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Nortonville Auto Supply/Noll's Garage
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FOR SALE
Iron trailer frame left over from an unfinished shop project. Can be seen on the East side of the Vo-Ag shop at ACCHS. Contact Mike Bodenhausen for details.
Looking for a gift? Muscotah Outreach still has cookbooks available. The cookbooks feature hundreds of recipes from local families and sell for $15.00. This is the gift that will keep on giving for years and years. Call Marilyn at 785-872-3474 or Deanna Higley at 872-3559.
Students from ACCHS are raising money to go to Europe this summer. They are having a cell-phone recycling drive. If people want to dispose of old or broken cell phones responsibly, they can drop them off at the Exchange National Bank in Effingham. We will continue to collect phones until the end of April. Thank you! Jennifer Hansen.
Nortonville Auto Supply/Noll's Garage
DO YOU WANT YOUR ISSUE OF THE NEWSLEAF MAILED TO YOUR HOME OR BUSINESS? SUBSCRIPTIONS ARE NOW AVAILABLE AT THE RATE OF $30 FOR 50 ISSUES.
To subscribe send your check to:
The Newsleaf
PO Box 209
Effingham, Ks. 66023
Be sure and include your correct address with your correspondence.
FOR SALE
Iron trailer frame left over from an unfinished shop project. Can be seen on the East side of the Vo-Ag shop at ACCHS. Contact Mike Bodenhausen for details.
Looking for a gift? Muscotah Outreach still has cookbooks available. The cookbooks feature hundreds of recipes from local families and sell for $15.00. This is the gift that will keep on giving for years and years. Call Marilyn at 785-872-3474 or Deanna Higley at 872-3559.
Students from ACCHS are raising money to go to Europe this summer. They are having a cell-phone recycling drive. If people want to dispose of old or broken cell phones responsibly, they can drop them off at the Exchange National Bank in Effingham. We will continue to collect phones until the end of April. Thank you! Jennifer Hansen.
Nortonville Auto Supply/Noll's Garage
DO YOU WANT YOUR ISSUE OF THE NEWSLEAF MAILED TO YOUR HOME OR BUSINESS? SUBSCRIPTIONS ARE NOW AVAILABLE AT THE RATE OF $30 FOR 50 ISSUES.
To subscribe send your check to:
The Newsleaf
PO Box 209
Effingham, Ks. 66023
Be sure and include your correct address with your correspondence.
FOR SALE
Iron trailer frame left over from an unfinished shop project. Can be seen on the East side of the Vo-Ag shop at ACCHS. Contact Mike Bodenhausen for details.
Looking for a gift? Muscotah Outreach still has cookbooks available. The cookbooks feature hundreds of recipes from local families and sell for $15.00. This is the gift that will keep on giving for years and years. Call Marilyn at 785-872-3474 or Deanna Higley at 872-3559.
Students from ACCHS are raising money to go to Europe this summer. They are having a cell-phone recycling drive. If people want to dispose of old or broken cell phones responsibly, they can drop them off at the Exchange National Bank in Effingham. We will continue to collect phones until the end of April. Thank you! Jennifer Hansen.
Nortonville Auto Supply/Noll's Garage
DO YOU WANT YOUR ISSUE OF THE NEWSLEAF MAILED TO YOUR HOME OR BUSINESS? SUBSCRIPTIONS ARE NOW AVAILABLE AT THE RATE OF $30 FOR 50 ISSUES.
To subscribe send your check to:
The Newsleaf
PO Box 209
Effingham, Ks. 66023
Be sure and include your correct address with your correspondence.
FOR SALE
Iron trailer frame left over from an unfinished shop project. Can be seen on the East side of the Vo-Ag shop at ACCHS. Contact Mike Bodenhausen for details.
Looking for a gift? Muscotah Outreach still has cookbooks available. The cookbooks feature hundreds of recipes from local families and sell for $15.00. This is the gift that will keep on giving for years and years. Call Marilyn at 785-872-3474 or Deanna Higley at 872-3559.
Students from ACCHS are raising money to go to Europe this summer. They are having a cell-phone recycling drive. If people want to dispose of old or broken cell phones responsibly, they can drop them off at the Exchange National Bank in Effingham. We will continue to collect phones until the end of April. Thank you! Jennifer Hansen.
