GREENSBURG – The Grand Opening of the Kiowa County Commons is on Tuesday as we have told you in the past.
“The Commons is a 20,000 sq. ft. model of efficiency and architectural beauty,” said Janet West, president of the Kiowa County Media Center Foundation, one of the four entities to call the Commons home. “The water harvesting features, green roof, solar panels, geothermal wells, and ICF construction are expected to result in significant savings in resources and utilities,” she continued. “Kiowa County has created a remarkable facility.”
Other county entities housed in the Commons include the Kiowa County Historical Museum, the Greensburg branch of the Kiowa County Library, and county offices for Kansas State Research and Extension.
The Kiowa County Historical Society and its director Jim Crawley operate the Museum. Design team Ed and Lynda Scheele (ESA) of Abilene worked with the Historical Society to tell the stories of Kiowa County and its three main towns, Haviland, Mullinville, and Greensburg.
One of its most fascinating exhibits is the fully functional 50’s era soda fountain, completely restored by the American Soda Fountain Company of Chicago, Il and ready to open for business with all the old favorite sundaes and fountain drinks. The Historical Society salvaged parts of the damaged fountain from Hunter Drug Store following the 2007 tornado.
The Kiowa County Media Center will also be in this building which is the county’s 21st Century solution to communications problems that existed following the EF5 tornado that destroyed Greensburg, the county seat, in 2007. It contains a state-of-the-art HD television studio, an Internet-based radio studio, an interview studio, and a 16-station editing laboratory, all supported by a robust web portal.
Also located in the Commons, the Kiowa County Library has been open for business since late summer. “We received over 9,000 books following the tornado,” said Director Debby Allison. “Each one had to be gone through and catalogued before going onto the shelves. It was a big job, but we appreciate everyone’s generosity.”
Kansas State University’s Research and Extension is the final component of the Commons complex. Served by agents Pam Muntz and Carmen Stauth, K-State Research and Extension offers the full range of resources to Kiowa County residents available through Kansas State and its formidable academic and community outreach programs.
“Kansas State has been an outstanding partner in the Commons,” said West. “Several departments, including the A.Q. Miller School of Journalism and Mass Communications, K-State Research and Extension, the College of Agriculture, and the Division of Communications and Marketing have stepped forward to fulfill the mission of a Land Grant University.”
Marching & Rallying across the street from Koch Headquarters
Kansans United in Voice & Spirit is sponsoring a march & rally near Koch Industries Wichita headquarter on Saturday starting at 3 p-m.
The mobilization meetings already scheduled across the state will occur as planned on October 29th & 30th with the exception of Hutchinson. They will have a meeting at 5 p-m, after the rally in Wichita for Hutchinson, Wichita, and all Kansans who wish to attend.
There will be two locations where the march will begin, one at Chisholm Creek Park at 29th & Oliver in close proximity to the sidewalks facing Oliver. Then a 2-mile march begins at 47th & Hillcrest.
They will then end up at the Koch Industries facility. The company headed by brothers Charles and David Koch are active in supporting conservative causes, and give lots of money supporting conservative candidates.
The group contends Governor Sam Brownback and the Legislature are making decisions
that undermine the basic needs of Kansas residents.