Robert Mark Ihrig & Susan Jean Butherus Ihrig

Once upon a time in the early 1970's, my beautiful wife, Susan, worked at the Gibson Discount Center in McCook when she was attending McCook Junior College. Does anyone remember that early "super store." Susan really did enjoy her time working there and still remembers who her supervisor was.

What do you remember about the store. We ran across this receipt from 1974 and it just brought back our memories.

Here is a picture of my amazing wife, Susan, when she was a Brownie in Culbertson, Nebraska, Troop No. 116. Along with the picture is a write-up in the newspaper that talks about Susan Butherus conducting a business meeting along with Connie Alberts - today Connie Barger, and Marilyn Funk - today Marilyn O'Neil. Anybody who knows me knows that Susan is by far the better half.

My wife Susan grew up on a small farm on the east side of Culbertson, NE. It was once a research farm for the University of Nebraska and there were always livestock and horses on the farm. Here is Susan's Dad, George Butherus with his favorite horse. He was a Nebraska corn farmer and a true Cornhusker. He and his wife Irva were huge supporter of 4-H.

The City of Indianola passed a ban against horses and are trying to remove them from the land where horses have lived for 122 years. Please pray they change their minds. This ban is not good for Indianola. The next council meeting is Tuesday, January 3rd at 5:30 if you want to come and voice your opposition to this ban.

Two of the most amazing people that I've had the pleasure of knowing in my life are Susan's parents - George and Irva Butherus. They lived on a small farm on the east side of Culbertson with the big red barn. It was once a research farm for the University of Nebraska. George raised livestock, grew corn, always had horses, and brought into this world 5 amazing daughters. I was lucky enough to marry the middle one - Susan Jean. Today is their anniversary. RIP George & Irva.

This is the second picture taken of Susan and me in December of 1970. Her dad, George Butherus had been Santa on the Culbertson Fire Truck for years, but he had fallen ill. Both Susan and George asked me to be the Santa, even though I was only 19 years old. I was dumb enough to accept the assignment. We were married a month later. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you all.

Indianola council: Chickens yay, horses neigh

SAVE THE HORSES IN INDIANOLA

Here is the follow-up article to the decision made by the Indianola City Council to ban horses.

Indianola council: Chickens yay, horses neigh

SADDLE UP Nebraska's Working Horses

https://nebraskapublicmedia.org/en/series-media/non-series-video/saddle-up-nebraskas-working-horses-base-50017401/SAVE

SAVE THE HORSES IN INDIANOLA

We just wanted to let everyone know that the Indianola, Nebraska City Council in Southwest Nebraska voted last night to ban horses inside the city limits.

The farm we own has been inside city limits for 122 years and there has been horses on that land throughout its long history.
They want to evict the horses off our land. We will fight their new ordinance we and are considering our options.

In the meantime, here is a NEBRASKA DOCUMENTARY on HORSES that was put out this year. One group is praising horses, another group is trying to ban them. Please share this post and comment.

SADDLE UP Nebraska's Working Horses

This is one of my favorite Christmas pictures of Susan and Santa.

This was our mall Santa when we had a card and gift store in East Park Plaza in Lincoln. Our store was called R. C. Burgess.

Merry Christmas to all our friends. May there Be Peace on Earth Someday. That will happen if we treat others the way we want to be treated.

The horses are looking through the window to catch a glimpse of a new baby filly. And yet there is one main person who would like to see the horses on our property go. But there is no ordinance against horses and there never has been.

Here is the only current law about prohibited animals in Indianola, Nebraska.

Ordinance 499: No wild animals may be kept within the corporate limits except such animals, kept for exhibition purposed by circuses and educational institutions. Further, no person may keep or maintain within the corporate limits any mules, cattle, sheep, goats, hogs or similar animals, or any geese, guineas, or other fowl.

We just believe we have a right to have animals. And, when this ordinance was written in 2016, horses were on the land and it was no issue previously.

Here is the old barn we restored. Notice the old hitching post. It is insulated with a stall. We will paint it this spring.

Some people think I am causing trouble by talking about the Indianola ALL-ANIMAL BAN. All I am trying to do is preserve the horses that have been on the land for 122 years. Thanks for your concern and please give your thoughts and share this post.

Here is the old barn we restored. Notice the old hitching post. It is insulated with a stall. We will paint it this spring.

Some people think I am causing trouble by talking about the Indianola ALL-ANIMAL BAN.

The City Council at one point promised to look into writing an ordinance that would allow us to keep the horses. But after one council member made such a big fuss about it, they have basically turned their backs on us. We finally told them there is no ordinance against horses because there isn't. They were trying to keep us from having horses when there is no ordinance against horses.

Then we heard they were writing an ordinance for horses, but they won't share this information even though it is public information. Yet the city clerk told me they would possibly vote on the ban next meeting

Sounds to me like they are trying to ram something through. I hope the Indianola City Council keeps their promise. In the meantime, I'm just trying to let people know that the council has tried to prevent us from having horses and they should attend the next meeting to voice their concerns about this ALL-ANIMAL BAN. In the very least, the council has been difficult to work with and they have not been communicative.