The May 6, 2008 Edition of the Newsleaf
FIREFIGHTERS THANKED
St. Ann’s Parish of Effingham, in a showing of their gratitude for the many firefighters who helped extinguish the recent fire, were served a dinner in an old fashioned picnic setting on the lawn of the church Sunday at noon. There were approximately 140 in attendance for the event.
Lonnie
Coder acting as MC for the festivities introduced Bob Chew, who led the
crowd in saying the pledge of allegiance. Next Gene Hegarty gave a few
remarks noting the thankfulness of the parish to all who served and asked
Kirk Kloepper to acknowledge those firefighters in attendance. Kirk noted
that The Valley Falls, Lancaster, Shannon, Effingham and Atchison Co FD #
2 Departments were well represented with their members.
Each
of those departments arrived not only with several folks but many of the
same trucks that came to the fire were there for the event. They lined
the street in front of the church. Mr. Hegarty then acknowledged others
guests; Dick Rosebrough from the state fire marshal's office, John
Calhoon, Atchison Co. Sheriff and Larry Myers, under-sheriff. After
giving thanks to all those present, Mr. Hegarty acknowledged that we
should also note how much we should also show gratitude to God for the
safety of the fire fighters throughout the dangerous ordeal and then he
ended his comments with prayer.
The Knights of Columbus then served all present with fine spread, with special thanks to Jack Noll for bringing his cooker and preparing the meat.
It was a very special day with the most pleasant weather yet experienced this spring.
Muscotah Plans Set for "War of the Roses"
Last year’s “War of the Roses” celebration in honor of Muscotah’s 150th birthday was spectacular and the tradition will continue this year for the annual event. Everyone is invited to come join the fun in one of the oldest towns in northeast Kansas. Committees have been working since the first of the year on making this another day of fun and fellowship for everyone. After learning from last year’s celebration, we fine tuned the activities for the day.
The day will start in the city park at 10 a.m. with the car, truck and motorcycle show. Registration will begin at 8 a.m. This will be a great place to see prize vehicles shined and polished and on display for everyone to see. The owners will be ready to tell you all about their special vehicle and tell you what it took to get it ready for the show. For more information on the show please call Bill Speer at 872-3171.
The craft show will begin at the same time. Several booths have been reserved and there will be a variety of handicrafts to buy. It is not too late to reserve a space, call C.J. Hanson at 872-3211.
This year’s rose competition is heating up with local residents planting, mulching, watering and watching their roses as they get ready for the big day. Organizations and those living outside the city limits will be planting their rose gardens on the south side of the highway where the old city hall and shop building used to be. All this hard work will pay off for some of the gardeners when the roses are judged on June 7th. Prizes will be awarded in four categories: 1. Individual or single family gardens, 2. Memorial gardens, 3. Organizations, and 4. Single stem cut rose. Winners in each category will receive the following: 1st place-$100, 2nd place-$75.00 and 3rd place-$50.00. There will also be a drawing for four $25.00 winners from the voter’s names in the ballot box. These four winners will have to be present to win. The gardens must be within the city limits. The cut roses can be entered by anyone, one rose per person. These can be registered that day. To register your rose garden, call Debbie Liggatt at 872-3492 or Margaret Jacobs at 872-3142. The deadline to enter your garden is May 23rd. Winners will be announced at 4 p.m. For organizations and out of town gardeners, please call Jeff Hanson at 872-3211 to reserve space. Plans are being made to take tours of the rose gardens from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The
garden tractor pull will begin at 1 p.m. on the far west side of the park.
Weigh in will be at noon. There are several weight classes and the
competition is tough for young and old. This is becoming a very popular
sport in the area. For more information on the garden tractor pull call
Bob Jackson at 872-3166 or Ed Higley at 872-3245.
At 12:30 p.m. the singing group, Reborn Country will take the stage with local residents, Lisa Merz and Ginger Self. The group will perform your favorite gospel tunes and more.
At 1:30 p.m. is the kiddie tractor pull, with registration at 1 p.m. Spectators can watch the rivalry build as boys and girls give it all they have to pull just a little farther to win a prize. For more information on the kiddies tractor pull, you can call Dale Small at 872-3544.
