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Author: Noble Dobkins

Local Lions Clubs to host annual Veterans Day parades

On Saturday, November 6th two area Lions Clubs will be hosting their annual Veterans Day Parades.  All area Veterans and their families are invited and encouraged to attend.  Community members are encouraged to show support to our Veterans by lining these parade routes.  Business, group or church floats, car clubs, motorcycle clubs, horse clubs and area bands are all welcome to participate and are encouraged to attend both parades as they have been coordinated to allow time to travel between the two communities.  A special invitation goes out to area nursing and skilled care facilities with their own busing to bring their Veterans out for the day to be recognized during the parades.

Galena, KS: line up at 11th & Main at 9:00 a.m. Start time 9:30 a.m. parade route to go south on Main to 4th Street. Parade hosted by the Galena Route 66 Lions Club, the Galena Museum and the City of Galena.  For more information contact Mary Billington at 417-483-8167

Baxter Springs, KS: line up at 16th & Military at 10:30 a.m. Start time 11:00 a.m. parade route to go south on Military to 9th Street.

Veterans Day program at the Veterans Memorial located at 13th & Park to follow the parade.  Lunch will be held at the Lions Club building located at 14th & Park to follow program, lunch is free to our Veterans, their families and our service members.  Parade hosted by the Baxter Springs Lions Club, Baxter Springs Chamber of Commerce, City of Baxter Springs, Baxter Springs American Legion and Quaker Hill Skilled Nursing. For more information contact Debbie Hopkins 918-919-1400.

Route 66 Travelers Provide Donation

Today a group of Vietnamese Travelers from the Huston and Austin Tx area came through Galena traveling Route 66. They were traveling on 2 buses from All America Travel. They said they travel through here every 3 years or so and are really impressed with our little town. The group donated a total of $600.00 to the Police Department and Fire Station to show their appreciation for the jobs we do to keep the citizens safe. We would like to thank this group for their kind words of support and the donation they provided.

You Drink. You Drive. You Lose

The Galena Police Department will be joining other local and state law enforcement agencies across Kansas starting August 20 through Labor Day, September 6, in a crackdown aimed at removing drunk and other impaired drivers from the roadways during *You Drink. You Drive. You Lose. 

It is illegal everywhere to drive while impaired, yet, in 2019, over 10,000 people in the U.S. were killed in drunk driving crashes. Impaired driving fatalities every day are the direct result of decisions people make. Driving after consuming ANY potentially impairing substance is a decision YOU make.

You know that it is wrong and dangerous. You tell yourself you won’t do it again, but you do. It’s time to stop.

Start a new habit, the habit of NOT driving to situations where you will be tempted to drink or partake in other impairing substances. Ask to ride with a non-drinking friend, designate a driver, or use one of the many other options available. Start today.

The You Drink. You Drive. You Lose enforcement campaign is intended to remind drivers: 

 “Don’t consume impairing substances and get behind the wheel. Impaired driving is a major cause of crashes and a danger not just to you and those riding with you, but to every single person on the road.

Make it a habit to have a sober driver lined up before you drink alcohol away from home.

We also want to remind everyone to always have your seatbelts on, it’s your best defense in case of a crash.

You can always count on this department to vigorously enforce impaired driving and other traffic laws, not just during this enforcement campaign but all through the year.” 

HEALTH AND WELLNESS ASSESSMENT

On behalf of the Cherokee County Pathways to a Healthy Kansas Initiative, we are pleased to inform you about an upcoming opportunity in our community.

Beginning on Thursday, July 1st, 2021, all Cherokee County residents will be invited to take an online health & wellness assessment. The survey, which will be conducted in partnership with the University of Kansas Medical Center, is designed to collect information about our community and its greatest needs. Each household that completes a survey will receive a $10 Columbus Farmers Market Voucher! The Columbus Farmers Market meets every Thursday from 4:00-6:30 PM at 202 N. East Ave. Columbus, KS 66725.

An LMI survey, which can be used to qualify for CDBG grants, will be included with this survey. Each survey response will also be counted towards an LMI survey.

Residents can access the survey by visiting this link: https://redcap.kumc.edu/surveys/?s=HK4WWJXDCP.

Residents may also access the survey by scanning the below QR Code:

The personal information of respondents will remain confidential and not shared or sold with any third parties. Participation is voluntary.

Please share this information within your communities. If you have questions or concerns, please reach out to Jake Letner, Cherokee County Pathways Grant Coordinator. He may be reached by e-mail at jletner@columbusks.gov.