If someone was trying to take something away from you that you had a right to do, wouldn't you say something? Give me your thoughts.

I wrote an open forum letter to the editor of the McCook Gazette concerning this potential new ALL-ANIMAL BAN in Indianola. It was posted online today. All concerned about this small city should know what's been happening.

We don't know if the council is going to try and get rid of our horses or not. One councilman for sure is trying to get the horses off our land. That's why we are sharing what has been transpiring. We hope the other council members will listen to the will of the people.

Click the link below to read the letter and please attend the next meeting. https://www.mccookgazette.com/story/2976023.html

Meet Katie, she is a shy but gorgeous Quarter Horse who will be a new mama this spring.

Indianola is considering an ALL-ANIMAL BAN, except for dogs and cats. But stray and feral dogs and cats are one of the biggest problems in the small city. Why not address the problem rather than take away rights the residents have enjoyed for years.

Please, save the horses in Indianola. They have been on my grandfather's farm for 122 years. Attend the next meeting on Monday, Dec 19th at 5:30.

Meet Amity, the filly is about a week old and her mama is Holly, a grey quarter horse. They are comfortable inside the barn we just restored.

We don't know if the Indianola City Council will propose a ordinance that will BAN ALL ANIMALS except for dogs and cats. But that is the rumor. Some people could lose their chickens too. Please attend the council meeting next Monday, Dec. 19th at 5:30 and listen to all sides.

There have been horses on my grandfathers farm for 122 years. We are just trying to prevent a right to keep the horses on the land. Wouldn't you say something if someone was trying to take a right away from you that you are legally entitled to?

This is Word, he is the only stallion we have on our small farm. He is a gentle and proud thoroughbred and the mares follow him around.

One person in particular on the Indianola City Council is trying to BAN ALL ANIMALS inside the city limits of Indianola, including our horses. Our farm has had horses for 122 years.

Did you know that there are horse properties in many towns and cities across this country including McCook, Lincoln, and Omaha.

Also many major cities have horses in town for their Mounted Police Units. People love horses and horses love people. That's why cities are using horses more and more for crowd control.

The City Council of Indianola will have their next Council Meeting on Monday, December 19th at 5:30 at the city offices. Please attend and share this post with others.

PLEASE, SAVE THE HORSES in INDIANOLA, NEBRASKA.

PLEASE, SAVE THE HORSES in INDIANOLA.

This is Red, she is a Quarter Horse. We have a wonderful place for her in Indianola.

At present, there is no ordinance against horses in Indianola. We are the ones that started this whole issue because we told the city council there was no ordinance against horses after they tried to tell us we could not have horses.

Here is the only ordinance about animals (besides dogs and cats) on the Indianola books right now.

ORDINANCE NO. 499 - No wild animals may be kept within the corporate limits except such animals, kept for exhibition purposed by circuses and educational institutions. Further, no person may keep or maintain within the corporate limits any mules, cattle, sheep, goats, hogs or similar animals, or any geese, guineas, or other fowl.

The council tried to tell us that horses are "wild" - they are not!

The City Council of Indianola is considering an ALL ANIMAL BAN except for cats and dogs. The City Council of Indianola will have their next Council Meeting on Monday, December 19th at 5:30 at the city offices. Please attend and hear all sides so that the people of Indianola can voice their opinion. PLEASE, SHARE THIS POST TO ANYONE WHO MIGHT BE INTERESTED OR INVOLVED.

PLEASE, SAVE THE HORSES in INDIANOLA.
The City Council of Indianola is considering an ALL ANIMAL BAN except for cats and dogs. There have been horses on the land we own for 122 years. Yes, our property is inside the city of Indianola in the northeast corner and it was once owned by my Grandparents, Verl and Faye Chitwood. Horse properties inside city limits is not uncommon. There are horse properties inside the cities of McCook, Lincoln, Omaha, Denver, and all across America.

This is Kid, she is a Quarter Horse and she is pregnant. She will have a c**t next summer. She is gentle and very friendly. She is delighted to be living in Indianola. We think the City Council of Indianola is being short-sighted. There are many advantages of having horses for the city which I will explain in upcoming posts and articles.

The City Council of Indianola will have their next Council Meeting on Monday, December 19th at 5:30 at the city offices. Please attend and hear all sides so that the people of Indianola can voice their opinion. PLEASE, SHARE THIS POST TO RESIDENTS OF INDIANOLA.

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The annual membership drive for the McCook Concert Association is now underway. If you live in Southwest Nebraska or Northwest Kansas, please consider an annual membership, it's a great deal and you help promote live music. All concerts are held inside the historic and beautiful Fox Theater in downtown McCook.

The third concert of the year is the fabulous Hall Sisters on Tuesday, March 14t, 2023 at 7:00 PM.