At 2:30 p.m. there will be a ping pong scramble at the south end of the park. Ping pong balls will be shot out of a cannon, with children scrambling to see if they can find the winning ping pong balls.
At 4 p.m. the winners of the “War of the Roses” competition and other acknowledgements will be announced. After all these activities it is time to kick back in your lawn chair and enjoy the Elk Creek Opry at 4:30 p.m. The free entertainment is being sponsored by the Union State Bank, United Bank of Kansas and the Horton National Bank, all of Horton, and the Exchange National Bank of Effingham.
That’s not all---during the day there will be kid’s games, barrel train rides, cake walks and other activities still in the planning stage. There will also be plenty of food and cold drinks on the grounds provided by the “War of the Roses” committee and the Girl Scouts of NE Kansas and NW Missouri. This will be your chance to have homemade root beer floats while enjoying all the activities.
Please mark Saturday, June 7 on your calendar, grab your lawn chair and join the residents of Muscotah for their second annual “War of the Roses”. For more information or to volunteer please call Jeff Hanson at 872-3211. Watch for more details later as they are finalized.
ALL AROUND US by Alice Johnson
NEW FICTION AT THE LIBRARY
The Double Bind by Chris Bohjalian is a national best seller on the New York Times, Boston Globe, Washington Post and USA Today lists. The novel is a fascinating suspense novel that will keep you up reading as you journey with the heroine Laurel Estabrook, as she hunts for the truth about a mentally ill homeless man and deals with her own demons. The reader soon discovers that his truth and her truth intermingle until neither she nor the reader can distinguish whose truth she is seeking until the end. This tale travels between the Roaring Twenties and the twenty-first century, between Jazz Age Long Island and rural New England, and ends with a surprising twist if the reader ignores the clues that the author cleverly sprinkles along Laurel’s journey.
Patrons of the Effingham Library are invited to share a review of a book they have enjoyed reading.
TICKETS ON SALE
Tickets are on sale from now to May 23 for the Annual ACCHS Alumni Banquet June 7th. The tickets for the roast beef dinner costs $7.50 and they can be purchased at the Farmers & Merchants Bank, Effingham; Hegarty-Caplinger Ins. Office, Atchison; and United Bank of Kansas, Lancaster. If you have any questions please contact any of the following officers: President Jerry Madden 833-2415; Vice President Milton Hines 913-874-4875; Secretary Eileen Acheson 913-833-4741; Treasurer Elaine Montgomery 913-833-2441.
COMMUNITY CLUB
Cheryl Potts presented the program on scrap booking at the Effingham Community Club April 28. Cheryl is a Creative Memories consultant and does workshops on scrap booking. During National Scrap Booking Week she will be having a workshop at the Town and Country Senior Center, Effingham, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 10. There is a fee to participate in the workshop, but Cheryl invites people to stop in and visit.
She
started the program by having everyone present tell if they did scrap
booking. A few people did but many of them confessed that even though
they wanted to do so, their pictures were stored away waiting to be sorted
and organized when they got the time. She suggested doing the current
pictures first and spoke about the importance of journaling, which keeps a
history of family events. She illustrated how to do scrap booking by
showing her own scrapbooks. She showed several Creative Memories items
that made scrap booking fun and your scrapbooks attractive. She gave
everyone a bookmark that she had made.
Twenty members and two guests Janelle Moranz and Eileen Ellerman, were present. Marj Todd and Virginia Blunt served delicious refreshments. Crystal Potts read the following for devotions: “Kit for Everyday Living”, “Bible in Fifty Words” and “Thank God for Small Towns.” She concluded with Psalm 105.
Co-chairman Eileen Wohletz presided over the meeting.
The Library report was presented: 95 adult fiction, 12 adult large print fiction, 3 adult non fiction, 42 juvenile fiction, 4 juvenile non-fiction, 2 audio, 24 magazines, 4 videos, and 6 DVDs were checked out. 77 individuals used the computers for 38.5 hours (30-minute sessions) and 72 hours of volunteer time were logged.
Plans were made for the Library Open House from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. May 7. Members will furnish cookies for refreshments.
