The Altamont will hosts its annual celebration of Flag Day on Saturday, June 14.
The Altamont Flag Day committee, along with Dianna Wells and Amanda Pierce, organizers, announce the following activities this year: Fire Department will be offering  biscuits and gravy breakfast, from 6-9 a.m. 5K and one mile fun run will start at 7:30 a.m.
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Elsie Vail is turning 90!
Join us in celebrating her special birthday
Sunday, Dec. 14, 2008
2 to 4 p.m.
Senior Citizens’ Center
414 Huston Street, Altamont, Kan.
(Dessert and Refreshments will be served).
Regrets only (913) 907-4120 or ryandcraig@gmail.com
If you are unable to attend and you would like to send a card,
send to: Belinda Vail, 4722 Somerset, Prairie Village, KS 66207

The Kansas electric cooperative linemen who are providing assistance in Louisiana following Hurricane Gustav may soon be battling two storms.
Electric cooperatives are keeping a close watch on the path of Hurricane Ike to ensure the safety of the thousands of volunteer linemen from across the country who may be in the path of the storm. The Kansas line crews, which includes more than 60 volunteer linemen along with more than 40 trucks from 13 electric cooperatives, are assisting Dixie Electric Membership Corp. (DEMCO), headquartered in Baton Rouge, La.
The crews, several from Twin Valley in Altamont, arrived last week on a 14-day rotation and have been living in tents while helping with the recovery efforts. However, with the threat of Hurricane Ike, the linemen may be evacuated to other locations during the storm.
“We are keeping an eye on Hurricane Ike. We have secured locations in Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas for the crews to wait out of the storm, depending on which direction Ike takes,” said Larry Detwiler, director of loss control, safety and compliance for Kansas Electric Cooperatives, Inc. (KEC). “We are not going to put our crews in harm’s way.”
Even if evacuated for a storm, the crews will then return to Baton Rouge to continue their work. A second wave of crews will be dispatched from Kansas on Sept. 16.
The Kansas crews, who are traveling from all parts of the state, are being coordinated by KEC. Cooperatives who sent  crews include:  Alfalfa, Cherokee, OK; Bluestem, Wamego; Butler, El Dorado; Caney Valley, Cedar Vale; Flint Hills, Council Grove; Heartland, Girard; Kaw Valley, Topeka; LJEC, McLouth; Nemaha-Marshall, Axtell; Twin Valley, Altamont; Victory, Dodge City; Western, WaKeeney; and Wheatland, Scott City.
“Hurricane Gustav was more devastating to Louisiana’s electric co-ops than Katrina or Rita, primarily because DEMCO, our largest co-op at roughly 100,000 meters serving a seven-parish territory near the Greater Baton Rouge area, reported 100 percent outages with extensive damage to trees,  homes and businesses,” said Billy Gibson, director of communications for Louisiana Electric Cooperatives.
Gibson said that they are expecting full restoration of their electric system in approximately six weeks.
“We are calling in about 800 co-op linemen and contractors to repair damage,” Gibson stated. “We are in the process of constructing a ‘tent city’ to expedite the restoration process.”
The Kansas crews are expected to stay for 14 days and then rotate with a second crew of linemen from the Kansas electric cooperatives.
“Our crews will need to clear fallen trees and other debris so that power lines could be restrung,” said Larry Detwiler, director of loss control, safety and compliance for Kansas Electric Cooperatives, Inc. (KEC). “Their biggest challenge will be working around all of the debris in unfamiliar territory.”
“The linemen are facing working conditions that include standing water and mountains of debris,” said Detwiler.

Everything is set for the annual Flag Day celebration in Altamont on Saturday, June 14.
Amanda Pierce and Dianna Wells said more than $1,200 in prizes will be given away during the day’s events. Some of the prizes will include a $100 gas card, 20 inch microwave oven, lots of camping equipment, a 3.1 cu. ft. refrigerator, three weather radios, a children’s bicycle and numerous other gifts.
They said prizes are still being collected so there are sure to be more by the time everyone arrives for Saturday’s activities
The day will start with the serving of biscuits and gravy in the fire department starting at 6:30 a.m and serving until 9. A full order will be $2 and a half order for $1.
A horseshoe tournament has been scheduled at 10 a.m. in the city park and registration will begin at 9 a.m.
Steve Strasser (784-2502) will be in charge of the horseshoe event.
Booths will open in the downtown area from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and a quilt show will be held from 8 a.m. to 12 noon.
Leroy and Leona Hamilton were chosen as Flag Day Sweethearts and they will be featured in the parade which begins at 11 a.m. Those wishing to enter the parade should line up behind Harrison Auditorium.
The Grand Marshall for this year’s parade will be Tom Reazin.
Kids’ games will be played from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the downtown area and there will be free inflatables for the children to enjoy.
Moon walks and an obstacle with slide will be set up behind Twin Valley Electric.
Live entertainment will be featured from 1 to 4 p.m. and prize drawings will be held at 4 p.m. in the fire department.
A free bean feed, sponsored by the United Methodist preschool, will be served at 6 p.m.
Rick Cook and his band will play at a free street dance starting at 7 p.m. It will be held inside the fire department in case of rain.

The Fourth Annual Kids Free Fishing Derby for Ages 3-12 sponsored by Altamont Police Department and Altamont Masonic Lodge #69 (rain or shine) on Saturday, June 7 with registration at Altamont Lake 3 1/2 miles south of Conoco.. Severe weather cancels Fishing Derby and will be rescheduled.
Registration is from 9 a.m. to noon. All fish must be weighed in by 3:30 p.m.
The age groups are 3-5 years old, 6-8 years old and 9-12 years old. Medals will be given for largest in weight, and smallest in length in each age group. Only the largest and smallest of each of these categories will be weighed and measured: sunfish, bass, crappie and catfish.
The grand prize is a 2-man scamp given away after the derby–the scamp will be on display the day of the derby. The drawing for the scamp will be the last thing. Only registered anglers 3-12 years of age qualify for the drawing. All registered anglers will receive some sort of prize.
Hot dogs will be served from 2:30-4 p.m. The winner must be present to win.
Fish at the Altamont Lake or your favorite fishing hole. Kansas Fish and Game Free Fishing Weekend–No fishing license.