Several area towns will be active with children hunting Easter eggs this weekend at various Easter egg hunts.  Check the list below for activities in Elk and Chautauqua counties.

* * * * * Read more

The Sedan Area Chamber of Commerce has announced that the dates for the 2010 Annual Redbud Tour will be Saturday and Sunday, April 10 and 11.

With spring in the air, the Chamber of Commerce is hoping Mother Nature will cooperate and the redbud trees will be in full bloom for the weekend event.

Representatives from the Sedan Area Chamber of Commerce will be located in the north parking lot of Floyd’s Market, under the big American Flag, providing maps of the county as well as giving away free redbud saplings. Hours will be from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. each day.

By Shirley Black
Another successful table setting was enjoyed by more than 200 guests from Elk County and beyond last Saturday evening.

The event, sponsored by the Elk County Community and Education Foundation and held at Moline Grade School, raised several hundred dollars which will be used to help fund a scholarship for seniors who live in Elk County or attend school there.  There were 29 tables on display and each attendee received three chances to vote on their favorites.  The top prize winners was “Fun, Faith and Fashion” by Traci Smith of Traci’s Trends. Second place went to “Checkerboard Chow” by Mills Feed and Supply, third to “Romantic Rose” by Carey Triboulet and Dana Denton, fourth to “Tea and Roses” by  Marjean Jacobs.

Fifth prize went to Janet Hadlock and Family for “Grandmother’s Garden,” sixth prize to “Backyard BBQ” by Jane Osburn and Pam Watkins, seventh prize was awarded to “Down on the Farm” by Annette Barnaby and Velva Hoyt, eighth place to “Experience Elk Falls” by Jane Fry of Elk Falls Pottery, ninth to “Dine Like a Deere” by   Shelly Hare and Beth Jones of Country Cakes and More. Read more

Jennifer Brummel has taken over her new responsibilities as Elk County Economic Development Director and Youth Development Coordinator.

Working from her office in the Elk County Courthouse, Brummel will continue the work started by Laura Fry before she resigned to prepare for work with her husband in a mission field.

Brummel is a native of Garnett where she graduated from high school before heading off to Independence Community College, then to Oklahoma Panhandle State University in Goodwell, Okla., where she earned a B.S. degree in agriculture economics and agronomy. She also earned her masters degree from West Texas A&M.

At ICC and Oklahoma Panhandle, she was actively involved in the Upward Bound program with students, and at West Texas A&M she ran a residence hall for students.

She previously was employed in the Kansas City area.

“I am so excited about living and working in Elk County,” Brummel said. “I came from a small town so I have a good feel for it.” Read more

Grocery consumers in southeast Kansas are alerted to a food safety recall of Tornados Ranchero Beef and Cheese products sold in local stores.
Ruiz Foods, Inc., a Denison, Texas establishment, is recalling approximately 115,700 pounds of the ready-to-eat beef product that may be contaminated with salmonella.

The packages of beef product contain as an ingredient the specific Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein (HVP), which was previously recalled, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

Due to potential Salmonella contamination, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a recall of the HVP product on March 4, 2010. A recall of the beef product was warranted because the HVP ingredient was added after Salmonella prevention steps were applied.

The food product was sold at Floyds’ Town and Country Supermarket in Caney, Floyds’ Market in Sedan, Winfield Apple Market in WInfield, G&W Foods stores in Eureka and Fredonia, and Marvin’s Food Saver in Independence.

Lots of Sedan residents received free doughnuts last Saturday when the snow storm caused Big Daddy’s Bakery to close early. “We made lots of doughnuts  then ended up giving most of them away,” said Big Daddy John Conner.  This coming Saturday, March 27, will be their last day as owners of the bakery and they will offer all products at special prices as part of their “Customer Appreciation Day.”  Everybody is invited to drop by and wish John and Margaret Conner well as they retire. The shop has been bought and the new owners will take over next week.

Several Elk County girls gave a special treat to ladies of the Howard Twilight Nursing Home last Thursday when they painted the nails of anyone wishing to have it done. The ladies got to pick what color they might like and the girls painted fancy decorations of some of their nails. Those participating during their spring break were Taylor Barker, Rachel Bellar, Kiley Hurt and Kaitlyn, Ashley and Zoe Lampson.   Ashley Lampson is shown painting the nails of Rosie McDonald .  See group photo in this week’s Prairie Star.                                 Photo by Peggy Bellar

Spring arrives soon and plans are being made to clean out the old Howard National Bank Building. Please meet at the bank at 1:30 on Sunday, March 21 to start the work and see who can work what times and days. There is a lot of cleaning up to do to transform this beauty into a usable building in Howard. Contact Robert or Shirley Black at 374-2503 if you wish to volunteer but cannot attend the initial meeting. The above photo shows the north side of the historic building.

