В Маккуке пройдет фестиваль сладкой кукурузы для ремонта百年ного кладбища

McCOOK, Neb. — The Knights of Columbus will host its first annual Sweetcorn Fest on Saturday, Aug. 29, to raise money for improvements to St. Patrick Calvary Cemetery in McCook. The event will begin at 6 p.m. at the Knights of Columbus Hall, 309 E. Ninth. Sweet corn, sloppy joes, dessert, salads, drinks and ice cream will be available, with a bar also offered. All food and beverages will be available for a free-will donation. The fundraiser aims to raise $10,000 to help maintain and improve the more than 100-year-old cemetery. According to organizers, it has been more than 20 years since major work was completed on the cemetery’s sprinklers, buildings, control boxes and landscaping. The cemetery currently faces ongoing maintenance issues, including problems with shutoff valves, sprinkler heads and wiring, as well as weed growth. The cemetery’s water bill can exceed $1,000 a month, said Bob Burns, a volunteer with St. Patrick Church. Maintenance of mowers, weed eaters and buildings costs about another $1,000 a year. Volunteers have reduced watering in some areas in an effort to manage costs, but doing so has caused other sections of the cemetery to dry out and become more susceptible to weeds. Volunteers also recently trimmed the row of trees along the west side of the cemetery, which unfortunately only added to the weed growth. The Knights of Columbus have donated $3,000 to start the fundraising effort. Organizers hope enough donations are raised to help keep the cemetery clean and weed-free for years to come. Checks may be made payable to Knights of Columbus, St. Pat’s Cemetery Fund and mailed to P.O. Box 122, McCook, NE 69001, or dropped off at St. Patrick’s Rectory, 612 E. Fourth St., McCook. For questions or additional information, contact Bob Burns at [email protected] or call 308-340-8837.