Caney resident Dennis Ernest will find take his Kansas cowboy boots, dusty cowboy hat and a passion for country gospel music to California in January.

Ernest will be among the performers at the International Cowboy Ministers Conference in San Diego, Calif., on Jan. 7-11, 2009. The event is organized by Coy Huffman, founder of the Cowboy Church International and Pro Rodeo Ministries.

Ernest will be among the many performers to present country gospel and cowboy gospel music to the conferences attendees.

“It will be an honor for me to share this ministry with others,” said Ernest, when asked about his performance at the national conference.

Ernest has dabbled in country music in the area for many years, and he is also known for his fun-paced delivery as the announcer at the annual Caney Christmas Parade.

When asked if he will let the California sunshine and beaches ruin his Kansas cowboy ways, Ernest said, laughingly, “I don’t think so . . . but then again I might return to Kansas as a cowboy surfer dude.”

Ernest is currently raising funds to offset his trip to San Diego. Members of the Wanna Be A Cowboy (WBC) Ministry Church in Caney, 221 W. Fourth, are gathering donations for the trip. Tax-deductible donations can be sent to WBC Music Ministry, PO Box 182, Caney, KS 67333. Or, donors can call Ernest at (620) 879-5753 or (918) 214-6797.

BY RUDY TAYLOR
Montgomery County Chronicle

CANEY — Tom and Allie Harvey, owners of the Safari Zoological Park in Caney, will be featured on the Animal Planet program “2008 The Year in Animals” on Saturday, Dec. 13.

An Animal Planet crew shot their video footage and interviewed the Harveys in October. Tom and Allie became overnight television celebrities when their Golden Retriever, “Isabella,” took over nursing three baby tiger cubs after their mother rejected them. Isabella, who was still lactating after recently giving birth to puppies, became the darling of shows like “NBC Today,” Fox News, “The Early Show on CBS,” and even the Oprah show.

Isabella drew additional press coverage from numerous radio stations, newspapers and magazines throughout the world, all of them prominently mentioning Caney, Kan., as the home site of Safari Zoological Park.

But the TV network which Tom and Allie really wanted to come to Caney and do a feature segment was the Animal Planet, and it happened in October, with next Saturday as the official viewing day. Tom Harvey said the show will be repeated several times over the coming weeks.

What makes the story even more significant for the Harveys is their belief that the cubs and Isabella came along in the nick of time, just before they were ready to close the gates at the park.

“We literally were praying for a miracle,” said Tom. “My wife and I said August the first if God doesn’t do something, we’re going to close her down and do something else.”

On August 1, they both were interviewed live on the NBC Today Show, and one TV satellite truck after another came to the park to do interviews.

The Harveys made a trip to New York City two months ago to appear on the television programs mentioned above.

A book deal was signed giving the Harveys sufficient funds to exist for a while longer and, hopefully, sign more contracts with media and public relation companies.

Tom Harvey said he has seen the final proofs on the book and it looks good. They are hoping to have the book printed and on the shelves of stores by next summer.

The book will feature 52 photos taken in Caney at the park, including 29 which Tom and Allie took themselves.

The program “2008: The Year In Animals” is scheduled to air at 9 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 13. The Animal Network appears on channel 67 for Cox Communications subscribers in Montgomery County (Caney, Cherryvale and Coffeyville) and on channel 48 for Cable One subscribers (Independence). The show will be rebroadcast at various times throughout the weekend.

BY ANDY TAYLOR
This Is My Montgomery County: a regular series

CHERRYVALE — Cherryvale is glowing with Christmas cheer this week, and local residents can thank a group of families in the vicinity of East First Street for having the Christmas magic radiating through the skies.

Four families have combined efforts to not only festoon their properties with Christmas lights and inflatable images but also make the event a fun contest for all area residents. Rodney and Julie Blasor along with Rick and Cheryl Valverde, Jack Blasor and Saundra Leonard, are asking local residents to guess the number of lights that are involved in the four-family lighting display, which stretches over several blocks.

Julie said she and Cheryl Valverde got the idea for a neighborhood light display after remembering the light displays at Candy Cane Lane in Coffeyville. Blasor said she wanted to recreate that same imagery and passion that Candy Cane Lane residents used to create every yuletide season.

“It all began with illuminated candy canes, and we started lining our yards with those candy canes,” said Blasor. “But, it grew from there.”

