tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49670155720081750572024-02-07T21:01:46.092-06:00A New ConversationA Celebration of Life Lived in the Smallest of PlacesAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16778094969299154133noreply@blogger.comBlogger51125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4967015572008175057.post-29191246789047841742013-02-06T10:51:00.000-06:002013-02-06T10:51:54.121-06:00Shake Off the Cold This Saturday in Tarkio!<br />
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<i>Part of blogging is shameless promotion. While buying my diet mtn. dew last week at Torrey Pines, Nick White shared the details of this great event....</i></div>
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<i>This Saturday, Feb. 9, the community of Tarkio will be celebrating one of their own, Coach Dave Palmeiro for his enshrinement to the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame. This event is a wonderful opportunity to come together to honor Coach and "Shake off the Cold!" And as a bonus, the proceeds will support new "Welcome to Tarkio" signs. You can purchase tickets at Quality Auto, the Flower Mill, Torrey Pines, the Tarkio Avalanche or from any chamber member.</i></div>
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<i>In honor of this event and Coach Palmeiro, Craig Livengood, a friend of Tarkio and of Coach Palmeiro, wrote the following:</i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Congratulation's to Dave Palmeiro for your enshrinement
in to the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame!
A contingent of 30 or so former student athletes, friends and family
made the trip to Springfield, Missouri for the 2013 Enshrinement Ceremony for
Coach Palmeiro and twelve other deserving Missouri sports figures. The weekend started with a dinner party
hosted by Dr. Gary Hogue, one of Dave's former players now living in the
Springfield area (Class of '78). Gary
had old photo albums and the game tape of the 1971 State Championship. It was a great time reminiscing the
past. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Sunday, January 27th was
Enshrinement day. An all day event that started that morning with a tour of the
Hall of Fame and the enshrinement ceremony that evening. It was an impressive
class of inductees that included David Eckstein the 2006 World Series MVP of
the Saint Louis Cardinals, Mike Sweeney a five time all star with the Kansas
City Royals, Tony Richardson a three time Pro Bowler with the Kansas City
Chiefs, and Handsome Harley Race a wrestler from Quitman, Missouri just down the
road. All impressive . . . but none more
impressive than our own Coach, Dave Palmeiro!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Read more about Coach Palmeiro.......</span></div>
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Every community needs an opportunity to celebrate. I can't think of a better one! See you Saturday!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16778094969299154133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4967015572008175057.post-5186433368619935092012-09-27T10:30:00.000-05:002012-09-27T10:34:08.452-05:00An Appreciation of Politics<span style="font-size: small;"><i>Today's post comes to you from my New Conversation co-pilot, Ann Schlueter. It's election season, and while you may find it exhausting or thrilling or just an annoyance, it matters - especially on a local level. Thanks, Annie, for this reminder and for encouraging all those who care enough to make a difference by serving our county, region and country!</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: black;">My political career started early. I made the front page of the St. Joe News Press in 1984 holding a sign for John Ashcroft’s governor’s race which he later won (probably due to my efforts.) After making such a splash, I kept collecting political bumper stickers on my bookcase and dutifully posting campaign signs in our yard. I’m sure the mailman and bus driver were significantly influenced. </span><br />
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<span style="color: black;">Sometime in the late 80s, I distinctly remember a punch card booth set up for children to practice voting. I don’t remember who I voted for, but my card was yellow and I voted in the Westboro Firehouse. It was the one and only time I used a punch card (an experience I would remember come 2000.)</span><br />
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<span style="color: black;">In 1992, our friend and neighbor, Sam Graves, tossed his hat in the ring for State Representative. Lucky for me, I got a t-shirt and a job walking door to door in Sam’s soon to be district. We canvassed places like Hopkins, Maryville, Fairfax and other towns that summer. I loved that job… and still have the t-shirt.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black;">Over the next few years, I declared a major in Political Science and became a career intern, working for state lobbying organizations to elected officials. I had some wonderful experiences working with and for some of the most talented individuals I’ve ever met.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black;">Today, I’m thankful for my small glimpse into the world that is American politics, but I’m even more grateful for the last few years when I’ve had the opportunity to work hand in hand with our locally elected officials and leaders. </span><br />
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<span style="color: black;">While I esteem all of our elected officials and admire greatly many who take up our cause on the national scene, I have a special appreciation for those who take on the heroic challenges of school board, county commission, judge, prosecuting attorney, county offices, city council, sheriff or any position of leadership in the community where they live. </span><br />
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<span style="color: black;">In this small pond, politics is intensely personal. Our officials take the criticism face to face instead of on network television. They hear the late night phone calls about gravel on roads, the neighbor’s dog or the 7th grade teacher. They balance budgets when there just doesn’t seem to be enough. They debate what is so important to all of us in hospital conference rooms, fair board rooms or church offices instead of stadiums with red and white balloons and script writers. When something goes wrong, they don’t blame the other party. They feel the disappointment keenly when it impacts their son or daughter, their home or their church.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black;">I want to thank them this election season, for having the courage to fight each day for a stronger, better and safer community, with little pay, little thanks and sometimes little results. I thank you for what your sacrifice of today means for my children tomorrow.</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVxbuOqchn2rePAxgN4KYhas8d9gQVFVyZ7dZMe1ZYeHA8jn4rMzOunbMmG0EsPSC2s63vS0roIvMjr_LXLF_XHjTAIhoRbqMDS1szFdZT5kqi7eeCeMRNWzgIvuoxRTdu1dMlaenpvZA/s1600/Courthouse.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVxbuOqchn2rePAxgN4KYhas8d9gQVFVyZ7dZMe1ZYeHA8jn4rMzOunbMmG0EsPSC2s63vS0roIvMjr_LXLF_XHjTAIhoRbqMDS1szFdZT5kqi7eeCeMRNWzgIvuoxRTdu1dMlaenpvZA/s320/Courthouse.jpg" width="320" /></span></a><br /><span style="color: black;">I have confidence that change, while painstakingly slow, is possible. The fruits of your labor are visible. Relationships matter. In our community, good leaders can be tremendously effective. Good decisions can have great impact.<br /><br />Stay encouraged. Your work matters here.</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVxbuOqchn2rePAxgN4KYhas8d9gQVFVyZ7dZMe1ZYeHA8jn4rMzOunbMmG0EsPSC2s63vS0roIvMjr_LXLF_XHjTAIhoRbqMDS1szFdZT5kqi7eeCeMRNWzgIvuoxRTdu1dMlaenpvZA/s1600/Courthouse.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>Monicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03403865492728841124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4967015572008175057.post-54037347903301659872012-08-24T08:59:00.000-05:002012-08-24T09:01:29.617-05:00What I Want To Be When I Grow Up<div style="color: black; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><i>This week's guest blogger is Shelby (Fisher) Hurst, a proud native of Fairfax, wife, teacher, and momma-to-be. If you don't know Shelby, you just have to read this and you'll be delighted she chose to come back home!</i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIsAekkDbVMg9z7Jqa3LH0GzTZwZSQzL28xqOqg8niI5aN8UY9MX0vNArSz1mdfjvMZHn36WoO7wkv0_8BC8NCni-CeS1tKQGkRVeyBgzlGWNLjBj0tzfcmoXpmUmaz5Ws52XMs5BxmoE/s1600/shelby2.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIsAekkDbVMg9z7Jqa3LH0GzTZwZSQzL28xqOqg8niI5aN8UY9MX0vNArSz1mdfjvMZHn36WoO7wkv0_8BC8NCni-CeS1tKQGkRVeyBgzlGWNLjBj0tzfcmoXpmUmaz5Ws52XMs5BxmoE/s320/shelby2.jpg" width="213" /></a>I never went through the phases of wanting to be different things when I grew up, like a princess, a doctor, or a fire fighter. There was only one thing I wanted to be and that was a teacher. I would play school and I never was just “a teacher”, I was a teacher at Fairfax R3. When asked what I wanted to do when I grew up I would proudly state “I want to come back and be a teacher here.” </div>
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When I met my husband, a Tarkio Indian, he thought my love of Fairfax was endearing. I was finishing my last year at Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville, Missouri. I had plans of moving home after I completed the year and student teaching in Atchison County, first pick being my hometown. I had been a substitute teacher in the district for two years and my love of the school and its bright staff only grew. </div>
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I was excited and nervous when I found out that I would be student teaching at grand old Fairfax, for first and third grade. I got to know the students, new faculty, and community in a way I never had before, through the eyes of an educator. Every morning I would report to the school, taking on as many responsibilities as I could to get the full effect. </div>
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In December of 2011 I graduated with a degree in Elementary Education and a minor in Early Childhood. I also got married on New Years Eve to Brett, the same man who was learning just how passionate I was about my little town. (I think he sometimes questioned which I loved more, him or Fairfax.) </div>
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I started working at Tarkio Elementary in January as a Teacher’s Aide. Soon my husband and I found out we were expecting! I thought of all the struggles a first year teacher wades through and worried about juggling it with being a first time mother. My husband and I prayed about it and decided if I was going to work God would have to put my dream job in my hands, otherwise I’d be taking a year off as a teacher and on as a full time mommy.</div>
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Time went by and it looked like I would be filling my days with diapers and feedings, instead of math lessons and grading. However, in June I was surprised to find out that Fairfax had a job opening for fifth grade. This was the opportunity my family had been praying for, a way to be at the school I cherished. The only question was whether this was God giving me a ‘green’ light. My husband and I decided I needed to take the jump. So I jumped and was hired as Fairfax R3 fifth grade teacher. A bulldog once more!</div>
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My summer quickly went from baby preparations to classroom preparations. I started tackling my classroom, lesson plans, and all the duties that started filling my days as a teacher. On August 13th I had my first day with all the other teachers. I became a sponge for their knowledge. </div>
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<span style="color: black;">Before I knew it, the first day of school was here! As the students filed into our classroom I began my first day as a real Fairfax R3 teacher. What a day it was! The first three half days flew by in a blur of classroom expectations, getting to know you activities, and birthdays (there were three in the first week!). As I left that Friday night to head to the park for the Fairfax Fair I couldn’t believe how blessed I was to be starting on the journey I’d dreamed of since I was a little girl; a journey I would get to travel for thirty years. However, I guess this journey started the first time someone asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. A journey that will go hand in hand with raising a new little bulldog!</span><br />
<br style="color: black;" />Monicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03403865492728841124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4967015572008175057.post-3988322480761191472012-08-17T12:56:00.000-05:002012-08-17T12:56:27.187-05:00A Day in the Life of a Happy Atchison Countian<ul style="color: black;">
<li>7 a.m.: Fall out of bed, not entirely happily. UNLESS it is like one of our recent gift days where I walk outside and say, AHHHHHH.</li>
<li>7:30 a.m.: Feed kitties, who come running from various fields nearby when they hear the food hit the tin.</li>
<li>8:00 a.m.: Depart for the office. Drive 35-40 mph all the way to town just because I can. Examine crops during leisurely drive. Wave to cows. Watch hopefully for a farm implement. Dodge a deer on Route B, something that’s possible when traveling at such Sunday Drive speeds. Relish the fact that I am the only person on the road. Check out lunch special on board outside of Food Country, checking specifically for inadvertently humorous phraseology or something baby in belly might be interested in that day.</li>
<li>8:30 a.m.: Arrive at office. Good Morning to Cara. Check email. Read Jerry Baker’s Thought of the Day. Delete junk. Check task list. Get to work.</li>
<li>10:30 a.m.: Meet with the ever-kind Representative Thomson (aka Mike) to gain outsider-perspective on our primary interstate exit (improving this is a current personal mission). </li>
<li>12:00 p.m.: Listen for bizarro siren-honk noise Dad’s cop truck makes when he announces his arrival at back door. Head to Subway, where vegetable gal gives me extra pickles (she has quickly assessed that I need them). Porta-picnic commences. Ride around the county for a while, check out progress on wholesale water project, learn lots of random County tidbits. </li>
<li>1:00 p.m.: Back to work. Try to decide which task (if any) can actually be checked off list. Research communities that do a great job of attracting their youth back home (another personal mission). Try not to become overwhelmed by number of personal missions.</li>
<li>2:30 p.m.: Fun lady shows up who wants to start a nonprofit in the county. Provide every bit of information that might possibly be helpful. Feel hopeful and happy as I do every time folks are excited to get something started here.</li>
<li>3:00 p.m.: Zip out to McD’s for the occasional small latte (don’t judge, I add extra milk and it’s the only caffeine Jack ever gets) and make the difficult decision NOT to order apple pie (which Jack and I both really, really want). Back to office.</li>
<li>4:45 p.m.: Head home via Tarkio, gotta go to Flower Mill to make copies of some photos and see what apple candles I can find. Have lovely chats with Betsy and Mary Ann. Appreciate that we have such a store in the county…and, more importantly, that we have Mary Anns and Betsys in the county.</li>
<li>5:15 p.m.: Stop by Mom’s on the way up Main Street to see if anything exciting is going on there. Talk baby stuff. Show her some short people pics on Facebook. No night meeting tonight (yay!!), head home to hubby.</li>
<li>5:45 p.m.: Arrive home after traveling amongst corn and bean fields and feel almost overwhelmed (as I do most days) that I get to live in this big old beautiful farmhouse. Greeted by kitties and hubby.</li>
<li>6:15 p.m.: Eat something totally uninspired. BUT enjoy some garden-fresh tomatoes on the side (delivered to our door by nice gardner-landlord). Nothing better than a tomato grown around here.</li>
<li>6:45 p.m.: Haven’t taken a belly shot for a while, so head outside to take care of this task. Stand in the yard, looking around…thankful, thankful, thankful.</li>
<li>7:15 p.m.: Hubby and I sit in our dueling recliners. He flips channels, I write out a couple of cards. Kicked back, Jack starts his mostly-nightly show of ricocheting all around my stomach. We giggle and grin and bask in the awesomeness of this moment that never, ever gets old.</li>
<li>9:30 p.m.: Head to bed, knowing that I’ll be up 3-400 times in the night so might as well crash early. Listen to the sounds of the country…coyotes, the whoosh-whoosh of the turbine blades across the road, and the otherwise quiet of the night. Reflect on the day, hoping I contributed something to this place I love so much, pray for an opportunity to make life a little better here tomorrow.</li>
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<br />Monicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03403865492728841124noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4967015572008175057.post-71539089473526470012012-08-08T15:39:00.000-05:002012-08-08T15:39:11.797-05:00Your Summer Checklist<div style="color: black;">
