Vision Leadership class views county with "new eyes"

Ten individuals from around Rooks County have enrolled in the 2009 version of the Rooks County Vision Leadership program. One of their first assignments was to view the county or their community with "new eyes."

Often times we are so accustomed to seeing things in our communities that we pass by the really good stuff. We miss what is right in front of us. Stockton High School student Billie Chesney summed up her experience this way, "I visited a piece of our property that I had been to before, but it had been a while, and when I saw it this time, I realized how beautiful it was and how out of the way. It was like I had seen it for the first time."

Other participants in the class visited places such as the old dugout cave west of Stockton on Highway 24 that was used by African Americans traveling to the west as an overnight stop because of unfavorable ordinances in the towns of the times.

The Vision Leadership class is now in it's 6th year in Rooks County and has had over 50 participants. Emphasis in class is placed on learning styles, moving groups to performance, visionary thinking, and facilitation from the chair.

To find out more about the Vision Leadership program, visit www.rookscounty.net/rcvision.htm.

BYOLC attracts a crowd in Damar

Ninety people from around the state sat in lawn chairs on Damar's main street to hear local leaders describe numerous projects that have kept their town of 150 viable.

The mayor, the elementary school principal, several citizens, and the county economic development director related how they've accomplished numerous projects from a playground to improving city infrastructure. They've restored one of the most beautiful churches in the state and have started construction on a community building. They've kept a cafe open by selling community shares. A group of women spearheaded an effort to paint a block's worth of buildings with a French motif and have opened a gift store called Fleur de lis. The elementary school has increased enrollment every year for the last five years.

After the hour-long lawn chair meeting, the crowd dispersed to shop, eat in the cafe, tour the church, and buy stamps.

The Kansas Sampler Foundation organizes "Bring Your Own Lawn Chair" events as a means to educate their Kansas Explorers Club members and the public about the value of rural communities. The next BYOLC event will take place in Howard in Elk County on Saturday, Sept. 5 at 11:30 a.m. The public is invited to explore the town before and after the meeting.

Damar to host BYOLC event

Bring Your Own Lawn Chair (BYOLC) comes to Damar on August 29.

Event Type: Kansas Explorers Club function
Date: 08-29-2009 (10:00 - 02:00) Additional Schedule Info: Lawn chair meeting at 10 a.m. on main street. Location: Damar main street Event Website: www.kansassampler.org/kansasexplorersclub/page.php?id=236 FREE EVENT!!

Info: Start coming at 9 a.m. to buy stamps at the post office. St. Joseph's Church, Damar Cafe will be open before and after our hour"ish" meeting. See the French motifs painted on buildings and hear about the projects and gumption of Damar folks!

It's Fair Week!!!!!!

The 130th edition of the Rooks County Free Fair is underway (August 10-15), and you won't want to miss it. After a shower or two today, it looks like the weather is going to be nice and warm, and dry.

Besides all the displays and exhibits, motorcycle races, car races, demo derby, and big concert on Friday give you plenty to do. Visit the fair website at www.rookscountyfreefair.com for all the details.

Rooks County Free Fair to feature top entertainers

The Rooks County Free Fair continues to attract top entertainment for their feature Friday night concert. Appearing on Friday, August 14 will be Heidi Newfield and Jamey Johnson. Newfield is best known for her songs, "Cry, Cry, 'Till the Sun Shines," and "Johnny & June." Johnson has hit the charts with "In Color," and was the co-writer of the George Strait hit, "Give It Away."

Tickets for the concert are $20 and available the night of the show only.

The fair office is now open and can be reached at 785-425-7189. Visit their website at www.rookscountyfreefair.com.

The Rooks County Free Fair is one of the oldest and largest free fairs in Kansas and is held traditionally the second week of August in Stockton. The "Fair of Champions" has been held annually since 1879 and features agricultural, commercial, and open class exhibits, nightly entertainment that features musical artists, car and motorcycle races, demolition derby, and a carnival on the midway.

Schult Home facility to have new owner

A contract is still being negotiated, but it appears that all is in line for the City of Plainville to purchase the former Schult Home plant in Plainville. CMH Manufacturing has offered the facility to the City at a reduced price from what it was publicly offered--$1.5 million. The Rooks County Economic Development (RCED) Commission has agreed to join with the City in funding the purchase, and in return would be involved in the process of attracting tenants to the facility.

An interlocal agreement will be entered into between the City and RCED that would spell out the terms of cooperation between the two entities. Details are still being worked out on this agreement as well. It is hoped that the agreement with CMH and the interlocal agreement can all be finalized within the next 60 days.

Coming Attraction: Big Time in Damar

Coming on July 18 to Damar is the 4th Annual Harvest Festival Car & Motorcycle Show.

You won't want to miss the chance to not only attend the festival, but to also see the many positive changes that have taken place in Damar over the last year or so. The downtown buildings are all painted to reflect the French Canadian heritage of the city, and all new park equipment has been installed in the City Park. Also, a new community building is under construction as well as some renovation of the Damar Tavern.

As for the festival, you can access more information, including a registration form, by clicking on the following link: http://www.rookscounty.net/Car%20Show%20Flyer.pdf