H PRAIRIE STAR MarchMay 11, 16, 2020 2018 E-EDITIONE-EDITION $27 million to help with upgrades to area rails U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran, R- in rural communities rely on utilized the rail sidings for Kan., last week announced rail transportation to move shipping purposes, but they the Kansas Department of their products to markets now use trucking services. Transportation was being around the state and coun- The rock quarry located east awarded $27 million for up- try,” said Moran. of Moline is the line’s largest grades to the South Kansas “I’m excited for the new user in Elk County. and Oklahoma Railroad (SKO) economic opportunities this This line was formerly op- which provides short-line rail grant will afford our farmers erated by Santa Fe, but today services to many area com- and manufacturers in rural all short-line tracks in this munities. Kansas.” area are operated by SKO. Funding will come In Elk County, the SKO The South Kansas & Oklaho- This is a familiar sight in dozens of rural Kansas communities as SKOL provides rail service. through the U.S. Department has a “bridge line” between ma Railroad is administered of Transportation’s Federal Fredonia and Winfield which from Watco’s historic depot in Railroad Administration’s passes through Longton, Elk Cherryvale and operates on in operation at any time, tion Services is the largest tracks and ships more than a Consolidated Rail Structure Falls, Moline and Grenola, more than 433 miles carrying making the SKOL one of the privately owned short line half million carloads annu- for Safety Improvements Pro- then west to Cambridge, Bur- more than 70,000 loaded rail- busiest short line operations operator in the U.S.A. ally. gram. den and Winfield. cars. More than 30 locomo- in the industry. Overall, Watco, which is “Farmers and businesses In past years, Mills Feed tives and up to 10 train crews Worldwide, SKO’s parent headquartered in Pittsburg, that have made their homes and other local businesses (assembling and hauling) are company, Watco Transporta- operates along 5,400 miles of Sedan’s citywide sewer main project keeps residents detouring but only temporarily Several dozen workers, When finished, over $6 from concrete finishers to million will have been spent ditch diggers to commercial replacing these sewer mains pipe fitters to carpenters are which are well over 100 years spanned across the city of old, and loaded with lead. Sedan as they continue with That fact has helped in get- a two-year project to replace ting EPA money,” said War- sewer mains. They are mak- ren. The new pipes are made ing good progress now that of commercial grade PVC. the weather is warm and Warren said crews quick- dry. Many intersections and ly dig their ditches, put the streets are blocked off as sewer pipes in place, get in- workers get their work done. spected, then are filled with Mayor Jack Warren said small sized rock and dirt, and the projects mostly are in the tamped into place. downtown and north end of After that, the concrete Sedan right now, but crews trucks are called in and fin- are quickly moving into the ishers go to work repairing south end of town. the damage caused by the Warren said the proj- digging and pipe installation. ect will be paid for with fed- Many intersections have eral and state grant money, been improved with the fin- plus raises in water bills lo- ished concrete, and the con- cally. “As everyone probably tractor also applies new con- knows, their water bills have crete to driveway entrances, been increased over a three- ends of sidewalks (for street year period, and we are hop- access) and many new curbs ing this will cover the sewer added where it was necessary project costs,” he said. to cut into them. Overall, local citizens will Warren said most local be responsible for $4.7 mil- citizens are being very help- lion, but that is reduced to ful as they drive around traf- around $2 million after EPA, fic barriers, or see their own CDBG and other government street blocked off for a day or funds kick in. two. BG Consultants and Orr “People actually treat me Wyatt Streetscapes have nice,” said the mayor. contracted to do the project Then he added with a which began in June 2019 smile, “Well, mostly nice, that Workers are fanning out across Sedan to install new sewer mains then immediately smooth out the surfaces. and should be finished later is.” this year. Tables and desserts will draw crowds at annual contest in Howard Decorated tables with a City Library. During the view- efforts of Chapter R P.E.O. “Roaring 20s” theme will be ing community members will Displays throughout the highlight of the annual have two tickets to vote on the museums will focus on Table Decorating Contest, their favorite tables. Public the 1920s in Howard and hosted by the Howard Benson viewing and People’s Choice throughout the United States. Museums and Howard City voting will take place from As you enter the museum you Library, this Friday, March 6-8 p.m., followed by prizes will see a timeline of events 