Kiowa County/Greensburg Sept. 27 - Oct. 3

KIOWA COUNTY
Public Information Update
Sunday, September 27, 2009–Saturday, October 3, 2009

A PLEDGE TO RENEW
A group of bicyclists will be riding border-to-border across Kansas to promote State-Wide Recycling. The Recycle Cycle tour will be making stops in several key cities, including Greensburg along its 466-mile route to promote awareness of recycling efforts and programs within the state of Kansas.

The ride is scheduled to begin on September 27th at Coolidge and will be stopping at Greensburg on Tuesday, September 29th. The Recycle Cycle will stop to recognize Greensburg’s recycling efforts and double as a ribbon-cutting ceremony for their new recycling and household hazardous waste collection center. The event will take place at 1:30 PM at their new facility, the Kiowa County Recycle Center is located at 1002 South Grove in Greensburg.

Sponsored by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment Bureau of Waste Management, the ride will also highlight some of the ways communities and companies are helping to save energy, conserve natural resources and extend the life of existing landfills through their recycling efforts. Scheduled to begin on September 27 at Coolidge, Kansas, Recycle Cycle will cover an average of 66 miles per day over a seven-day period to arrive in Pittsburg, Kansas, on October 3.

“What better way to promote a healthier and cleaner Kansas than with a bicycle ride,” says William Bider, director of the Bureau of Waste Management. “Although there will be several riders from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, we’re not positioning the ride as an athletic event or a way to bring attention to the KDHE,” he adds, noting that riders will set their own pace and there is no competition involved. “The goal is simply to showcase the efforts Kansans are making to improve their environment and eliminate waste.”

“This is a great opportunity for local communities to have their environmental efforts highlighted, as there are a number of stories to be told along the ride’s scenic route,” adds KDHE Secretary Roderick Bremby. “The ‘Recycle Cycle’ bike tour will showcase e-waste recycling, waste-to-energy projects and several other traditional recycling centers,” said Bremby.

“We all know that recycling reduces the need for new landfills, helps existing landfills last longer and helps reduce soil, water and air pollution,” Bider continues. “But recycling programs also save energy and create jobs that help strengthen our economy.”

In addition to KDHE riders from Topeka, Recycle Cycle participants will include local solid waste officials, KDHE district office staff, local elected officials, state elected officials and local media celebrities who will participate as “day riders” along sections of the route that are close and convenient. Area riders are also invited to participate along the route. The tour procession will include a lead vehicle as well as a support and gear carrier that will follow the last participant.

Additional stops scheduled on the Recycle Cycle include:
Sept 27 – Garden City – Clarion Inn Parking Lot, 4:00 PM
Sept 28 – Dodge City - Recycling in Wright Park, 2:00 PM
Sept 30 – Pratt – Pratt Recycling Center, 8:00 AM
Sept 30 – Kingman – Kingman Recycling Center, 12:00 Noon
Oct 1 - Wichita – Rock Road Best Buy store, 10:30 AM
Oct 2 - Chanute - Ash Grove Cement Company, 3:00 PM
Oct 3 – Pittsburg - South East Kansas Recycling Center, 4:00 PM

For more information on the Recycle Cycle program visit www.recyclecycle.org or contact the Kansas Bureau of Waste Management, a division of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, at 800-282-9790.

VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE HOUSE
Greensburg GreenTown is sponsoring a home design contest with FreeGreen.com, which provides free house plans online for people who are interested in building sustainable, energy-efficient homes. Together we have put together a competition to see who can come up with a house plan that is best suited for Greensburg, using one of three cutting-edge wall systems. We have had 236 people – from all around the world – enter the contest, and there are some beautiful, creative options to choose from. The winning home may be built in Greensburg as part of our Chain of Eco-Homes Project, joining the concrete Silo house as a demonstration home.

The public voting period is open until September 30, and anyone can vote for their favorite. GreenTown is especially interested in having local folks weigh in with their picks, because we’d like the winners to be a good match for our community. Go to the GreenTown website (www.greensburggreentown.org) and click on the button on the right-hand side that says “The Chain of Eco-Homes Competition”. The final selections will be made in October with our panel of judges from throughout the country; the combined public vote will count as one judge’s vote.

The grand prize winner will receive $10,000, and two $1,000 awards will be made to the runners-up, so the stakes are high. In addition to FreeGreen.com, GreenTown has been working closely with AT&T, who, along with CISCO, are providing the technology to make this judging process happen. Special equipment will be installed in the Kiowa County Courthouse to enable our local judges (Greensburg City Administrator Steve Hewitt and GreenTown Board Chair Mary Melton) to participate in real time with the other judges from around the country for the final vote on October 7. This telepresence technology will remain a permanent fixture in the Courthouse after the contest is over. This is a generous gift by these two corporations.

If you have any questions about the voting process or the contest in general, call the GreenTown office at 723-2790.

