A soldier on loan

Connie Jo Discoe/McCook Daily Gazette [Click to enlarge]

The Museum of the High Plains board of directors voted unanimously at its board meeting Thursday morning to loan the museum's sculpture of a World War I soldier to Trenton Klimper, the McCook Boy Scout who wants to create a war memorial in Norris Park. Board member John Hubert of McCook said the fiberglass sculpture, by Cambridge sculptor Gary Ginther, could be a good starting point for Klimper's project. Klimper told members of the McCook City Council on May 18 that he wants to install a monument that will "withstand the test of time," and honor all branches of the military. Council members gave their approval to Klimper to proceed with his planning. Museum board member Walt Sehnert said the museum wants to cooperate "as we can," loaning the soldier until such a time when it is no longer needed as part of a park memorial.