New Chief Familiar to Museum
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75¢ COLBY Monday November 3, 2014 Volume 125, Number 172 Serving Thomas County since 1888 8 pages FFREEREE PPRESSRESS College inducts alumni to Hall of Fame New chief familiar to museum The Thomas County Historical of Art and History, a name which Society has promoted Assistant was chosen to encompass its Director Chris Griffin to direc- Kuska Collection of rare objects, tor of the Prairie Museum of Art including such things as stamps, and History, replacing Sue Taylor, coins, dolls, ceramics and glass, who will step down after 28 years. and area history exhibits. Griffin has worked at the mu- Groundbreaking May 24, 1987; seum for 17 years. In 1997, she the following year, Taylor was first began as a volunteer quilter. deep in the process of moving, In 1999, she was asked to apply unpacking and organizing over for a part-time visitor services 30,000 artifacts. In 1989, she ac- job. Over the next 15 years, Grif- cepted the position of director, re- fin was promoted to registrar, then sponsible for maintaining and in- assistant director, before accept- terpreting the 24-acre site and its ing the top position at the society’s growing population of buildings. September board meeting. Over the next 25 years, Taylor “It is thrilling to have the op- took a leading role in the estab- portunity to coordinate our ex- lishment of high-quality galleries ceptional museum staff and direct and exhibits with custom-made SAM DIETER/Colby Free Press efforts to maintain the excellence display cases. Audrey Hines chatted with Rick Billinger (left), candidate for state representative, Saturday evening at a reception in the base- that the Prairie Museum has be- “The first gallery to be finished ment of the Community Building. She and her husband, Lou Hines, were inducted into Colby Community College Alumni Hall come known for,” said Griffin. was Glorious Glass in 1998,” says of Fame along with Rich and Judy Epp during half time of the college men’s basketball game that night. “I’m reassured that Sue Taylor Taylor. “It’s my favorite of the and the board of directors have the Kuska exhibits.” confidence that I can carry on with She continued to raise money the museum’s mission to share our for the museum and worked with local history with members and the staff to provide educational Studio Friday Princesses get sweet treat visitors to our area.” programs. Griffin said her priority will be Taylor says she remembers that to continue to promote and raise things took longer than expected awareness of the many research, because developing the museum education and event services the site, with its several donated to mix media museum provides. buildings, took priority. During She said Taylor will continue her tenure, the site welcomed Barbara Stevens, retired head of working and sharing her expertise the Cooper Barn in 1992. Mak- the art department at Cloud Coun- part time. ing national news with its three- ty Community College, will be Taylor was hired in November day journey across 16 miles, the the featured artist at Studio Friday 1986 to help raise funds for the largest barn in Kansas joined the at Colby Community this week. new museum near Interstate 70. Eller House, which was moved to Stevens will be teaching mixed During that fund drive, the Thom- media. All needed supplies will as County Museum was trans- See “MUSEUM,” Page 2 be available in the art room. Par- formed into the Prairie Museum ticipants who have a favorite paint brush, picture or subject matter are encouraged to bring it. Stevens will explain and dem- Driver hurt; onstrate her work from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 3 p.m. in Ferguson Hall, Rooms 502 and 503. She began teaching full-time at the Concordia college in 1999 af- Artist Barbara Stevens will child protected ter having taught outreach classes teach mixed media at Studio A Colby woman had to be flown bridge over the North Fork of the for 20 years. Friday this week. “I have taught students from 4 out to a city hospital after going Saline River. Her 2004 Chevrolet years of age through 84 years of time with my wonderful husband, off the side of a bridge in rural Impala hit the guard rail and went age, and enjoyed every age level,” sons and grandchildren,” said Ste- Thomas County on Sunday after- off the side, coming to rest below said Stevens. “I try to bring the vens. noon without a seat belt on. the bridge facing northwest. gift of creative thinking and liv- Studio Fridays are held the first A 5-year-old girl in the back The site is eight miles west of ing to my students, as well as