It’s natural to want to escape in the summer. Kids are out of school. Work is (sometimes!) a little slower. Days are longer. All these things conspire to create a need to GO, to get away for a while. Many of us have our go-to vacation spots…Colorado mountains, Lake of the Ozarks, weekend getaways to St. Louis or KC. Escapes are good. They give us a little recharge and make us ready and willing and able to come back to this place we love and dig in again.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxWrMj1KUHC62qZdAMqE8rroK8h3mqfuDKIKu_RT5b2cv43jDT7poSAqCaaLiJboumUHaUsErLTmiMHj8XrCRNOIkEHoZEyZwc09TLkjg5ZNMgV9lg3UtY0rjpVJCVqn47vSuoydgOo2c/s1600/icecream.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxWrMj1KUHC62qZdAMqE8rroK8h3mqfuDKIKu_RT5b2cv43jDT7poSAqCaaLiJboumUHaUsErLTmiMHj8XrCRNOIkEHoZEyZwc09TLkjg5ZNMgV9lg3UtY0rjpVJCVqn47vSuoydgOo2c/s200/icecream.jpg" width="200" /></a>The flip side of vacationitis is that we can so easily overlook the little outings available right in our own backyard. Admittedly, I should have started this little checklist discussion EARLIER in the summer when there was more time to take advantage of some of these opportunities…but for those of you with short people heading back to school next week, maybe this weekend can be one last hurrah of awesome. How many of these can you get done before summer’s end? Ready, Set, GO!!! </div>
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<li>Ice Cream! Grab a treat from the Dairy Diner in Fairfax.</li>
<li>Too hot to play outside? Head to one of the three library branches for FREE DVDs/books/magazines and camp out in your living room!</li>
<li>Play a round at Rock Port Country Club or Tarkio Golf Club</li>
<li>Head out to Charity Lake for a walk or some fishing</li>
<li>Cool off with some inside fun at River Rock Lanes</li>
<li>Don’t turn on your oven - take your girl or guy or kiddos out for a burger at Black Iron Grill or Mule Barn Café</li>
<li>Check out the shiny new tennis courts in Tarkio</li>
<li>Hit the pool in Tarkio or Rock Port</li>
<li>Hide inside with some dessert from the Daybreak Café or Rock Port Café or KJ’s</li>
<li>Slide, swing or play at any of our lovely city parks; if you’re in Tarkio, pick up some fried chicken from Torrey Pines and make a picnic out of it </li>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxWrMj1KUHC62qZdAMqE8rroK8h3mqfuDKIKu_RT5b2cv43jDT7poSAqCaaLiJboumUHaUsErLTmiMHj8XrCRNOIkEHoZEyZwc09TLkjg5ZNMgV9lg3UtY0rjpVJCVqn47vSuoydgOo2c/s1600/icecream.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><span style="color: black;">What’s on your list? What have I missed???</span><br />
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~MMBMonicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03403865492728841124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4967015572008175057.post-40469628955414999552012-08-02T10:36:00.000-05:002012-08-02T10:36:22.416-05:00It's Fair Time!<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><i>This week's guest blogger is Afton Demott, an Atchison County native and current president of the AC Fair Board. A 2005 graduate of Rock Port High and a 2008 graduate of NWMSU, Afton is the Executive Secretary/CSR at Atchison-Holt Electric and Secretary of University Extension Council...AND, she's getting married to a fellow AC native (Chad Schomburg) September 1! Many thanks to this awesome lady for taking time during this crazy fair week to blog for us! For information on the Fair, check out the schedule in this week's paper or call the UM Extension office at 744-6231! </i></span></div>
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It is here…Fair week! It is a time for many Atchison County families to show off what they have been working on. These families have dedicated countless hours of hard work into their prize projects. The Atchison County fair is not just for the average farmer, it is a family affair for all ages to partake in. <br />
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I remember how waking up early every morning during fair week was so exciting! The chores, washing of the animals, grooming…I couldn’t wait! I had a routine down after the first few years. Feed, wash, and get ready for show. When the hog show day rolled around the nerves hit. I would tell myself “It’s ok, I got this.” Walking into the show ring I was now showing everyone what I had been working on since April. I smiled at the judge and presented my hog for him to judge. Keeping good eye contact I walked around the ring with pride. The ring men help pen the hogs and split up the ones that like to fight. Thank goodness we have such great volunteers to help. No matter how good or bad I ended up in each class I held my head high because I was proud of my project. <br /><br />
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The cattle show entitles much more work. The nerves really hit on this day. I wanted to do well and showmanship was what I wanted to win more than anything. After feeding, I would wash my steer, blow him dry and start working with his hair. All summer I had been rinsing him every morning, noon and evening to get good hair. Hair on cattle can be what makes or breaks the animal. I would spray all the necessary accessories on and brush them in and blow them in with the dryer. Making some last minute touches with the clippers and scissors, I changed halters and headed for the ring with my show stick. Eekkk!!! I could not wait to show my steer off. Entering the ring I made eye contact with the judge as I walked my steer into position. Using the show stick to set his feet, I watched everyone else enter. After circling the ring he placed the class and we exited accordingly. After all the classes and champion driver are over, it is the showmanship classes. Sometimes the judge will make you switch animals with another exhibitor. I took pride in the showmanship classes, winning 3 years in a row. Getting money and trophies are great, but we need to remember to thank these sponsors who willingly donate money to the fair. Thank you notes are VERY important to write to the sponsors to let them know you appreciate them and what they have sponsored.<br /><br />
State Fair is another time when the county exhibitors get together and put up a county display. We all come together and split the costs of the materials to have a nice display and let everyone know we are from Atchison County. State fair is so much fun because you get to know the other exhibitors better and spend quality time with them. We all help each other wash and get to the barns and tie outs. Getting to know others in the county is huge and it helps out in the long run.<br /><br />
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Living in such a great county we have numerous volunteers. Without all of you who volunteer your time, the fair would be hurting. Volunteering and sponsoring are two wonderful things this county is amazing at. Sponsorships not only benefit the Atchison County Fair. They also benefit the youth of the county and show them what this county can really do. The people that volunteer their time as superintendants of the species for the show are truly appreciated, as are the ring men. They keep the events running smoothly and if an animal gets away from an exhibitor they are Johnny on the spot! The ladies that enter the horticulture and fine arts exhibits spend a lot of their time volunteering throughout the days of the fair. And the list goes on.<br /><br />
As far as the volunteers and sponsors, I believe Atchison County has by far the best! The willingness our county has to want to help others is AWESOME! You don’t find people everyday like the people of Atchison County. We also have the best sportsmanship when it comes to the show ring, congratulating other exhibitors on their win. <br /><br />
The events that the Atchison County Fair offers are for a variety of ages: greased pig contest, Pedal Tractor Pull, Muttin Bustin, Pie Baking Contest, Parade and the livestock shows of course! You can participate or come be a spectator, all are welcome! Come out and give the people of Atchison County a hand! <br />Monicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03403865492728841124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4967015572008175057.post-48861675000910370012012-07-27T09:58:00.000-05:002012-07-27T09:58:20.185-05:00Sweet Summertime<br />
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<span style="background-color: white;">I remember well the summer of 1988. I was 8. It was hot,
dry and brown. I would ride my bike through the orchard over cracks in the
parched earth that were several inches wide. </span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">Severe drought conditions caused our well too
much stress to do laundry at home. A once a week trip to the laundry mat meant
a morning at the library for my sister and I. While aware of the conditions
around me, what I remember most about that summer are the long, hot afternoons
curled up in our bedroom lost in the pages of the latest Newbery Award Winner.</span></div>
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It’s another hot, dry summer. Although we have all tried
to stay positive, it is hard to be upbeat in these conditions. Even our blog
has suffered. I just can’t get excited about anything when its 102 degrees, the
crops are dying and my electricity bill is nearing a record high. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrC2kjvzkDTi4egGQhxdWjNQ8VusK4H1C_a_dn0XPmOJCZW3MiedOtO25U5Wy8Ete3TGVEFbD7U61rsUXSeSm7otb_VkpW6QgEBbuRak-pP_-2ZGanhdTXXShqaAB29_vEU2tU-gYEP7I/s1600/IMG_20120725_224626.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrC2kjvzkDTi4egGQhxdWjNQ8VusK4H1C_a_dn0XPmOJCZW3MiedOtO25U5Wy8Ete3TGVEFbD7U61rsUXSeSm7otb_VkpW6QgEBbuRak-pP_-2ZGanhdTXXShqaAB29_vEU2tU-gYEP7I/s320/IMG_20120725_224626.jpg" width="320" /></a>Thankfully, I live with an 8 year old. And this boy knows
how to do summer living: Baseball games (they didn’t win one, but you wouldn’t
know that by talking to Aaron), 4 different Bible Schools,4-H camp, 2 weeks of swimming
lessons, 5 4-H pigs and a debut as Louis at the Liberty Theater’s King and I.</div>
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Even in these conditions, I do find something of which to
be grateful. Being part of a farm community where so many livelihoods are dependent
on the whims of the weather makes for a well rounded childhood. At 8 years old
in 1988 I was keenly aware of the ever present worry and whispered prayers for
rain just as Aaron is. I can remember dancing in the rain when it finally came
late in August. Here, among the acres of corn and beans, it is impossible to
protect our children from the reality that times do get tough, tightening your
belt is prudent and wise and that we don’t always have control over the
circumstances that impact our lives.</div>
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But the beauty of summer living in Atchison County, is
that when you are 8 and life give you lemons….well you learn the finer points hog
farming, get bragging rights for numbers of ticks at 4-H camp and spend the evenings practicing
Rogers and Hammerstein.</div>
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Summer living is still good living here at my house even
when its 102 degrees. </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16778094969299154133noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4967015572008175057.post-31878515311718550622012-06-28T14:24:00.000-05:002012-06-28T14:27:03.830-05:00It's Our Anniversary!<div style="color: black;">
This month we celebrate a year of this blog, a year of recognizing everything good right outside our door. If you’re a new reader, please take the time to look back through older posts – I promise it will bring a smile to your soul.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQrYGj1yPgK9o192xITim8ZSvMcH1ZW-OzaLnc5X0A7AmjHwng3OWR4wgZ2Ua0TqfRAHALSsIg3o_WIswhADFEdJA2Fu6P51E039C-RtvoKwtQEHDED4LzuvZFjTvbUJhEeoLLdc4dWGc/s1600/1yrblog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="122" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQrYGj1yPgK9o192xITim8ZSvMcH1ZW-OzaLnc5X0A7AmjHwng3OWR4wgZ2Ua0TqfRAHALSsIg3o_WIswhADFEdJA2Fu6P51E039C-RtvoKwtQEHDED4LzuvZFjTvbUJhEeoLLdc4dWGc/s200/1yrblog.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="color: black;">Ann and I have been kicking around the idea of a ‘Best of’ Blog as we acknowledge our anniversary. The trouble is, we know and love every one of these contributors, and we love their stories. How do you choose the top 10 from such a fantastic list? In the end, we couldn’t. We did decide to highlight a few, just in case you missed them…</span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="color: black;">A Top 10 list of AC awesomeness… </span><a href="http://anewconversationinruralamerica.blogspot.com/2011/06/top-10-reasons-i-love-atchison-county.html">http://anewconversationinruralamerica.blogspot.com/2011/06/top-10-reasons-i-love-atchison-county.html</a></li>
<li><span style="color: black;">A sparkling review of Fourth of July in Rock Port, but more importantly, a review of life lived in this place where people have your back… </span><a href="http://anewconversationinruralamerica.blogspot.com/2011/07/lil-firecrackers-and-lil-blue-jays.html">http://anewconversationinruralamerica.blogspot.com/2011/07/lil-firecrackers-and-lil-blue-jays.html</a></li>
<li><span style="color: black;">A dad’s story of coaching his son’s baseball team… </span><a href="http://anewconversationinruralamerica.blogspot.com/2011/07/baseball-and-bathroom-breaks.html">http://anewconversationinruralamerica.blogspot.com/2011/07/baseball-and-bathroom-breaks.html</a></li>
<li><span style="color: black;">The Fairfax Fair, and a ‘mixed’ marriage… </span><a href="http://anewconversationinruralamerica.blogspot.com/2011/08/east-coast-boy-fairfax-fair.html">http://anewconversationinruralamerica.blogspot.com/2011/08/east-coast-boy-fairfax-fair.html</a> </li>
<li><span style="color: black;">Friday Night Lights, Atchison County style… </span><a href="http://anewconversationinruralamerica.blogspot.com/2011/09/friday-night-lights.html">http://anewconversationinruralamerica.blogspot.com/2011/09/friday-night-lights.html</a></li>
<li><span style="color: black;">The women before us, what an excellent heritage we have… </span><a href="http://anewconversationinruralamerica.blogspot.com/2011/09/woman-before-me.html">http://anewconversationinruralamerica.blogspot.com/2011/09/woman-before-me.html</a> </li>
<li><span style="color: black;">A tale of customer service: the story of one of the many ‘good eggs’ we are blessed and honored to call our own... </span><a href="http://anewconversationinruralamerica.blogspot.com/2011/10/customer-service-summa-pharmacy-style.html">http://anewconversationinruralamerica.blogspot.com/2011/10/customer-service-summa-pharmacy-style.html</a> </li>
<li><span style="color: black;">A history of our wonderful county hospital... </span><a href="http://anewconversationinruralamerica.blogspot.com/2011/12/part-2-of-2-band-aids-babies-and.html">http://anewconversationinruralamerica.blogspot.com/2011/12/part-2-of-2-band-aids-babies-and.html</a></li>
<li><span style="color: black;">Who needs Taco Bell when you have friendliness, families and farms? </span><a href="http://anewconversationinruralamerica.blogspot.com/2012/03/no-taco-bell-or-target-but.html">http://anewconversationinruralamerica.blogspot.com/2012/03/no-taco-bell-or-target-but.html</a> </li>
<li><span style="color: black;">There’s no logic or bias behind this inclusion…this story is just about my incredible Mom... </span><a href="http://anewconversationinruralamerica.blogspot.com/2012/04/kind-of-gal-you-want-to-thank.html">http://anewconversationinruralamerica.blogspot.com/2012/04/kind-of-gal-you-want-to-thank.html</a></li>
</ul>
<div style="color: black;">
<br />
There are many, many more excellent posts and stories on our blog, and we hope you’ll take the time to check them out, if you haven’t yet. We know we’ve only scratched the surface so far and we can’t wait to hear what others have to say about why they love Atchison County so much. It is truly a wonderful place to live, and if you aren’t lucky enough to call this your home, at least you get to live here vicariously through this little, joy-filled blog.</div>
<br />Monicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03403865492728841124noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4967015572008175057.post-66250964516851835452012-06-14T13:56:00.000-05:002012-06-14T18:43:46.710-05:00A Year Later<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">A year ago Memorial Day weekend I stood outside my parents’
house and listened to Dad tell us a flood was coming, and it was going to be
huge, bigger than anything in our recent history. I was here for the Flood of ’93, but other
than knowing that my new-Sheriff-Dad was dealing with crazy hours and stress,
my 15-year-old self wasn’t tremendously affected. Last year, I heard Dad’s words but didn’t fully
comprehend what it would mean to our county and our region.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirPenUlBAE8RIE9Mow73H3vBkSw3ZTiPVrqG1Av9CKqJ9eBY6Xap7NXQBJs87u-TuDXSSU6ebU-7CeJzMcw10R6inyQoqTZxtsrGjs-2526bLYKgkb8d7KyeahfIWFEvZq_GGcs3bxWzw/s1600/shelton+fireworks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirPenUlBAE8RIE9Mow73H3vBkSw3ZTiPVrqG1Av9CKqJ9eBY6Xap7NXQBJs87u-TuDXSSU6ebU-7CeJzMcw10R6inyQoqTZxtsrGjs-2526bLYKgkb8d7KyeahfIWFEvZq_GGcs3bxWzw/s400/shelton+fireworks.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I-29, Shelton Fireworks - Looking West from Bluffs - June 27, 2011</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwZJoPbE3TLrzsjRV1Xq7e-drkH77RKZKhFkqPyppnLNek4iJEouYh7vdY7LJelVVHALXApFinhTxB9BEJB07CpVwweHh7JfaWvoUNUf5xEHe0VCeWTrrcYQO7R4o35q7T6t0-s_ep9r8/s1600/looking+toward+campground.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwZJoPbE3TLrzsjRV1Xq7e-drkH77RKZKhFkqPyppnLNek4iJEouYh7vdY7LJelVVHALXApFinhTxB9BEJB07CpVwweHh7JfaWvoUNUf5xEHe0VCeWTrrcYQO7R4o35q7T6t0-s_ep9r8/s320/looking+toward+campground.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking West on Hwy 136 - June 27, 2011</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">It was indeed huge. We
were flooded in some instances for 4 months.
