Panhandlers needed

Dear Editor, I need to write this letter because I feel so embarrassed over an incident that happened to my family on Saturday. I have lived in McCook 37 years and have felt good about our police protection. I feel more protected now!

Our family, from Lincoln, enjoyed Thanksgiving, but didn't venture out of the house until Saturday. We decided to go to Performance Athletics to find a few presents and things needed. (They were having a great sale.) We, meaning myself, daughter, two grandsons and two granddaughters.

My oldest grandson, 22 years old, needed to use the restroom and, none being available, I told him to go up the street to his grandpa's store. He left the store, but stopped on the corner to wait for his grandpa because he saw him coming out of his store to come down to the sports store. Grandpa came across B Street and handed him the keys to the store. This happened within 10 or fewer minutes and he was back in the sports store to finish our shopping. A few seconds later, two of the city policemen walked into Performance Athletics, straight over to our grandson and said "you out there taking money? We had a report someone in a green T-shirt, and you have a green T-shirt."

If someone had time in those 10 minutes to report a panhandler, we do have concerned citizens. (More protection). There were several people in the store shopping. Most of them left, probably a few lost sales for the manager. This all happened within 10 minutes, at the most, 15.

I think if other people from out of town are treated this way, our downtown businesses will suffer more. Between my out of town family and myself, we spent close to $500 downtown Saturday, even after being embarrassed.

Warning to future shoppers:

Don't stand in one place on McCook corners for more than two minutes, especially with a green T-shirt. (By the way, my grandson put his new sweatshirt on instead of waiting for Christmas.

My husband said this is the first time he has seen a cop on Norris Avenue in a year. Maybe we really do need a few panhandlers to get police to Norris Avenue. After all, it is Christmas season.

Ardyce Rose

McCook