Kiowa County / Greensburg May 23 - 29, 2010

KIOWA COUNTY
Public Information Update
Sunday, May 23, – Saturday, May 29, 2010

GOVERNMENT OFFICES CLOSED MAY 31
The Kiowa County Courthouse and the City Offices of Greensburg, Haviland, and Mullinville will be closed Monday, May 31st in observance of Memorial Day.

GHS ALUMNI REUNION PICNIC
Everyone is invited to the GHS Alumni Reunion Picnic, Saturday, May 29th at Davis Park. Please bring your lawn chairs - your picnic lunch - and plan to spend the afternoon visiting with old friends and classmates. Any time after the Parade is finished will be good. If you have questions - e-mail Susan Tucker McGuire (GHS 1963) at suemcguire@fuse.net

GREENSBURG HIGH SCHOOL ALUMNI BANQUET
The Greensburg High School Alumni Banquet will be Saturday, May 29th, 6 p.m. at the Gym. Tickets are $12.50 and can be purchased at Greensburg State Bank. Ticket sales end May 21st and none sold at the door.

BENEFIT CONCERT
Jerry Barlow, Celtic Guitarist, will be providing a benefit concert on Saturday, May 29th at 8 p.m. at the 5.4.7 Arts Center. A wine and cheese reception & Artwork raffle is also scheduled for the event.

Tickets are $15 per person or $25 per couple. Proceeds go to support the 5.4.7 Arts Center and the Kiowa County Media Center.

NEW YORK SAYS THANK YOU BENEFIT
Many of you will remember that in September of 2008 over 300 volunteers from across the country lead by New York Firefighters came to Greensburg to be part of an “American Barn Raising” at the Kiowa County Fairgrounds.

This year the New York Says Thank You Foundation will travel to Mena, Arkansas to help rebuild a community that was devastated by a tornado on April 9, 2009. This 9/11 Anniversary Build will be the largest volunteer project as we prepare to rebuild a community by constructing 5 homes and rebuilding a 4-H Extension Office.

On Saturday, May 29, 2010, a Greensburg "Paying it Forward" Benefit will take place in Greensburg to help raise money for this year’s NYSTY Build. We will have stops at various businesses throughout Greensburg where items will be raffled off or for silent auction. The Benefit is open to anyone whether you are on foot, in a car or on motorcycle. Wristbands will be available and will include the free noon meal at the 4-H Fair Grounds and a t-shirt.

For more information, contact John Stoltenberg, event coordinator, at 620-255-3283 or Tom Corns at the Greensburg State Bank.

SENIOR CENTER OPENS IN GREENSBURG
The Kiowa County Council on Aging is pleased to announce they are re-opening the Senior Center in the First United Methodist Church in Greensburg.

The Senior Center hours will be 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Monday – Friday with Games, Fellowship and More! Daily Lunch Service will be provided Monday – Friday at noon. $3.00 suggested donation (ages60+). All Kiowa County residents and visitors are welcome.

Please call 723-2288 one day in advance to make reservation or to request transportation (subject to availability).

USDA Urges Producers to Sign Up for Conservation Stewardship Program
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced May 10th, that producers nationwide are invited to apply for the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP). Authorized in the 2008 Farm Bill, the CSP offers payments to producers who maintain a high level of conservation on their land and who agree to adopt higher levels of stewardship. Eligible lands include cropland, pastureland, rangeland and non-industrial forestland. The deadline to be considered for the next ranking and funding period is June 11, 2010.
"Voluntary conservation practices by producers are an essential part of our effort to improve soil and water quality," said Vilsack. "Broad and diverse participation in the CSP program will provide producers with many benefits such as enhancing wildlife habitat and helping to mitigate the impact of climate change."
“I encourage producers who are interested in the CSP to take the opportunity to sign an application at their local Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) office by the deadline June 11, 2010,” said Eric B. Banks, State Conservationist for NRCS in Kansas. “Then they will be ready when the final rule is issued.”
Congress limited enrollment for the CSP nationally at 12.7 million acres per year. Applicants will compete within state-identified ranking pools.
Under the interim final rule published July 29, 2009, eligible producers may submit an application to enroll eligible land in the CSP on a continuous basis. Producers are encouraged to apply for the CSP now to ensure their applications will be considered during the next funding and ranking period. However, they can make their final decision to participate in the program once the CSP final rule is issued. The final rule will establish the policies and procedures for the program.
Potential applicants are encouraged to use the CSP self-screening checklist to determine if the new program is suitable for their operation. The checklist highlights basic information about the CSP eligibility requirements, contract obligations and potential payments. It is available from local NRCS offices or on the NRCS Web site at http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/new_csp/csp.html.
The CSP offers payments for adding conservation practices and maintaining and managing existing conservation practices.
For more information about the CSP, please visit http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/new_csp/csp.html.

E-WASTE DAY SCHEDULED
Sunflower Regional E-waste collection project in Cooperation with Rice County Recycling and E-Waste will be hosting a Kiowa County Collection Day on June 5, 2010 at the Kiowa County Recycling Center from 8 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Items to be collected: audio equipment, batteries, cameras, cell phones, computers, copiers, CRT monitors, CRT televisions, electronic media, fax machines, gaming systems, hard drives, ink & toner cartridge, laptop, LCD equipment, media players, medical equipment, networking equipment, plasma televisions, printers, projectors, security and surveillance equipment, server cabinets, servers, storage devices, telephone systems, telecommunication equipment, wireless communications, microwave ovens and miscellaneous accessories. Specific items within these categories may not be accepted so please check with project contacts.

For more information, contact Donna Greenleaf (620-723-2146) or Gunnar Stauth (620-723-2531).

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.

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 at City Hall.
· 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.

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.

KIOWA COUNTY GOVERNMENT
· All Office’s Hours: Monday – Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
· County website: kiowacountyks.org Check out the website for the latest information including County Commission meeting minutes.
· 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.
· Recycle Center hours are Monday – Friday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and 1st and 3rd Saturday 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.

CHURCH SERVICES
· Bethel Mennonite Church is meeting at their facility located 3 miles south and 1 mile west of the highway 183/54 interchange. Sunday School begins at 10 a.m. Morning worship starts at 11 a.m. Evening worship begins at 7 p.m. contact Mark Dirks at 620-723-2941 for more information.
· 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 new facility at 321 S. Walnut. Worship begins at 11 a.m. For more information, call Pastor Merlyn Lohkre, 620-298-2762.
· Greensburg 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.