To the North, the Interstate was closed. Traffic was re-routed through
secondary highways, through towns that weren’t remotely prepared for that kind
of volume. To the West lies the Missouri
river, and obviously, there was no way to cross. Hosts of families living on this side of the
river had someone in their household who worked on the other side. Most stayed apart from their families through
the week and came home on weekends.
Others made the multiple-hour commute every day so that they could see
their kids. Families who lived on the
bottoms were displaced for months.</span></div>
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<br /><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Last summer and early fall, all I felt was gloom and doom and
hopelessness. I sat in shocked sadness,
watching all that cropland sit underwater.
I saw businesses lay off employees and leave. I would look through my office’s ‘all about
Atchison County’ website, and I kept landing on the page where we brag about
everything we have access to (barge, interstate, rail, nearby airports) that
were essentially eliminated during the flood. I was
worried about what we would look like on the other side of this thing…whenever
that happened.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;">
<br /><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Then, little by little, week by week, things started to
change. The importance of our existing
local businesses became even more important.
My office did a little “Shop Local, we’re all in this together!”
campaign, something that we created because we were desperate to do something, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">anything</i>, to help. I don’t know if it made a huge difference in
sales taxes or not, but it was a reminder sign in the newspapers and in stores
all over the county we are responsible for our communities and for supporting
each other. </span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="color: black; float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3MYEjrcbTr7UYNG7XXKOMrI5M25PjAn2JUvd4N7mm2gJTu6AZanmBxwJjl1xi5mq-fPTuiC_dPnqekfe6vicaCQpIKyua62aAA9QQLu6cgjAMDiKftVYqdjRHt51JDl1mWiCg-P76IVw/s1600/flood-2012-fireworks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3MYEjrcbTr7UYNG7XXKOMrI5M25PjAn2JUvd4N7mm2gJTu6AZanmBxwJjl1xi5mq-fPTuiC_dPnqekfe6vicaCQpIKyua62aAA9QQLu6cgjAMDiKftVYqdjRHt51JDl1mWiCg-P76IVw/s400/flood-2012-fireworks.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I-29, Shelton Fireworks - Looking West from Bluffs - June 14, 2012</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Roads opened up and repairs began. Construction on our levees and roads brought
newcomers to our county who are still shopping, eating, and staying here. Since early this year, a massive wholesale
water construction project has been underway, bringing even more visitors and
workers here.</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="color: black; float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy33tGkrF3Q47rBaiHccxWLRyBp_jBRBXVHfxmDgV1PqAUG1w-UhkMgUjfrtWb6sIYWQPBaCK9FPycnzH_UnDOxwMtI4IT_Mtv5HQ0MM3XWTOIC2rXzOnsNjJISxXoATQE2IWRGwmoPkI/s1600/flood-2012-45.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy33tGkrF3Q47rBaiHccxWLRyBp_jBRBXVHfxmDgV1PqAUG1w-UhkMgUjfrtWb6sIYWQPBaCK9FPycnzH_UnDOxwMtI4IT_Mtv5HQ0MM3XWTOIC2rXzOnsNjJISxXoATQE2IWRGwmoPkI/s320/flood-2012-45.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking West on Hwy 136 - June 14, 2012</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Businesses that had temporarily closed have reopened and
others have been able to bring their regular numbers of employees back on
board. Most all of our businesses were
able to persevere, and while last year will not go down in the books as an easy
or profitable one, they made it. A few,
like the campground, have not reopened yet due to the severity of the damage,
but they are now starting their long road of recovery.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;">
<br /><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">A year later, there’s good news to be found if you look
around. The vast majority of families
who were displaced during the flood chose to relocate elsewhere in the
county. The mild winter we experienced
allowed road and levee repairs to start much sooner than anticipated. While some farmers continue to deal with significant
sand issues on their land, many have planted and are back in their fields. The tax base has held, far better than I
anticipated. And regardless of how
people feel about the Corps, they have done a tremendous job restoring our
levees.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;">
<br /><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The bottom line in all this is, we ‘made it’ this far largely
because of the kind of people we are here.
We pull together in catastrophe.
We help our neighbors. We work
together to get things done. I’ve said
it before and I’ll surely say it again, but in good times and in bad, I am so
proud to be a part of this county and these people. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">~MMB </span></div>Monicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03403865492728841124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4967015572008175057.post-72878532508830941152012-06-08T07:04:00.000-05:002012-06-08T10:07:08.979-05:00Shall we Dance?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6wtneBsVbMqn36VEAhBqeCjOWabYE2FYa1CfoSIuSfxkCYUqnU1EBjwMjfJ2vK83dZBQ9OGOcNGhih8Xtub2jT-NNoEOuAFU1x-3upl1y5SLP0_RRWPuthwjGsHeiaeWRzUMsNUL8ThE/s1600/38061_1584540056249_3573434_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6wtneBsVbMqn36VEAhBqeCjOWabYE2FYa1CfoSIuSfxkCYUqnU1EBjwMjfJ2vK83dZBQ9OGOcNGhih8Xtub2jT-NNoEOuAFU1x-3upl1y5SLP0_RRWPuthwjGsHeiaeWRzUMsNUL8ThE/s400/38061_1584540056249_3573434_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>This week's post comes from Debbie Johnson, Lynn Hunter and Donovan Jones....3 of Atchison County's very talented musicians/actors/directors. I have had the pleasure of being a part of two productions at the Liberty Theater in the pit orchestra and I've missed very few of the musical productions. Each time I set foot in the theater, it is a very rewarding experience. Thank you to the Liberty Theater Group for all you contribute to our community!</i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Though some may think life in a small community means seclusion from the finer things in life, life in Atchison County is not so. With the establishment of the Atchison County Memorial Building/Liberty Theatre, there has been an awareness brought back to life for the fine arts. </span></div>
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</div>
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span>Since 2004, with the opening production, "The Sound of Music", hundreds of thespians and lovers of the theatre have volunteered their time and talents in an effort to provide live entertainment for Northwest Missouri. Some of these wonderful shows include: "The Wizard of Oz", "The Odd Couple", "Little Shop of Horrors", "Forever Plaid", "Always, Patsy Cline", "Polterheist!", and "Thoroughly Modern Millie", just to name a few. Through the comedies, dramas, mystery dinner theatres, choral groups, and classic musicals, many a smile has left the theatre with a yearning to return at each upcoming event.</span></div>
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</span><br />
<div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuWyroKpqOpicjBzFhEhYkP9jolf4g5btFJyhqVgadnoxtBtFefhg7rcJoqSM8CA55zWqziMPQeYxcyVeuWVKJZDcjR9NkOERxU99pPbuliImP1EaYcW4lMl6PEKVnxlUoOagtRQ2HpvM/s1600/39884_426077687892_500242892_5047045_7121415_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuWyroKpqOpicjBzFhEhYkP9jolf4g5btFJyhqVgadnoxtBtFefhg7rcJoqSM8CA55zWqziMPQeYxcyVeuWVKJZDcjR9NkOERxU99pPbuliImP1EaYcW4lMl6PEKVnxlUoOagtRQ2HpvM/s320/39884_426077687892_500242892_5047045_7121415_n.jpg" width="320" /></a> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span> This years Summer musical, "The King and I" by Rodgers and Hammerstein, will exemplify the talent within our portion of the state once again. With actors ranging in age from four to sixty-four, this show will be enjoyed by all ages. Some of the popular songs from this musical include: "Getting to Know You", "Whistle a Happy Tune", and the infamous "Shall We Dance?". While Anna and the King fall into a deep romance, the love between Lun Tha and Tuptim is intercepted by the powers that be. The play-within-the-play, "Uncle Tom's Cabin", brings new light to the Harriet Beecher Stow literary classic.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span>The theatre will be undergoing renovation beginning in the Fall of 2012. We, the Liberty Theatre Committee, hope that you will all join us the last weekend of July and first weekend in August for our final production this season. </span><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> </span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span>We hope you will decide to become an associate of the Liberty Theatre with one final sponsorship for this 2012 season. And for those who have already joined with a donation, A HUGE 'THANK YOU' TO EACH AND EVERYONE OF YOU! You may contact any of us if you have questions.</span><br />
<div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />THE LIBERTY THEATRE COMMITTEE:Scott Deatz, Steve Hoffrogge, Lynn Hunter, Malisa Linthicum, Debra Wyatt, Deb Johnson, Jan Carpenter, <span class="il" style="background-color: #ffffcc;">Donovan</span> Jones, Annie Schmerber, Debbie Martin</span></div>
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<div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222;">
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16778094969299154133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4967015572008175057.post-63408541445335521272012-05-29T16:29:00.000-05:002012-05-29T16:29:33.003-05:00On Citizenship...<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="240" src="http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/534458_3619540119920_1016404546_3266844_1593375994_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I stole this from Lori Seymour's Facebook. Ain't it great!<br /><br /><h2>
<b>On Citizenship</b></h2>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: left;">
Sorry blog readers for being a sporadic poster. I told
Monica that I have to wait for inspiration. Well, I finally found some here: <a href="http://www.moberlymonitor.com/news/x639954360/Supreme-Court-Judge-addresses-Pachyderms">http://www.moberlymonitor.com/news/x639954360/Supreme-Court-Judge-addresses-Pachyderms</a> </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: left;">
This article started me thinking about what these men,
and the many others who call our community home, had in common. A great
upbringing, a solid education, work ethic and a belief in something greater
than themselves was what I surmised. Mostly, though I think they are great
citizens. They keenly feel the burden to GIVE of their talents, time and energy
back in the same measure that they have received. What they have achieved is
impressive, what they will give is more important.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: left;">
Fitting to ponder on Memorial Day, I began to examine
what it means to be a citizen in Atchison County. I became very thankful that
opportunities for citizenship abound in my community. No doubt
your own schedules are full of volunteering at the library, teaching Bible
School, driving your elderly neighbor to the doctor or attending the Kiwanis
club meetings. I challenge you to continue these activities and not shy away
from the next signup sheet. As this community and great country has afforded
you the opportunity to have a healthy childhood, receive a great education, worship freely, raise your family as you wish and live
well….<b>give back, give back, give back. </b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: left;">
When my children run wild during the next Tarkio Renewal
meeting or get “bored” as we organize the next church or baseball activity, I
will remember that my purpose is two-fold…I will <b>BE</b> a good citizen and <b>RAISE</b>
good citizens too. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: left;">
<i>Matthew 10:8 Freely
you have received, freely give.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16778094969299154133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4967015572008175057.post-6253596770406449832012-05-10T12:49:00.000-05:002012-05-10T12:49:34.081-05:00What a Great Mother's Day Gift-Graduation!<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span>Graduation falls on Mother’s day more often than not
here in Atchison County! For all the mothers (and fathers) who have a high
school graduate….it’s bittersweet.</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO8GL3NKxB56qWuNzfD3CjLG9uZLFtEHcYHK67dESg_uD3XObD2F7J64ly-lOqELkTleLqarFQO7mzRI_80x6XCNh3VsqmwFPg1xkaAcU29kWTSENC0Ew66rkwM-tzjm8K72Uu_rxXKg4/s1600/Marisa3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO8GL3NKxB56qWuNzfD3CjLG9uZLFtEHcYHK67dESg_uD3XObD2F7J64ly-lOqELkTleLqarFQO7mzRI_80x6XCNh3VsqmwFPg1xkaAcU29kWTSENC0Ew66rkwM-tzjm8K72Uu_rxXKg4/s320/Marisa3.JPG" width="228" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"><span>I am Marisa (Smith) Hedlund and this is my seventh
year as the Fairfax K-12 counselor. I was born at the Community Hospital, grew
up in Atchison County, graduated from Fairfax High School and from Missouri
State, and then moved with my husband Chris to Charlotte, North Carolina. After
10 years in North Carolina, my husband and I decided that Fairfax was the place
to be. Chris grew up in California, graduating with 300 compared to me
graduating with 20! We wanted to get out of the city and raise our growing
family in a rural area close to my parents and grandparents. Luckily, there was
a position for a guidance counselor open at FHS, and a family farmhouse
available. Sadly, I needed to go back to graduate school and the house needed a
major renovation! Thank goodness for my family that could help us out!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span>That was eight years ago and we are now more settled
in compared to our first year here in Atchison County! We have three children
that never cease to amaze us and never give us a break in all their activities!
