Big banners only part of big birthday celebration

McCOOK, Neb. -- B Street Banners and a Big Birthday Bash are among the possibilities as the McCook Area Chamber of Commerce gets ready to roll out plans for the celebration of McCook's 135th and Nebraska's 150th anniversaries, both of which will take place in 2017.

As a kick-start for the year of celebration, Chamber Executive Director Jamie Mockry and community worker Linda Taylor announced Thursday that 40 big banners -- 2 1/2 feet wide and 5 foot tall -- will be placed alongside B Street between the U.S. 83 overpass on the southeast side of town and the U.S. 83 intersection on the west side of town.

"The banners will honor McCook's history and tell about our tourism highlights," Mockry said.

Plans are also in progress for a big McCook and Nebraska birthday banquet and ball in March, with the Lonnie Lynn Orchestra already booked and a special appearance by Nebraska's governor, Pete Ricketts, also in the works.

"And that's not all," Taylor said. "We're going to party all year long."

Plans are now being developed for special activities during McCook's major annual celebrations, including:

* The Buffalo Commons Storytelling Festival, June 9-11;

* The new Buffalo Jones Outdoor Festival, June 11;

* McCook Crazy Days, July 6-7-8;

* The Red Willow County Fair, July 19-23, and:

* Heritage Days, Sept. 25-27.

Crazy Days, which will be earlier than usual in 2017, will feature added activities, including a barbecue contest, a beer garden and a car show, Mockry said.

For Heritage Days, efforts are under way to bring back a polka band like the ones which were featured in the first German Heritage celebrations.

As another illustration of McCook's birthday celebration, lights will be placed on the tops of buildings from A to B, B to C and C to D on Norris Avenue.

Others with ideas for celebrating McCook's 135th and Nebraska's 50th birthdays are encouraged to contact the Chamber by calling 345-3200 or e-mailing Mockry at director@mccookchamber.org.