' has proven, over the last forty years, it does not work. 'APATHY,' is a four-letter-word, with two extra letters! The 'path' in 'apathy' starts words like 'Pathology,' and 'Pathetic.'

    Treat others as you wish to be treated. We can regain that which we have lost, and shine to a point we will not have to sign up for any contest to prove we live in a Great part of Nebrask (world).

    To steal a few words from a man I respect highly, 'That's the way I see it'

    Arley Steinhour

    -- Posted by Navyblue on Mon, Mar 10, 2008, at 9:59 PM
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