Kiowa County / Greensburg 2-14-08 to 2-18-08

KIOWA COUNTY/GREENSBURG
Public Information Update
Thursday, February 14, 2008 – Monday, February 18, 2008

MAKE A DIFFERENCE DAY
Each year in April, hundreds of good deeds done on Make A Difference Day are selected for honors, headlines and charitable donations. Greensburg is in the running for the 10 projects to receive $10,000 provided by Paul Newman and the Newman's Own Foundation.

We would like your comments as to how the Make a Difference Weekend affected your life last fall. Please e-mail your comments to Patricia Kime at pnkime@usaweekend.com or call 1-800-872-3415 ext. 4504 by Friday, February 15th.

MEET THE CANDIDATES FORUM
The Community Recovery Action Team, Kiowa County Chamber of Commerce, and the GHS Green Club are sponsoring a Meet the Candidates forum on Thursday, February 21st. The forum will begin at 7 p.m. at the Greensburg School gymnasium.

Residents are asked to provide questions for the forum. Please e-mail your questions to kiowa.pio@gmail.com by Monday, February 18th. The forum will not provide an open microphone to ask questions that evening so please submit your questions by e-mail.

CARE-N-SHARE DEDICATION
Everyone is invited to attend the Care-N-Share Dedication Ceremony on Sunday, February 17th at 2 p.m. inside the new facility. For more information, please contact Pastor Marvin George at 620-723-2747.

If anyone would like to help finish the Care-n-Share on February 15th and 16th, please contact Ted Kyle at 620-723-2714 or Pastor Marvin George at 620-723-2747.

TACO FEED
Youth for Christ will be holding their 2nd annual Taco Feed on Sunday, February 17th from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the practice gym in Greensburg. It will be a free will donation. All proceeds will go to help fund local youth going on a mission trip to Mexico March 15-21st. The youth will be building a house in Mexico for a family that is currently living in a shack. For more information, call Deb Factor at 316-992-4629 or Kaylan Jones at 785-545-6147.

HELP NAME THE INDUSTRIAL PARK
Torsten Energy LLC would like input from the citizens of Kiowa County on naming the new industrial park to be located on the Northeast side of Greensburg. The Board of Directors would like to choose from a list of 10 names and logos. They would like to have all suggestions received by March 1st. Send your name or logo by e-mail to Patrick Stein at pstein@torstenenergy.com .

KIOWA COUNTY GOVERNMENT
· County Offices are located on the square. Hours are Monday – Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. County offices will be closed Monday, February 18th in observation of President’s Day.
· 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. Offices will be closed Monday, February 18th to observe President’s Day.
· 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 trailer located directly west of the courthouse square. Due to President’s Day, the Commissioners will meet on Tuesday, February 19th.
· 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 website is www.greensburgks.org check out the website for city services, photos, news and the latest information.
· 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 trailer, located directly west of the courthouse square.
· Greensburg Planning Commission meetings are held Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. in the Kiowa County Meeting trailer, located directly west 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.
· Moving out of Keller Estates? Notify city hall so utilities can be shut off. Without notification, the City will continue to bill for water.
· Big Well Gift Shop hours are Tuesday-Friday 11-4, Saturday 10-4, Sunday 1-4

DAFFODIL DAYS
The American Cancer Society will once again be selling daffodils during "Daffodil Days". Remember your family member, friend, or maybe yourself this year in the fight against cancer, and order daffodils to help in the fight against this disease. Please have your orders called in by February 20th. Delivery date will be announced at a later date, but will be between March 6th and 10th. The pick-up location will be Peoples Insurance at 120 W. Kansas Ave. in Greensburg. Please call one of the following numbers to place your order. Thank you for supporting the American Cancer Society. Contact numbers: Johnita Nystrom at 620-324-5323 or 620-635-5454, Sharon Schmidt at 620-770-0786, Peoples Insurance (Sharon or Jeanine) at 620-723-2809.

CHURCH SERVICES
· Lighthouse Worship Center is meeting in their temporary facility located at 804 W. Wisconsin. Sunday School starts at 9:30 a.m. Worship and Children’s Church starts at 10:45 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 Merlyn Lohkre, 620-298-2762.
· First Christian Church is meeting at the SCKTRO Village 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.
· Bible Baptist Church is meeting at 605 S. Elm Dr. Sunday School begins at 10 a.m. and Church begins at 11 a.m. For more information, Wesley Carlton at 620-723-2834.

CONTRACTOR/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.

SAFETY:
· Curfew Hours remain in effect. For youth under 16 years of age, 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. For youth 16 – 18 years of age, 12 a.m. to 5 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
· USDA Rural Development – Greensburg office is located in the FEMA trailer E, located just southwest of the courthouse square. 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.
· Salvation Army is located in the Barclay College Library. Office hours are 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday – Friday. Contact Deb Folkerts at 620-288-4684.
· Contact U.S. Representative Jerry Moran for assistance with the federal government at 620-665-6138.
· Kansas Housing Resources Corporation is offering several housing reconstruction assistance programs. 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 the Greensburg Office at 620-723-1088, Project cell phone at 785-313-6123 or toll free at 866.327.6578 or e-mail kare1@att.net with questions. They will be in four communities until June 2, 2008. Kansas Assisting Recovery Efforts (KARE) KARE 1 Program offers a range of crisis support services including:
· South Central sas 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. For more information, call 620-862-5422.
· 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.
· Wichita Area Builders Association is working through the Salvation Army to locate Greensburg Families rebuilding within the city limits who have a contract with a building contractor to build their home, which will come to no more than $120,000 and who would not qualify for a loan without the $5000 available through WABA. If you or someone you know falls within these guidelines please contact Deb Folkerts at 620-388-4684.

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
· JOBS IN GREENSBURG: Greensburg residents are being considered for employment. Those interested can visit the KansasWorks office at 123 E. Wisconsin, FEMA trailer E, 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.