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Tony Wood Co-Founder Bricktown Blog, Founder coffeyvilleflood.com

This patriotic cantata will be presented by a combined choir of area church choir members Sunday, June 29 at 2:00 P.M. at the First Baptist Church, Ninth and Elm.  The choir is directed by Carol Allison, accompanied by Cathy Cain, and narrated by Chuck McFate.  Jerry Eden will present a patriotic recitation.  All are welcome to attend this free event which includes a reception after the musical event.

http://www.dailyyonder.com/

The Daily Yonder is published on the web by the Center for Rural Strategies. Editors Julie Ardery and Bill Bishop have written for national magazines, for newspapers in Kentucky and Texas and authored books on American politics, art and culture.

At the end of each semester, the state high school activities association asks member schools to compile academic achievement data for each activity. If the average GPA of all participants falls within a range from 3.0 to 3.24, those students receive a certificate for outstanding scholastic achievement. For activities whose participants average 3.25 to 4.0, students earn a certificate for distinguished scholastic achievement. I am proud to report the following activities qualified for outstanding scholastic achievement:

Baseball - 29 students

Swimming and Diving - Boys  - 12

Tennis - Boys  - 13

 Track and Field - Boys- 32

The following activities earned distinguished scholastic achievement honor:

 Basketball - Girls - 32

Cheerleaders - 18

Dance Team - 16

Speech/Drama, including Forensics - 34

Swimming and Diving - Girls - 11

Track and Field - Girls - 16

Congratulations to each of these students and their coaches on this terrific accomplishment.

On Wednesday, May 21st Hillcrest Golf Course will host the first annual “It’s All About the Kids” Benefit Golf Tournament. All proceeds go to help the Boys and Girls Club and youth sports programs in Coffeyville. This is a 9 hole tournament of 4 man teams playing scramble (select-a-shot).  The putting contest begins at 1:00pm and the tournament kicks off with a shotgun start  at 2:00pm.

Hole sponsorships are available all interested parties should contact Donna Gilstrap at 620-252-6400. Come out and enjoy a relaxing afternoon of golf for a great cause.

Beginning a few months ago, in March, Community Elementary School was host to the very first Coffeyville World Cafe. Based on the model described in “The World Cafe: Shaping our Futures Through Conversations that Matter,” a cafe-style meeting place was created where members of the community came together and held forward-thinking discussions on issues of importance to the future of Coffeyville. Discussion revolved around one central theme: What question, if answered, could make the most difference in the future of our community?” Participants were seated in groups of four at a cafe-style table covered in butcher paper, and each table had markers for jotting down ideas along with a vase with flowers to brighten the environment. After 15 minutes of discussion, three of the four people went to different tables, and one person stayed behind to “anchor” the ideas created by their original group. By moving to different tables, groups were able to “cross-pollinate” their ideas across the room. At the end of the next 15 minutes, a member from each table shared with the entire group.

Although the Coffeyville World Cafe first met in the elementary school, it is a conversational process that applies to all parts of the community. Members from the city, business, educational, mental health, and private communities, among others, were in attendance. Discussion results from this first meeting prompted the second Coffeyville World Cafe, which was hosted by Coffeyville Regional Medical Center.  This cafe saw many new participants, including those from the health profession, community foundation, and banking, among others, each of whom became quickly engaged in the process. The prompt this time was based on results from the first cafe: What needs to happen to make you feel fully engaged and energized about creating positive ideas for Coffeyville?

I would like to invite everybody to the third Coffeyville World Cafe on May 31st at Four County Mental Health. Breakfast will be served at 8:30, and the cafe discussion will start at 9:00. As more participants get together and share thought, ideas about the future of Coffeyville will start to become more solid. Many participants of the cafe are also highly involved in New Coffeyville, and the ideas generated by the Coffeyville World Cafe will begin to find connections that will help them to be realized. New Coffeyville has several action committees that have a natural connection to the ideas generated in the Coffeyville World Cafe. As ideas spread, and action committees are utilized, the benefits to Coffeyville will be immense. Help us create a strong future for our hometown by participating in the next Coffeyville World Cafe.