Ian (9), Natalie (7) and Collin (5) have all the opportunities to be involved
in basketball, baseball, soccer, dance and gymnastics, but get to grow up in a
place where everyone knows their name and looks out for them! Am I worried
about them having these opportunities when they get in high school? Nope! I
know that they will be able to participate in almost everything our friends in
Kansas City or Charlotte are doing. And, our kids in Atchison County will be
able to be in multiple organizations, activities and sports. This helps to
create well-rounded individuals that will be more likely to be successful. I
know, because I consider myself one of those people who benefited from being
in EVERY sport and EVERY organization I could in school. </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7rtMX-kRUROzDKN7gA_x6pXYqeg5Wi6bTi1OM8fpcW3R9OMYJpi8bp0Mx2DPuh_MJNPj9hhmMhvQ_H60Y8Z2oaWBq-9QL0jSxqDARc1_u-WyLwoYvvvPWTUwm7WIdhOQ1QvD5ZTl8j5M/s1600/Marisa1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7rtMX-kRUROzDKN7gA_x6pXYqeg5Wi6bTi1OM8fpcW3R9OMYJpi8bp0Mx2DPuh_MJNPj9hhmMhvQ_H60Y8Z2oaWBq-9QL0jSxqDARc1_u-WyLwoYvvvPWTUwm7WIdhOQ1QvD5ZTl8j5M/s320/Marisa1.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"><span> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span>Our students who are graduating this week have, just
like me, been involved in everything. We have students who are in every sport,
both FCCLA and FHA (wow, I didn’t even do that) and every other organization we
offer. They also perform in band, swing choir and the school play, which they
had to spend countless after school hours practicing! Some even take
several college dual credit classes online to get a head start on their college
career. These kids are involved! Who says living in the country is boring?</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRJ-gU47yyQQ5MJ8Br2Uh8MAGkCbaF26kEv7ZKHhSiy1L65V6UtT3R13YUIdCaQHssif9rgj334Jbh1zZ2VlGnmkAyuR_XeH07JYbQuWN_15eoSl6WjNF9q1PRIg34pwKbcQIpnhsLHmI/s1600/Marisa2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRJ-gU47yyQQ5MJ8Br2Uh8MAGkCbaF26kEv7ZKHhSiy1L65V6UtT3R13YUIdCaQHssif9rgj334Jbh1zZ2VlGnmkAyuR_XeH07JYbQuWN_15eoSl6WjNF9q1PRIg34pwKbcQIpnhsLHmI/s320/Marisa2.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"><span>My fellow counselors, Shauna and Tracy, and I
are sending the graduates off to NWMSU, MU, MWSU, Peru, SECC and countless
other colleges to continue to be involved and make their place in the world! We
also have former students graduating from those colleges who will be our future
radiologists, physical therapists, electricians and teachers. I am so proud of
them and I wish them luck wherever they land. I know some of them never want to
get too far away from home and some of them need a chance to see the world,
leaving their friends and family in Atchison county behind. Someday, I hope
they will come back to our county, like me!</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>Monicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03403865492728841124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4967015572008175057.post-36042295796334439842012-05-03T13:31:00.000-05:002012-05-03T13:31:04.355-05:00Baby Cows, Prayer & Family<span style="color: black;">I’ve been trying to narrow this post down to one thing that makes me happy about living in Atchison County this week, but a) my focus is not so…focused this week, and b) why should I have to limit myself to one thing, I ask you!? So, in no particular order, today’s list of great things…</span><br style="color: black;" /><div style="color: black;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: black;">
• <u>Getting to live amongst the action of springtime in a farming area.</u> I’m sure I romanticize farming because I’ve never been the person who has to pull a calf in brutal weather or spray fields for endless hours at a time, but I love being around it. Frisky baby cows, monster machines sharing the road on my drive to work, perfect rows of gorgeous green all around…I love it all.<br /> </div>
<div style="color: black;">
• <u>National Day of Prayer.</u> This year I was able to participate in the service at the AC Memorial Building. It is truly humbling to gather together for the dual purpose of acknowledging our immense blessings in this country and lifting up our nation, schools, churches, families, government and media. It was overwhelming to consider that similar services were happening all over the country today. At the same time, the service felt very personal and community-focused, particularly when Paul Tiemeyer shared how the power of prayer has worked in his life since he was severely burned in a combine fire last fall. It was obvious from his story that this community and county supported him and his wife in an incredible way. (Have I mentioned lately that this place is awesome?) <br /> </div>
<div style="color: black;">
• <u>Impromptu family time.</u> The other day, Grammy showed up at my back door to take me to lunch. I regularly get to go on drive-around lunches with Dad. When I have time to kill before a meeting, I can stop by and see Mom and an endless variety of short people. I never take these little blessings for granted.<br /> </div>
<div style="color: black;">
• <u>I’m having a baby!</u> Ok, so the significance of this isn’t wholly attributed to the fact that I live where I live, BUT let me just tell you how fantastic it is to be in a place where soooo many people are genuinely ecstatic over this news. Fabulous Facebook feedback is overwhelming in its own right, but it’s the real life random bear hugs of joy thing that gets me: in the aisles and check-out line at Hy-Vee, at the Flower Mill, in the parking lot of Food Country, everywhere. On the one hand, living here while trying to keep a pregnancy quiet means you have to do sneaky-feeling things like tell your Board and random community members that you have the flu 3 weeks in a row (yeah-they really bought that!). But on the other hand, the bear hugs! I am thankful every day to be able to live in this place that raised me while experiencing this particular wonder.<br /> </div>
<div style="color: black;">
Enough of my rambling – tell me, fellow Atchison Countians, why are YOU happy to live here today?</div>
<div style="color: black;">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: black;">~MMB</span><br />Monicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03403865492728841124noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4967015572008175057.post-38409243632677736182012-04-25T22:27:00.000-05:002012-04-25T22:32:52.025-05:00The Kind of Gal You Want to Thank....<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/p480x480/541974_10150766228472893_500242892_9772721_2097636228_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="230" src="http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/p480x480/541974_10150766228472893_500242892_9772721_2097636228_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Tarkio Avalanche, Megan McAdams</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I remember the first day I dropped Aaron off at daycare. It was a rough morning when I walked away from those chubby cheeks and big brown eyes. My eyes filled with tears as I put the car in reverse and hit the gas. Suddenly my backward progress came to a screeching halt. My car had found a tree, newly planted, in Dennis and Phyllis' Martins front yard. My face, already streaked with tears was now red with embarrassment. I jumped out of the car, pushed the tree back into an upright position and hit the road. When composed, I called Phyllis to confess.<br />
<br />
I'll never know for sure, but I suspect Phyllis and Dennis might have been giggling inside. Of course, Dennis doesn't really giggle per say. He chuckles rather, the kind of laugh that puts you to laughing too.<br />
<br />
You see, Phyllis knows about new moms. She knows the tears will come. She knows most of us had other plans. Plans to stay home, make our kids lunch, walk them to the park and tuck them into our afternoon nap. As Phyllis knows, and many of you do too, those plans don't always come to fruition. Life happens and you realize that providing for your children may not mean play dates and morning cartoons, but instead means a career, a steady paycheck, insurance benefits and a warm and comfortable home to tuck them in at night. That first day, not only do you leave your baby, but you leave those plans behind. For many mommies, its the worst day of their new life as mothers.<br />
I know well the first day back from a blissful maternity leave. I've pulled out of Phyllis' driveway now three times over the last 8 years. While it has never been easy, I've left each time in the confidence that my children are safe and loved in a home that I know well.<br />
<br />
No interview was needed when we decided Phyllis would be our daycare provided. I guess you could say the interview had been conducted. The Martins door was always open when we were teenagers. It was prime territory on Friday and Saturday night, before basketball games and for Christmas movies during winter break. During those visits, the house was full of children many of whom are adults today. Phyllis managed it all....babies to teenagers...she showed each child love and patience and still managed to joke around with what I suspect were sometimes obnoxious crowd of Tarkio teens. When I called her for the first time to ask if Aaron could be "Phyllis kid" she said "Oh, I hoped that you would call." And I know she meant it.<br />
<br />
This last Monday, many of our Phyllis kids got the chance to say thank you by presenting Phyllis with the Tarkio Community Betterment Employee of the Year Award. For 25 years, she has run a business.... that's commendable in itself. But more than that, she's been there for many, many children when their parents could not. She has been an integral part in raising confident, well-behaved, respectful (and potty trained) children in Tarkio and her contribution to this community deserves recognition.<br />
<br />
I'm proud of my community for gathering each year and saying thank you to those that work so hard on its behalf. I'm grateful that I get to work each day to make this community a better place. I'm blessed that when I go to work each day, my children continue to receive the kind of love and care I wish I could be there to give them.<br />
<br />
So thanks Tarkio for being the kind of town that says thank you. And thanks Phyllis for being the kind of gal that we all want to thank.<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16778094969299154133noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4967015572008175057.post-44870577073319515342012-04-14T17:30:00.005-05:002012-04-14T17:50:53.997-05:00Heaven Can Wait...in the meantime, there's Tarkio!<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;" ><span style="font-style: italic;">Up this week is Casey Martin - high school teacher, drama enthusiast, Tiger and Indian alum, and patient resident in a house full of gorgeous girls. For those of you who are fans (and if you aren't, you should be!), the next THS play is coming up next weekend. (Thanks to Megan McAdams for letting me steal a pic from West Side Story, one of Casey's recent productions, for this post! :)</span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: times new roman;"> </span></span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: times new roman; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">~MMB</span><br style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Hello, My name is Casey Martin and I am proud to say that I am a life-long resident of Tarkio. Now I didn’t always plan to be, but sometimes things turn out for the best. Yes, there are lots of things that I could be doing and a lot of places I could be living, but I have never regretted the life that my amazing wife Jackie and I have chosen. Tarkio is my home. It has been a great place to raise our little sorority house consisting of my three beautiful daughters, Grace(11), Sophia (8), and Claire (6). </span><br style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">I went to the University of Missouri in 1990 after high school graduation and enjoyed my time at Mizzou greatly. When I graduated from Mizzou I was offered a chance to work at Tarkio Academy on the old campus of Tarkio College. I needed a job and was soon to marry Jackie. Jackie is an RN and can easily find work anywhere in the country, but she agreed to come home with me and work at Fairfax Community Hospital and this is where we plan to stay. After two years at the Academy the opportunity to work at my alma mater—THS fell into my lap and the rest is history.</span><br style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Our families live here and we feel connected to the community on a deep level. When you work in a small town high school or the community hospital you get to know everyone, or at least they know you. In my time at THS I have coached HS girls basketball (State Champs 32-0 in ’99), Head Boys basketball for 7 years, 6 years of junior high football, sponsored two classes, put together 5 yearbooks, announce football and basketball games, clerk for the track meets, read for Brain Bowl meets, coach 5 grade girls basketball, am currently National Honor Society sponsor, teach 7 preps a day, help keep a house with a wife,3 daughters and dog that keep me more than busy with all their activities, attend St. John’s Lutheran Church…and that is off the top of my head. </span><br style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifHrozxvLfdzKtAQpwCh53QExtA8nRb5TXnhqZofTB5D3n8tt4yvT4rdx9wkzSJSewdWNAqYN_CRzxWLJjmV3Xiaya3caanOHYAqxIcXf5eivAMBWZDojknuqTMt6WKFWAwydmqkpEAb8/s1600/WSS.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 204px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifHrozxvLfdzKtAQpwCh53QExtA8nRb5TXnhqZofTB5D3n8tt4yvT4rdx9wkzSJSewdWNAqYN_CRzxWLJjmV3Xiaya3caanOHYAqxIcXf5eivAMBWZDojknuqTMt6WKFWAwydmqkpEAb8/s320/WSS.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731392258100506514" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">The project that I am most passionate about is the school plays & musicals. I am currently directing my 18th play at THS next weekend---Heaven Can Wait (April 21 at 7 & April 22 at 1---check it out) I do a musical in the fall with Brad Mathers and Melody Barnett and a drama in the spring on my own. This is something I have always loved to do and the kids I have worked with the last 10 years have gained a better perspective in all that they can become. Jackie and I are truly blessed to live in a community where we can be so involved and feel so loved and appreciated, and we try to give that same energy right back to the community. Thank you Tarkio, I don’t know what we would be without you.</span>Monicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03403865492728841124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4967015572008175057.post-16390136818422022712012-04-07T21:04:00.000-05:002012-04-07T21:04:50.440-05:00Find a Seat Tomorrow<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ7OVXz7Mr1kC0ItnOgK0UdOccJUbrHSIqbH3GilHHRRyc-mLnA1fc18WtbjK_2knsSkClfa9eSZEksE9vbUY0sO74RrVS2ZFqnWWS201i9PW8LI-W-oPL3DiQXIx-WuoJPLEJlvDkXaQ/s1600/Easter+Eggs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ7OVXz7Mr1kC0ItnOgK0UdOccJUbrHSIqbH3GilHHRRyc-mLnA1fc18WtbjK_2knsSkClfa9eSZEksE9vbUY0sO74RrVS2ZFqnWWS201i9PW8LI-W-oPL3DiQXIx-WuoJPLEJlvDkXaQ/s320/Easter+Eggs.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>Aaron and Lizzie just finished stuffing 120 eggs. They stuffed half of what we’ll need for the annual egg hunt at Tarkio First Baptist Church. Tomorrow all the brightly colored eggs will dot the front lawn of our church and kids of all shapes and sizes in their Easter best will make a run for it.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">We’ll rise early tomorrow and hide the Easter goodies in the super-sized eggs purchased at Hobby Lobby. In Lizzie’s stash, a boy Barbie, by request, and lots of chocolate. Josh will land a toy truck and in Aaron’s, his first Bible, his name embossed on the front cover.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">At church, we’ll worship with our friends, many whom I’ve been attending church with for over 30 years. I’ll sit next to my family and many friends and neighbors I’ve known for over 30 years. I’ll remember my first Easters in those pews with my white knee socks in the dresses sewed by my Grandma singing with the M&M choir Easter songs that I still remember all the words. I’ll think of the Easter my pastor and his family came to town. I was 14 and they shared Easter dinner with us. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">If we are lucky, our local sheriff will sing his rendition of He’s Alive, the local attorney and hospital board member will play the piano and my kids will sing with the children’s choir. We’ll breakfast together and return to our homes with the words of Up from the Grave He Arose on our lips and the joy of a risen Savior in our hearts.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">You don’t have to travel far out of Atchison County to find many critics of churches and of Christians. Religion is viewed as something appropriate for the uneducated, the small minded and those of us from the backwoods sheltered from the diverse peoples and problems of the world. Christians, at times have earned this reputation. I’ve seen it in my own church and community when the doctrine of loving your neighbor is forgotten.