Elks lodge property, looking for a few great ideas

To begin today's column, I would like to extend my thanks -- and that of the McCook community and the Mid-Plains region -- to Perry and Vicky Case for their wonderful gift of the former McCook Elks lodge and surrounding grounds to the McCook Community College Campus of the Mid-Plains Area.

Already a Nebraska leader -- by virtue of the fact that McCook had the first junior college in the state -- the extended campus in northwestern McCook now has even greater possibilities on the horizon, with the big, sprawling Elks Lodge building and the expansive grounds -- which formerly served as a golf course -- in which and upon which -- to create whatever program, event or activity that our minds can imagine.

For now, the college is concentrating on making sure the former Elks property is protected from the elements, doing repair work on the roof and making other improvements to be certain the building and grounds are protected from the sometimes harsh weather in the Golden Plains of America.

But, some day, I hope very soon, the college leaders are going to have to decide what use we should make of the property located east of East Seventh Street and a block north of East H Street.

No one, yet, has asked me or you what we think, but, you know us, we're ready to put our two cents worth in anyway.

Therefore, very unofficially, I would like you to do one of two things:

NUMBER ONE-- Think about what you think the best uses the college could make of the former Elks property would be, and -- once you have done that -- write your ideas down in an Open Forum letter to the McCook Gazette, OR:

NUMBER TWO -- E-mail this writer -- at adsales4@mccookgazette.com -- with your ideas for college use of the former Elks property. You can either remain anonymous or you can lay claim to what you say. I don't care. I'm just trying to drum up some good ideas for a future 'Morris on Norris' column.

I'm not being frivolous here. I'm totally serious. The ex-Elks property presents an extraordinarily good opportunity for McCook Community College and the Mid-Plains College Area to expand, bringing essential new learning opportunities to the Golden Plains, which is located smack-dab in the middle of the Heartland of the continental United States.

McCook College has already demonstrated it can be a leader in many fields. As just one example, look at what McCook Community College is doing with it graphic arts program, or -- on an outreach basis -- emergency medical training.

McCook College is special -- from its start in 1926, 90 long years ago, to today. The students from the 1960s, who returned last week, reminded me of that fact once again. The love they had for one another, and for the college and the community, was inspiring.

Let's keep the MCC momentum going! Join me, and the 1960's juco alums, in celebrating the specialness of Nebraska's first and foremost junior college.

To get your creative juices flowing, take a drive around the campus, peering at historic Weiland Field gandering at the impressive new Pete and Delores Graff Event Center and contemplating the complex of building in the middle quadrant, namely McMillen Hall, True Hall, von Riesen Library, Barnett Hall, Walsh-Brady Hall, Tipton Hall and Wrightstone Fine Arts Building, as well as the Wig-Wam Student Union and the Ralph G. Brooks Residence Hall.

Thanks, citizens of McCook and McCook College and Mid-Plains College board members, faculty members and students, you have made all this possible with your support and encouragement.

What I am trying to say -- in my awkward but heart-felt way -- is that we already have a great college. But, we can make it even more awesome by taking full advantage of the former Elks property opportunity.

Keep those cards and letters coming, folks. We have a wonderful opportunity right here in our own backyard. Let's seize it by putting our thinking caps on and coming up with some good ideas to carry the college forward into the future.