A Hot Time at the Fair!

To say that it is going to be at "Hot Time" at the 2010 Rooks County Free Fair is definitely going to be an understatement. With temperatures hoving near 100 degrees, the heat will be on, but don't let that deter you from taking in all the attractions, exhibits, events, shows, and food.

The highlight of the fair will once again be the Friday concert featuring country music stars The Lost Trailers and Jesse James.

For a full list of activities, go to the fair website at www.rookscountyfreefair.com.

Rooks County Free Fair set to go once again

The 131st edition of the Rooks County Free Fair gets underway on August 8 in Stockton and runs through August 14. Once again the Fair Board has lined up an outstanding week-long event, from nationally-known entertainers to local favorites like motorcycle races, car races, and the ever-popular demolition derby.

This year's featured entertainers on Friday are Jessie James and the Lost Trailers. All tickets are $20.

Of course the fair would not be complete without the displays, food, carnival, and and youth events.

For a full listing of events and information, visit the fair website at www.rookscountyfreefair.com. You can also call the fair office at 785-425-7189

Ready for a great "Cuppa" coffee?

You have come to love them while located in the back of Main St. Gallery in Stockton, and now you can enjoy them in a new, expanded location. Cuppas, known for their great cup of coffee, now has it's own storefront at 413 Main. And, they are selling sandwiches, soup, salads, and a daily special during the lunch hour. So now it is Cuppas, Etc.
Owner Darla McReynolds has renovated the former Rooks County Bakery building into a quaint little shop that has a variety of food and other items. Stop by and see everything she has to offer in the shop, and have a great cup of coffee. Cuppas can be reached at 785-415-2025.

Denver Sportshow an opportunity for Rooks County

There are those in Kansas (especially rural Kansas) who will wonder why we should work on increasing tourism. What do Kansas and tourism have to do with each other, they would ask.

The Denver Sportmen's Expo is a good example of what tourism and western Kansas have to do with each other. Literally thousands of people go through the Expo each year, and many stop by the NW Kansas booth and want information on Kansas. They like coming here, they like the people, they like our lakes, and they like our hunting.

These "tourists" leave money here as well. Whether it is buying a tank of gas, eating a couple of meals at a local restaurant, or picking up a few groceries at a convenience store, it all adds up to money coming into the community.

Rooks County is fortunate to have resources such as Webster Lake, Rooks County State Lake, and Plainville Township Lake that attract others from outside to come. Keeping them a secret brings no money into Rooks County.

Talk to Blaine and Diane Baxter at Baxter's Bait & Tackle in Stockton and they will be glad to tell you what the visitors mean to their business.

The Denver Expo was Jan. 7-10, 2010.

2009 Vision Leadership Class celebrates graduation

The Rooks County Vision Leadership program saw the number of alumni expand by 10 this year with the addition of the 2009 class. On Wednesday, December 16, the class, along with approximately 25 alumni from each of the previous five classes, celebrated the completion of the 2009 program. The event was once again held at Cedar Links Country Club.

Recognized for their participation in this years program were: Nicole Armbrister, Kelly Arnberger, Ashley Bedient, Billie Chesney, Denae Denio-Odle, Lincoln Griffin, Nicole Keas, Shannon Mongeau, Shari Tucker, and Jeff Werner.

One of the highlights of this years class was the inclusion of three high school students. "Including high school students in the leadership training has been a goal of mine for several years, and I couldn't have been more happy with the participation and insight from Nicole, Billie, and Lincoln" said program director Roger Hrabe. "We talk so much about keeping our young people at home, but so often we don't include them in our decision making. If we truly expect them to feel good about staying, or coming home once they leave, we should let them know that their input and their inclusion in what we do is important to us."

A requirement of the program is to complete a class project, and several of the class members talked about the status of their projects this year. Examples of projects included a book program for children ages 1-5, safe Halloween activities, a community water project, a fair parade, community website help, and mentoring for elementary students. In previous years, projects by Vision alumni have included Plainville's Hometown Christmas, county 5th graders to a FHSU basketball game, park projects, reflective rural address signs, and benches outside a school, just to name a few.

If you are interested in participating in the 2010 Vision class, or would just like to know more about leadership activities, contact Economic Development Director Roger Hrabe at 785-425-6881 or e-mail at rooksed@ruraltel.net.

(Class picture identification, L to R, Nicole Armbrister, Denae Denio-Odle, Lincoln Griffin, Nicole Keas, Shannon Mongeau, Shari Tucker, and Jeff Werner. Not pictured are Kelly Arnberger, Ashley Bedient, and Billie Chesney)

Kansas Magazine features Comeaus

The "C" is for Chuck, the "S" for Shirley, "Post" is from The Pineapple Post in Plainville and "Co." is for managers Norman and Sandy Keller plus a staff that keeps things interesting at the Hays store of simple luxuries: C.S. Post & Co.

Chuck and Shirley Comeau, who reside in Plainville, are featured in the winter edition of Kansas Magazine. The article focuses on how C.S. Post & Co. came into being and how the Comeau family has taken a love for small towns, unique design, and a need to fill the customers' dignified taste into successful retail businesses in Hays and Plainville.

Kansas Magazine is online at www.KansasMag.com, and you can follow them Twitter @KANSASMag or follow them on Facebook at facebook.com/KansasMagazine.

Main St. Gallery & Jasmine's Asian Cafe in the news

In a time when it seems difficult to find the positive things that are going on in our rural communities, it is refreshing to see a couple of positive articles on Rooks County businesses.

Main Street Gallery in Stockton and Jasmine's Asian Cafe were both featured recently in the Hays Daily News. You can read the articles by going to the Rooks County website at www.rookscounty.net and clicking on the articles under "The Latest News" column.