Featuring Andy Brown, Dennis May, Laurie Pascale and Kyle Morr
Directed by Michael Misko
Performance Location:
Abilene Civic Center
201 NW 2nd St.
Abilene, KS 67410
Performance Schedule:
Thursday, September 11 at 7:30
Friday, September 12 at 7:30
Saturday, September 13 at 7:30
Sunday, September 14 at 2:00
The year is 1939 and production has been shut down on the set of the film Gone With the Wind. The screenplay for the film isn’t working, so legendary film producer David O. Selznick sends for director Victor Fleming and screenwriter Ben Hecht.
Together, locked in an office for five days, and on a diet of bananas and peanuts, the men hammer out what will become one of the most famous films of all time.
A very special thank you to T & M Stage Supplies, Inc.
of Wichita, KS for the lighting equipment, stage platforms,
The earth of 2014 will soon be covered with the beautiful vivid colors of Autumn as the leaves turn into the most magnificent hues ever seen by man-kind and will drift down to cover the top of our land. Red, maroon, yellow, orange and gold among all shades of green leaves will dot the lawns and yards of Hutchinson as well as all the little towns surrounding it.
Our “fair city” will radiate and for a short span of time, we will feel the joy of living in God’s creation. The radiance of the sunshine will cast feelings of joy if we let it and we will experience His provision for us as we travel about in our daily lives.
The wild turkeys will come out even more along the old highway 61 between 43rd Ave. and Medora as they have already begun to do. We have observed the male turkey going ahead of his family and checking out the traffic to make sure it is safe.
At a signal from him the mother and the children dart across the road, safely to the other side. Another evidence of them being God created. It is also a reminder of how
He looks after us…if we let him.
It’s a lot like the people God has made to beautify the world…at least those who are following Him. My sister and I enjoyed the State Fair this week on the be-ginning of the cooler season. People were mostly happy to be at this yearly event and it was a joy to smile and get a grin back. It was fun to watch the little ones in strollers, intently trying to take in life in general. If you smiled at them, they smiled back with the most innocent, radiant look, and for the moment, you feel life is wonderful. The innocence of a child is so fantastic to behold and you wish it could stay that way.
We started in the Pride of Kansas Bldg. and I showed Carol some of my painted gourds. We checked out a few of the booths and I saw the one that sold subscriptions to the Kansas Magazine, one of my favorite. I told the ladies of my experience two years ago when I had paid for a subscription with cash and had never received it. I had lost the receipt so didn’t call in. The lady in charge took my word for it and issued me another. It was nice to see some trust in this world of upside down happenings.
My sister and I used to go on a few somewhat daring rides. Being older, however, we decided to take the “sky ride” one time instead of something that spun around too much. After all, you just sit on it and can look about the grounds, it couldn’t be that bad.
When we had bought our ticket and walked up to the car, the attendant asked if we wanted it stopped to get on and we readily agreed. She was very helpful and got us on. Then we went higher and higher as the wind began to pick up and rocked our car just a little. There was no foot rest, we noticed and our legs just dangled down. Neither one of us said much as we looked out over the grounds. In the back of my mind, I was so thankful I had a God who looked after me, even when I was sometimes a little foolhardy.
When we came to the end of our ride, several of the attendants were waiting for us and they stopped the ride and helped us off. That in itself was such a blessing.
We both admitted to each other later, we were a “little bit” scared but we were glad we had not given in to our fear.
Going back to the car, parked way over in the B8 Parking Lot, we were able to catch the grounds tram and then the parking lot tram without any problem, another example of God’s care. It turned out to be a wonderful day. even though we were windblown and tired.
Isn’t that how He works out our lives? There is so much in this old world that has gone wrong, simply because God is left out. He wants to be there for us and yes, even take care of us in a wonderful way…giving us the Autumn beauty and weather to enjoy. He will not, however, force it on us, he wants us to decide that is what we want with all our heart.
It is then we can do what we “auto” do, enjoy the beautiful Autumn with all our being! It will give us something to hold onto when the storms are blowing our way!
Doris welcomes your comments and can be reached at [email protected].
Data shows the severity of the recession’s impact on Kansas’ forest industry caused by lack of consumer demand.