The following officers were elected: Co-Chairpersons Esther Willis and Denny Cunningham, Secretary Alice Johnson, Treasurer Donna Conner. Calendar Committee is Alice Johnson, Stella Wessel and Donna Conner.
Eileen Wohletz was thanked for serving as co- chair. The club year will end with fun night Wednesday, May 28. The evening will start with a tour of the Rokey House in Holton, maybe a tour of the Hotel Josephine and end with dinner at the Trail’s Café. Members are to meet at the Effingham Library to car pool. Stella Wessel and Lucille Coder planned the evening.
SUNNY HILL THIMBLE CLUB
The Sunny Hill Thimble Club enjoyed dining at the Town & Country Senior Center, May 1. Verna Smith hosted the meeting and served dessert. Seven members answered roll call by naming their favorite flower. Mildred Hawk presided over the brief business meeting. Eileen Acheson won the door prize. Everyone won a Bingo prize. Eileen Acheson will host the next meeting June 5 at the Town and Country Center.
BIRTH
ANNOUNCEMENT
Jason and Amber (Feldkamp) Bradley, Smithville, Missouri, announce the birth of their first child, a son, on April 3, 2008 at 3:09 AM. Teahen Christopher Bradley weighed 8 lbs 3 ½ oz and was 20 ½ inches long. Grandparents are Duane and Marci Feldkamp, Effingham, and Skip and Julie Bradley, Atchison. Great-grandparents are Rita Feldkamp and Mary Ann Olberding, Seneca, Barry and Marge Wills, Arizona, and Loren and Lola Bradley, Atchison. Teahen was baptized at St. Ann’s Parish on Sunday, April 27, into the Catholic Church by His Excellency the Most Reverend Joseph F. Naumann, D.D. Archbishop of Kansas City in Kansas, assisted by Father Benjamin Tremmel. The Archbishop came to visit the parish and baptized Teahen Christopher during the parish’s first Sunday Mass since a fire destroyed St. Ann’s Church on April 21. Sponsors were Lori (Feldkamp) Huff, Kansas City, Missouri, and Ryan Bradley, Manhattan, Kansas. Teahen wore the 94-year old baptismal dress made by his great-great-grandmother Anna Kongs for her first child, Rev. Vincent Kongs.
Pictured at right from L to R are Ryan Bradley, Jason Bradley, Amber Bradley, Teahen Bradley, Lori Huff, His Excellency the Most Reverend Joseph F. Naumann.
CAREER/HEALTH
FAIR
The very first ACCHS Career Day/ Health Fair occurred on Thursday in the high school gym. All grade levels participated beginning with the elementary students in the AM and then Middle school and high school in the afternoon. The gym was full of exhibits ranging from colleges and Vo-Techs, military recruiters and private industry opportunities. In addition to the career discussions, local health organizations were present to educate the students with information concerning their personal health care and responsibilities.
It was heard from several exhibitors that the students were well behaved and attentive
LIZ’S WELCOME HOME MAY 11
Everyone is invited to the welcome home party for Liz Thompson on May 11th in the city park in Effingham at 4-6 PM. A Bar-B-Q dinner will be served for a free will offering. The funds raised will be matched by the Atchison County Thrivent Lutheran Chapter #30270 up to $2,000.00 for the event. That would mean a total of $4,000 for Liz’s family to help cope with her unusually high expense for rehabilitation. Come and enjoy the fellowship and show Liz your support.
District 60 News by Ethel Oswald
Isn’t it nice to see the sun again. Most of the limbs and branches are picked up after the Dec. 10 ice storm, so the country and area are looking like spring. It’s wonderful.
Judy Cody, Christina Watson, Nancy Marlatt and Mary Ann Schrick spent the weekend of April 18, 19, 20 and 21 in Wellington and Oklahoma. First they stopped in Wellington and picked up Mary Ann's sister, Dorothy Craig, then on to Oklahoma. The countryside and weather were beautiful. They thought Oklahoma sure is "cowboy country." The trip was to celebrate Mary Ann's birthday. When Mary Ann and Nancy arrived home on Monday, it was a shock to find that St. Ann's church had burned. Mary Ann lives just across the street so she has a daily reminder.
