75¢ COLBY Monday December 14, 2020 Volume 131, Number 195 FREEREE PRESSRESS Serving Thomas County since 1888 6 pages F P Fair board reschedules fundraiser By Deitra Wedd Another member asked why Colby Free Press wait for February. [email protected] “Well I would like for this whole virus peak to pass, get through the The Thomas County fair board holidays etc. before we have a big had to postpone its November gathering,” said Nancy Rundel. fundraiser, so the members de- The board then decided to set cided Thursday to have the supper the event for Feb. 6, and Moser Saturday, Feb. 6. said they’d look at getting details “We do still have steak and on a gun to give away. chicken strips and everything “It’s a nice-looking gun,” Mos- that was bought for the Novem- er said. “For smaller prizes, I have ber one,” Board President Austen a screw driver set, a Matco pry Moser said. “We talked about hav- bar set, a Matco remote control ing it on Jan. 9, but that’s when the car and then a pair of Oakley sun- (Kansas Fairs and Festivals As- glasses from Vision Source. sociation state) convention is, so “Do we want to sell tickets for Getting to the root of Christmas what do we want to shoot for?” any of these in advance?” One board member said she He added that he thinks to win Junior high and high thinks they should wait for Febru- the gun, you should have to be school students at Heartland ary at least. present at the event. Christian School (above) “The food is frozen,” Moser “On any of the other stuff,” worked to bring life into their said. “It’s not going to go any- Nativity skit. After the shep- where.” See “FAIR BOARD,” Page 2 herds were told to be excited and breathless, the director turned to the animals whose sleep was disrupted, coach- ing them to act out the com- Kansas electors plications when Baby Jesus was born in a stable miles from home in the skit “Our Chaos, His Peace” Thursday evening during the school’s vote for Trump Christmas program. “Shrillock Homes” (right) TOPEKA (AP) — Republican ward signed documents certifying was called in to detect who party officials picked to serve astheir actions. had stolen the true meaning Kansas members of the Electoral The electors were led by Kansas of Christmas. College today cast the state’s six GOP Chairman Mike Kuckelman, The school’s preschool electoral votes for President Don- and all were state party officials or class (below) pointed out ald Trump. activists. the “stars in the sky” as they The electors convened at the Trump carried Kansas with signed “Away in the Manger” Statehouse in the House cham- more than 56 percent of the vote to start off the program. ber with Secretary of State Scott in the November election, while MARIAN BALLARD Colby Free Press Schwab, the state’s chief elec- Democrat Joe Biden received less tion official, presiding over theirthan 42 percent. However, Biden 15-minute meeting. They first castcarried enough states to win 306 votes for president, then for Vice electoral votes nationally, to 232 President Mike Pence and after- for Trump. Business draws visitors Health workers first for vaccines By John Hanna riving in Kansas after the U.S. Food and Drug also grocery and meatpacking plant workers. Associated Press Administration authorized its emergency use Kansas officials hope to receive the first of Friday. Kansas officials expect the state to- re two doses of a vaccine made by Moderna for TOPEKA — Kansas health care workers ceive the first of two doses for 23,750 people49,000 people later this month, though the today began receiving the first of the state’sthis week, but it likely will be months before a FDA has yet to authorize its emergency use. corona-virus vaccines amid an ongoing fall vaccine is available to everyone. Kansas averaged more than 2,400 new con- surge in cases that has left hospitals stressed. State officials weren’t saying today where firmed and probable corona-virus cases a day Dennis and Rosie Hayes, who described themselves as Five employees of the Via Christi Ascen- the first vaccines were going after arriving at from Nov. 1 through Friday, according to data sion health care system received shots at its St. cold-storage sites. Kansas also isn’t disclosing from the state Department of Health and En- long-time customers of Colby Ag, made their way through Francis hospital in Wichita, including a criti- where the vaccine is being stored before distri- vironment. It has reported more than 185,000 the food line a the