Opinion

As we find ourselves in the midst of the holiday season, I always start thinking of Thanksgiving Day. I begin by planning which weekend my family will be able to join me for our family’s favorite foods and a time of sharing about what is happening in their world...

During the 2024 election, Social Security’s future was a central topic, with debates focusing on its sustainability and potential cuts. Democrats largely advocated for protecting and expanding benefits, while Republicans showed divisions between supporting reforms to address long-term funding issues and proposals for privatization...

If you question the monetary gifts and the value they bring to the organizations who receive them, I can assure you that Southwest Nebraska Genealogical Society and the High Plains Historical Society (Museum of the High Plains) not only appreciate your giving but are also blessed by your giving which allows both to accomplish goals that would not be possible without the Big Give. ...

Childhood obesity is a daunting issue for communities across Nebraska, but it’s especially severe in rural areas where resources are sparse and options for balanced, nutritious food are often limited. Studies show that rural children are 26% more likely to experience obesity than their urban peers, a statistic that signals a real and urgent need for change. ...

If you don’t think your mind, actions or lifestyle have changed over the years, stop for a moment and think of how you do things differently. Some of the changes have been positive, others maybe not so much, and some differences we haven’t noticed but have profoundly altered the way we do things...

In the aftermath of a divisive election season, it’s easy to feel like we don’t really know our neighbors—or that we understand them less than we thought. It’s a sentiment many can relate to, especially when conflicting views clash at every turn, leaving us to wonder: What are people really thinking?...

Since 1996, I have written columns for the McCook Gazette on and off in one capacity or another, whether as a reporter for the newspaper, for the McCook YMCA or now on behalf of the McCook Community Foundation Fund. Coming up with ideas on a weekly basis usually comes easy for me but some weeks are harder than others. This is one of those hard weeks...

Dear Editor, I was excited to see my photo with Milt Johnson published just before my 97 birthday! This was a picture fumished by the Bureau of Reclamation and the photographer was L.C. Axthelm. This photo was published in the McCook Gazette Friday, October 18, 2024, page 5 above the heading “Happy Days of the 1960’s” and yes those were happy days...

Dear Editor, Medicare’s open enrollment period commenced on October 15th and lasts through December 7th. During this period seniors can switch coverage between traditional Medicare and Medicare Advantage. The Nebraska Hospital Association implores seniors in our state to know what your coverage looks like, especially for serious illness. Medicare Advantage can look appealing, but it usually does not offer the best care for many of the health situations seniors often face...

Dear Editor, As a retired McCook educator, I can assure you that a vote FOR the school bond is a crucial step toward ensuring our students receive the quality education they deserve. The current facility lacks sufficient learning space and exhibits significant structural challenges, most of which a repair and a Band-Aid are not enough...

Dear Editor, As a retired McCook educator, I can assure you that a vote FOR the school bond is a crucial step toward ensuring our students receive the quality education they deserve. The current facility lacks sufficient learning space and exhibits significant structural challenges, most of which a repair and a Band-Aid are not enough...

I don’t know about you but I am sure getting tired of all the appeals to send money. Send to this or that politician, some whom I’ve never heard of before, don’t live in my district and I don’t know whether I approve of them or not. The text of the message is that it will be a disaster if I ignore the request and sit on my hands...

Dear Editor, The United States Marine Corps will be celebrating their 249th birthday on November 10, 2024. As many readers may know, our Continental Congress established the Marine Corps as a new branch of the military on November 10, 1775. Therefore, local Marines, spouses and friends will be celebrating the birthday of our beloved Corps...

The moment has arrived for McCook Public School patrons to make a pivotal decision: whether to approve a 30-year $43.5 million bond issue to build a new Junior High School and renovate the Senior High facilities. The proposal is not a decision made in haste but the result of over a decade of thorough study and analysis by the administration and the school board. ...

A recent University of Nebraska-Lincoln Rural Poll revealed that 69% of rural Nebraskans view the lack of civil discourse in the political system as a serious problem, with 29% rating it as “very serious.” The poll, conducted by Rural Prosperity Nebraska, is an annual effort to gauge rural Nebraskans’ opinions on key issues. ...

With the election just around the corner, there are so many issues and candidates to consider that it can be overwhelming. It is easy to just read the endless texts and emails that fill up our phones and computers. It is simple to scan the dozens of postcards that arrive in the mailbox every day. It is effortless to just agree with all the social media post that fill your newsfeed and pass along the idea...