13. Those who have entered at 8:30 p.m. in Howard and the world for tables will set up on Thurs- The ladies of Chapter R the years from 1920 to 1930. day, followed by public view- P.E.O. in Howard will also Organizers will have fun with ing and awards on Friday. host a dessert table. Viewers the artifacts in the Museum Area residents are invited and voters should stop at the and feature several of the to view the tables located in Main Museum to purchase a 1920s artifacts in the dis- the Main Museum Building dessert and their two tickets plays. The 1920s displays will (Wabash and Adams), the for voting for $5. The pro- be up through the month of Auxiliary Museum Building ceeds from the dessert table March. (facing Adams) and Howard will support the philanthropic Annual Farm Bureau 5K will benefit classroom agriculture Chautauqua County Farm There will be three differ- of an agriculture presence in Bureau Association will hold ent categories that runners the classrooms in the county. the 8th Annual Silly String can compete in. Each runner To get an application or get ‘City on a Hill’ residents help distribute food 5K on Saturday, March 14 will get a number and have more information about vol- Residents from “City On A Hill” in Sedan went to Caney last Friday, March 6, to help in Sedan. Registration will their time recorded as they unteering, contact Kristi at distribute food for the Caney Valley Food Pantry. Dorothy Shaffer of rural Niotaze made ar- open at 9 a.m. at the Fair cross the finish line. The top 620-725-3191, or at chautau- rangements for the women to come and help with the project which provides produce and Building located at 610 Park three in each age category [email protected]. You can also other groceries on a periodic basis. City On A Hill, located west of Sedan in a hilltop home, Avenue, and the race will be- will be recognized and given find out more information on provides a home and recovery rehabilitation to individuals who are fighting with substance gin at 10:30 a.m. This fun- medals. our Facebook page, Chautau- use disorders. Community participation is a part of their treatment and they are often seen draiser will benefit an Ag in Chautauqua County Farm qua County Farm Bureau As- going to exercise classes, attending church or helping with projects such as the food pantry the Classroom fund in Chau- Bureau currently sponsors sociation. tauqua County. Registration one to two activities a year, in Caney. Sedan is home to two such homes, the other one being KISA Life Recovery which is now $25 per person. but would like to see more is located south of town along Highway 99. Photo by Rudy Taylor) PRAIRIE STAR PagePage 2 2 PRAIRIE STAR Wednesday, MarchMarch 11,11, 20202019 ick-A-Littl alk-A-Littl e e A continuing publication of: Sedan Times-Star, P , T P.O. Box 417 Flint Hills Express, and the Cedar Vale Messenger. By JennyBy Jenny Diveley Diveley - •Prairie Prairie Star Star 121 N. Chautauqua Street Sedan, KS 67361 Prairie Star is published weekly (USPS 488-440) at www.taylornews.org 121 N. Chautauqua, Sedan, Kansas 67361. Subscription rates are published below. Periodical postage paid at Sedan, Kansas Rudy and Kathy Taylor, 67361. Postmaster: Send address changes for Prairie Star to Let’s all fi nd the balance Savepublishers thisP.O. Boxnewspaper 417, Sedan, KS 67361. Rudy Taylor, publisherin [email protected] that keeps our lives in tune [email protected] case toilet paperLocal Trade runsArea: $47.00 low while we all have embedded that Subscribers who reside within Chautauqua, Elk, Montgomery, Labette, The chaos that appears to be JennyToilet Diveley paper - Editorapparently and saved for Sundays upon the coun- exploding across the globe right midwest hospitality, we also have Wilson, Neosho, Cowley, Butler, Greenwood and Cherokee counties is in shortManager supply, thanks whenin Kansaswe had and com- Osage, Washington, Nowata, and Craigtry, countiesweather in now from COVID-19, or better enough conservative nature to toDisplay Earthlings Advertising hoarding Billing the pany. Oklahoma. conditions, so- known as Coronavirus, has left keep most people at arms length. [email protected] stuff. I have Allno Otherde- Kansas Counties: $55.00cial customs me in a state of confusion. At the end of each day, when All of us fear that the sire to return Allto Other States: $55.00and status, As a news junkie, I have read a global news story is consuming coronavirusTisha McNownwill keep paper outhouses, slick people used and watched all of the news sto- my mind, I ask myself, “How does factory employees from go- paper wipees or leaves, grass, ries, warnings, press conferenc- this affect me right now?” That Offi ce Representative ing to work, thus no TP will ruiningPrairie Starperfectly is a legal publication with ferns, corn simple question is usually an- [email protected] es, and opinions until my head be made until better days goodcoverage newspapers in Chautautauqua, Elk and cobs, maize, is spinning and the result is a shortness of swered with a simple response…it doesn’t.