The Elk Konnected Steering Committee, along with the five Elk Konnected Action Teams, is planning a dual purpose “Community Update and Community Conversation” to highlight the  achievements of each team and collect new data for future project areas.

The public is encouraged to attend the meeting which will be held Tuesday, March 23, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., at the commons area of the West Elk High School.  A light soup supper and free child care will be provided.

Please join Elk Konnected for an evening of positive conversation as they lay the groundwork for future activity in this area.  The previous Community Conversation, held in the Elk Valley School commons area included nearly 125 people with great ideas.  They hope to repeat that success.

Elk Konnected members urged everyone to: “Stay With us As We Grow.”

Jim Beason, Chautauqua County Farm Bureau Association president, traveled to Washington, D.C. on Sunday, March 7, to the 30th annual County President’s Trip to Washington, D.C.  Beason met with other Kansas Farm Bureau county presidents, American Farm Bureau Federation staff, the Kansas Congressional delegation and other members of Congress.  KFB’s primary focus for this year’s trip was to educate urban Congressional members about current issues facing agriculture.  The areas of focus were international trade, estate taxes, energy and regulatory policy from EPA.

The trip also provided an opportunity to visit with other county presidents about their local programs that have been successful. The results of the trip are an exchange of information and influence that benefit Farm Bureau members, people involved in agriculture and those communities that provide goods and services to Kansas agriculture.

The Kansas delegation was divided into groups of 6-10 individuals.  Each group, led by a KFB director, visited two different legislators.  Some urban Senators and Representatives were unable to find time to meet with a farm Read more

The Flint Hills Assembly of God Church will hold a ground breaking ceremony Sunday March 21, at 2 p.m. on their property  just north of West Elk High School, Howard,  for their new Family Life Center.  This facility will have a gymnasium which will accommodate and be available for West Elk to use for practice and other activities, as well as public use for large occasions such as banquets and reunions.

The congregation of Flint Hills Assembly of God would like to invite the public to join them and they will answer any questions you have about the other uses planned for this new facility.

Juniors and seniors from Sedan High School and Cedar Vale High School mingled with Chautauqua County business leaders last Wednesday during a business fair hosted by Sedan Floral.

Jonathan Cude’ represented Sedan Floral’s management in making arrangements for the event, along with Jack Newcomb of Quad County Enterprises and Carl Palmer with Kansas Hometown Prosperity.

Four sessions were held during the day with local speakers making the rounds and talking about why they came back to rural communities to earn their livings.

Most emphasized the benefit of the slow pace, low crime rate and family-oriented values they have found in living in Chautauqua County. They also talked about the business opportunities available in small towns as well as employment opportunities. Read more

The First Baptist Church of Sedan wishes to invite the local community on Sunday, March 14, to come and enjoy the music ministry of Randy and Wendi Pierce, Music Evangelists of the Crowell Heights Baptist Church of Tulsa, Okla.  Randy and Wendi have appeared across the United States in Gospel music ministry with churches, camp meetings, and even including the Gospel Music Association festival in Branson, Mo.

Randy and Wendi will be ministering in the 10:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. worship services this Sunday. Read more

Elk Konnected is inviting all 4 year olds through 3rd graders to come to “Roll with us Tumbling.”  Classes will be taught by instructor Stacy Howell at the Moline Elementary Gym from 6:30-7:30 p.m., on Monday, March 22; Tuesday, March 30; Tuesday, April 6; Tuesday, April 13; and Tuesday, April 20.

There is a $5 charge per child per session. This can be paid at the door or in advance. Please contact Jennifer Brummel for available scholarships.  Insurance coverage has been purchased for this activity.

Children should wear socks, tennis shoes, shorts and a t-shirt that is long enough to be tucked into their shorts.  Pre-registration is not required. Registration forms have been sent home with students from school. Same-day on-site registration will be available.

For questions please contact Jennifer Brummel, Youth Development Coordinator, 620-205-8514 or e-mail growingelkcounty@gmail.com.

INDEPENDENCE — Independence Community College celebrated the 39th Annual Competition Day on March 2 with over 600 students from nineteen Kansas and Missouri high schools.

Last Tuesday’s 60-plus competitions represented a variety of skills ranging from the traditional English, math, and science, to Haiku, drafting, newspaper design, U.S. presidential trivia, and even a contest on fingernail art.

Pre-submitted works in art, journalism writing, poetry, playwriting, drafting, and photography were submitted in advance for pre-event judging and were on display. Read more