Kiowa County/Greensburg Update 10-18-07 to 10-21-07

KIOWA COUNTY/GREENSBURG
Public Information Update
Thursday, October 18 – Sunday, October 21, 2007

SOUTHWEST KANSAS AREA AGENCY ON AGING
SWKAAA is assisting residents affected by the May tornadoes and flooding in Barton, Kiowa, and Stafford counties. The housing department provides temporary rental assistance and security/utility deposits for up to six months for displaced families. The agency also continues to help residents ages 60 and older affected by those disasters who have unmet needs. The grants can be used for items not covered by FEMA or insurance. Call to see if you qualify, 1-800-742-9531.

MOVING OUT OF KELLER ESTATES
When residents move out of the FEMA homes in Keller Estates, the City would like residents to notify them so the utilities can be shut off. Without notification, the City will continue to bill the resident for the utilities (water and electric).

KIOWA COUNTY FLU CLINICS
The Kiowa County Health Department will begin giving flu shots at the Flu Clinics scheduled for Thursday, October 18th and Friday, October 19th. Clinics will be held every Tuesday after while supplies last. Please bring your Medicare and Medicaid information with you. Costs are Influenza $30 and Pneumococcal $45.

NATIVITY COLLECTION TO BE GIVEN AWAY
Johnita Nystrom would like to share her Nativity Collection that survived the May 4th tornado with Greensburg and surrounding area survivors.

Come and choose one to start your Christmas Season, at 406 E. Grant in Greensburg. Sets will be available on Sunday, October 21st from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. and Monday, October 22nd from 12p.m. to 6 p.m. Please call 620-723-5323 or 620-635-5454 for more information.

COME MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Make a Difference Day will be observed for a weekend in Greensburg. On October 26 – 28 local residents are being asked of volunteer to clean up our community by joining the volunteer groups scheduled to come in from around the state. Activities planned are cleaning up the streets and lots in town.

The Can-Do Action Team is encouraging everyone to get involved with the renovation of Sunset Acre Park on Friday and Saturday. Trees and bulbs will be brought in and help is needed to plant. Spangles will be installing new playground equipment on Friday and a small playground north of the Keller Estates by PG Playground Equipment. Lunch will be provided on Saturday by Spangles and Dr. Pepper. Sunday will begin at 1 p.m. to finish up any of the projects. If you would like to volunteer, need help or have questions, contact Ann Dixson or Ruth Ann Wedel.

TREES FOR GREENSBURG
The communities of Udall, Hesston and Halstead have teamed up with Westar Energy, the Kansas Forest Service and K-State Research and Extension to plant trees back into the yards of homeowners.

The trees will be provided in phases as residents are ready to move back into their homes. The first phase will be 50 to 75 trees for homeowners ready to move into or living in their homes. You will be allowed to choose your preference of a large shade tree, a small to medium ornamental, or a shrub. Please contact Carmen Stauth at 620-723-2156 to register your name and selected a tree category.

The trees will arrive on Saturday, October 27th and will be distributed from the Big Well Park at 9 a.m. There will be a tree planting demonstration for the do-it-yourselfers and volunteers for those needing help with planting.

KIOWA COUNTY GOVERNMENT
· County Offices are located on the square. Hours are Monday – Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
· Court Services and County Attorney are located in the beige trailers located to the north of the courthouse. Hours are Monday – Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
· County Commission meetings are held on the 1st and 3rd Mondays and the last working day of the month at 9:00 a.m. in the Kiowa County Meeting room located in the northwest gray trailer located southwest of the courthouse square.
· South Landfill hours are Monday – Saturday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The landfill is now charging $3.50 per cubic yard for debris.
· North Landfill will only accept clean concrete. If the concrete has any metal or other debris mixed then it must go to the South Landfill.

GREENSBURG CITY GOVERNMENT
· City Hall Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday - Friday.
· City Hall Phone Number is 620-723-2751. Please call if you have questions.
· City Council meetings are held the 1st and 3rd Mondays of the month. Council work sessions will be held on the Wednesday prior to Council meetings. The meetings and work sessions will begin at 6:00 p.m. and will be held in the Kiowa County Meeting room, located in trailer D the northwest gray trailer located southwest of the courthouse square.
· Greensburg Planning Commission meetings are held Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. in the Kiowa County Meeting room, located in the northwest gray trailer located southwest of the courthouse square.
· Greensburg Trash Routes are running. North/South streets are picked up on Mondays and East/West streets are picked up on Fridays.

