Radio personality scores points in mag's 'Nicest Place' contest

Rich Barnett recaps Monday's McCook City Council meeting with City Manager Nate Schneider and City Council Member Jerry Calvin live on the radio this morning - one of the many people Rich talks to every day. With dozens of calls every day, Rich seems to know the voice of all his callers or at least make them feel welcomed and a part of the community.

McCOOK, Neb. -- As the story goes, the parade entries were rolling down Norris Avenue during the Heritage Days parade a few years ago.

The parade royalty streamed by and the crowds cheerfully waived back with a smattering of “Hey, I know them” comments from those lining the street. Following closely behind, local and state politicians cruised by with most spectators waiving politely in return.

But as the next parade entry neared, the noise level from the crowd started to rise. Behind the rope barrier, everyone tried to get the attention of the car’s occupant. For outsiders, they might have thought a famous musician or long-lost hometown son was nearing.

Rather, it was simply Rich Barnett passing by, seemingly knowing everyone on both sides of the street. And most likely, everyone knew Rich, who is as close to a local celebrity as you can get in McCook and he is one reason McCook is vying for “Nicest Place in America” by Reader’s Digest.

Between his uncanny ability to know nearly everyone’s voice when they call into the Openline radio program to his seemingly infinite ability to remember every high school athletic event over the past 30 years, Rich has achieved nearly cult-like status in his hometown.

High school and college coaches drag themselves out of bed every Saturday morning during the school year to discuss the week in sports on Coaches Coffee Club at Sehnert’s Bakery, with some coaches - and Rich too - running on just a few hours of sleep after a late “away” game.

Residents from across Southwest Nebraska - and even across the state - call in to his live radio program for a variety of reasons, to sell their washing machine, to promote their garage sale, to complain about snow removal or to compliment their neighbor. And Rich takes it all in with a smile in his voice.

Walk into most businesses and offices across McCook in the morning and Rich’s voice will be streaming through the speakers. There are very few things these days that everyone has in common but everyone knows about Openline and everyone knows Rich Barnett.

It may seem simple, but having something to share is just another reason to vote McCook as the 2019 “Nicest Place in America.” Continue to vote for McCook through July 21 and we’ll highlight something nice in McCook every day.

Suggestions have continued to come in but we always looking for more. Just send an email to rondagraff@gmail.com why McCook and Sehnert’s Bakery is the “Nicest Place in America.”

And continue to vote every 24 hours for McCook at https://www.rd.com/nicestplaces/the-nicest-place-in-nebraska-sehnerts-bakery-in-... or find the link at mccookfoundation.org.