Betty Martin recently had a visitor from Royal Oaks, MI. Carol Erpelding traveled by train to spend a week in Kansas. While she was here they visited Megan Martin in Kansas City, KS.
Betty
Martin recently went to Kansas City to eat supper with daughter Megan
and watched her
play volley ball.
Betty Martin hosted the Busy Bee Club Thursday evening at the Town and Country Senior Center. Members answered roll call by some interesting stories of how they survived the Dec. 10 ice storm. Leita Weber and Pauline Wiedmaier received secret pal gifts. Leita Weber won the door prize. The evening was spent playing bingo with everyone winning a prize and visiting. Nancy Marlatt will host the next meeting at her home on May 15.
Pat Oswald, Jeanne Hernandez and team attended the National bowling tournament in Detroit, Michigan April 15 and 16. Approximately 40,000 from all over the US have entered the tournament, which continues through July. They also went through a tunnel under Lake Erie into Canada.
CUMMINGS/NORTONVILLE NEWS
by Laverne Fowler
AMERICAN LEGION CITIZENSHIP AWARDS PROGRAM
Forty-three years ago Darwin and Eileen Acheson decided to honor outstanding students in the 8th grade and high school seniors from area schools. Thanks to the help of the Fleming-Jackson Seever Post No. 6 and the Gibson McFarland Auxiliary this tradition has been held every year.
April 28, at the V.F.W. in Atchison, 28 students, selected by their teachers, were honored for exemplary Citizenship. The awards were given for Courage, Honor, Leadership, Patriotism, Scholarship and Service.
Maur
Hill-Mount Academy was represented by 1st place winner Joel Haug, son of
Dr. James and Aleda Haug and Jylian Jaloma, daughter of Keith and Terry
Jaloma. Second place was awarded to Jack Jaloma, son of Keith and Terry
Jaloma and Christine Penning, daughter of Michael and Karen Penning.
Atchison County Community High School and Junior High winners were first place Travis Miller, son of Tom and Kim Miller and Kimberly Lee, daughter of Tom and Pauline Lee, Jacob Sowers, son of Ben and Krista Sowers and Rebekah Johnson, daughter of Randall and Coral Johnson. Second place winners were Quentin Fitzgerald, son of Michael and Colleen Fitzgerald, Kaci Ludwig, daughter of Shelly Ludwig, Zane O'Brien, son of Justin O'Brien and Lori Self and Brooke Fowler, daughter of Darren and Michelle Fowler.
Winners from Trinity Lutheran were Dustin Gosa, son of Terry and Pam Larkin and Erin Underwood, daughter of Brandon and Michelle Underwood. Runner up winners were Eli Sinclair, son of Mike and Lori Sinclair and Kelley Scherer, daughter of Chris and Meredith Scherer.
ACES
students receiving first place were T. J. Kocour, son of Michael and Julie
Kocour, and Shelby Kane, daughter of Brian and Tracy Kane.
Second place winners were Craig West, son of Perry and Polly West, and Ali Stec, daughter of Mike and Rox Stec.
Atchison High School and Junior High Students honored were first place Jason Chen, son of Li Da Chin and Xiu Zhu Chin , Paige Peltzer, daughter of Jennifer Peltzer, Chris-Carter Martin, son of Chris and Tessa Martin and Taylor Walker, daughter of Joey and Becky Walker. Second place winners were Taylor Fawcett, son of Royce Fawcett and Shirleen Fawcett, Bridget Gartenmeyer, daughter of Charles and Sheila Gartenmeyer, Tanner Hinton, son of Joseph and Faith Hinton and Tamara House, daughter of Jay and Peggy House.
Bill Bowen, John Kane and Eileen Acheson led with a prayer. the flag salute and carried on tradition in honoring the students.
Serving at the reception table were Nancy Kleopper, Elva Wilson and Leota Flory, daughters of Mrs. Acheson and the late Darwin Acheson. Each student received a beautiful certificate with first place winners an additional gold medal.
ATCHISON COUNTY COMMUNITY MIDDLE SCHOOL, JUNIOR HIGH, AND HIGH SCHOOL BAND CONCERT.