Now, the neighbors have dozens of inflatable characters including some that dance to holiday tunes. Roof lines, sheds, dog houses, garages, fences, trees and anything else standing erect has been wrapped in holiday lights.

“We all do our own lights, but after someone is done, they usually go to the next yard and help the other person out,” said Blasor.

Blasor said traffic in the neighborhood of East First Street has grown in recent nights when the displays are fully lit.

“It’s amazing to hear the motorists stop and roll down the windows,” she said. “I’ll hear a little kid in the car squeal and say, ‘Hey, mom, do you see those lights?’ And, then, that’s when I realize that this whole effort is worth it.”

As an added bonus, Santa Claus will make an appearance in the neighborhood from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday, Dec. 12-13 and 19-20. Bring a camera for a free picture with Santa Claus.

Area residents can guess the number of lights used in the displays. The person who guesses the closest number without going over the actual number will win a $25.00 gift certificate from Newton’s Hardware. The person closest to guessting the most lights going over the actual number of lights will receive a free dinner for two from Pam’s Place in Cherryvale.

The contest began on Nov. 28 and will continue through Dec. 31. Contestants can drop off their guesses at Newton’s Hardware, Pam’s Place or at the Blasor home at 509 E. First.

The East First Street light display includes four properties starting at First and Summit streets.

• Born and raised in Montgomery County, Andy Taylor is a fifth-generation newspaper editor who keeps his ear on the pulse of Montgomery County. If you have a story idea about a unique person or event in Montgomery County, let Taylor know by calling (620) 331-9178, or send an e-mail to chronicle@taylornews.org.

BY ANDY TAYLOR
Montgomery County Chronicle

INDEPENDENCE — An Independence Community College official said Tuesday night that recent enrollment trends show the college is lagging in its recruitment efforts compared to Coffeyville Community College.

At the ICC’s board of trustee meeting Tuesday, Max VanLaningham, ICC’s dean of student services, presented officials with a monthly enrollment report showing an overall student headcount gain of 16 students as of Dec. 8 (compared to the same date in 2007). However, full-time equivalency enrollment, or FTE enrollment, is down 2.54 percent. The report said FTE enrollment, which is used to determine the extent of state assistance to community colleges, was down among local, in-state and international enrollees but up among out-of-state students.

While a 2.54 percent decline in FTE enrollment combined with an actual increase in student headcount might not be a cause for worry for many college officials, VanLaningham said the college is taking a hit because of the recruiting techniques from CCC. For example, on a recent trip to Chanute High School to talk to interested students, VanLaningham said CCC had already spoken to most of the interested students and offered them a scholarship of some level.

ICC needs to follow suit with a more aggressive recruiting style, he said.

“We need to be more aggressive,” said VanLaningham, adding that he was not trying to spread a gloomy picture over ICC. “I’m a competitive person by nature, and I don’t like to be beaten and not be able to fight.”
The ICC official said that after conferring with a CCC faculty member, he discovered that CCC officials require faculty members to fill a student quota. Departmental scholarships — ranging from theatre to sports to livestock judging — often are used as a way to recruit students.
“Everyone at CCC has a quota to fill,” he said. “That’s how they are getting students to come to their campus. It was asked of me this morning by our own faculty why we don’t provide a tuition scholarship to any Kansas resident. That’s a good question that we need to answer.”

Spending money on recruiting and scholarships will need to be addressed soon, he said.

“We’re going to have to spend money,” he said. “When you spend the money, you’ll see the results through more enrollment. We’ve got to find ways to be competitive. We’re going to innovate or evaporate.”

College trustees did not provide any comment following VanLaningham’s report.

In other business transacted at Tuesday’s meeting of the ICC trustees, trustees:

• heard a report from Peggy Forsberg, dean of instruction, regarding the first classes to be established in the newly-formed Halsey Institute. Forsberg said a class in music entertainment business management will be offered during the spring 2009 semester and will be made available to other community colleges in Kansas.

The institute is named after Jim Halsey, an Independence native who has spent his adult career as a successful music manager of some of country music’s top performers.

• accepted the resignation of David Ward, ICC football coach, who recently completed his fifth season as the Pirates’ head coach. During his five season, Ward compiled a 13-32 record.

