It’s been a great year for Kiowa County residents and readers of the Kiowa County Signal. Picking a top story for the year wasn’t easy, but the reinstatement of Miss Kansas competitions in Greensburg increased opportunities for local contestants, and brought home a Miss Kansas crown. That was pretty significant.
FIRST QUARTER – January, February, March For the first time in 18 years, Miss Kansas organization officials announced that Greensburg will host a Miss Kansas entry pageant, giving young women the opportunity to compete for thousands of dollars in scholarships and serve their communities. Not only will Greensburg be the home of one crowning, but three total titles given to three women hoping for a chance to be Miss Kansas and after that, Miss America. The three titles are Miss Kiowa County, Miss Southern Kansas, and Miss Southern Plains. Though competitors can come from anywhere in the State of Kansas for Miss Kiowa County or Miss Southern Kansas, those vying to be Miss Southern Plains must have graduated high school from within the Iroquois League. Origins Coffee returned to the town of Haviland with caffeine and pastries in abundance. Under new owner Katie Anders, a former Barclay student and mother of four, Origins was revitalized much to the excitement of many local patrons.
Youth Core Ministries held their annual Kiowa County Soup Supper on December 19, 2021, and happily reports it was a smashing success. Many area youth were able to go to the Winter Youth Camp because of donations and funds raised at the event. The supper held at youth Core Ministries Teen Center at 211 E. Garfield in Greensburg, followed the annual Greensburg Christmas parade and was attended by more than 100 individuals from Haviland, Greensburg and Mullinville of Kiowa County.
Like many other entities in Kiowa County, the Kiowa County Senior Center had to make decisions about holding open hours or closing due to a rise of COVID-19 positive cases in the area. Under advisement from the Kiowa County Health Department the Kiowa County Senior Center Board of Directors voted to close the center to all dining in and activities for a week. Meals on Wheels were delivered as normal, however, and any senior who wanted to pick up a meal was welcome to do so, by reservation. Though the doors were closed to the public, inside the Kiowa County Senior Center much work was done to prepare and package meals to send out to those in need during the COVID closure.
The Miss Southern Kansas Pageant is back in Greensburg after an 18year hiatus. The 2022 event was hosted at the Twilight Theater and Community auditorium on January 22, with three titles up for grabs: Miss Southern Plains 2022, Miss Southern Kansas 2022, and Miss Kiowa County 2022. After competitions in talent, interview and evening wear, respective title winners were Ayanna Hensley as Miss Kiowa County, Emily Rugg as Miss Southern Kansas, and Kaycee Krell as Miss Southern Plains.
True North is a foster care group in Kiowa County that is aiming to provide the gold standard in foster care homes for kids. Executive director Brad Lingafelter said he is aiming to be able to provide a place for teenage boys who are a part of the foster care system that are in need of housing. Recently, this program closed a purchase on a home that is going to be a place for these kids to call home. Located in Haviland, the future home for boys is currently the home office of True North’s operation. Once some inspections and other steps have been taken, the residence can be transformed into the home that these young men need.
Blue sky, wispy clouds, warm sun, and light breeze combined to make a perfect weather day in Kiowa County. In Haviland, many residents were out walking, playing, and enjoying the beautiful day, taking in the warmth as forecasters have predicted a 50-degree drop in temperatures by the mid-week. The National Weather Service in Dodge City put out warnings that portions of central, south central, and west central Kansas would be affected by a bitterly cold airmass that would drive south, resulting in wind chill values reaching 10 to 20 below zero by the mid-week.
On December 10, a violent tornado moved across Western Kentucky, producing catastrophic damage in numerous towns. The EF-4 twister was 1.5 miles wide, traveled 166 miles, crossed 11 counties, and claimed the lives of 56 people (NWS). Local educator Kay Unruh, Haviland Elementary, said that when news of the cataclysm was discussed in her second-grade class, a decision was made to collect coins to assist with the relief efforts. Soon the entire school joined in, and together, Haviland USD 474 raised $485. When the community heard of the youth’s humanitarian effort, an anonymous doner stepped forward with a matching grant. Unruh reported that due to the wight of all the collected coins, it took several money bags for the second graders to carry it all to the local bank. After counting the loose change, the Haviland State Bank added another $15 rounding up the student’s philanthropic undertaking to an even $500. All totaled, the students were able to send $1000 to assist with the needs of those ravaged by the storm.