The Atchison County Community 6th through 12th grade Band Concert was held April 30, 2008 in the High School Gymnasium under the direction of Mrs. Barbara Metcalfe, Mrs. Amy Eckert and Ms. Stephanie Morris, student teacher.
The 6th grade entertained with “No Drummer Left Behind”, “Pirate’s Cave” and “Defender of Time.”
Mrs. Metcalfe and Ms. Morris directed the 7th and 8th grade band playing “Happenstance”, “Prof. Googleheimer's Clarinet Polka” and “The Birth of Rock and Roll” medley which spurred memories of the parents and grandparents present. Mrs. Eckert and Ms. Morris, led the high school band in “As Summer Was Just Beginning”, “Exaltation”, “Low Rider”, and a nostalgic remembrance of the audience, “Sentimental Journey.”
An excited crowd listened as the 7th-12th grade bands played “Who's That Masked Man.” There was a feeling of pride for the 113 students in the band, the directors and our country as the combined 6th-12th grade bands presented “America, the Beautiful.” Austin Wheeler was announced as the most outstanding senior.
OBITUARY
Imogene
Higley,
90, of Nortonville, KS, passed away Monday, April 28, 2008 at her home in
Nortonville. Her funeral Services were held Friday, May 2, at the
Nortonville Pleasant Grove Christian Church with LeRoy Riley, officiating.
Burial followed in the Nortonville Cemetery. Memorial contributions are
suggested to the Nortonville Pleasant Grove Christian Church. Condolences
to the family may be left online at
www.beckerdyer.com.
Imogene was born July 15, 1917 in Farmington, KS, the daughter of James Henry and Edna Myrtle (Hartman) Wright. She attended schools in Farmington. Imogene and William Johnson Higley, Jr. were united in marriage on April 20, 1935 in Leavenworth, KS. She was a wonderful Christian wife, mother and friend. She had worked for Weishaar Grocery and as a cook for Rosdahl’s Restaurant, both in Nortonville.
A member of the Nortonville Pleasant Grove Christian Church, she was a faithful servant for her Lord, teaching Sunday school and Vacation Bible School for over thirty years. Imogene also was a member of the ladies aide of the church and helped coordinate funeral dinners for many years. She and William also served as custodians of the church. Imogene volunteered at the Nortonville Clothing Bank, Meals on Wheels, and had been the supervising judge for the Election Board. She enjoyed sewing, cooking, and flower gardening. Imogene was preceded in death by her parents; husband, William, on December 31, 1990 and one sister, Esther Schrader.
Survivors include three sons, Jim Higley and Mike Higley, both of Nortonville; Gene Higley, Topeka; one daughter, Judy Lehew, Topeka; seven grandchildren; eight great grandchildren; 3 great-great grandchildren.
INCOMPETENCE
AND COMPLAINING,
ARE THEY RELATED? by Jack Albright
I consider myself to have a positive attitude and don’t place myself in the same category as complainers, critics and gossips. One dictionary defines the verb complaint: 1. to express grief, pain, or discontent. 2. to make a formal accusation or charge. When I express grief, pain and discontent, does that mean that I am a complainer? Oh, I hope not.
With little interest I began reading, A Complaint Free World, by Will Bowen. He says that people who constantly complain, criticize or gossip…also deny that they are complaining, just like I try to do. So now I will bravely admit that I complain and criticize—but I try to do it in a positive way!
My interest intensified as I read the title of stage one:
“Unconscious Incompetence.” Bowen claims that complaining comes as the result of being incompetent…incapable of stopping ourselves from complaining, criticizing or gossiping. Ouch! Does that mean that I am incapable, helpless or unwilling to control my words of complaint?
Worse yet, am I ignorant, (which is a lack of knowledge), or too stubborn to admit that I am a complainer? After only a casual historical inventory I admit that I definitely have an unconscious incompetence in the complaining department.
My admission and
confession has moved me to Bowen’s stage two, “Conscious Incompetence.” I
am keenly aware that I complain and now I feel guilty. I feel embarrassed
as if I had a placard hanging around my neck advertising my pitiful
condition. The words you just read are a complaint! If you felt sorry for
me, your sympathy is a reward for my complaint and it could encourage me
to use that “weapon” again and again. I could become a professional
complainer and grow fat on the sympathy from my victims.