CHURCH SERVICES
· Lighthouse Worship Center is meeting in their temporary facility located at 804 W. Wisconsin. Church starts at 10 a.m.
· First United Methodist Church is meeting in their temporary facility located at 600 W. Lincoln. Worship at 9:30 a.m. and Sunday School at 10:30 a.m. Contact Pastor Mayhew at 620-723-3338 with questions or concerns.
· Catholic Church is meeting in their temporary facility located at 215 W. Morton at 10:45 a.m.
· First Baptist Church is meeting in their temporary facility located at Kyle’s farm ½ mile east, ½ mile north and ¼ mile east of Greensburg. Church begins at 10:50 a.m.
· Peace Lutheran Church is meeting in their temporary trailer at 321 S. Walnut at 11 a.m. For more information, call Pastor Henning at 620-388-0518.
· First Christian Church is meeting at Brown Auction beginning at 10:30 a.m.
· Faith Tabernacle is meeting at the temporary Kiowa County Memorial Hospital each Sunday at 10 a.m.
· Greensburg Mennonite Church is meeting at the Mullinville High School Auditorium at 10 a.m.

CONCTRACTOR/RECONSTRUCTION INFO
· All contractors must register at City Hall between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays. Contract work is prohibited without registration and/or license. Contractors are responsible for hauling jobsite debris and must plug any sewer lines.
· Building permit applications are available at the Building and Codes office on the square. Hours are 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday – Friday. Call 620-723-4109 for information about required documentation and information.

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
· JOBS IN GREENSBURG: Greensburg residents are being considered for employment. Those interested can visit the KansasWorks Mobile Center on the square, or by calling Amber or Christina at 620-723-2030 or 620-388-4993. Hours are Monday –Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Health benefits are provided.
· FEMA positions remain open to residents living within 50 miles of Greensburg and within 50 miles of Wichita. Specialty positions for planning and geographical information systems (GIS) are needed. More information about the open positions, call 620-723-4423 or 601-818-7515 or www.kansasjoblink.com .

SAFETY UPDATE:
· Curfew Hours remain in effect from 10 p.m. until 6 a.m.
· Treat ALL power lines as if they are live. Call 911 if you observe an arcing power line.
· Respiratory protection is recommended for all workers. Dust masks and safety glasses are available at the Health Department on the square.
· Burning is prohibited in the Greensburg city limits. In rural areas, follow county ordinances. Burning is strongly discouraged in high winds.
· Protect yourself with gloves, hard-soled shoes or boots. If you have a cut or scratch that does not heal normally, seek necessary medical attention.

DISASTER ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE
· Salvation Army warehouse is located at 201 S. Jackson St. Hours are Tuesday – Friday 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., Saturdays 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. Stop by to pick up food, household items, cleaning supplies and other house wares. For more information, contact Billie Taylor at 620-388-4685. No appointments are necessary.
· USDA Rural Development – Greensburg office is located in the Kiowa County Commissioners Building just west of the courthouse. Office hours are 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Monday – Friday, night appointments upon request. Please call 785-628-3081 ext. 4 or 1-800-338-5546 for more information.
· Contact U.S. Representative Jerry Moran for assistance with the federal government at 620-665-6138.
· Kansas Housing Resources Corporation is offering a housing reconstruction assistance program. Call 785-296-5865 or log on to www.kshousingcorp.org.
· Kansas Assisting Recovery Efforts (KARE) is a grant funded outreach project serving the counties of Kiowa, Edwards, Comanche, Pratt and Stafford. Call 785-313-6123 or 1-866-327-6578 or e-mail kare1_project@yahoo.com with questions.
· South Central Kansas Tornado Recovery Organization is providing repair and rebuilding assistance, volunteer labor, donated goods and spiritual and psychological referrals for individuals and families. For more information, call 620-862-5882 or stop by at 201 N. Main St., Haviland.
· United Methodist Recovery Center is located at 322 N. Main in Haviland. Hours are Monday through Friday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Come sign-up for volunteer assistance with clean-up and repair or reconstruction.
· UMC Recovery Store hours are Thursday – Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and the 2nd Saturday of each month. The Recovery Store is located at 322 N. Main St. in Haviland. Items such as food, clothing, and bedding are also available. Be prepared to show your storm ID or FEMA number.
· Hudson Oil Company, H.B. Hudson, founder will provide every family rebuilding or remodeling within the city limits of Greensburg $700. See Tom Corns at the Greensburg State Bank to pick up the application.

EQIP CUTOFF DATE ANNOUNCED
The Natural Resources Conservation Service has announced that Friday, November 2, 2007, is the cutoff date for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) applications to be considered for Fiscal Year 2008 funding. Contact the Kiowa County Conservation District or Natural Resource Conservation Service at 620-723-2146 for more information.

KIOWA COUNTY BUFFER PROGRAM
Acres are now available for Continuous CRP signup. Signing and Practice Incentives are possible. Grassed waterways, Shelterbelts, Filter Strips, Riparian Buffers, Wetland Restoration and Field Borders are all eligible practices. 10 or 15 year contracts. Contact the Kiowa County Conservation District or Natural Resource Conservation Service at 620-723-2146 for more information.