Abilene Middle School Viseo Makes TV

Abilene Middle School On News

Abilene Middle School students were featured on the national youth news program Channel One. On the Tuesday, April 14 broadcast, the AMS Lip Dub of Taylor Swift’s “Shake It Off” was featured in a segment spotlighting youth making a positive impact in their school community. The segment highlighted the lip dub as a culmination of the middle school’s Kindness Promotion Week.

Channel One is a youth news network that has been bringing current events and global news to over 5 million students worldwide for the past 25 years. 

The AMS Lip Dub 2014 can be viewed on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-8yH-2U89E

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Great Plains Theatre Kicking Off 2015 Season

Best Professional Theatre Kicks Starts It Season With Style

We have been busy getting things lined up for our 2015 Season and we are looking forward to another great season of productions.  All six of our mainstage shows will take place at Abilene High School's auditorium.  The high school is located at 1300 N. Cedar Street in Abilene.

We are pleased to announce Astra Bank as our full season underwriter and we graciously thank them for their $25,000 contribution to GPT.

"We are ecstatic to have Astra Bank and Kyle Campbell take a leadership role in sustaining the operations of Great Plains Theatre in our community.  We have been presenting our belief that our community deserves to decide if Great Plains Theatre is a vital part to the quality of life in the Abilene community or not. Astra Bank taking this leadership position is a strong vote for what GPT means to Abilene in that regard." Executive Director Elizabeth Weese says.

Corporate sponsors for the 2015 Season include Pinnacle Bank, First Bank Kansas, and Holm Automotive, Inc.

If your business is interested in sponsoring a show, or in advertising opportunities, please contact Elizabeth at (785) 263-4574, or email her at elizabeth@greatplainstheatre.com.


Here's a look at some upcoming GPT events:

Join the Plain Great Players as they present the musical
Godspell at Abilene High School Auditorium!
Performances Friday, Saturday and Sunday
May 8, 9, 10 at 7:30 pm

2015 Season

Damn Yankees
Classic 1950s baseball musical comedy!
June 12 - 21

The Dixie Swim Club
A heartwarming comedy about friendship.
July 10 - 19

Ring of Fire: the songs of Johnny Cash
Experience the music of the Man in Black!
August 7 - 16

Weekend Comedy
One cabin, two couples, one weekend:  Comedy!
October 2 - 11

On Golden Pond
A fresh production of a past GPT favorite.
November 13 - 22

She Loves Me
A delightful musical comedy from the
authors of Fiddler on the Roof.
December 11 - 19


Season tickets and Single tickets are presently available for our 2015 Season!  For more information or to purchase your tickets, call 785-263-4574, or stop by our office location: 311 NW Third St. in Abilene.

Tickets can also be purchased through our website:
www.greatplainstheatre.com

Interested in Volunteering at GPT?  Contact Pattie Mayhew by calling the office or stopping by!

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BBQ Is Back With Power - Are You Up For The Competition?

BBQ IS A BIGGIE AT FLOUR POWER

Fire up your grill and get ready to smoke the competition. Shown at Flour Power 2014 is Terry Boone with the BBQ on Budget team.

There will be smoke over the Abilene Fairgrounds during Flour Power on May 8 and 9.  Flour Power is the community’s second largest event and there is no admission fee so come out and join the fun.   Friday night and Saturday are full of activities several of which focus on barbeque.  The opportunities abound whether you prefer to competitively grill barbeque or just sample it. 

The Wheatstock Grill-Off, a sanctioned barbeque competition, is an opportunity for you to prove that you have what it takes to smoke the competition.  Get a team together and get ready to compete!

Teams prepare entries in four categories: Chicken, Pork Ribs, Pork Butt, and Brisket.  Cash prizes are awarded to the top ten teams in each of the four categories. The open division, which is optional, offers cook’s choice and dessert choice categories.  Winners in those categories also receive cash prizes.

The Grand Champion team receives a $2,000 cash prize.  This team also qualifies to enter the American Royal Invitational World Series of Barbeque Competition in Kansas City, the largest BBQ competition in the world.  The Reserve Grand Champion team wins a $1,000 cash prize. 
The Wheatstock Grill-Off is sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbeque Society. Sanctioning by KCBS means competitors have assurance the contest will be conducted in a professional manner, the prize monies will be awarded as advertised, and the rules will be followed. Contest judges are certified by KCBS.

