Meeting Notes from 01/30/2017

Stories to scan, then reflect on the continued critical role of planning, being involved and working collaboratively in the Smoky Valley:

• About Independence in southeast Kansas: http://www.npr.org/2017/01/26/511851731/despite-economic-troubles-residents-of-kansas-town-remain-proud?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=npr&utm_term=nprnews&utm_content=20170130(hat tip Jim Ruble)

• About McPherson: http://www.mcphersonsentinel.com/news/20170128/festival-of-cultures-discontinued (hat tip Aaron Esping)

• The Higher Learning Commission’s key visit to Bethany College and Lindsborg is just a few days away. We remind you that the college is offering a community update at 7 p.m. tomorrow, Tuesday, Jan. 31, at Pearson Chapel. Please be in the know, folks. HLC inspection teams will be evaluating community support, also.

• Blomhuset, an historically preserved and renovated house at 131 S. Second St., is proving worthy in the executive stay arena. It now has a full-year’s booking by engineers working in our area (with options to rent through 2018). It’s a project by historic developer Jim Prugh with construction vision and coordination by Lindsborg’s Brian Freeman and the careful work of many area artisans. (Speaking of…. If you have not yet stopped by the new Blacksmith Coffee Shop and Roastery at 131 N. Main St. yet, please do. It’s a collaboration: youthful and skilled business person Molli Esping; historic redeveloper Jim Prugh; and design and construction vision and execution by Brian Freeman and crew.)