Congrats to the Holton Varsity Scholar's Bowl team! Starting off the year right with a victory over 14 teams at the Nemaha Central tournament!

The Baileyville Cemetery Association received an award of $2,000 from the STEP General Endowment Fund and $8,000 from the Glen J. Meyer Fund. The grant funds were used to straighten, reset, and level the headstones. This will conserve the headstones and protect them from future settling.

Pictured below are: Dan Heiman, Tory Jost, Connie Heiman, Beaver Koch, John Morrison, and Deb Koch 

Kelly Griswold, the Jobs for America’s Graduates-Kansas (JAG-K) Career Specialist from Hiawatha High School, recently was honored by the National Institute for Construction Excellence (NICE) as the organization’s New Partner of the Year in Construction Education.

Based in Kansas City (Mo.), NICE is dedicated to increasing awareness of construction career fields and skilled trades. NICE offers skill and safety training, student competitions and field trips. It also coordinates externships for educators and classroom visits by industry experts.

Griswold was recognized at the NICE annual awards banquet for her efforts to introduce students to careers in construction and to connect them to potential employers. Griswold was not told she would receive the award in advance of the banquet, which was attended by several of her students, as well as Hiawatha High School Principal Lori Fordyce (pictured at far left with Griswold, center, and three students).

“It was a total shock. I had no idea I would receive an award,” Griswold said. “I was just excited to take our students to the banquet to engage with the professionals there and learn from them.”

“JAG-K's focus on helping students consider their career options is what makes it a natural partner for NICE,” said Greg Lever, Executive Director of NICE. “Kelly's passion for her students, her personal involvement in the construction industry and the fact that she creates opportunity for her students to engage in career exploration with NICE are the main factors that fostered the decision to honor her with the award.”

In recent years, Griswold has engaged with NICE to coordinate guest speakers in the classroom, as well as off-campus training opportunities. Hiawatha students recently attended the NICE iBuild Showcase, which educates participants on the construction industry through hands-on activities and interaction with professionals. In February, NICE provided free OSHA training to 13 Hiawatha JAG-K students.

“NICE is giving the students such a great chance to network and learn about opportunities,” said Joni Bolen, Employer Engagement Director for JAG-K. “They really understand our mission to introduce our students to as many career options as possible. We have a lot of students who are interested in the skilled trades, so this partnership is very beneficial.”

Lever said investing in students – and JAG-K participants in particular – will pay off in the long run for Kansas businesses.

“NICE works to connect students with the skilled trades because it fulfills a mutually beneficial need,” Lever said. “The future workforce resides in the schools, and we are motivated to help create the connection with the industry that otherwise would not be made. The community is well-served when our local talent plays an active role in designing and creating the built environment. Civic pride, personal satisfaction and a robust economy are all long-term products of this effort.”

JAG-K is a multi-year, in-school program for students in grades 6-12 that offers tools to successfully transition students into post-secondary school, the military, or directly into the workforce with marketable skills. Participants in the program face multiple barriers to success that their JAG-K Career Specialist helps them overcome through a nationally-accredited, evidence-based model.

The 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization is a state affiliate of the national JAG program network which operates in 38 different states and territories. It is primarily funded through the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families block grant to the State of Kansas administered by the Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF). In addition to school districts and DCF, JAG-K partners with the Kansas Department of Education. Other JAG-K funding sources include ADM, AT&T, EagleU, Evergy, Goldstein Charitable Trust, the JB and Anne Hodgdon Foundation, John Deere, the Kansas Chamber of Commerce, Kansas Gas Service, the Kansas Insurance Department, the Kansas State Bank Commissioner, Royals Charities, Synchrony Financial, the Taco Bell Foundation, the City of Topeka, United Way of the Plains and Walmart.

To learn more about JAG-K, visit www.jagkansas.org, ‘Jobs for America’s Graduates-Kansas’ on Facebook, and on Twitter at @JAG_Kansas.

The staff and administration of Falls City High School have announced the selections for September High School Students of the Month. The honors go to the following students:

Upperclassmen:
Chase Brown, a senior, is the son of James Brown
Grace Morris, a senior, is the daughter of Adam and Sarah Morris

Underclassmen:
Lathan Richey, a freshman, is the son of Josh and Molley Richey
Evie Rue, a sophomore, is the daughter if Paul and Sara Rue

Congratulations to the winners!

Since June, Atchison-area residents, mostly children, have been placing rocks along the edge of
the sidewalk along Atchison’s River Road, in an effort to promote kindness in the community.
So far, more than 700 rocks have been lined up, stretching over 200 feet!
The effort was initiated by Atchison resident Jordan Wentz and her family this past summer.
Jordan was on the KAIR morning show on Thursday, October 19 th , offering her thanks to all
those who’ve contributed to “Rock-ee The Rock Snake”.
Wentz also asked those who’ve donated rocks to pick them up by November 11 th , so that the
sidewalks are clear for winter maintenance.
Residents will be able to bring their rocks back in the spring, when Wentz hopes “Rock-ee The
Rock Snake” will grow even longer!

Hiawatha High School art students touched up the art work/mural at the law enforcement center in downtown Hiawatha

Congratulations to the Friends of the Mary Cotton Public Library. They completed
the R.E.A.D. (Reach, Engage And Discover) area/bookcases at the library thanks to
grant funding from the STEP General and Glen J. Meyer Advisory Funds. It looks
terrific!

Pictured below are Lillian Brownlee Rokey (President of the Friends of the Mary
Cotton Public Library) along with STEP Board Member John Lehman

Brown County Undersheriff Robbie Parker and Dispatch Supervisor Brittany Pagnano had the privilege of installing a special needs car seat for Elizabeth Snider the daughter of Mandy and Paul Snider of Hiawatha.  

Brown County Sheriff John Merchant said Robbie and Brittany are both child safety seat technicians and Robbie is also a Child Passenger Safety Seat Instructor.  

Merchant said a special needs car seat is a very different and sometimes difficult  installation  than  that of a regular car seat as it specifically addresses the physical needs of the child.

He said the installation is very specialized and  has to be done according to the specifications that best fits the needs of the child.

"  We appreciate the Snider family for allowing us to work with their family.  I also appreciate the efforts of my staff who dedicate themselves to protecting our children through the proper use of child safety seats."
 

Cub Scout Pack 117 recently spent a warm Sunday giving the Hiawatha Skate Park a much-needed facelift.  The pack approached the city recently inquiring about a possible community service project and it was mentioned that the skate park needed to be cleaned and painted. 

Several of the skate parks obstacles and features were vandalized in 2021.  The pack spent the morning cleaning and preparing the obstacles.  They then finished up their project by giving the park a fresh coat of paint.

Nearly 25 cub scouts, their leaders and parents participated in the project.

October 1st-7th is Fall Sports Appreciation Week. On Oct. 3rd at the Holton vs Royal Valley HS VB Double Dual we recognized the following officials working the matches:

Mike Seetin - Perry - Retired from school maintenance

Volleyball - 21 years

Basketball - 32 years

Theresa Steinlage - Retired music teacher at Nemaha Central

Volleyball - 24 years

Don McDaniel - Holton - Retired band director at Holton

Volleyball - 29 years

Basketball - 20 years

Softball - 30 years

Lyle Alley - Retired History teacher at Jackson Heights

Volleyball - 7 years

Track & Field - 7 years

Thank you for your years of service and providing the opportunity for kids to participate in the activities they love.