Kiowa County / Greensburg 3-17-08 to 3-19-08

KIOWA COUNTY/GREENSBURG
Public Information Update
Monday, March 17, 2008 – Wednesday, March 19, 2008

FREE TREES
Thirty to forty balled and burlap trees will be arriving in Greensburg on Friday, March 21st to be distributed free to Kiowa County residents who were affected by the May 4th tornados. The majority of the trees are crabapples, redbud, river birch, and hackberry (seedless, thornless). If you are interested in receiving one of these trees, please contact Carmen Stauth at the Extension Office 620-723-2156.

EASTER EGG HUNT
The Annual Easter Egg Hunt will be held on Saturday, March 22 at 3:00 p.m. at the Lighthouse Worship Center, 804 W. Wisconsin. Everyone is welcome to attend! There will be prizes. The event is being co-sponsored by the Lighthouse Worship Center, the American Legion Post 103 and the VFW Post 6156.

COMMUNITY DINNER
South Central Kansas Tornado Recovery Organization is hosting a Community Dinner on Thursday, March 20th at 6:00 p.m. at the Greensburg Gymnasium. In addition to the meal there will be live music and a praise service. It will be a wonderful opportunity for our community to meet the volunteers helping to rebuild our community.

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.

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY MEETING
The Wichita Habitat for Humanity and the Pratt/Kiowa County Habitat Chapter invite interested families to attend an informational meeting on March 20 at 6:30 p.m. at the Kiowa County Conference Center, located at the northeast corner of Oak and Wisconsin streets.
The Wichita and Pratt/Kiowa County Habitat for Humanity groups plan to build at least two homes in the Greensburg area.
These homes will be built in partnership with families and volunteers and are sold on a 30-year, 0% interest mortgage.
To reserve a space at this meeting, please contact Marci Hawks, Family Services Director with the Wichita Habitat for Humanity, at 316-269-0755.
For more information, contact Brandon Case at 620-672-2180 or 620-723-2272.

GREEN DAY IN GREENSBURG
Green Day will be held on Saturday, March 29 from 4-8 p.m. in the school practice gym. Its purpose is two-fold: to celebrate the tremendous progress that has already been realized in Greensburg’s goal of becoming a model green community, and to offer educational opportunities for local residents and business owners who are wanting to learn more about saving money and resources through energy efficiency and other aspects of green living.

Neighbors who have already built “green” homes will be on hand to share what they’ve done and how much of a difference this technology has made to their wallets and to their families’ overall health and comfort level.

Businesspeople who’ve “gone green” will offer information about their plans and accomplishments as their new buildings take shape.

Additionally, the National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL) will bring in their portable educational unit that demonstrates the science behind various technologies, such as wind and solar power. It’s quite a fascinating exhibit, and people of all ages can enjoy the hands-on displays.

Kiowa County representatives will have the latest information on the recycling program. The Green Club from Greensburg High School will be on hand to talk about their projects.

There will be speakers, helpful written materials, and lots of advice available. A buffet supper will be served, brought to you by NREL. It’ll be a wonderful celebration of the green initiative, and we hope you and your family will be able to join us. The event and meal are FREE.

The event is co-sponsored by NREL, the City of Greensburg, Kiowa County, and GreenTown. There will be much more happening on the 29th that we’ll write about next time in this column. Please call GreenTown at 620-549-3752 or 620-723-2790 for more information.

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 trailer located directly west 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 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. The phone number for the gift shop is 620-723-4102.

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 Greensburg Family Practice temporary facility 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.

LIONS CLUB PA SYSTEM
The Greensburg Lyons Club has purchased a portable PA system to be used for Ground Breaking ceremonies and other public events. To reserve the system, please contact Steve Kirk at Centera Bank, 620-723-3356, or Steve Dawson at 620-546-4576.

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 620-388-4684.
· 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 five communities until June 2, 2008. Kansas Assisting Recovery Efforts (KARE) KARE 1 Program offers a range of crisis support services: support groups, educational presentations, and individual counseling.
· 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. 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.

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.