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'North of the Platte' book signing
Former McCook resident Bryan Jones discusses his third book, "North of the Platte, South of the Niobrara: A Little Further into the Nebraska Sand Hills," during a reading Saturday at the High Plains Museum in McCook. Bryan said that his nearly-lifelong fascination with the Sand Hills formed the basis for this book. He wondered how one Sand Hills ranch family — the descendants of "Old Jules" Sandoz — keeps the ranch going even today, while another family — the McMurtreys — couldn't figure out how to keep the ranch in the family. The McMurtrey ranch sold to bison rancher and TV tycoon Ted Turner. In Bryan's mind, that led to another question: How does Turner's bison ranch make nice with cattle ranchers and neighbors? The more he learned, the more questions formed: How were the dunes of the Sand Hills formed? Is the Ogallala aquifer impacted by Sand Hills ranching? Are the Church of the Latter Day Saints' ranches good neighbors? Who are these people of the Sand Hills? Bryan said, of the Hill's inhabitants he learned, "What they tell you is the truth. They're not afraid of public opinion." But one rancher told Bryan flat-out, "If you're lookin' for dirt, you've come to the wrong place. I will not tell tales." After the presentation at the museum, Jones visited with McCook residents Cloyd Clark (center) and Bryant Brooks. Bryan Jones' other books are "The Farming Game" and "Mark Twain Made Me Do It … " "North of the Platte" is available at the museum, open Tuesday through Saturday, 1 p.m. until 5 p.m.