SECOND QUARTER – April, May, June Alyssa Monroe, a senior at Kiowa County High School, was announced early April by Jobs for America’s Graduates ( JAG) as one of five Kenneth M. Smith Scholars nationwide who will receive $10,000 toward their college education.
Sponsors and supporters of the Twilight Theatre and Community Auditorium came through in a big way, raising more than $30,000 for the maintenance and programming at this Greensburg facility. Executive Director George Ryan said he was extremely thankful for the generous support of the Kiowa County community as a whole and honored to be part of the board that manages the theatre.
Hosting the first of what could become may community events at the Haviland Heritage Park brought joy to local historic committee member Sheryl White during the Easter weekend. “We had a community Resurrection Easter Egg Hunt here, and it was just wonderful,” White said, “With just a short time to plan, we ended up having a great crowd, lots of eggs to find and it was just wonderful to see all the people here.”
Graduation weekend at Barclay College came and went with a beautiful finish to the school year. The graduation festivities began with a morning Baccalaureate ceremony and a commissioning done with graduates, faculty, and staff. Then the commencement ceremony occurred at three p.m. with a procession of the graduates as well as teachers in their scholastic regalia across the campus in Haviland.
Fort Hays State University hosted its 63rd annual technology fair for Kansas high school students at the end of April, inviting them to come and present their various technical achievements. It was held at the Gross Memorial Coliseum and any student from grades 6-12 who studies under a certified stem or industrial arts teacher is eligible to submit their work to be showcased. Many local Kiowa County High School students participated, winning accolades for their work accomplished this school year under the direction of teacher Peter Kerns.
Kiowa County High School girls track team won the 2022 SPIAA League Championship.
The Twilight Theatre fell on hard times in early May when an IMB part and keys necessary to run it became inoperable, causing the theater to shut down May 7, despite a long line of customers on Opening Night for ‘Doctor Strange.’
The Kiowa County High School forensics team ended the 2022 season with an excellent day of competition at both the KSHSAA 1A State Championship Tournament at Salina Central High School and the KSHSAA State Forensics Festival at Kansas Wesleyan University on Saturday, May 7. The Mavericks placed 4th overall as a team (out of 35 schools) at State Champs, and junior Lucy Libby earned a 1 Rating and a gold medal at the festival site.
Miss Kiowa County Ayanna Hensley of Dodge City, Kansas and a 2022 Fort Hays State University graduate with a major in biology and a minor in creative writing was crowned Miss Kansas 2022 this June. Coming from a difficult upbringing, with faith in God plans to reach out to others and lift them up through difficulties to be the best they can be. Hensley’s platform for the Miss Kansas Competition this year was called Aces Low: Overcoming Adverse Childhood Experiences. Hensley’s proud grandmother Maurine Jenkins is a Kiowa County resident in Greensburg.
THIRD QUARTER – July, August, October Christmas in July takes place early July, where just about anything goes, and from the list of registered vendors for the July 16 event at the Lighthouse Worship Center in Greensburg that wish may come true.
Area youth were invited to a special dance workshop, with the community to a Saturday morning show. “Dance Greensburg” is a new 2-day event featuring the collective creative energies of professional dancer instructors Cheyla Clawson and Mina Estrada from Wichita. Kiowa County residents were invited to take part in creative experiences of expressive movement and learning July 22 and 23. Area youth age 10 and up were invited to participate in a dance workshop at the Greensburg Recreation Center.
A small cast of 15 Kiowa County youth under the direction of Greensburg director Alyssa Brown delved into the life and times of Frankenstein to present a comedy enjoyed by all ages in earlier July at the Twilight Theatre. The drama, Kid Frankenstein, was the result of a workshop for kids who wanted to learn the basics of acting and performing for a live audience.
Small town life in Haviland, Kansas just got a little better for working moms in need of daycare options. Kathy Koehn opened the doors of Little Sprouts Daycare at the Haviland Fitness Center on Monday, August 8 and is now able to provide childcare services that were previously lacking for many in Kiowa County. The new business came into existence as a partnership between the city and Kiowa County Economic Development and has been under discussion since fall of 2021.
The Bayer Fund and Kiowa County farmers Denny and Charlotte Ross teamed up to direct donations to rural nonprofits and schools. The Ross’s recently directed a $5,000 Bayer Fund America’s Farmers Grow Communities donation to Barclay College in Haviland. Barclay will use the funds to help with the costs of the new School of Nursing.