MANHATTAN, Kan. – In the past decade, Kansas has seen hazardous ice storms, devastating drought and soaring grain prices, which make deforestation increasingly likely. However, the reductions seen in the state’s forest products industries aren’t linked to a physical loss in forestland, but rather a loss in consumer demand.
Blame is cast to the Great Recession, which may have only officially lasted from December 2007 to June 2009, but its impact on the economy and the entire timber industry can still be seen today.
A report recently released by the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), titled “Kansas Timber Industry,” indicates the status of the industry in 2009 and tracks changes from the last inventory conducted in 2003.
In 2009, an almost 50 percent reduction in the amount of timber processed by mills occurred—a loss of about 1.6 million cubic feet. Kansas’ sawmill receipts showed a decrease of 65 percent since 2003.
It would be easy to blame this trend on the burst of the housing bubble that began the recession or the country’s shift toward electronic communication and record keeping.
But, Kansas is primarily a hardwood state, meaning the types of trees harvested such as walnut, oak and cottonwood, don’t serve the same purpose as the softwoods used in construction and paper manufacturing.
Most timber processed locally in Kansas is used for pallets and crates, but the higher quality logs are exported to other states such as Missouri or sent overseas to be made into furniture.
Demand for forest products
Brian Briggeman, a Kansas State University associate professor of agricultural economics, explained the situation as one of the many real-life examples of supply and demand.
During the recession, Briggeman said the nation saw surging unemployment rates, shrinking real wages and capped salaries.
“If you can’t afford a house, how can you afford furniture to put in it?” said Briggeman, who explained that the steep drop in disposable income affected consumer demand, and people began searching for cheaper substitutes.
Instead of going to their local vendor to buy the high-quality solid oak furniture like many of their parents and grandparents once had, consumers turned to places such as IKEA and Wal-Mart to save money.
“The question has become, will demand ever fully come back for furniture?” Briggeman said. “We have improved, but I wouldn’t say we’re to a point where the U.S. consumer is ready to go out and spend like they did before the recession.”
Available supply
According to the USFS report, in 2009 there were 2.27 million acres of forestland in Kansas. Even with a million cubic feet harvested annually, an average of almost 15 cubic feet of annual net growth per acre remains in Kansas’ forests, suggesting that the number of trees is not the issue.
Because most of the state’s forestland is privately owned, the problem now lies in the landowners’ willingness to harvest, which is most often dictated by market price.
Charles Barden, state extension forester for K-State Research and Extension, said part of the problem began before the recession fully hit.
“Like so many other things, there was a bubble in the hardwood industry,” he explained. “China was buying every walnut log they could lay their hands on at the time. There were reports of buyers literally going out and buying logs as small as 14 inches in diameter, which is kind of a small log, but people were happy because they could finally sell such a small log for a good price.”
Barden compared this situation to a rancher that can either sell a 400-pound calf now, or wait until that calf grows to be 800 pounds. The larger the diameter, the more money the log is worth.
When the recession hit, international buyers no longer wanted to pay high dollar for raw materials to manufacture a product they couldn’t sell back to the United States. Consequently, landowners stopped harvesting their forestland.
“Working in the woods can be expensive and dangerous,” Barden said. “What happens is you can always sell a log, but the landowners decide if they want to sell that log for $50 when they remember their neighbor sold one the same size for $500 a couple years ago. So, they don’t sell it, it keeps getting bigger and they wait for the market to come up.”
Like consumer demand, the forest products industry has been slow to recover, but it is improving. As consumers become more active, so will the markets.
“Luckily the trees we didn’t cut are still growing,” Barden said. “They are a long-term crop. Demand has already started to slowly come back, and we are seeing more walnut being harvested and more logs being cut.”
Barden’s message to the landowners waiting for higher prices is simple: it’s ok to wait, but be sure to provide proper tree management to promote good health and growth of their tree crop. He also encourages contacting the Kansas Forest Service if anyone has questions or needs assistance developing a marketing plan for their timber harvest.
For more information about the Kansas timber industry, landowners can visit the Kansas Forest Service website, www.kansasforests.org
Casper, Wyoming, — College Rodeo is pleased to announce the 2014 “Coach of the Year” award has been presented to Chad Cross, the Fort Scott Community College coach. Cross was recognized on Wednesday night at the College National Finals Rodeo in Casper, WY.