The Hall Sisters are a classic sister ensemble, with both vocals and instrumentals. They have been performing together since 2007 and have played at the Grand Ole Opry, Carnegie Hall, and the Country Music Hall of Fame.

They have been called the modern day Andrews Sisters and if you don't know who the Andrews Sisters were, they were a top group in the 1940s with many hits. One of their most popular songs, which the Hall Sisters perform is "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy." This is a wonderful patriotic song, something that is needed today. We are looking forward to this concert. They have wonderful reviews.

There are a total of FOUR CONCERTS starting in October 2022 and ending in April, 2023, all at the Fox Theater. I'll list each artist over the next few days with photos.

Membership Prices:
STUDENTS - $10.00 (That's 2.50 per show, a heck of a deal)
ADULTS - $60.00
FAMILY - $130.00 (This admits the entire family, kids and all)

If you have any question, email us and we will have a volunteer call and answer any questions. Help keep live music alive.

The McCook Concert Association is a non-profit organization.

My favorite Christmas picture of my wife, Susan, and Santa Claus. Merry Christmas everyone and we all really do have reasons to be happy, at least we are breathing.

Last night Susan and I were taking our nightly walk down Norris Avenue in McCook, and lo and behold, we saw Santa. He was coming down the street on his horse. A few cars stopped and he gave them some candy. Then Susan called out, "Hi Santa," He waved and then crossed the street and asked if we had been good boys and girls? Susan assured him we had. Then she asked him the name of his horse that had a red light on his nose. Santa answered, "Tonight, it's Prancer." He then gave us some candy.
What a neat memory we now have of seeing Santa riding down Norris Avenue along Santa' Clause Lane in McCook. Bless to be here and just thought you all should know we live in a special place because Santa and his Lane are here. Merry Christmas

Happy Birthday to my amazing wife, Susan Jean Butherus Ihrig. I think she's still beautiful on her 70th special day. She has always loved ice cream and she can eat it quicker than anyone.

There's a story in this old cream can...
My Grandpa, Verl Chitwood, from Indianola, Nebraska and his wife Faye would get up every morning at 4:00 and start milking their cows. He would then separate the cream from the milk and put the cream in this old can. When it was full he would take it down to the depot in Indianola and a Dairy Train would pick it up and take it to Hastings. This train stopped in Bartley and McCook and in Hitchcock County and other towns along the Burlington Route.
They would return the can to the depot and my Grandpa Verl would get $5 for every can full of cream. How did they know which can belong to them, because each farmers name was on the can. My Grandpa had a bright gold plate on his.
My Uncle Jim Chitwood, Ver;l's youngest son sent me this PRICELESS gift. Growing up I'd watch my Grandpa and Grandma milk their cows on a little wooden "T" stool. And they would sq**rt me in the face with the cows milk.
Do you remember your grandparents on a farm with similar stories? It was a simple time back then, a trusting time for everyone to get their cream or milk cans back. I know we as a society keep evolving, but sometimes I look back in time and see a more calming and unified lifestyle. Thanks Grandpa for all the lessons you taught us. You were a good man who lived life with a smile on your face. We all need to smile more, it's good for the soul.

I don't know how I missed it, because I read our local newspaper, the McCook Daily Gazette, on the days we receive it, but an old bandmate passed about a month ago. Mary (Curl) Bennett (Aug 26, 1942 - Feb 19, 2021) was 22 when she started playing with Stanley Anderson and the Sundowners. She answered an ad in the Gazette, as Stanley was looking for a guitar player. A week later, when I was 13, I started playing with Stanley and the Sundowners. For a year and a half Mary and I traveled to gigs every Friday and Saturday night all around the area. She had an amazing voice and was a real pal for a young guy.
Here is a picture of Kent Anderson, Mary (Curl) Bennett, me, Stanley Anderson. RIP Mary, I'll always remember the good times and the great advice you gave me. You were a lovely lady and I'll miss your smile. (The photo was taken at the McCook Eagles Club)

Meet my Grandfathers Grandparents. That makes Joshua and Martha Chitwood my Great Great Grandparents. They were early settlers in Furnas County and homesteaded south of Beaver City in Southwest Nebraska. They came to Nebraska because of President Abraham Lincoln's Homestead Act of 1862. In fact, many of us in Southwest Nebraska can trace our ancestor's back to that same Homestead Act. President Lincoln believed the new territory should be occupied by people who wanted to work the land and in 5 years they would own 165 acres through the Homestead Act. This he wanted as opposed to slavery, and what a wise man Lincoln was. Was he perfect, no, but then who is perfect. But, he was a man ahead of his time.
There are two striking points I'd like to make about this photo. First, my great great grandmother was a great looking woman. Secondly, notice the Pin on Martha's dress, it's a pinback of Abraham Lincoln. We all owe our ancestors a big thanks for life and for helping make this world a better place to live. Hope I can do the same.