• appointed Max VanLaningham from interim status to full-time dean of student services at an annual salary of $62,500.

• hired Tammie Geldenhuys to the position of ICC athletic director at an annual salary of $50,000. Geldenhuys also serves as ICC volleyball coach. Tony Turner, who had served as interim athletic director, will return to his role as head women’s basketball coach and assistant athletic director.

• heard reports from students in the ICC Phi Theta Kappa chapter.

CHERRYVALE — The Christmas season will be filled with several activities in Cherryvale this week.

On Friday night, Dec. 12, Hometown Holidays will be held in downtown Cherryvale from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. with several stores offering holiday bargains. At Newton’s Hardware, Santa Claus will make an appearance at the store, and the Lincoln-Central Select Choir will sing carols beginning at 6:30 p.m. The Cherryvale Middle-High School Band will also perform during the evening.

Warm chili will be served to hungry shoppers.

On Saturday, Dec. 13, the Cherryvale Chamber of Commerce will sponsor its annual Christmas parade beginning at 11 a.m. The parade route will begin at Lincoln-Central Elementary School and conclude at the Cherryvale Nursing and Rehabiliation Center.

Parade entries scheduled to be in the event include the Cherryvale MIddle-High School Band, Cherryvale Police Department, Cherryvale Fire-EMS Department, Cherryvale Division of the Montgomery County Rural Fire Department, Coffeyville Regional Medical Center and more.

Also on Saturday morning, members of the Catholic Youth Organization from St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church will hold a bake sale and quilt display.

Events on Saturday also include the first-ever Holiday Extravaganza sponsored by the Cherryvale Band Boosters. The event held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., at the Kansas Army National Guard.

Numerous arts and crafts items as well as homemade foods will be for sale to holiday shoppers, and many commercial items will also be available.

Child care will be available at the Holiday Extravaganza event, and a Kids’ Corner will be set up for children to enjoy coloring or creating other small crafts.

Door drawings will be announced each hour during the Holiday Extravaganza.

BY ANDY TAYLOR
Montgomery County Chronicle

CANEY — The tax status of the Caney Early Care and Education Center, which closed its doors last Friday, is a key issue in determining whether USD 436 will make an offer to lease the property, school board members said Monday.

At the USD 436 Board of Education monthly meeting on Monday, Superintendent Danny Fulton informed the board that he had received an offer from the Washington County Child Care Foundation to use the facility, which was built in 2004, on a lease basis. The foundation had been operating the facility on behalf of the Delaware Tribe of Oklahoma. The facility closed its program on Dec. 5 due to funding shortfalls. However, the foundation will continue to operate a preschool for 4-year-old youths for the remainder of the 2008-09 school year.

Fulton said that school board had made it a goal to expand its preschool offerings in USD 436 and that the facility may be a prime location to expand its early care education program.

However, he said one issue that could determine the cost effectiveness of leasing the facility is whether the property can receive a tax-exempt status by the State of Kansas. Currently, the facility is not considered tax-exempt, and Fulton said the annual property taxes amount to more than $24,000.

“That facility is classified at the highest property tax rate in Kansas: 33 percent,” he said. “That makes it rather cost prohibitive if we have to pay that kind of tax.”

Fulton presented a draft report showing anticipated costs if USD 436 were to locate its current At-Risk Preschool at the site and create a new program for regular preschool-aged pupils. The estimated costs will be about $142,000 with revenue amounting to $91,850. That would leave a positive difference of about $50,000, Fulton said.

Emphasizing that the cost/revenue figures were only estimates, he said one of the goals of expanding the preschool in USD 436 would be to generate more enrollment in local schools for the long-term future.

“If we can get the facility at a very reasonable cost to us, we coud provide some great opportunities for early child education in our school district,” said Fulton, adding that another goal would be to create a daycare for school employees to leave their children during school hours.

However, obtaining the facility through a lease contract will hinge on whether the property can receive a property tax abatement because of its use as a non-profit educational center, Fulton said.

“I would liek to see that in writing before we sign any contract,” said board member Jack Kopfman about the tax status.

The Washington County Child Care Foundation would have to seek the non-profit tax status on behalf of the lessee, which, in this case, would be USD 436, Fulton said.

More details about the tax status and other plans for the facility will be discussed at the school board’s January meeting, which is planned for Monday, Jan. 12.