College Rodeo Commissioner Roger Walters said “Chad Cross is an example of the level of exceptional coaches that college rodeo is proud to have.”
Dr. Clayton Tatro, President of Fort Scott Community College (FSCC), added, “Coach Cross has proven year after year that he can mold and shape some of the best rodeo talent in the nation.”
“Even more importantly, he mentors students in extremely positive ways. Being recognized as national “Coach of the Year” is a well-deserved and most fitting honor for Chad.”
Asked to comment on receiving the award, Cross responded that “there have been a lot of great coaches win this award and it is a special feeling to be included in their number.”
Cross praised the commitment of his wife, Jennifer, and her continuing contributions to the FSCC team. Cross went on to thank current and past team members for their efforts.
Cross has dedicated 17 years to coaching rodeo at FSCC and places a large focus on dedication, positive attitude and hard work and instills these philosophies in the athletes he works with. Cross lives in Fort Scott, Kan., with his wife Jennifer and children Seth, Jaycee, and Jake.
Cross was also named regional “Coach of the Year” in the spring.
Life away from the Barton Gym is not proving kind to the Barton Community College volleyball team as the Cougars went to Concordia, Kansas, Wednesday night falling 30-28, 25-13, and 25-14 to Cloud County Community College. Dropping their second straight three-set road conference match, Barton falls to 1-3 in conference play and 2-8 overall while Cloud County improves to 2-1 in Jayhawk play and 8-3 on the season.
Barton will reload the bus to head to Sterling, Colorado, as the Cougars step out of conference play to participate in the NJC Pizza Hut Invitational taking place on Friday and Saturday. Barton’s first match will be at 3:00 p.m. Friday against Northwest College followed by a 7:00 p.m. matchup with Casper College. On Saturday the Cougars will play host Northeastern Junior College at noon then wrap up the tournament at 3:00 p.m. against Sheridan College.
Early season provides hunters with unique, challenging opportunity
PRATT – Load up your bird dog and dig out that hunter orange because the Early Prairie Chicken Season is almost here. Beginning Sept. 15, hunters with a valid Kansas hunting license and a Greater Prairie Chicken Permit ($2.50) can hunt in Greater Prairie Chicken Unit, which includes northwest, northcentral and eastern portions of the state. The early greater prairie chicken season will run Sept. 15- Oct. 15, 2014. The regular, traditional prairie chicken season is Nov. 15, 2014 – Jan. 31, 2015. The daily bag limit is two birds and possession limit is eight.
The Early Greater Prairie Chicken Season was established to allow hunters to walk up birds using dogs, which is usually not effective during the traditional season. In September and October, greater prairie chickens may be in loose family groups and are more likely to hold for hunters with pointing dogs. After a cold snap reduces insect populations in the tallgrass prairie, prairie chickens will feed in crop stubble fields. During the regular season, hunters commonly station themselves around these feed fields to pass shoot prairie chickens flying in.
Both hunting methods are challenging. During the early season, hunters and dogs must cover vast areas of prairie searching for birds. During the regular season, hunters must locate fields that birds are using then hope those birds pass within shotgun range when they fly in. And even when a hunter is in the right spot, the fast-flying birds are difficult quarry.
Greater prairie chicken permits can be purchased wherever licenses are sold and online at ksoutdoors.com.
For more information, consult the2014 Kansas Hunting and Furharvesting Regulations Summaryonline at ksoutdoors.com/Hunting/Hunting-Regulations.
Source: Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism
New paddlers can attend the “Intro to Kayaking Orientation”
PRATT – The Kansas Canoe and Kayak Association (KCKA) invites all to attend the 2014 Fall Rendezvous, Sept. 20-21, at Card Creek Campground, Elk City State Park. The free two-day canoeing and kayaking event is open to the public and all ages and experience levels are welcome.
Beginning canoers, kayakers, or paddlers looking to brush-up on their skills, will enjoy an out-of-water “Intro to Kayaking Orientation,” offered 4 p.m.–5 p.m., Sept. 20.
Whether you are interested in fishing, recreational, transitional, touring, or racing paddle craft, this class will help ensure your time on the water is safe and fun. Participants will also have the opportunity to sit in all types of boats.