Good news! Bowen provides two more stages that will help us to become capable of controlling our complaining tendencies. Stage three is called Conscious Competence and stage four is Unconscious Competence.
I have tried to humorously describe the first two stages. I admit that I complain and am miserably aware that I am a complainer. What good does this awareness do? It does no good unless I am willing to begin and complete the arduous task of becoming a non-complainer.
We are now ready to begin the next stage that Bowen calls the Conscious Competence. This stage is often an uncomfortable stage because you become hypersensitive. You become sensitive about everything you say. You will discover that you pause before saying something and weigh it more carefully to determine if it is a complaint, criticism or gossip.
You may also discover that you do not talk as much. Silence may become more comfortable. People who talk non-stop may not be comfortable with who they are and use the constant flow of words as a protective wall that keeps others from really knowing who they are.
Stage four of Bowens book is Unconscious Competence. When a person reaches this stage they are no longer “an ouch looking for a hurt.”
Your thoughts are now on what you want, and not on what you don’t like or don’t want. You will also notice that you are happier, and the people around you seem happier. Positive and happy people attract that kind of people.
Now if we non-complainers can convince the complainers, critics and gossips to get a copy of Will Bowen’s book, A Complaint Free World,”
and learn to stop complaining, then, we will be more comfortable.
OOPS! Another complaint. Looks like I must go back to page one and start from scratch. Again.
CITY OF EFFINGHAM COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES APRIL 2, 2008
Council members present were Kirk Wohlgemuth, Bob Blunt, Mark Hurst, Kirk Kloepper and Mike Gerety. Mayor Jim Potts called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
Blunt moved to accept the minutes of the previous meetings as written. Wohlgemuth seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.
Kloepper moved to approve and pay the bills. Hurst seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.
Michael and Ben Kramer of Kramer Engineering were present to discuss the progress of the water project. The council is concerned the project plans have not yet been completed. The original schedule the city received from Kramer indicated that we would bid the project early in 2008 and construction would be underway by now. Kramer said the plans should be close or ready to be submitted to KDHE by the May council meeting. He said it shouldn’t take KDHE more than a couple of weeks to review and approve the plans. A bid date can be set and the advertisement placed in early June. The bid letting will be in July and construction will begin in August. The city will need to purchase more ground for the new chlorination building. Joe and Mary Wessel have been contacted about this and have agreed to sell the additional ground to the city. Kramer will survey the property and provide the legal description. Michael Kramer will check with Bob Hosack, CDBG Administrator for the water project to make sure all KDOC - CDBG guidelines are followed regarding the purchase. Kramer reported that several valves have been added into the project by request of the city superintendent. Also, the static mixer for the polyphosphate has been eliminated. The polyphosphate will be injected outside instead. The chlorine analyzer will be moved from the city shop to the new chlorine building. Maintenance issues at the old water tower were discussed. Kramer estimated that it would cost between $15,000 and $35,000 to abandon and take down the existing tower. The city will probably need to install a safety climb device and repair the concrete base of the tower if it is to be leased to communications providers. Michael Kramer said he will check to see if a light is required on top of the tower. He didn’t believe it was tall enough but will check to make sure.
The
council agreed to open bids for the water main extension project at the
May meeting. The city superintendent will distribute bid documents to
interested parties.
City Superintendent Buzz Faught reported that he met with the pool engineer, Kevin McElyea, and he can have the final plans and bid documents ready in two weeks. We need to let him know exactly what items we will be doing and what alternates we want to provide plumbing for so they can be installed in the future.
It was decided to hold a special meeting at 7:00 p.m. on April 10, 2008, to meet with bond counsel and the financial advisor regarding issuance of bonds for the pool repair project.
Nancy Keith, Pool Committee member, reported that a Pool Renovation Fund has been established at the local bank. There is currently $86.30 in the fund. The Pool Committee will have an organizational meeting on April 15th in the Library. Keith has invited several local groups to attend. Another meeting is scheduled for April 21st. Keith also reported that Pool Committee member, Eileen Ellerman, will be attending a workshop in Kansas City pertaining to fund raising. <