Greetings!  This is the one hundred thirtieth edition of the Monday Messenger.  Its purpose is to bring you current information about the ABCDE project and area.  ABCDE consists of local residents from Atlanta , Burden, Cambridge , Dexter and Eastern Cowley County working together for community development.  If you have anything to submit for the newsletter, please send it to shannonthom@hotmail.com.  

ABCDE Monthly Meeting

The monthly meeting of the ABCDE organization will occur tonight, Monday, October 6^th at 7:00 p.m. in Burden.  The meeting will be held in Melissa’s building on Main and Highway 160.

GATHERING PLACE WEBSITE  

The Gathering Place now has a website.  Visit www.dextergatheringplace.com.  

Please send me your Eastern Cowley County business websites and I’ll make a listing.  Send to shannonthom@hotmail.com.

ABCDE Fall Countryside Excursion 

The annual Fall Countryside Excursion Tour will be held on Oct. 18, 2008.  This is an opportunity to tour rural businesses and experience the rural atmosphere.  To participate in the open houses please contact Wanda Headrick at 620-394-2258.  Maps will be available on www.cowleynet.com.

Dear Grouse-Silver Creek Stakeholders;

The Grouse-Silver Creek Watershed District #92 (GSW) board is inviting area producers, landowners and residents to a stakeholders meeting October 8, 2008.  The primary purpose of this meeting is to update the stakeholders on the progress that has been made in the watershed to preserve and protect our waters.  The GSW board has been active on cost-share conservation practices with producers interested in improving water quality. 

GSW has been awarded a grant by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.  These grant funds are to be used to implement Best Management Practices for water quality improvement.  Representatives from KDHE will be in attendance to speak with stakeholders and seek information on how they can improve the WRAPS and granting process.

The board of GSW #92 is seeking interested individuals to serve on a stakeholder leadership team which will assist the board in the decision-making process for the grant funds.  All interested parties are asked to sign up at the meeting or contact me to submit their name.  A mail-in ballot will be sent out for the voting process after the meeting.

This meeting is scheduled for October 8, 2008 at 7:00 p.m. at the Burden City Building .  Please plan to attend and support the GSW with their ever important conservation activities.  Refreshments will be provided.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact me at 620-221-1850 ext 35.

Sincerely,

Jenni Carr

Water Quality Coordinator

Cowley County Conservation District

 PH 620-221-1850 est. 35

jennifer.carr@ks.nacdnet.net

Cowley County Economic Forum

The 2008 Cowley County Economic Forum will be held on October 30^th at the Brown Center at Cowley College in Arkansas City .  ABCDE and QUAD will host display booths as a community resource.  The forum will take place during the day.  For more information contact Kerri Falletti at Cowley First.   

Do you have an idea for a business?

Jack has assisted 32 businesses in Eastern Cowley County since ABCDE joined QUAD in July of 2006.  The next QUAD meeting will be Thursday, October 9^th at 5:00 p.m. in Sedan .

Business owners and those with business ideas in Eastern Cowley County have access to a Professional Business Coach.  His name is Jack Newcomb and he is available for free, confidential advice and he will even come to you.  Through the ABCDE program, we have joined the QUAD EF project and have access to their business coach.  Many local banks, businesses, individuals and Cowley First are assisting to pay the QUAD membership fee through December of 2008.  For more information contact Jack at (620) 249-2108.

FALL ACTIVITIES IN DEXTER

Do you like to be scared?  Come on, it’s Halloween.  Visit the haunted corn maze during Friday Night Frights at the Stone Barn Mercantile in Dexter.  Friday Night Frights occurs Friday, October 17 and 24 from 8:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.  The maze is on 8 acres of land and one of the largest in Kansas .  The Stone Barn and maze are located one half mile north of Dexter on K 15 Hwy.  It is also open for groups by appointment.  Call (620) 876-3467 for more information or visit www.stonebarnmercantile.com.

Sesqui-centennial Sunflower Painting

Oct. 18, 2008   1:00 p.m.

620-876-3467                

Stone Barn Mercantile              

www.stonebarnmercantile.com  

Come celebrate the Grand Opening of the Log Cabins at The Stone Barn Mercantile.  Open House from 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.  Refreshments and drawing for free weekend stay.

DEXTER FALL FESTIVAL SCARECROW DECORATING

Scarecrows never go out of style!!  To celebrate the fall season, there will be a scarecrow decorating contest with great prizes for the top three scarecrows.  We invite you to join us and share in this old fashion fun!!  Decorate a scarecrow any way you like;  submit your registration to Dexter area merchants – Stone Barn Mercantile, Gathering Place, Dexter Mini Mall, or Creek Water Wool Works by October 27^th.  Your scarecrow must be in place no later than October 30.  Judging will be held on October 31 from 8 a.m. until 12:00 noon.  The scarecrows must be in the Dexter city limits or within ½ mile radius of Dexter.  Come celebrate the fall season with this fun community event!!  For more information contact Vicki Drake at (620) 876-3525.

ABCDE Website

Don’t forget to visit www.cowleynet.com for information about the ABCDE project.

Upcoming Activities/Events

October 6                  ABCDE Monthly Meeting, Burden

October 8                  Grouse-Silver Creek Watershed District Meeting, Burden

October 9                  QUAD Facilitation Board Meeting, Sedan , 5:00 p.m.

October 18                Fall Countryside Excursion Tour, Eastern Cowley County

October 18                Sesqui-centennial Barn Painting, Log Cabin Open House, 

                               Dexter

October 30                Cowley County Economic Forum, Arkansas City

October 31                Scarecrow Decorating Contest, Dexter

To submit information for the newsletter, send an e-mail to Shannon Thom Martin at shannonthom@hotmail.com.