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