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">In the vast majority of my experience with small town religion, I’ve seen the good that comes from a group of people bound by common beliefs, supporting each other in both the joyful and difficult times. I’ve seen churches help the needy by supplying clothes, appliances, court fees and travel expenses. I’ve seen the tears of sorrow when a fellow parishioner is suffering from cancer and the outpouring of consolation and casseroles when a loved one is lost. I see the stacks of Christmas gifts for needy children, the turkeys at Thanksgiving and the full schedule of volunteers when meals need delivered to the homebound.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I still have the handwritten card delivered to our door when my husband lost his mother. I smile at the memory of my pastor carrying my sick child on his shoulders when the IV in his foot prevented him from walking. And in those first years of marriage when our hot water heater broke and a church member supplied us one for free…it still chugs out hot showers after a long day at work. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">In my community, churches provide for spiritual and physical needs in manner far more efficient than any government agency. There’s no paperwork, or forms to fill out or long lines…there’s just a need and a group of people, filled with a desire to meet those needs in a spirit of love and hope.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I hope tomorrow that you find yourself in a pew somewhere in Atchison County. You won’t need fancy clothes or an invitation. You won’t be sitting by people that are perfect or who don’t routinely make mistakes. But I know that if you can find a seat, Love will find you.<o:p></o:p></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16778094969299154133noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4967015572008175057.post-47297115435238488632012-03-30T12:20:00.009-05:002012-03-30T14:28:55.485-05:0098,707 Pages: Community Proud!<span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>This week's guest blogger is Lydia Hurst, dedicated community volunteer and a champion of county-wide connections and events such as Batttle of the Books, a fantastic annual event where kids from across the county gather in the same room for an afternoon of friendly (and serious!) competition. We are thankful for Lydia, librarians, teachers and parents who work so hard to make these kinds of things happen. ~MMB</em></span> </span></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000000;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000000;">There have been many moments when I find myself loving our amazing little corner of this wonderful world and when I think of it, I am positively ‘Community Proud.’ Last Friday, I had the privilege of helping a fantastic group of volunteers as we prepared and facilitated the county wide competition of 4th – 6th graders in the 6th Annual Battle of the Books at the Tarkio Resource Center. This is one of my favorite annual events in Atchison County and for those of you who do not know about it, I will give you a quick synopsis. For the rest of you that do know, you may skip a little in your reading. </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000000;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000000;">The Battle of the Books began 6 years ago, inspired by a similar competition in Omaha. This was a time in our nation when schools were finding themselves even more accountable to ensure that each child enrolled was getting the education he or she needed. State testing was a “buzz word,” whether you liked it or not. During this time, a core group of old school educators, parents, and grandparents agreed with research data that showed the need for children to simply read more books. Opportunities at home and outside the classroom fought for the attention of our schoolchildren, such as video games, competitive sports practice, TV, computers. While children have always had distractions (or found them), many were home alone or were spending an enormous amount of time in the car being driven to and from activities. Somehow the focus had to get back to reading. Picking up a book and challenging yourself to finish that book and the sense of accomplishment from completing it on your own seemed to be lost for many young people. How do you get that back? The answer is not to sit and complain; the answer is to get involved. By being involved the rewards are endless but ‘Community Proud’ is one that I usually feel. </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000000;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000000;">During the meetings to develop this idea, it became evident that we would need sponsors. We wanted to be able to reward and entice the children to go above and beyond the classroom to participate in this event. The future is so bright for them if they strive to do their best and are dedicated with determination to set aside time to read to ultimately better their reading levels. Northwest Missouri State University coach, Mel Tjeerdsma, believed so firmly in the goals of this group, he donated signed footballs each year and the coaches after him followed this path. Atchison County Development Corporation strongly endorsed this project to encourage our children to learn, prosper, and achieve success now and in their future. This act verified to the children that not only do teachers and parents want them to set and achieve academic goals but coaches, businesses, and random volunteers care deeply also. The Battle of the Books would not be possible without our sponsors and we greatly appreciate those who year in and year out believe this is worthy of their support. We are so fortunate to live in a county that deeply believes and cares about the lives of future generations. </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000000;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000000;">A group of people gathered together and decided to incorporate the Omaha model into Atchison County as an opportunity to promote reading for our youth. At this time, it was decided to use the Mark Twain Award Nominees that are picked annually in our state by the Missouri Association of School Librarians. Soon after, we solicited the support of our three school librarians, teachers, and administration. ‘Community Proud,’ once again. We are so fortunate to have great schools in our county that are filled with professionals who DO all they can to help in any way and with a smile on their face. Needless to say, the schools have been over the top in helping and have been our cheerleaders to keep the children motivated each and every year. To live in an area where you do not have to ask but instead have an abundance of volunteers is indeed a blessing. <br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000000;"></span><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000000;">We have teams of no more than four participants who then pick a name which varies greatly, from “The Twains” to “Fluffy Readers” to “Reading Masters” and the unity of the team begins. We have seen different strategies utilized through the years to try to pull out a Champion Team. For instance, some teams ‘split the books evenly,’ some ‘read them all twice,’ some ‘read and take notes,’ some ‘just keep reading!’ All seem to have their advantages and have worked one year or another! Some get very nervous, some thoughtfully consider each response, and occasionally you have such excitement build that one may blurt out an answer and then realize they did not even consult with their fellow teammates!</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000000;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000000;">No matter what- it is a joy to watch and once again, I always find myself…..yes, ‘Community Proud!’ Why, you may ask? This question seems simple but I must say there are MULTIPLE reasons. For one, I am so proud of the students who have taken LOTS of time to prepare for this spring afternoon. It quickly becomes evident when we ask each participant to please mark the books (out of 13 this year) they read and, if they read each book more than once, how many times. Can you believe that we had 35 children read over 1,000 pages just for this competition? Hold on, it gets better…each year the total amount of pages read has grown and this year 52 participants read a total of 98,707 PAGES!!! Now, you know why I am ‘community proud!’ <br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000000;"></span><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000000;">The entire reason the competition is held is to help children fall in love with reading, increase their vocabulary, educate them on a variety of topics, familiarize themselves with authors, have fun, and push themsevles to reach higher learning levels in all subjects. We all know that most learning begins with reading and comprehending. It is a wonderful moment to see a building full of county children who are proud of learning and are ready to compete in the Battle of the Books. Kurt Sloop, Tarkio Art teacher, was kind enough many years ago to illustrate our logo with our very own Mark Twain look alike. Twain is refereeing two books boxing it out. We have so enjoyed the artwork through the years. Many students come dressed with t-shirts in various colors with the now county famous logo. Community Proud. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000000;"></span><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000000;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUtaGH3pO3dkdsxz8-2cffoH2FLjLtVEX3BfhaQ7Rykd7SLnmz0vxrB2M5c0ZnD1_QtYKmyVcu4YaBxDGxAkePp787Me-DQffbF07P076pZabCFpzQvLgtqxE6k-ZmCh8oWeiMrozT4rI/s1600/champteam.jpg"><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000000;"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 222px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5725773070316375410" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUtaGH3pO3dkdsxz8-2cffoH2FLjLtVEX3BfhaQ7Rykd7SLnmz0vxrB2M5c0ZnD1_QtYKmyVcu4YaBxDGxAkePp787Me-DQffbF07P076pZabCFpzQvLgtqxE6k-ZmCh8oWeiMrozT4rI/s320/champteam.jpg" /></span></a>The competition this year was clearly competitive and definitely did not disappoint those in attendance looking forward to the annual Battle. Three teams did not miss ANY questions over the 13 books and four teams only missed one question. Before we could go to the championship round, we needed a fourth team. So we had a tie breaker round between the 4 teams that had missed only one question. The championship was 10 rounds of questions- ‘Big Book Theory’ came in first not missing any, ‘The Bookettes’ were second with one miss, ‘Reading Masters’ were third with 2 misses, and ‘Readables’ had 3 misses. The afternoon was wonderful, the crowd cheered, the children pushed hard to the end, and our community was united with volunteers everywhere and prideful smiles that will last a lifetime. Thank you, Atchison County. I am Community Proud.</span>Monicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03403865492728841124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4967015572008175057.post-34124676316230130732012-03-22T09:11:00.004-05:002012-03-22T09:22:39.498-05:00Moving In<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:arial;" ><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-family: times new roman;">This week's guest blogger is Brandy Myers, recent transplant to Atchison County and employee at Midwest Data. If you are a native, I hope this makes you proud of how we can be to newcomers to our fantastic county! Either way - I know you'll enjoy Brandy's story and outlook on life. ~MMB</span></span></span><br /><br />Just about a year ago Justin and I were living and working in Mexico. No, not the country! Mexico is a town of about 12,000 in Audrain County, about half an hour from Columbia, Missouri. We’d never heard of Rock Port, nor had any idea where Atchison County was.</span><br style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:arial;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:arial;" ><br />Justin was working with a contracting company as an apprentice lineman, but really wanted to find a steady, reliable job at an electric cooperative. So, the hunt began! We looked online at jobs close to home, within the state of Missouri, and surrounding states. Both of us are very close to our families and we knew we wanted to be able to take trips home when we could, so finding something reasonably close to home was a top requirement. One day, Justin tells me that he was asked to interview in Rock Port at Atchison-Holt </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:arial;" >Electric Cooperative. I asked, “Where is Rock Port?” Thinking of Rocheport, Missouri just 20 minutes outside of Columbia, I was like, “That’s not far at all!” Justin tells me no, Brandy…Rock Port, Missouri…in the very North West corner of the state. Hmmmm….well, let’s see how this turns out! If this is where the opportunity lies, maybe this is where our life will take us. </span><br style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:arial;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:arial;" ><br /></span><a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg3HvR0BBDCKgRqS8bUflbUpZxkKcts0e_6SGQC9GvN-GBNb3tJeBKCCBJUVQXnd4b-TdBB63V56EHwriSIf5NvVbe13MoMGXLdLmLA_Yoy30zyoS-s3X5PfdY1cgKWhnyJW-3xjkG9gU/s1600/brandy_justin_3.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 187px; height: 232px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg3HvR0BBDCKgRqS8bUflbUpZxkKcts0e_6SGQC9GvN-GBNb3tJeBKCCBJUVQXnd4b-TdBB63V56EHwriSIf5NvVbe13MoMGXLdLmLA_Yoy30zyoS-s3X5PfdY1cgKWhnyJW-3xjkG9gU/s320/brandy_justin_3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5722724669254880690" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:arial;" >Fast forward a few weeks and Justin has been offered a position at Atchison-Holt. Now, for everything else… I owned a house in Mexico, had a job that I had been at for several years and loved…not to mention breaking the news to family and countless friends…all while planning our wedding! I found a renter for my house, shared the news with work, who didn’t want to see me go, but wished us well on the adventure! Our family understood that we wanted to start our married life off and running in a new town, the chance to strike out on our own and blaze a </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:arial;" >path together. But, I needed to find a job! By trade I am a graphic designer, but have retail management experience, and customer service skills coming out of my ears. How do I find a job in a town of 1,200 people with my skills? A friend in Mexico, Paula, tells me that there is a phone company in Rock Port, and maybe they would have something. She makes a few phone calls, and that very weekend Justin & I happened to be coming to Rock Port to look at a house. In steps: Raymond and Connie Henagan. Raymond and his wife met Justin & I, showed us the phone company, took us on a little tour of Rock Port telling us all about the town and all the good things Rock Port had to offer, and introduced us to the Black Iron Grill and the yummy food they had! Three words come to mind, “Hook, line and sinker!” </span><br style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:arial;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:arial;" ><br />Never have either of us been welcomed into a town like we have experienced when we were just considering moving here. Our realtor, Hardin Cox, and Lloyd & Sharley Branson who we ended up purchasing our home from, treated us like old family friends. They didn’t know us, and yet, it didn’t matter. They took us under their wing, and truly made Justin and I feel welcome. Arrangements were made for Justin to move to Rock Port so that he could begin his job. So our dads, Grandpas and other family members helped us load up the U-Haul, trucks, cars and a van…and here we came with all our things. I stayed in Mexico to finish out a few weeks on my job, and would then move to Rock Port, not knowing what my future held.</span><br style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:arial;" ><br style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:arial;" >Little did I know that my meeting with Raymond would turn into interviews and a job offer. Officially, I work for Midwest Data Center, the IT and data company that serves Rock Port and companies across the country! Who would have thought that Rock Port, Missouri would have such a company right in its little town of 1,200? Boy was I shocked to find how just how much this company does for its customers and people in the Rock Port and surrounding communities! This job has been such an opportunity to expand my professional knowledge. I am now developing websites, something that I’ve had an “itch” to get into for several years. I also coordinate our outside plant technician’s schedules, so if you’ve had services installed in the last year, I’ve probably talked to you! Since I’ve started working at Midwest Data I’ve been involved with the marketing and ad development for several projects that Rock Port Telephone, Rock Port Cablevision and Midwest Data have taken on. We’ve expanded our cable television services into the towns of Hamburg, Sidney, Tabor and Malvern. We’re now the local choice for internet and cable services in Mound City. Not forgetting to mention, our current transition to HD Cable TV in the Rock Port, Watson, Tarkio and Fairfax areas. We’ve now set the date for TiVo installations to begin. All of this in ONE year’s time, even with the flood of 2011 knocking on our door. I am proud to work for a company that stays up to date with an ever-changing technology world that offers “city” quality services in our small town. I also have to say, the people both Justin and I work with, are some of </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:arial;" >the best people we’ve ever encountered. </span><br style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:arial;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:arial;" ><br /></span><a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivKlkfQqed4ODBDcsSeaFIXeWZM-qha4pdiKlIEIiyuzqueUJk-W-e2rD3QfocVcKSa_QNK0nGidOMWr5caY15m5pMUl9ssLHQ5SAujN_K-P2G7GJbsrJX_Cy7wiqu-JSa-QAA9t-29vU/s1600/brandy_justin_1.