Another opportunity for a grill-off team to show off its expertise is the Friday night Samplings.  Teams can choose to participate in this activity that promotes their barbeque and tempts the taste buds of barbeque fans.  This is when teams offer a barbeque item of their choice for the public to try.  The crowd loves to oblige by sampling the various offerings.   The currency is BBQ Bucks which will be available for purchase at the event.

Flour Power is hosted by Memorial Health Foundation and is held in conjunction with the Championship Midwest Demo Derby.  For more information and details, go to www.FlourPowerKs.org or call 263-6688.

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Abilene's $65,000 Business Grant Program

 

City of Abilene Continues Business Investment Grant Program Total of $65,000 Available for Grants to Businesses, Entrepreneurs 

The City of Abilene, Kansas authorized the second year of the Business Investment Grant Program to promote economic growth and investment in the community. The Economic Development Council will have about $65,000 to award to businesses and entrepreneurs in the City to start or grow business ventures.

The program is funded with $56,000 from the City’s General Fund and an $11,000 grant from the Community Foundation of Dickinson County. The program, which was first piloted in 2014, provided grants to six businesses in Abilene to assist with start­up and/or expansion costs. The City Commission allocated a portion of sales tax growth to provide a sustainable source of revenue for the program’s continuation.

“The Abilene Business Investment Grant Program has provided a mechanism for the City to encourage and participate in the economic growth of the community,” says Mayor Brenda Finn Bowers. “The continuation of the program will no doubt continue to play a role in Abilene’s on­going growth.”

The Economic Development Council recommended several changes to the program to improve upon last year’s efforts. The program will include a voluntary pre­application conference to provide an opportunity for interested parties to learn more about the process and the requirements of submitting an application. The pre­application conference is scheduled for 5:30 pm on April 28, 2015, and will be held in the Commission Chambers at the Abilene Public Library.

In addition, applicants will be required to provide a thorough plan for the project and will also be required to provide progress reports and a final report to the Economic Development Council and City Commission. Reporting will allow the program to be monitored by the City and will also allow the public to better track the progress and success of it.

“Economic investment is an essential part of any community,” says City Manager David Dillner. “Any public program that assists with private investment must be able to show how the funds were spent and what end it accomplished. Improved reporting will allow the grantees to demonstrate the success of the program to the public by accounting for progress of the program’s implementation.”

The Abilene Business Investment Program will begin accepting applications on June 1, 2015. More information about this program will be available on the City’s website at www.abilenecity hall.com/BIG. Interested businesses and entrepreneurs are encouraged to attend the pre­application conference scheduled for 5:30 pm on April 28, 2015 at the Abilene Public Library. Questions regarding the program may be directed to City Manager David Dillner at (785) 263­2550.

 

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Abilene Kansas Seek Community Development Director

City of Abilene to Seek Community Development Director

City Manager David Dillner announced the recent resignation of Community Development Director Tim Hamilton. Tim has served the City since 2011, and has accepted a similar job with the City of Cameron, Missouri. He will remain with the City of Abilene until May 8th, which will allow him to finish up a few projects and prepare the department for the upcoming transition.

“Tim has served the City well during the last few years,” says City Manager David Dillner. “He has contributed positively to the community and organization. While it is disappointing to see him go, it is great to see him take an opportunity that will allow him to grow professionally.”

Under Tim’s leadership, the City of Abilene modified its Neighborhood Revitalization Program to encourage private investment throughout Abilene, created the Abilene Business Investment Grant Program, and recently oversaw a comprehensive update of the City’s Zoning Regulations.

The City will begin the search to fill the position immediately to minimize the amount of time the position is open. Persons interested in applying for the position may apply online at w​ww.hrepartners.com.​ 

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A Traditional Farm Life - Bake Pie Shell 9"

A Traditional Farm Life

​

By Shasta Hamilton

Greetings from Enterprise, dear friends!  Gray clouds promised rain several times this week, but unfortunately did not live up to their promise in this neck of the woods.