A little rain, a little sun, a good dose of history, and a bigger dose of fun was experienced by those who made their way to Haviland on Saturday, August 27 for the 57th Southwest Kansas antique Engine and Thresher Show. Live music and ice cream was a+ bonus on Friday, the evening before, but the traditional oldtime parade and farming demonstrations took place on Saturday, along with an arts and crafts show, tours of the cleaned and historic Konkel house, and a variety of special exhibits to see as well as a variety of foods to eat.
Visitors to the Big Well Museum in Greensburg often throw good-luck coins down the deep hole for good luck. Those coins are collected every so often, then given out as souvenirs to visitors to the City of Greensburg booth at the Kansas State Fair. This year there were plenty of coins to give out at the Pride of Kansas building in Hutchinson as the guest book from The Big Well Museum showed a successful record number of visitors.
FORTH QUARTER – October, November, December The unofficial tally for the Ladies Auxiliary Auction held in October at Barclay College has been estimated at $115,000. This money, raised by donated items that were auctioned off to the public, will be earmarked for full tuition scholarships that are made available to Barclay students who commit to live on campus for their post-secondary education. The 91st auction held October 1 and 2 featured crafts and goods that were auctioned in the morning. Quilts highlighted the sale in the afternoon.
Julie Keeton, owner of Kiowa County Pharmacy in Greensburg, received the Kansas Pharmacists Association’s (KPhA) Distinguished Young Pharmacist Award at a ceremony on Saturday, Sept. 24, during the 142nd Kansas Pharmacists Association (KPhA) Annual Meeting and Trade Show in Topeka, KS.
South Central Community Foundation has selected the 5.4.7 Arts Center in Greensburg to receive two 2022-2023 grants. The Arts Center received a Community Grant to facilitate establishment of an Artists in Residence program, and a Greensburg Future Fund Grant for the creation of an outdoor mural on the concrete plinth surrounding the Arts Center.
Halloween fun was found by many in Greensburg this year. Between pumpkin carving opportunities, eye-scream sundaes and truck or treat events, there was something for just about everyone. PowerUp Greensburg sponsored a Trunk or Treat event on S. Main St, on Monday in Greensburg that lasted from 5-6 p.m. and lots of little ghosts, goblins, princesses and superheroes came out to make the most of it. Local businesses enjoyed the friendly patronage and prizes were awarded to the best costumes and best decorated vehicles.
The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe is a story written for children, but carries a message of spiritual truths that anyone of any age can enjoy. More than 1,600 people did just that at Barclay College’s recent production of this C.S. Lewis classic performed in Haviland. Directed by Randi Shetley, the production lived up to broadcast expectations with outstanding characters perfectly typecast for their parts, along with captivating dialogue and action.
The town of Mullinville made the most of their growing reputation for being a unique arts and crafts destination stop with a Small Business Saturday shopping event. Opening at 8 a.m., art and antique vendors showcased their wares in the Mullinville Antique Mall. And the response from locals and passerby was well worth the effort.
A Greensburg Holiday Open House event on Saturday, December 3 drew both local residents out to participate in shopping and refreshment opportunities as well as some passerby. Six businesses in Greensburg opened with special hours for the first potentially annual event form 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday. Those participating included The Big Well, Turquoise Ranch, Emblazon, Etc., KCHM and Soda Fountain, Heritage Liquor and Homestead Insurance.
Jakob O’Brien of Alva. Oklahoma found a possible elephant tusk when he went home for Thanksgiving break in November. It wasn’t until he brought his findings back to Haviland where he is a youth ministry student at Barclay College to get help from the local creation science expert, Dr. Jerry Simmons at the Heart of America Science Museum, that he realized how exciting this find of his might be. Looking at 1,000s of pieces of petrified ivory, and a large molar also discovered in the area, Simmons and O’Brien has tentatively identified the recent find as a Gomphothere elephant. These mammals differed from typical elephants in their tooth structure, particularly the chewing surfaces on the molar teeth.
Candy Cane Lane in Greensburg, North on 16134 30th Ave. one mile from the Main Street stoplight, has been a favored local attraction to see holiday lights and animated attractions the week before Christmas since 1975. Last week it was part of an updated 2021 listing on KSN Channel 3’s Best Holiday Lights to See in Kansas map. The Candy Cane Lights drive is traditionally open the week before Christmas. This year there have been some difficulties in the preparation process, such as dealing with 60 mph winds, as well as snow and a bit of rain.
To end the year, a cold front bringing in below zero temperatures with snow just before Christmas time. Maybe this year we will have a white Christmas.