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 191px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivKlkfQqed4ODBDcsSeaFIXeWZM-qha4pdiKlIEIiyuzqueUJk-W-e2rD3QfocVcKSa_QNK0nGidOMWr5caY15m5pMUl9ssLHQ5SAujN_K-P2G7GJbsrJX_Cy7wiqu-JSa-QAA9t-29vU/s320/brandy_justin_1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5722725033958472930" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:arial;" >For a small town, we sure have kept busy! Justin’s discovered that he’s quite the handy man, and has done project after project on our home. He says I am a “social butterfly”, and in order to meet more people, I also waitress at Black Iron Grill. This gives me an opportunity to visit with people stopping in Rock Port for a bite to eat, and to work with a lot of young adults that are in high schools in Rock Port and Fairfax and well as college students from local schools (not to mention keeping me on my toes). If the people I work with at BIG are any example of our future generation, I’d have to say the parents are doing a fantastic job! There is such a strong, ingrained sense of family and work ethic in this town that it is without a doubt being passed on to the next generation. I also am a Pampered Chef consultant, and have met lots of wonderful women in Rock Port and surrounding towns, that share my passion for cooking and being in the kitchen. After all, Pampered Chef was started by a mom to cook better meals faster, so that she had more time to spend with her family. With that being said, family is definitely a major part of the way things are done in Rock Port. This community pulls together for families in times of need unlike anything I’ve experienced. The way families get together for school functions and fundraisers; this town is a shining example of teamwork and a “will do” attitude, for other towns to follow. </span><br style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:arial;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:arial;" ><br />Moving to a new town and leaving behind all family and friends is no easy task. If it wasn’t for the people in Rock Port, I don’t know where we would be today. Our neighbors, peers at work, and our new friends…have all been so wonderful to us! It is obvious to see that all the pieces of the puzzle fell together for Justin and I, and for some reason, it is our shared belief that we are supposed to be here. This town has found a place in our hearts, and we are so thankful that we’ve been given the opportunity to live in such a wonderful community. No, it may not have a Taco Bell or a Wal-Mart in its city limits but what it does have is its people. The people in this community, with their strong sense of family, commitment to hard work, and acceptance of new faces, makes Rock Port one of the best places to live in our book!</span><br style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Monicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03403865492728841124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4967015572008175057.post-58923289369419426152012-03-08T09:25:00.003-06:002012-03-08T09:34:13.110-06:00A Lesson from Robin Hood<span style="font-family:arial;color:#000000;">Last week, ACDC Board & Staff had a retreat, an afternoon set aside to focus on who we are, where we’ve been, and in what directions we should be headed. My board is a great group of volunteers, and each of them brings something unique to our organization. In that set of 9 individuals, I have quick-thinkers and ruminators, realists and eternal optimists, problem-analyzers and problem-solvers, historians and dreamers. Depending on the day or issue, I can fall into any of those categories, so having a board comprised of such mixed dispositions is a tremendous asset. During our retreat, it was interesting to observe where we really shine as a group (clarifying our purpose, considering the possibilities, learning from past efforts) and where we sometimes struggle (determining exactly how to get from here to there). One important thing came through loud and clear, regardless of who was speaking or where we were in the conversation: every one of us affiliated with ACDC cares about this place. We call Atchison County Home. We are here on purpose.</span><br /><span style="color:#000000;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000000;">I’ve been thinking a lot about not only my board, but all the boards that support and guide the organizations in our county. Whether an organization is about education or healthcare or agriculture or development or community betterment, it has a board very much like mine. (In fact, it’s highly likely that members of my board serve on that board as well!) A handful of individuals seem to be everywhere, involved in everything, but that’s ok. That’s how it goes in any community, big or small. Leaders here may not be mighty in number but are mighty in the things that count – heart and commitment and dedication to the future of Atchison County.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000000;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_RsKlAqHeHkQuGf_40zNNpHRag1pvT-2hdzSakxUgyLfAPKLDECK4wSel4bexhdpn6R66KDbcXdHVVXCmeituiu6-8bPP4b7Kf3Lwoe_LUmXZpE1AOxoRbwNwRhHC3rSS8s4Diz3Z_zg/s1600/robin-hood-costner.jpg"><span style="color:#000000;"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 175px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 239px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5717548277854229042" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_RsKlAqHeHkQuGf_40zNNpHRag1pvT-2hdzSakxUgyLfAPKLDECK4wSel4bexhdpn6R66KDbcXdHVVXCmeituiu6-8bPP4b7Kf3Lwoe_LUmXZpE1AOxoRbwNwRhHC3rSS8s4Diz3Z_zg/s320/robin-hood-costner.jpg" /></span></a><span style="color:#000000;">Although I wish I could spout brilliance from my years in college and grad school, the things that (unfortunately) seem to stick with me are pure fiction from movies, tv shows and books. One of those permanently imbedded into my psyche is “Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves.” As I’ve been reflecting on the commitment of our volunteer boards, a scene keeps coming to mind when Robin was trying to convince the band of outlaws to come together: “One free man defending his home is more powerful than ten hired soldiers.” In Atchison County, we may not be defending our home from attack, but every day we are defending our home from the death of our way of life, our future. We are not the same people, culture or composition as we were 25, 30, 50 years ago. We will never be that again. But we CAN defend our home from those (internal and external) who are ready to write us off as past-tense. We CAN fight for a great future for our children.</span></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000000;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000000;">You see, there is power in one who considers Atchison County Home. You couldn’t hire enough publicists or marketing gurus or developers or recruiters to turn our county into a thriving metropolis. The answers do not lie in expertise or in outside salvation – the answer lies in all of us who are here on purpose, who choose this place every day. In those moments, community leaders and volunteers, when you can’t bear to go to yet another meeting, when something your group has worked on tirelessly doesn’t happen, when you feel like you’ve been knocked down by negativity or circumstance, know that what you do matters. Take heart and listen to the oh-so-wise words of Azeem the Great One, Robin’s trusted Crusades pal: “Get up. Move faster!”</span><br /><br /><div align="right"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000000;">~MMB</span></div>Monicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03403865492728841124noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4967015572008175057.post-33888839719703175902012-03-01T21:23:00.003-06:002012-03-01T21:37:11.833-06:00No Taco Bell or Target but....<i>This blog got a huge thumbs up from our talented and charming ACDC Director. I think you'll find that she is right. I was so pleased when Ginny Smith agreed to write. I am just getting to know Ginny. From what I've observed so far, she has the highest admiration from her husband and children and is cherished by her friends. I am thrilled that she makes Atchison County her home and look forward to spending many an evening in gyms and at ball fields as we watch our children grow together.</i><div><i><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">The Blessings of Raising a Family in Atchison County</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPS2D-n-H_Nmw4cvZ94ZPUHxfloTUzJ_bSVP-l-VWOHWQpFkhXdb-7J7BeGMjvrQY7QuHGvRa-mGB8iA0zzKB0hSls0DpLKd8ApX1LrBt0tLSynhaqIf_jDcuSqYvqvZVWPrRtMh_w-HQ/s1600/Smiths+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPS2D-n-H_Nmw4cvZ94ZPUHxfloTUzJ_bSVP-l-VWOHWQpFkhXdb-7J7BeGMjvrQY7QuHGvRa-mGB8iA0zzKB0hSls0DpLKd8ApX1LrBt0tLSynhaqIf_jDcuSqYvqvZVWPrRtMh_w-HQ/s320/Smiths+2.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
When I think about all the benefits of living in Atchison County, it is easy to count my blessings. I grew up in Columbia, Missouri, which is a major metropolitan area compared to here. It seemed that every minute was soaked up with some hectic, hurry-up activity. There were always more than enough things to do and places to go. Ironically, one of the best things about Atchison County is the noticeably finite number of things to do and places to go. In one respect, a lack of a prolific number of eateries and events is a blessing: without a million things to do, I find myself spending more quality time at home with my family, instead of running here or there. A noticeable characteristic of the people here in Atchison County is the solid foundation of family, which undoubtedly is the product of increased amount of time spent together as a family.<br />
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The pace of life is certainly slower here, quite a blessing in itself. Although the pace is slower, it is amazing how much gets accomplished. Everything gets taken care of in due course, from the crops to the cows to school to sports. Hard work is engrained in the landscape and lines on the men and women’s faces; passed down from generation to generation. We are a shining example that a strong work ethic makes up for an over-revved pace. While Atchison County may not have all the bells and whistles, I have come to realize that nearly everything we need is right here. We have a couple of nice grocery stores and general stores. The lumber yards and hardware stores seem to have almost everything we need. We are blessed with local utility providers and home-town pharmacies and professional services. Nowhere have I experienced better health care than Atchison County. The reason is quite simple: our medical care providers care about us; a concept that seems to be missing elsewhere. It is such a blessing to have doctors and nurses who know us personally, know and love our children, and want the best for us.<br />
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Speaking of the tradition of hard work, it is an impressive testimony to Atchison County that families can traces their roots back generations here. I first thought that it was a joke when Dan, my husband, said he was related to half the people in Fairfax, but he was not exaggerating too much. I have come to find out that the people here have incredible ties to this place, and families seem to grow and grow. It sometimes seems as if Atchison County is an integral part of the families here. I know that Dan truly believes this is God’s country, he complains any time he has to leave the county. Many others are the same way, dedicating their lives to Atchison County. I respect everyone who supports the efforts in this county through money, time and prayers. <br />
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Folks around here are friendly, almost to a fault. I have felt at home here from the first time I visited. The first time I went to town with Dan, it seemed that everyone knew him, had a funny story about him and generally cared for him. Living here I have found that I was right, the people of Atchison County care for their own, and everyone is our neighbor. Whether they know you well or not the people here are looking out for the best interests of others. Surely, tight-knit churches and small class sizes at school yield solid relationships. The community of Atchison County is like one big family. We all love each other although we do not always get along. This county and its people never fail to come together when needed. It seems there are no strangers living in Atchison County; I can be comfortable with my children playing in the park or in the yard. We all keep a watchful eye on each other’s children, in reality they are all our children.<br />
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Growing up in Columbia, I never would have dreamed of living on a farm in the middle of the country; no Taco Bell, no Target. It is funny to look back on my life in the past and compare it with my life today. I know that God has led me here; he has blessed me with my life here. We encourage our children to use the skills and blessings that God has given them to give back to their community. It is my hope that after they have explored and fine-tuned the gifts that God has given them that they may bring those gifts back home. Atchison County is my husband’s home, it is my home, it is my children’s home; Atchison County is our family’s home. <br />
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-Ginny Smith, Stay-at-home mom of four (Oliver 8, Charlie 5, Mack 2, and Henry 2)</span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16778094969299154133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4967015572008175057.post-14933307240494005442012-02-23T17:59:00.000-06:002012-02-23T17:59:26.808-06:00You could sit around and complain about your small town or.......<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><i>This post comes from Rebel Herron, husband, father, farmer and Rock Port Alderman. If there is one thing you can count on in Atchison County it is that the Herron's bleed blue. Rebel not only loves Rock Port, but he works everyday to make it a better place. Thanks to Rebel and all of our local elected officials for serving and preserving our wonderful way of life for the next generation......AS</i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQtT0oI3-fZ0XECUYMST-0nEwBNCf-IzjuwGqPvn0ZY4qpYBHMgdN63zlK53VygNxpkmrfcgsxmABwnU2gpR4awKA0zJ6VZIrPZQcGfmISWotRgw4jcQicMZGvf8GHAlsstXs-W5Uczuk/s1600/Rebel+and+Ryder+sunglasses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQtT0oI3-fZ0XECUYMST-0nEwBNCf-IzjuwGqPvn0ZY4qpYBHMgdN63zlK53VygNxpkmrfcgsxmABwnU2gpR4awKA0zJ6VZIrPZQcGfmISWotRgw4jcQicMZGvf8GHAlsstXs-W5Uczuk/s1600/Rebel+and+Ryder+sunglasses.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">I was raised in Rock Port, Missouri. I had a normal child hood, raised by a hard working mother and father who were passionate about their community, sports, and their children. Growing up, I did not always appreciate all the things I had and the sacrifices that my parents made to ensure their children had all the opportunities that they did not. I feel this is a common sentiment that people share as they get older. At a very young age my parents instilled in me that one must take great pride in their community and do their part to ensure it stays a great place to live.</span><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent;"> </span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Once again, I wasn’t always paying attention. My friends and I were pretty sure that we wanted to move away, stay single, and never have children. Fiction can be fun. </span><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">After graduating from Rock Port RII High School I went off to the University of Missouri - Columbia, where I received a bachelor’s degree in Animal Science. My intentions were to go on to veterinary school. It was after Mizzou when I decided I wanted to come back to Rock Port and farm with my father. I still do not know what drove me to do it, but I am glad that I did. I am not so sure my parents, at the time, shared in my joyous revelation. I had come to the realization that Rock Port is where I wanted to live, work, and settle down. Living in a place where almost everybody knows your name, watches your back, looks out for your children, cares about and takes pride in their community, and where the streets are safe to walk at night, are all things that meant the world to me.</span><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL_0tdBO1OFhntRJpi8v0zYGEBvFFmIiN2-SYAp9LLRhqmqnnc9l9Yh2CJOVU2Q3nhxoLivcLko_jTZ6z1qtc22TRO-3k5GW9Pj0t7EXN_F-TqGx-2e4XeXgcTaa8y0_bt0lUH8Weh2NY/s1600/Herron+Family.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL_0tdBO1OFhntRJpi8v0zYGEBvFFmIiN2-SYAp9LLRhqmqnnc9l9Yh2CJOVU2Q3nhxoLivcLko_jTZ6z1qtc22TRO-3k5GW9Pj0t7EXN_F-TqGx-2e4XeXgcTaa8y0_bt0lUH8Weh2NY/s1600/Herron+Family.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">A great thing about a small community is usually the people that choose to live here do so by their choice. It is not an area they had to move to because of a job opportunity, such is the case in larger cities. There are very limited jobs available in towns such as Rock Port, so the people who live here are doing so because they are passionate about it and find a way to make it work. This is what I wanted for myself, and why I pursued it.