Since our last visit I’ve had the pleasure of doing a little sewing.  In an amazing feat of unusual productivity, I actually completed two projects in one day!

The first was a prototype sunbonnet for all four of us ladies to wear this summer.  In “Little House on the Prairie” fashion, our bonnets are medium gray (to hide the dirt without getting as hot as a black bonnet in a Kansas summer) and have a stiff brim.  The brim is stiffened with something called “bonnet board.” Akin to waterproof poster board, it comes in large sheets and is cut to fit the size of the brim before insertion.

I was able to use a commercial pattern for the first sunbonnet for our oldest girl.  I have an adult size pattern for myself, but the smallest pattern I have fits our oldest daughter.  This means I will spend some time this weekend drafting two smaller patterns for my two youngest daughters.

While cutting out the first bonnet pattern, I noticed the girl’s pinafore also included in the pattern envelope would be a simple alternative to a tied apron—they take so much time to make! 

The pinafore covers and protects the dress and adds an extra layer of modesty.  It is similar in some ways to a jumper, but buttons in the back. Among Plain folk, it is often called a “circle apron.” Our choice of color is black, again because it is a practical color for little girls, but more importantly because it is a plain, dark color not apt to draw undue attention.

The pinafore turned out to be what I was looking for.  With no gathers or waistline to slow me down, it was matter of sewing the shoulders, attaching the facing to finish the neck and armholes, sewing down the sides and hemming the bottom.  Even though simple in design, it still took me several hours to complete alongside my other duties as a mother, but I was tickled to start a project after supper and complete it before going to bed—a rare feat around here!

Here’s a happy postscript to the “potato salad saga.”  My mother-in-law and sister-in-law were able to drive up from Wichita Thursday to eat at The Buggy Stop for the first time. Michael grilled them their choice of sandwich and served up their sides.  My mother-in-law had the potato salad. . . and loved it!

Out of the mouths of babes:  Our four-year-old daughter grabbed my hand tightly as we went down the stairs this morning and earnestly promised, “If you fall, I’ll catch.  These stairs are dangerous!”

After last week’s recipe for Lemon Pie, I thought it might be helpful to share a no-fuss pie shell recipe.  If you are pie-crust-phobic, take heart!  Each step is broken down into excruciating detail for the beginner.  If you run into trouble, I’m here to help—just call The Buggy Stop and we’ll talk you through.

Baked Pie Shell—9”

1-1/3 cups all-purpose flour

3 oz. vegetable oil 

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup cold water

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
2. Place all ingredients in a mixing bowl and mix with a fork until dough forms a ball.  Dough should be moist and easy to work with.  If dry, add 1-2 tablespoons water a little bit at a time until evenly moist.  There should be no dry flour remaining, and any loose bits of dough should easily squeeze together to form a ball of dough. 
3. Shape dough into a flattened disk.  Roll out between two pieces of waxed or parchment paper.  Turn over frequently and remove and replace top sheet to avoid wrinkles.  Dough should reach the edges of the waxed paper.
4. Remove top layer of waxed paper and place exposed side of crust in a 9“ pie pan.  Remove remaining layer of waxed paper.  Without stretching, carefully lift edges and press the crust into the pan.  With a scissors or sharp knife, trim away excess dough 1/2” away from the edge of the pan.  Turn this under to make it even with the rim of your pan.  Flute edge of pie shell with your fingers or press flat with the tines of a fork.
5. Prick bottom and sides thoroughly with a fork.  Cover bottom with aluminum foil, pressing to conform to the shape of the pan, and distribute dry beans in a single layer across the bottom.  This step keeps the crust from puffing up while baking.
6. Bake 5 minutes; With hot pads, grasp corners of foil and remove foil with beans and bake an additional 5 to 10 minutes, until light golden brown.  Watch closely to avoid burning.  Remove from oven and cool on wire rack.

Shasta is a fifth generation rural Kansan now residing in Enterprise, Kansas.  She and her husband own and operate The Buggy Stop Home-Style Kitchen with their six home-schooled children.  You can reach The Buggy Stop by calling (785) 200-6385.

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