the Friday of each month. seat was in a child restraint and Colby and 12 miles south of In- realization that the only limits in “If you know of someone with a escaped uninjured, however, state terstate 70. art are the ones they put on them- unique or interesting talent, please troopers reported. Chapman, who was not wearing selves.” contact me,” said the college’s SHARON FRIEDLANDER/Colby Free Press Lynette R. Chapman, 62, was a seatbelt, was taken to Citizens Stevens retired in May 2013. art instructor Rebel Jay. “Perhaps These princesses from Puddle Duck Preschool took candy in southwest Thomas County at Medical Center, where officials Her works may be viewed at spir- they will share their talents at one from an employee at the Colby Free Press building Friday 12:04 p.m. when she went off the said she had been transferred to itstudio1.blogspot.com. of the Friday sessions.” when the preschool students went trick-or-treating around bridge, the Kansas Highway Pa- another hospital. Her passenger, “I love reading, swimming, There is no charge to partici- downtown Colby and at houses near their school, which is trol reported. She was southbound Ariel Ehlers, 5, Colby, was unin- kayaking, walking, playing Na- pate. For information, contact Jay at 520 W. Fifth St. on County Road 11, the Levant- jured. tive American flutes and spending at 269-7065. Winona Road, when she came to a Governor candidate targets state’s finances By Sam Dieter noon to talk with their neighbors which, Davis said, is expected to Colby Free Press and get them to vote for him in the create 175,000 jobs in 10 years. [email protected] last days before the election Tues- “All this changed in 2010 when day. He noted that he has been Sam Brownback was elected as State Rep. Paul Davis, the Dem- endorsed by the moderate-leaning governor,” he charged, adding ocratic candidate running against group Traditional Republicans for that he has known Brownback for Gov. Sam Brownback, stopped in Common Sense, which has sup- a long time as a U.S. Senator, and Colby on Sunday to meet voters ported several Democrats in the thinks the governor has learned and make a case for his election, elections this year. The group in- the ways of partisan politics in saying he will work with Repub- cludes former Sen. Sheila Frahm Washington. licans to improve the state’s fi- of Colby. Shortly after taking office as nances. To really get something done, governor, the candidates said, Davis, who lives in Lawrence, Davis said, people from both par- Brownback invited Davis, who asked a crowd of about 40 people ties must work together. In his ca- is the House minority leader, to at a “meet-and-greet” in the lobby reer as a state legislator, he said, a meeting of Democratic and Re- of the Quality Inn Sunday after- he has worked with lots of people publican legislators. And shortly from both sides of the aisle. This after the meeting started, Davis cooperation has resulted in the said, a photographer showed up SAM DIETER/Colby Free Press passing of historic legislation to and started snapping photos. Paul Davis, the Democratic candidate for governor of Kansas running against Sam Brownback, finance public schools in 2005, talked with Janice Frahm, president of the Colby School Board, while Wayne and Millie Horlacher and a 10-year transportation plan See “FINANCES,” Page 2 looked on at a “meet-and-greet” Sunday at the Quality Inn. Page 2 Colby Free Press Monday, November 3, 2014 Area/State Weather New museum chief familiar Briefly From “MUSEUM,” Page 1 “She’s raised awareness and The deadline for Briefly is noon the day before. Items submitted in the funds year after year to make morning will be set up for the following day, space available. The deadline the site in 1981; the sod house sure the missions of the histori- for Monday’s paper is noon Friday. (1984); Vacin Barn (1985); Ni- cal society can be carried out. col One-Room Schoolhouse “The county has been fortu- (1987); and the Lone Star Pres- nate to have her expertise all Grass-clipping collection over for year byterian Church (1988). these years and we’ll continue The Colby Sanitation Department stopped picking up grass clippings Taylor said she is confident our good fortune in the hands of as of Saturday. Put any clippings in with regular trash through the win- of the continued vitality of the Chris Griffin.” ter; the department will announce resumption of a separate pickup in the Prairie Museum and the preser- Sue Taylor Chris Griffin Taylor said, “I have thor- spring. For questions, call Omar Weber at the Public Works Department vation of the county’s archives. oughly enjoyed my tenure as 460-4420.