(Family Features) There’s no time like the holidays to enjoy the sweetness of the season. Incorporating a fresh, fruity flavor, such as the versatile Piñata® apple, is one mouthwatering way to create a crisp, new spin on your favorite holiday recipes ranging from salads to entrees to desserts.
Crisp and juicy, Piñata has classic apple flavors with a unique, tropical twist. With the same thin skin as Golden Delicious, Piñata apples can be used for nearly any culinary purpose. They hold their shape to cooking temperatures, making them a great choice for classic apple pie or roasted alongside pork tenderloin. Their pretty, red-orange color, bright flesh, and delightful texture also make them the perfect apple for adding crispness and flavor to a fresh green salad.
Derived from three heirloom varieties – American classic Golden Delicious, England’s Cox’s Orange Pippin and the Duchess of Oldenburg from Russia – Piñata is your old-meets-new apple with the balanced sweetness and tartness perfect for both culinary creations and fresh eating. Look for Piñata in supermarkets from November through April each year.
For more seasonal recipes featuring Piñata apples, visit www.stemilt.com.
2 large Stemilt Piñata apples, peeled, cored, quartered and thinly sliced
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
Powdered sugar (optional)
Chopped pecans (optional)
Preheat oven to 350°F.
Heat brown sugar and 3/4 stick butter in small pot over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally until completely melted. Add cinnamon to mixture and heat through. Set aside.
In bowl, add 1 tablespoon fresh orange juice to apples and mix through. Set aside.
Whisk (or sift) flour, baking powder and salt in bowl. Set aside.
In another bowl, mix remaining butter until creamy and smooth. Add granulated sugar and mix until well incorporated. Add eggs one at a time, mixing thoroughly after each. Add vanilla and 1 tablespoon orange juice and continue mixing until combined. Batter should be slightly thick but pliable.
Warm brown sugar mixture on stovetop, if needed, to loosen. Pour mixture into bottom of standard 9-inch cake pan. Tilt pan to spread mixture to edges.
Arrange sliced apples atop brown sugar mixture. Drop mounds of batter over top of apples and carefully spread to edge of pan to seal perimeter and cover apples.
Bake for 35-40 minutes, until golden.
Transfer cake to cooling rack for at least 30 minutes before inverting onto serving platter. Once cake is transferred to rack to cool, run knife around outside edge to loosen.
Once cooled and inverted, slice and serve. Dust with powder sugar and/or chopped pecans, if preferred.
Crowdfunding site Barnraiser introduces the people behind sustainable food and farming projects and offers members an opportunity to fund their success. The site is now accepting any project of $2,000 or more that moves the needle forward toward healthy, sustainable and soulful, and humane food and farming. Projects are created online and shared by the creators with their social circles and community. If a project meets or exceeds funding goals when the deadline arrives, then all of the backers that have pledged support are charged and the project receives funding.
PRATT – Kansas deer season is upon us and with a variety of seasons to choose from, it’s important hunters stay informed and organized. The 2014 deer season kicks off with the youth and disabled season going on now through Sept. 14, 2014, followed by the muzzleloader season, Sept. 15 – 28, 2014, and the archery season, Sept. 15 – Dec. 31, 2014. Resident hunters can obtain deer permits over the counter from any license vendor, Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism office, and online at ksoutdoors.com. A resident hunter who purchases an Any-season White-tailed Deer permit can hunt during any season with equipment legal for that season. Other permits may be equipment and season specific, as listed on the permit.
New this year, hunters can reference color-coded calendars found in the2014 Hunting and Furharvesting Regulations Summaryand online at ksoutdoors.com to keep track of season dates.
All hunters hunting deer during a firearm deer season and persons assisting, are required to wear blaze orange while in the field. A minimum of 100 square inches on the front and 100 square inches on the back must be visible. A blaze orange hat must also be worn.
Last year, more than 120,000 hunters pursued deer in Kansas, harvesting nearly 90,000 deer and spending 1.4 million hunting days afield. Overall success rate for active hunters was 51 percent.
For more information on the 2014 Kansas deer season, consult the2014 Hunting and Furharvesting Regulations Summaryor visit ksoutdoors.com