HUNTER SAFETY TRAINING
Hunter Safety Training will be held on October 24 – 25. Classes will be from 1 – 7 p.m. each day. Place to be determined. Class will be limited to 30 participants. Contact Donnie Bonham at 620-672-3936 to sign up.

LADIES NIGHT OUT
The women of the First United Methodist Church in Greensburg would like to invite all the ladies to a night out on October 7, 2009 at 6:30 p.m. Child care will be provided!

Bring your favorite pot luck dish and join us for an evening of fellowship. A guest speaker from Hospice of the Prairie will be there.

For more information, call Connie Dawson at 620-546-3171.

WOMEN’S FINANCIAL CLASS AVIALABLE
The Peoples Bank of Greensburg and the Kiowa County Extension Office will be sponsoring a 5-week study course for the women of Kiowa County who want to learn more about financial security.

The “Money Talk” program will begin October 6th and will be held on Tuesday evenings in the Commissioner’s Meeting Room in the Kiowa County Courthouse. Time for the first class will be 7 p.m.

Class size is limited to 12 people. Call the Extension Office at 620-723-2156 to register for the class. If more than 12 people are interested, multiple classes will be held.

MEDICARE BENEFICIARIES
This reminder to all Medicare Beneficiaries who have Part D insurance for medications--the pharmaceutical companies now have assistance for those who have reached the gap or “donut hole” of $2700. Please contact Carolyn Irvin at 620-862-5431 in Haviland for information. If a group or organization would like hear about any services provided by SWKAAA, please call the same number.

MULLINVILLE CITY GOVERNMENT
· City Hall hours are Monday – Friday 7 to 8 a.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
· City Hall phone number is 620-548-2539. Please call if you have questions.
· City Council meetings are held third Monday of the month at 7 p.m. in City hall.
· Trash service is provided by the county. West side of town on Tuesdays and East side of town on Fridays.

GREENSBURG CITY GOVERNMENT
· City Hall Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday - Friday.
· City Hall Phone Number is 620-723-2751.
· 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. The meetings begin at 6:00 p.m. and will be held in the Business Incubator Building, located at 100 S. Main.
· Greensburg Planning Commission meetings are held on Wednesdays on a fluctuating schedule at 6:30 p.m. Check with Christy at 620-723-4109 for the next date.
· Greensburg Trash Routes are running as North/South streets on Mondays and East/West streets on Fridays. Trash must be out by 8 a.m. or it will not be picked up.
· Big Well Gift Shop hours are Monday – Saturday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., Sundays 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. The phone number for the gift shop is 620-723-4102.

HAVILAND CITY GOVERNMENT
· City Hall hours are Monday – Friday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
· City Hall phone number is 620-862-5317. Please call if you have questions.
· City Council meetings are held the first Monday of the month. At 7 p.m. in the community room.
· Trash service is provided by the county. The West side of town is picked up on Tuesdays. The East side of town is picked up on Fridays. Businesses are on Tuesday and Fridays. Please have your trash at the curb by 8 a.m.

KIOWA COUNTY GOVERNMENT
· All Office’s Hours: Monday – Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
· County Offices are located on the square, 211 E. Florida Ave, Greensburg..
· 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 Commissioner’s Meeting Room located on the lower level of the courthouse.
· South Landfill hours are Monday – Saturday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The landfill is now charging $5.00 per cubic yard for C/D and $20.00 per cubic yard for concrete.

CHURCH SERVICES
· Lighthouse Worship Center is meeting in their new 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. Wednesday Bible Study begins at 7 p.m. Contact Pastor Christa Zapfe at 620-723-3028 for more information.
· First United Methodist Church is meeting in their New Life Center located at 600 W. Lincoln. Worship at 9:30 a.m. and Sunday School at 10:45 a.m. Contact Pastor Mayhew at 620-723-3338 with questions or concerns.
· St. Joseph Catholic Church is meeting in their new Church building located at 820 S. Walnut. Services are held on the first and third weekends of the month at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday evening. On the 2nd, 4th, and 5th weekends, Mass is at 11:00 a.m. on Sunday mornings. Contact Ellen Peters, Parish Life Coordinator at 620-255-3636 with questions and concerns.
· First Baptist Church is meeting in their new facility located at 200 W. Kansas,Greensburg. Church begins at 10:50 a.m. For more information, call Pastor Marvin George at 723-2747.
· 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 their new building, 1200 S. Main St. Service begins at 10:30 a.m. Call T.J. Lawson for more information at 620-770-6026.
· Faith Tabernacle is meeting at the new church 611 W. Illinois St. each Sunday at 10 a.m. Call Rev. Willard Olinger at 723-2745 for more details.
· Greensburg Mennonite Church meets in their new facility located at 310 West Pennsylvania. Sunday School begins at 9:30, ages nursery to senior adults. Worship begins at 10:30 a.m. Call Pastor Jeff Blackburn at 620-723-2620 for more information.
· 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.