</span><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Flash forward several years and I am happily married, (is that an oxymoron?), with two amazing children. I feel truly blessed that I am able to provide my children with a community such as this one to grow up in. They will not have to worry about gangs, random shootings, teachers who don’t care, an unsupportive community, or any other big city realities. As my children get older they will at times feel bored, want bigger and better things to do, and so on…but I am sure in the long run they will appreciate all the positives only a small community can provide.</span><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">As I settled down in Rock Port, I found myself wanting, but not knowing how, to help the community with what I have to offer. I would sit around complaining or criticizing how things were being done around here, yet I was not doing anything more about it than the next person. It is an all too familiar problem with our society. Most people feel it is appropriate to give their two cents on every topic under the sun, but never take the time or effort to do anything about it. Most people love to complain and say how things should be done, and for a long time I was no different. It was at that time I started talking to my friends about wanting to be on the city council. I felt it was a way to have a say in the direction the town was taking. Being a part of the local government was a sure fire way that I could be proactive and have input in the decisions that were being made that would affect a whole community for generations to come. It was just talk for a while, and I think my friends and family got tired of hearing me talk about it without any subsequent action being taken.</span><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); font-size: 13px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">As luck would have it an opportunity arose for me to join the Rock Port Board of Alderman. I was very excited about finally having my opportunity to help this great community. As the days and years go by as an Alderman, I have a greater respect for people who put themselves out there as a walking target. One thing I have learned is that as an Alderman you rarely get praise for the good things that are happening to the town. There are good minded and observant people that do notice and comment regularly on the positive changes that are happening around them, but they are in the minority. Most people, such as I used to be, only come to us with things that are wrong, need improvement, or just common gripes. I do not think badly of these citizens…as it is just the way things are and it is expected and appreciated. Most fixes that have happened while I have been on the Board are due to citizens voicing their concerns. People are not afraid to stop me on the street, track me down, call my phone, etc…to tell me their concerns or comments. I love this. The fact that people feel I am so approachable and will do something with their comments is very rewarding for me. All too often a citizen in the past would have a concern, notify their Alderman, only to have it dismissed when they are out of ear shot. I have made it a point to address every comment I get. Surely some of them are not realistic or even possible, but I do research and try to resolve every concern that I can. It has been a very rewarding experience for me. I, along with a growing number of citizens, have noticed this community and its employees making positive leaps and bounds. This community is in a much better place in many different regards than it was even a few years ago. It is more productive, financially sound, and an overall warmer place. I don’t take all the credit by any stretch of the imagination, but I can at least trick myself into believing I had something to do with it. I do ask that all citizens remember that their Alderman are not the President of the United States, and that there are certainly limitations to what we can do. Some requests I have received would be better suited for him, but I am sure that we work much harder at trying to please the common citizen than the federal government does. With that said, never hesitate to voice a concern to your Alderman. We are here to serve the community and all in it.</span><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivHibpbsdfV2NtJJWHIOChB1Q0spIqEQShwHXE4uqYTWrgN-EYmvL5UrKacqLho5ALraGsYBP3MHbDFmhkaXBZ-GWyYUwS94Ak-RDDt5Ad_dwdUBR6lucZZgwYotk8Hk2nZXgSiwmZ2f8/s1600/Rebel+and+Ryder.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivHibpbsdfV2NtJJWHIOChB1Q0spIqEQShwHXE4uqYTWrgN-EYmvL5UrKacqLho5ALraGsYBP3MHbDFmhkaXBZ-GWyYUwS94Ak-RDDt5Ad_dwdUBR6lucZZgwYotk8Hk2nZXgSiwmZ2f8/s1600/Rebel+and+Ryder.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Overall, the betterment of the community, interaction with people, and being a part of something much bigger than myself is why I continue to do this. However, I will not sugar coat it. Even though there are times when I wonder why am I doing this or is it really worth it, and the answer has always been yes. It can be highly stressful and thankless, but then again it is usually highly rewarding and fulfilling. It is a publicly elected office and I know that one day the community may decide I am not right for the job any more. I will hate to see that day come but I know it is part of the job. I will always be able to look back at the positive changes that I know I helped instill and be proud of those accomplishments. In my opinion, if a voting citizen likes the direction their community is headed, then the current Board is probably the best action to take. If they do not like the direction their community is headed, then a change is necessary. I hope to be a part of many more positive changes to this wonderful community, a community that I chose to settle down in, raise a family in, and work in. I wouldn’t change a thing. I hope every citizen of every small community finds a way to better themselves and their surroundings. Take the time to get to know your local government and express any concerns you have about the direction your community is headed. You may be surprised at the results that can come from a problem that the Alderman never knew existed. I am very blessed to have gotten a chance to help lead Rock Port. It is truly a remarkable feeling and one I will never forget or regret.</span><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Rock Port’s well know motto that greets you on its welcome sign is “A proud past and a bold future”…and I, for one, am all in</span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16778094969299154133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4967015572008175057.post-2603507112728362152012-02-17T21:57:00.000-06:002012-02-17T21:57:07.818-06:00A Little Background on a Little Place<blockquote class="tr_bq"><i style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: blue;">This is by no means a history lesson as I very obviously left out vastly important happenings and peoples of this time period. Its just my impression after reading a great book about an adventure over 200 years ago through this little place I call home. By the way, when I quoted Captain Clark I corrected the very "liberal" spelling so popular in the 19th Century!</span></i></blockquote><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">“There was no force on earth that could stop the flow of American pioneers westward. Good, cheap land was a magnet that reached all the way back to Europe. The pioneers were the cutting edge of an irresistible force.” Stephen Ambrose, Undaunted Courage<o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> <span style="color: #500050; line-height: 115%;">In 1803, it was official. President Thomas Jefferson doubled the size of the United States for a mere 3 cents an acre with his purchase of the territory of Louisiana. Widely criticized, Jefferson’s move was bold, some thought unconstitutional and many thought folly, plain and simple. Why add 828,000 acres to a country, in its infancy that had barely learned to govern the territory it already owned?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: #500050; line-height: 115%;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFFQaw1JPJ2DUs77ZToriENrWAoJDUpVrNNXnZFvH-ZBL9KD-8N1gH_pluVLibn59wwrpw-hI8eO4JG645rHooixVBD8_pY8kR_uTb1zMzRFG1yxE5RnDeCAnMvq9IobZr3sDjqoQSF50/s1600/Seed.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFFQaw1JPJ2DUs77ZToriENrWAoJDUpVrNNXnZFvH-ZBL9KD-8N1gH_pluVLibn59wwrpw-hI8eO4JG645rHooixVBD8_pY8kR_uTb1zMzRFG1yxE5RnDeCAnMvq9IobZr3sDjqoQSF50/s200/Seed.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tomato Seeds, Hurst Greenery 2012</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="color: #500050; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Thomas Jefferson, a lover of science and geography, believed in the Northwest Passage, a route from the Missouri River to the Columbia to the Pacific Ocean. He imagined the economic promise of trade with the Native Americans. Most of all he believed in the United States and its destiny to become a nation stretching from ocean to ocean.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFqILpopyaGYbkNB3OuyttEX8BxAx-MlZWdiToHCNr3JZUvE_PbHBgDSmYW_pGk_V1AqZvB9rwrzKc5KKeLPV-PND_eu42hLGuUnKn5esZ9Lli_nJcg2E31_AJWaGkEIs1ZD81LXuSilM/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFqILpopyaGYbkNB3OuyttEX8BxAx-MlZWdiToHCNr3JZUvE_PbHBgDSmYW_pGk_V1AqZvB9rwrzKc5KKeLPV-PND_eu42hLGuUnKn5esZ9Lli_nJcg2E31_AJWaGkEIs1ZD81LXuSilM/s200/photo.JPG" width="149" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sprouts!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #500050;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I just finished reading <i>Undaunted Courage</i>, the Stephen Ambrose novel about Meriwether Lewis and the Corps of Discovery’s expedition. The expedition, ordered by President Jefferson, was his pride and joy. He was not disappointed as he read the Captain's diaries, rich with detail of the Missouri River and surrounding territory. As his crew paddled upstream in the muddy river, Lewis detailed the beauty of his surroundings, a place he and his crew had dubbed paradise.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #500050;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I read with special significance the part of the journey through the lower Missouri. Clark says it well “We camped in the plain. One of the most beautiful plains I ever saw, open and beautifully diversified with hills and valleys all presenting themselves to the river covered with grass and a few scattering trees, a handsome creek meandering through.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #500050;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And if that wasn’t enough, he went the next night, “Spreading their lofty branches over pools, springs or brooks of fine water. Groups of shrubs covered with the most delicious fruit is to be seen in every direction, and nature appears to have exerted herself to beautify the scenery by the variety of flowers delicately and highly flavored raised above the grass, which strikes and perfumes the sensation, and amuses the mind.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #500050;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Jefferson was disappointed when the Northwest Passage failed to present itself, but he still had great plans for the territory that Lewis and Clark had explored. His great imagination planned for an orderly progression of settlers to slowly infiltrate the west. This, Ambrose details in his book, not the expedition itself, may have been Jefferson’s folly. Jefferson failed, most profoundly so, to understand the heart of the American.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpzmrJr5m7z4YvZio2XnXMzeiq801eeRxpij3OchuMqgtFHC9mBR7gx0tNRVCWLle-ta6FhjI9aHGCK-pu4xUkTFphTC73_isZU5r-o3mV_HkDstnpU1WFehHugjr0eA3RpCTdUClD1aQ/s1600/seedlings+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpzmrJr5m7z4YvZio2XnXMzeiq801eeRxpij3OchuMqgtFHC9mBR7gx0tNRVCWLle-ta6FhjI9aHGCK-pu4xUkTFphTC73_isZU5r-o3mV_HkDstnpU1WFehHugjr0eA3RpCTdUClD1aQ/s200/seedlings+2.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coming to a garden near you in spring 2012!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #500050;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The American of the early 1800s thirsted for new beginnings and land of their own. When word spread of the wonders Lewis and Clark had observed along the Missouri River, eager Americans packed their bags headed toward the bounty that waited. The paradise described in Lewis and Clark’s journal was the stuff of man’s dreams. Fertile lands and good water as far as the eye could see.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #500050;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Today, this land once so widely prized, is no longer what most Americans dream of, unless of course, he or she happens to be snoozing while “flying over.” No culture, no diversity, no high rise condos or stoplights for that matter. Certainly no paradise, according to most.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #500050;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">But when I look outside my window, even this cold February, I still see what Lewis and Clark saw over 200 years ago. It’s still a land of plenty. Fertile land where even the most brown of thumbs can raise a juicy, red tomato. Blue skies and fresh air inhabited only by the occasional wind tower. A land where you can make a modest living and still own a home. A country where you can still be completely alone, with nature and with a gun in a tree stand if you so choose. A community where you can worship freely and without judgment. A place where families still do physical labor, together, working the land that returns the favor with generous bounty.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #500050;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Most of all, I see a place where the independent spirit of Lewis and Clark is as fertile as the land where we live. It isn’t the land that changed after all. And its not too late for you to be a pioneer either.</span></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16778094969299154133noreply@blogger.com0Tarkio, MO 64491, USA40.4402763 -95.37775859999999340.4309648 -95.388466099999988 40.4495878 -95.3670511tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4967015572008175057.post-17484858734560508372012-02-09T15:43:00.005-06:002012-02-10T09:49:36.932-06:00Atchison County: Good Living & Opportunity<span style="font-size:85%;"><span style=" font-style: italic;font-family:arial;" >Today's guest blogger is Brock Nuckolls, a fellow Atchison County native and one of the nicest guys you'll ever meet. I wonder if you'll be able to tell by this post how much he loves living life with his two gorgeous girls in our awesome county!</span></span><br style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:arial;"><br style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:arial;"><span style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:arial;" >My wife Kymm and I both grew up in Atchison County. She grew up in Rock Port where we live today and I grew up in Westboro but went to school in Tarkio. Both of us really loved the towns where we grew up and loved the High Schools where we attended. Yes, Rock Port and Tarkio are and always will be arch rivals but both communities are very similar. All of our communities strive for success both in school and in business. Everyone does the best they can to make their communities strong and prosperous today and on into the future.</span><br style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:arial;"><br style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:arial;"><a style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPL5ffC08huVrUAU6O9SctXYDHf2Ye9kZSRepOkiYg86fPDfFyjDy82feY_oG_GG8JNm3aWHApyyJPZhscQA5idHlWvpluLZysd1GmlLQZYxIi0IFBRMLzTCJQw95oyA60Li-AUo064VM/s1600/Nuckolls3.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPL5ffC08huVrUAU6O9SctXYDHf2Ye9kZSRepOkiYg86fPDfFyjDy82feY_oG_GG8JNm3aWHApyyJPZhscQA5idHlWvpluLZysd1GmlLQZYxIi0IFBRMLzTCJQw95oyA60Li-AUo064VM/s320/Nuckolls3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5707255221048070434" border="0" /></a><span style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:arial;" >Kymm and I were married in Rock Port on April 26th, 2003, we lived in Kansas City at the time but always thought of Atchison County as our true home, not the city. Don’t get me wrong the city has its perks. You are a hop, skip, and a jump from all kinds of things. From movie theater to shopping malls to restaurants, an abundance of golf courses, Worlds of Fun, KC Royals baseball in the Spring and Summer, and my beloved KC Chiefs in the Fall. But, when we started talking about raising a family, we didn’t see ourselves in the city. We hardly ever saw each other as it was with our busy job schedules and if we were about to become parents, we wanted to be with each other every step of the way.</span><br style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:arial;"><br style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:arial;"><span style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:arial;" >Sooooo we moved back to Tarkio in the Spring of 2004. I went to work running the Tarkio Golf Club and Kymm started at Citizens Bank & Trust where she still is today. We had our first and only (so far) child Kylie on May 31st, 2005. There really is nothing quite like being a parent. The best part of being a parent is being able to witness first hand all of the milestones, including your babies first words, first time sitting up, first time standing up, and first time walking, all the firsts you want to witness first hand as a parent. Living in a small town really does have its perks too! They are a bit different than the city but are much more special. No, we don’t have a local theater any longer or a shopping mall or professional sports teams. But, I will tell you what we do have and that is GOOD LIVING and OPPORTUNITY!