The end of the school year is upon us, and many things are still in the works for the rest of the year. Please visit the following link for the FKHS spring newsletter: http://www.cvilleschools.com/FKHS/Newsletter.htm

I want to give a huge thank you and congratulatory offerings to English teacher Mrs. Linda Handshumaker and instrumental music teacher Mrs. Marilyn O’Shields on their retirements. We all appreciate your efforts and dedication to our kids. FKHS is a better place for your having been here.

Graduation is Thursday May 15th at 7:00 pm in the FKHS gymnasium. Families of seniors should keep the following events in mind as the next few weeks roll on:

Monday, May 5:   Senior class picture  9:15                               

Caps & Gowns & cords available for pick up in Main Office 

Tuesday, May 6:   Vocal Music Concert 

Wednesday, May 7:  Senior Recognition & Honors Program   7:00 p.m.  Food Service Center 

May 7. 8, 9:    CCC Finals 

Thursday, May 8:   Senior pictures due to Mr. Murdock for plaques, yard signs and Coffeyville Journal special 

Friday, May 9:   All Food Center and  Library Fines plus any other debts must be paid in the main office 

Monday, May 19: Spring Sports Banquet, Food Service Center 

Tuesday,  May 13:  Finals in blocks 7, 8   Turn in textbooks                                

Academic holds determined & placed on diplomas. ( Students walking in ceremonies must be within .50 of therequired 27.50 credits to walk.)   

Tuesday, May 13: Instrumental Music Concert 

Wednesday, May 14:  Finals in blocks 1, 2, 3, 4                                   

Turn in textbooks 

Thursday, May 15:  Finals in blocks 5, 6  Turn in textbooks            

11:00   Cook-Out  at back gym door           

11:30            Senior Most Awards with STUCO  (gym)           

12:00    Renaissance Rally  (gym)           

12:30   Senior class picture in gym bleachers             

 1:00    Graduation Rehearsal   (gym)                             

6:30    Line Up              

7:00    Graduation ceremonies 

Graduates may pick up diplomas in concession stand after ceremonies.

All fines must be paid before diploma can be received. 

Thanks to everybody for helping to make this a tremendous school year!

Some of you may already be aware of this information, but I ask that you please take the time to read this email, and then forward it on to anyone who might be interested.6-month-old Granton Lee Bayless (His family currently lives in Bolivar, MO, but Dad grew up in Havana, KS) was diagnosed with SCID (Severe Combined Immune Deficiency) in March 2008. SCID is a primary immune deficiency, and is often called “bubble boy disease”. SCID became widely known during the 1970’s and 80’s, when the world learned of David Vetter, a boy with a diagnosis of SCID, who lived for 12 years in a plastic, germ-free bubble. Persons born with SCID lack the ability to fight off infections, which can create a situation in which the common cold is just as deadly as pneumonia. Typically, white blood cells (which fight infection) are produced in the bone marrow by stem cells. In people with a diagnosis of SCID, the bone marrow stem cells are absent or defective. This leaves the affected person open to any and all germs around him because he has no way to fight them off. The treatment of choice has been replacing the defective bone marrow with normal bone marrow through stem cell (bone marrow) transplant. In Granton’s case, his parent’s bone marrow types were not a good match.

A Bone Marrow Drive has been scheduled for Monday, May 5, from 8:00am until 8:00pm, at the Dearing Christian Church. At the Drive, you will be tested with a cheek swab. The Drive will be sponsored by the Red Cross. The cost for this tissue test is typically $52, but there will be NO COST at this particular Drive. This is restricted to individuals ages 18 to 60 (55 for some registrees). After testing, you will be placed on a list through the Red Cross of potential donors, so Granton will not be the only individual to benefit from this Drive. Please check out www.marrow.org to discover what it means to be a potential donor. A Hog roast will be held on this same date, from 11:00am-2:00pm. Donations to benefit the family will be accepted.

You can check Granton’s website for updates, http://grantonbayless.blogspot.com

Please keep Granton and his family in your thoughts.

Coffeyville Area Chamber of Commerce Event

Young Professionals April Gathering!

Please join us for a couple of hours of networking. There are no age restrictions only that you feel young at heart!

