Air service recognizes unique place

Travel has always been an important part of Nebraska's landscape, from Native American tribes following the buffalo herds, to Spanish explorers and trappers. From Mormon immigrants to '49er gold prospectors to the great migration memorialized in Kearney's Great Platte River Road Archway Monument.

Pony Express riders traversed the "Great American Desert" as fast as their ponies could travel and stage lines rumbled through at their own urgent pace.

The big change came with construction of the railroad, turning a transcontinental trip into a commitment of days rather than months. Nebraska owes its statehood in part to railroad interests along the Missouri River.

While most of us live here by choice, it is only by efficient means of transportation that the Golden Plains are able to maintain a viable economy.

Whether for local business people to make face-to-face contacts with suppliers or customers, family vacation travel, or for prospective residents or businesses to see Southwest Nebraska and Northwest Kansas first hand, swift, reliable transportation is vital.

McCook is blessed with Amtrak service, but trains arrive at inconvenient times during the night. And, federal funding questions are threatening the long-term existence of the subsidized passenger rail system.

Thus it is that Nebraska's senators, Republican Chuck Hagel and McCook native, Democrat Ben Nelson, are throwing their full support behind Essential Air Service subsidies to McCook and other towns.

The senators are requesting $125 million to fund EAS, up from the $113 million budgeted from last year and requested by the Bush administration.

Without increased funding this year, communities like McCook could lose critical economic growth opportunities, Nelson points out.

This is especially true as airlines continue to struggle to recover from the September 11 attacks, which cruelly singled out their industry.

Continued, enhanced support of air service recognizes the unique position in our nation that the Golden Plains hold.