Colby-Thomas County Chamber of Com- cal care nurse, a housekeeper for a Covid-19 bution, citing security reasons. cases since the pandemic reached the state in merce sponsored Business After 5 happy hour Wednesday unit and a respiratory therapist, according to The state’s vaccine distribution plan calls early March, or one for every 16 of its 2.9 mil- at the Case-IH dealership down on Horton Avenue. Every- body agreed that though the crowd was a little light in this spokeswoman Roz Hutchinson. for giving the first shots to health care -worklion residents. virus-affected year, the food and company were great. Em- Doses of a vaccine made by Pfizer began ar- ers at high risk of corona-virus exposure, in- The state also reported 5,800 hospitaliza- cluding workers in nursing homes, as well as tions and 2,072 deaths as of Friday. ployee Wanda Brown said the firm likes to sponsor the affair nursing home patients. Other essential work- during the holidays to showcase the smaller merchandise ers would receive shots in the second phase of Follow John Hanna at twitter.com/apjd- inside, especially the lines of red toys. STEVE HAYNES/Colby Free Press the distribution, including first responders but hanna. Page 2 Colby Free Press Monday, December 14, 2020 Area/State Weather Fair fundraiser rescheduled Briefly From “FAIR BOARD,” Page 1 though it’s just paying the membership and doing it virtual.” Free drive-thru Covid tests available he added, “I’d make it must be present to win. The board agreed to renew their membership. A state contractor, TourHealth, offers free drive-thru Covid-19 testing in Keep it easier on us instead of tracking everybody Moser said they had a buildings and grounds Colby in front of the Thomas County Office Complex at 350 S. Range Ave. down.” committee meeting and went over what to do to Hours from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. The site has the The state convention this year, he said, is going finish the show arena. PCR test used by hospitals, so results will take a day or two. For informa- to be virtual, with one-hour classes spread over “Clair (Schrock) was going to visit with the city tion, call the county Health Department at (785) 460-4596. two weeks. and a few others to see what options they could “I’ve talked to our district rep,” he said, “and come up with,” he said, “and then we talked about she’s the one whose been informing me. But I do fixing windows on the lamb barn, the other two Rec plans ‘Ugly Sweater’ Cornhole tourney think it’s worth continuing our membership as horse barns and the big metal barn. Those are our Colby Recreation will hold its first “Bells and Bags Ugly Sweater Corn- soon as I can get the forms, because with Covid projects, so everybody start getting ideas, get a hole Tournament” at 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 19, at the Community Build- National Weather Service and all that, there is a program where we have hold of somebody to come do bids.” ing. Prizes will be awarded to the top finishing teams, as well as for to the Tonight: Snow, mainly after been members for X number of years, and they Moser said one of the other projects they’ve best-dressed team. Teams can be same gender or coed. An ugly Christmas 10 p.m. Low around 21. South- can apply to help us get money back. talked about doing is putting some lighting in the sweater or other Christmas attire is strongly encouraged. This is an adults- east wind 10 to 15 mph becom- “She can’t guarantee the amount, but what she parking lot by the 4-H building. only event. Entry is $30 per team. To register, call (785) 460-4440, go to ing east after midnight. Chance was hearing that they were applying for a fairly “Same thing, just kind of get bids,” he said, secure.rec1.com/KS/colby-ks/catalog or stop by the community building. of precipitation is 80 percent. large amount. Our membership fee is $50 or “and we kind of figured that would probably be New snow accumulation of 1 to $120 a year, so I think it’s worth continuing, even our main projects for the year.” Santa City in drive-thru mode at Fike Park 2 inches possible. Everyone is invited to drive through Fike Park, admire the Christmas Tuesday: Snow, mainly decorations and stop for a curbside visit with Santa. Enjoy a candy cane before 1 p.m. High near 28. and sugar cookie from Mrs. Claus and tell Santa what you want for Christ- Northeast wind 10 to 15 mph Governor tackles racial justice mas. Times include 3:30 to 6:30 p.m.