DATE: April 30, 2008

TIME: 5-7 p.m.

LOCATION: Coffeyville Country Club Patio

MORE: Appetizers Sponsored by the Coffeyville Country Club

Cash bar available

Membership Not Required

Door prizes sponsored by CRMC

Please forward this notice to your friends and co-workers!

Coffeyville Area Chamber of Commerce

807 Walnut

Coffeyville, Kansas 67337

620-251-2550

I received some mildly disturbing news last Friday. Apparently, dear reader, I have a *walk*. I was unaware of this until recently, when a coworker pointed it out. Since that time I have checked with several friends and loved ones, and they all agree that I have a walk that is particular to me. Of course, *I* am insisting that it is simply a result of my attention to good posture…but I digress…

If you want to witness my “walk” firsthand, you can usually catch me walking on Monday mornings at 8:30am on the walking path around the pond at LeClere Park. About 2 months ago I concocted yet another crazy scheme to incorporate fitness into my social life by organizing some fun outings with family and friends at Roosevelt Trail. It was so much fun that I thought I’d go walking just before my Monday Pilate’s class. Kimberly Smith (wife of FKHS principal, yoga instructor, and all around cool chick) mentioned that she had heard of another walking path, and suggested we check it out. We got Tony Wood (owner of Midwest Computer Solutions, and sponsor of this blog) to join us, and we set up a regular date at LeClere Park’s walking path.

I like the path for several reasons. It’s nicely paved, and the view of the pond and wildlife make a lovely setting for a morning walk. The location is convenient, and it is nice to run into other early risers out for a stroll, fishing, or walking their dogs. Tony and Kimberly are excellent conversationalists, and the walk is a fabulous way to start my week. Perhaps the only downside to this walk is a certain goose with dominance issues. That irritable creature never misses an opportunity to challenge me to a game of chicken (perhaps you are groaning at this avian-inspired attempt at humor, but I couldn’t resist). So far the score is Goose : 1 – April : 3.

Of course, the goose would never have won if he hadn’t had me alone and outnumbered by the three thuggish ducks he had brought along as back up. When they saw me out walking (apparently they can recognize my trademark saunter) they stopped whatever it was they were doing and immediately headed my direction. Mistakenly, I thought I would do the polite thing and let the goose and ducks go first. But they crossed onto the walking path, spread out, and stopped so that they were blocking my way and I would have to walk around them. At this point, dear reader, perhaps you are still unconvinced that geese are capable of coordinated acts of aggression, but I am under no such delusions. Which is why after waiting politely, I finally decided to go around those birds that day. Alfred Hitchcock would have approved.

While doing so, I happened to look up to see a sign posted over a switch that led to my discovery of what is arguably the best feature of the LeClere Park walking path. If you should choose to walk in LeClere Park in the evenings or early mornings, the City of Coffeyville has provided lights. The posted sign invites guests to switch the courtesy lights on when they arrive, and politely asks them to switch the lights off when they leave. At that moment I found myself touched by the generous and practical nature of hometown life. The light switch manages to be welcoming, practical, and energy-conscious all at once.

I was so thrilled that I mentioned this at Pilates. I had no idea I was in for a but-wait-there’s-more moment. Sarah Hoy told me there is also a 5K run in the down town area. I always seem to be pleasantly surprised about the things I find to do in Coffeyville. Sarah also had a suggestion about my goose issues. She indicated that if any goose is foolish enough to give her trouble, she’s still got enough “country” in her to reach out and wring its neck. If you’ve met Sarah, you know she often expresses herself with a mixture of country gentility and Kansas practicality that is special to this region, and exemplifies the charm of a city like Coffeyville. Her pep talk must have inspired me in some way, because since that day the goose has backed down. Maybe he can see the visions of pâté de foie gras in my eyes…

Of course, when it comes to geese, I still think there is more safety in numbers, so I’m inviting *you* to join me for a Monday morning walk. You can come for the fresh air, the company, the conversation, or the chance to personally observe my apparently unique stride (although, by the end of a couple of miles it probably looks more like a trudge). I’m not terribly concerned about your motivation, as long as you help me stare down that goose.