</span><br style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:arial;"><br face="arial" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:arial;" >What I mean by GOOD LIVING is that we get to wake up every day in a strong, healthy, safe, and prosperous community. We don’t have to fight traffic, although the 59 did turn into I-59 this past summer and fall because of the disastrous Flood of 2011. Everyone knows everyone, this can be good and bad but it is mostly a good thing in my eyes. Seriously, would you rather know your neighbor or just occasionally say hello to the stranger(s) next door? I love my neighbors, I love watching their families grow, and I love being able to possibly make a difference in their lives.</span><br face="arial" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br face="arial" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><a style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTuzZavqBzkRWoqWPAqdGp1T8Ncb_jUh6DHe7IPvt_QQkLneuy3doQZ1dzDhGE38me64ZhePHdXOQ_YPJqtKO5mNAxfNQYufxonIOmzdaHON-WzTQeCE7ZqJSR9MU6s1YE8cZPrn6GjXE/s1600/nuckolls2.jpg"></a><span style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:arial;" >I worked at Tarkio Golf Club for three years from April 1st 2004 through October 31st 2006. I coached the Tarkio High School boys’ and girls’ golf teams for three seasons as well. Winters were spent finding work at three different factories in our area. I worked at Pella Corporation, Auburn Consolidated Industries, and Eaton Corporation. These three different and successful businesses provide very good jobs to our local population. But, I got tired of the uncertainty of being able to find a job locally in the winter months to be able to provide for my family. So, in February of 2007, I interviewed for a Loan Officer/Branch Manager position with Citizens Bank & Trust out of Craig. I worked in Craig Monday, Wednesday, and Friday and at our Mound City Branch on Tuesday and Thursday. I did this for three years from February 2007 until August of 2010 when I was moved to the main branch in Rock Port where I am today. Kymm, Kylie, and I sold our house in Tarkio in the summer of 2010, purchased a home in Rock Port, and moved in to our home in August. I truly believe we are where we are supposed to be. We absolutely love our home, our neighborhood, our community, and all of Northwest Missouri.</span><br face="arial" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br face="arial" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><a style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTuzZavqBzkRWoqWPAqdGp1T8Ncb_jUh6DHe7IPvt_QQkLneuy3doQZ1dzDhGE38me64ZhePHdXOQ_YPJqtKO5mNAxfNQYufxonIOmzdaHON-WzTQeCE7ZqJSR9MU6s1YE8cZPrn6GjXE/s1600/nuckolls2.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 223px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTuzZavqBzkRWoqWPAqdGp1T8Ncb_jUh6DHe7IPvt_QQkLneuy3doQZ1dzDhGE38me64ZhePHdXOQ_YPJqtKO5mNAxfNQYufxonIOmzdaHON-WzTQeCE7ZqJSR9MU6s1YE8cZPrn6GjXE/s320/nuckolls2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5707256100250966338" border="0" /></a><span style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:arial;" >I love waking up everyday to help my wife get our daughter ready for school. I love being able to take her to school and drop her off. I love having the ability to leave work and pick my daughter up from Marcy McMahon’s most wonderful daycare. If you don’t know Marcy McMahon, you need to meet her. She is probably the nicest, most caring, honest, and loyal person you will ever meet. She runs a daycare right out of her beautiful home with love and understanding. She is such an asset to this community.</span><br face="arial" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br face="arial" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><a style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr0L2oiWCtW33ZFuh2wHKB1AE-tzaNdnnlXGnCl-sQ8k50Kl8Cc6oOU8WPu0W3y0X_M1IIB_-1w-QOkAMPXGYyr0s0RBVt8erRBMDTUs1DDu3L97k759_UqyEmkFAGa6m3AobBOTJWt8U/s1600/nuckollsgirls.jpg"></a><span style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:arial;" >I am lucky to be able to work with my beautiful and amazing wife each and every day, go to lunch every single day with her, and have dinner every single night with Kymm and Kylie. I truly am blessed.</span><br face="arial" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:arial;" >Atchison County has so much OPPORTUNITY. Each one of us has the opportunity to live a rich and successful life in our community. We are what we make of ourselves and if we all make the best of our situation, anything is possible. Atchison County provides us with everything a person needs including: Education, jobs, good quality healthcare, church, financial services, farm services, insurance services, recreation, and most importantly TIME to spend with family and friends. Life is a lot slower here in Atchison County than it is in the city giving us the time we need to both work and play. As I mentioned earlier, I live in Rock Port, and I have to brag and say that this community is thriving. There truly are a lot of young professionals moving back to our area to experience what I have and continue to experience. I really believe the future of our community is in great hands.</span><br style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:arial;" >Those things that we WANT but don’t “have to have” are just a short drive away. Maryville, St. Joseph, Council Bluffs, Omaha, Lincoln, and Kansas City are all close enough for us to go and get the things we need and get or experience the things we want.</span><br style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:arial;" >We love to spend time with family. The majority of our relatives live in or around Atchison County. Kymm, Kylie, and I also love to watch Bearcat Football in the fall in Maryville. Kylie really doesn’t watch the game all that much, but cheers just as much as any of the Rickenbrode Rowdies. I think she knows the cheers and chants as well as the Bearcat Cheerleading Squad. And Kylie loves having the opportunity to take a picture with Bobby Bearcat. Golf is a passion of mine, always has been, always will be. Every chance I get, I head out to the course. I didn’t get my daughter out as much as summers prior, but plan on taking her out as much as I can in 2012. Kylie tried t-ball this last summer but didn’t like it all that much. She’s going to try it again this year so we will see how much she likes or dislikes it this summer. I had the opportunity to coach her t-ball team this past summer and I had a blast. I can’t wait until she is old enough to start playing organized basketball. Three more years and it is ON!!!!!!!! Besides sports Kylie LOVES to swim, dance, sing, and play with her friends. She is the girliest girly girl I know. Lucky me;)! Kymm is our ROCK! If there ever was a Do-It-All Wife, it is Kymm. She is probably the best cook I know. She keeps us organized and our home is always neat and tidy, which I love. She truly is the love of my life and my best friend. She supports Kylie and I in all that we do.</span><br style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><a style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr0L2oiWCtW33ZFuh2wHKB1AE-tzaNdnnlXGnCl-sQ8k50Kl8Cc6oOU8WPu0W3y0X_M1IIB_-1w-QOkAMPXGYyr0s0RBVt8erRBMDTUs1DDu3L97k759_UqyEmkFAGa6m3AobBOTJWt8U/s1600/nuckollsgirls.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 245px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr0L2oiWCtW33ZFuh2wHKB1AE-tzaNdnnlXGnCl-sQ8k50Kl8Cc6oOU8WPu0W3y0X_M1IIB_-1w-QOkAMPXGYyr0s0RBVt8erRBMDTUs1DDu3L97k759_UqyEmkFAGa6m3AobBOTJWt8U/s320/nuckollsgirls.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5707256369576671826" border="0" /></a><span style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:arial;" >I’ve probably rambled long enough about my life and some of my experiences here in Atchison County. I just want to let anyone reading this know that Atchison County is a wonderful place to live and raise a family. If anyone reading this is ‘On the Fence’ about moving back to our neck of the woods don’t be. Make the move! You will love it here and you won’t ever regret it! To those who do live in Atchison County, take a moment and reflect just how lucky we are to call Atchison County our “home”!</span><br style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:arial;" >Take care and God bless!</span><br style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:arial;" >Brock Nuckolls</span><br style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Monicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03403865492728841124noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4967015572008175057.post-50549175723025450232012-02-03T12:42:00.009-06:002012-02-03T13:02:02.483-06:00Community Pride on Display in Jeff City<span style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,0);font-size:85%;" ><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">[Our apologies for being such slackers during the month of January. Clearly, we were exhausted after so much holiday awesomenesss...]</span></span><br /><br /><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,0);font-family:arial;" >This week, 18 counties from our region descended upon Jefferson City for the annual </span><a style="FONT-FAMILY: arial; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)" href="http://http//www.greatnorthwestday.com/"><span style="color:#3333ff;">Great Northwest Day at the Capitol</span></a><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,0);font-family:arial;" >. In case you don’t know about GNW Day, it’s a cooperative effort designed to unify and enhance our region’s image in Jefferson City and to pursue issues and legislation beneficial to the “Great Northwest.” With a delegation of over 300 northwest Missouri constituents, GNW Day includes introductions to the House & Senate, educational forums, and an evening buffet with State legislators, department heads and elected officials.</span><br /><br /><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,0);font-family:arial;" >GNW Day is one of those things where we ask ourselves from time to time, ‘But – what do we really get out of this?’ It’s not an easy question, because the answer is somewhat intangible, but here’s what I think: I love Atchison County, but I’m also wildly proud to be a Northwest Missouri native. We’ve got good stuff going on up here, and we’re often doing those things together. Leadership Northwest Missouri, Roundtable of Economic Developers…these types of groups do not exist in all corners of our country, let alone all corners of our state. They are rare and wonderful examples of true regionalism. And how awesome that once a year, we get to put that excellent regionalism on display in front of legislators from across Missouri.</span><br /><br /><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,0);font-family:arial;" >While part of the purpose of GNW Day is to convey our support to our local legislators and to communicate the issues that are most important to our region as a whole, the other purpose is to strut our stuff at a big ‘expo’ at a hotel ballroom. I often describe this event as a cross between your senior prom (Mardi Gras, THS, 1996!) and a trade show complete with county/city booths. With live blues music, PowerPoint presentations, jambalaya, giveaways, and some carnival-like games thrown in here and there, it’s a truly bizarre and fun event.</span><br /><br /><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,0);font-family:arial;" >Booths typically try to do several things: educate, entertain, and brag a little. Last year, Atchison County highlighted the construction in 2010 (new grocery store, hospital, grain elevator), but this year was difficult. In such a festive atmosphere, how could we discuss the disaster that was the Flood of 2011 and respectfully convey its impact on our county to legislators from St. Louis, Taney County, Hannibal and everywhere in between? How could we educate State Legislators (who likely can’t have much of an impact on any Federal ‘fixes’ many are looking for anyway) on our tragedy and still portray our pride in the fact that we are proactively repairing and fixing and moving forward every chance we get? </span><br /><br /><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,0);font-family:arial;" >After numerous, sometimes hilarious suggestions, we zeroed in on our theme: “Atchison County: Still Afloat!” The handout? A travel pack of wet wipes with a note declaring that the Flood of 2011 didn’t wipe us out. The game? A bag toss game, complete with mini-sand bags to help us plug the hole in the levy – get all three in the hole and win a pack of life savers! Decorations? What better to use than what you have laying around – leftover sandbags, a ginormous inflatable raft, and life jackets. Cute, but how can we convey the damage? Two big pictures (an aerial shot of the flood at its peak and a close-up view of the damage to Highway 136 after the water had receded) and several quick flood facts.</span><br /><br /><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,0);font-family:arial;" ><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN-IKT3TrloObf2Iy8J01TwhLyQhahio1nCqjoJgvTowhC-7vWABV1RUB1GxivzVQyVR1I23ws4IDDsAmwPGrFo3kfQOY9WCYWgPmSZD_tIDMWN8X630XhrPT-NQSOn5uoFqjXRKva2Cw/s1600/gnwd-f.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 230px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5704985182011508834" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN-IKT3TrloObf2Iy8J01TwhLyQhahio1nCqjoJgvTowhC-7vWABV1RUB1GxivzVQyVR1I23ws4IDDsAmwPGrFo3kfQOY9WCYWgPmSZD_tIDMWN8X630XhrPT-NQSOn5uoFqjXRKva2Cw/s320/gnwd-f.jpg" /></a>What we get out of this event a dose of community pride and the opportunity to demonstrate who we are, where we’ve been, and what’s going on in Atchison County to people from across the state. This year, our booth was visible from across the room – every one of the several hundred people who walked into that ballroom saw our raft and understood in an instant that we made it. Those who made it over to our booth learned from our photos and facts that 2011 was sickeningly tragic and had the opportunity to learn more from our citizens in attendance. And, they learned that Atchison County is home to resilient, proactive people who can always find a way to laugh.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIupfmH3FHjuP2PFQ_R5ft5EG7rF3pb3s8SaJn2E0v4NwDue6gvqBa0uP_V5ngfDldu-o6IlcA9yPcVEhGvL2nZq0LrL9Ex4mY5SkU1tyHPedNbG_tM5RUYqTaVF4GNxUaxAVC-kfYCDU/s1600/gnwd-g.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 263px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 177px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5704985385078775586" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIupfmH3FHjuP2PFQ_R5ft5EG7rF3pb3s8SaJn2E0v4NwDue6gvqBa0uP_V5ngfDldu-o6IlcA9yPcVEhGvL2nZq0LrL9Ex4mY5SkU1tyHPedNbG_tM5RUYqTaVF4GNxUaxAVC-kfYCDU/s320/gnwd-g.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigXo_d-7NJ5h-i-QGNVY2c-udPS8nDVV8XomTy_12g0ANf9fGxtPTY76fBxmDj5tOBcfV0BWmeWcS_iJG0L_Ce8iILBIllViwnyMBx_aFthDwMiqcqtBK8I7W6kn7CsF51fVbYGZvUeVU/s1600/gnwd-h.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 230px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 184px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5704985527169593042" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigXo_d-7NJ5h-i-QGNVY2c-udPS8nDVV8XomTy_12g0ANf9fGxtPTY76fBxmDj5tOBcfV0BWmeWcS_iJG0L_Ce8iILBIllViwnyMBx_aFthDwMiqcqtBK8I7W6kn7CsF51fVbYGZvUeVU/s320/gnwd-h.jpg" /></a>Monicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03403865492728841124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4967015572008175057.post-62487600455651142992012-01-03T11:49:00.006-06:002012-01-03T12:08:48.116-06:00New Years Challenge - have you decided?<span style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)">Well, it's been a month since we issued our challenge - read it </span><a style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)" href="http://anewconversationinruralamerica.blogspot.com/2011/12/new-years-challenge-little-early.html"><span style="color:#000099;">here</span></a><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)">, if you haven't yet.</span> <span style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)">Look around; what do you care the most about in your backyard?</span><br /><br /><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)">Have you decided how you're going to get involved in 2012??</span><br /><br /><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)">Help inspire others by sharing your plans and ideas!</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoZSVCpPNPzoFE222oyqk_B79hU8Bdgd-md1n3wqtgIyjkr-D6kCmPHlJjiKcGeOAeUNgYCk8DJPZrGvGqO1ZVM-1Gri9pkxxufiXviwehfppb22HDda979ZLOdMj06hgsvZV7iFNd0_Q/s1600/2012.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693466129165968754" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoZSVCpPNPzoFE222oyqk_B79hU8Bdgd-md1n3wqtgIyjkr-D6kCmPHlJjiKcGeOAeUNgYCk8DJPZrGvGqO1ZVM-1Gri9pkxxufiXviwehfppb22HDda979ZLOdMj06hgsvZV7iFNd0_Q/s320/2012.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)"></span><br /><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)">Twenty years from now, you'll be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do.</span><br /><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,0);font-size:78%;" >-Mark Twain</span>Monicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03403865492728841124noreply@blogger.com0