The Osage City Osage County Fair Parade, July 12 is going to be here before we know it. It is at this time that the Osage City Chamber of Commerce have received nominations for Mr. and Mrs. Osage City and parade marshal. Searching back through the history, the parade marshal has been a single individual, a couple, a group of employees, young or senior that have contributed and supported the Osage City community. Selection will be held June 11.
Author: Osage City Chamber
The May Chamber of Commerce Member Meeting was held at the ORBIS plant. Following the meeting, Bryan Zeigler, Plant Manager, gave a presentation of information about the plant operation & assisted by Edana Phillips, Human Resource Manager, gave a tour of the plant.
This year, the Chamber received several excellent applications for the scholarships. The applicants demonstrated outstanding scholastic achievements and community service. The scholarship requires students to submit an application, two letters of reference, an official transcript and an essay covering “The Advantages of Owning and Operating a Business in a Small Town”.
The revenue from business ads on the map and the $5 that residents pay to be listed on the maps for the spring/fall garage sales, goes directly for these two scholarships.
The Osage City Chamber of Commerce are pleased to announce Aliks Serna and Royce Cowan as the 2019 recipients of our $350 scholarships. Aliks, daughter of Joe & Tammy Serna will be attending Highland Community College & Royce, son of Russell & Virginia Cowan will be attending Flint Hills Technical College in the fall.
Ladies, Gentlemen, Clubs, Organizations, Business & Individuals,
I would like to invite you to participate in our summer parade. The theme this year is “All American Country Livin’ ”. You may enter a float, truck, car, ATV/Golf Cart (age at least 17 years to drive in parade & no water balloons allowed.) anything you would feel would be fun and the people along the parade route would like to see. Also there is prize money in two different categories. There is a float judging and an ATV/Golf Cart judging. Prize money is 1st, $125, 2nd, $100, 3rd, $75, 4th, $50 for the float category. ATV/Golf Cart prize money is 1st, $30, 2nd, $20, 3rd, $10.
It’s always fun for the crowd to wave at the entries and for the parade participants to wave back, throw candy and make people smile!! A fun evening to forget troubles and have a great time!!
Let’s make this year’s Osage City Fair Parade one of the best we have seen. I know it is possible with the participation of all the fabulous businesses, organizations, clubs, schools and individual people we have in this area.
You can e mail, call or text me with your information and I will fill a form out for you. The parade is on July 10th, parade begins at 6:30. Line up for judging of floats, ATV’s and Golf Carts is 5:45 pm. All other entries be ready and in your designated line up spot in the parade by 6:15 at the latest.
Thank you so much for taking time to read this letter. I am thanking you in advance for your participation in our parade.
Heather Glover
1125 California
Osage City, KS 6523
785-581-3534
heatherglover71@yahoo.com
ACTIVITIES – LOCATION
MORNING:
8:00 Youth Fishing Tournament (Sponsored by ORBIS) (FREE) – Huffman Park
8:00-3:00 Trilogy Challenge Disc Golf Tournament – Flex Start – Disc Golf Course-(Ball Diamonds Area- Jones Park) $40.00 Entry Fee
10:00 Trilogy Challenge Disc Golf Clinic – 30 Minutes (FREE) Disc Golf Course-(Ball Diamonds Area- Jones Park)
EARLY EVENING:
6:00 Bounce Play Sets (FREE) Jones Park Area (Sponsored by Conrad Carlson Foundation) – Grass Area by Basketball Court
6:00 Food / Snack Vendors Gravel Lot – East of 4H Building.
Wiley Weenie Wagon, Wild Hogs BBQ, Tod’s BBQ, North of Comm. Bldg. Cotton Candy, Sno Cones, Thrill’s Kettle Corn, Funnel Cakes-Pomona Masonic Lodge #41
6:00 Pie, Ice Cream, Floats (Fundraiser) Community Building – Jones Park (Osage City Lions Club)
6:00 Watermelon Feed (Chamber Members) (FREE) Community Building – Jones Park
6:00- Carnival Games (Chamber Members) (FREE) Community Building – Jones Park
8:30 Quarter Bingo, Firecracker Walk (aka cake walk),
Face Painting
Turtle Race-Bring Your Own Turtle, (Age Groups 6-8; 9-11) Comm. Bldg. – Pavement area
Sack Race (Age Groups 6-8; 9-11) Grass Area – Between Rec. Comm. Bldg. and Football Complex
Bocce Ball Tournament (Ages 18 & Over) Grass Area – Between Rec. Comm. Bldg. and Football Complex
(No Entry Fee)– Contact Cindy Koch-528-4454
6:00-9:00 Live Band, “Lizard People” (FREE) Fredrickson Arena
9:00 Patriotic music Football Complex
LATE EVENING:
10:00 Fireworks Display (FREE) Jones Park Area
The Osage City Chamber of Commerce would like to thank the following contributors for their generous donation and support for the Fireworks Celebration. AG Choice, AuBurn Pharmacy, Bank of Burlingame, Bank of Osage City, Body Shop/BuengerAutomotive, Branine Chevrolet-Buick, Burns, Burns, Walsh & Walsh, Citizens Insurance Services, City of Osage City, David Jacoby-OD, Edward Jones Investments, First National Bank, H & H Appraisal, Harmon Dental, Jerry’s Thriftway, Jodi Lohmeyer-Stark Agency, Kirk Bath Farm Bureau Financial, Landmark National Bank, Marilynn’s Restaurant, McCoy’s Electronics, Miller Elevator, ORBIS, Osage Building Materials, Osage City Chamber of Commerce, Osage City Kiwanis Club, Osage City Lions Club, Osage City Municipal Golf Course, Osage County Community Foundation, Osage County Farm Bureau, Osage County Herald-Chronicle, Porter Cattle Co, Quality Built Construction, Salt Creek Rehab, LLC, Wischropp Auctions, Inc., Casey & Cheryl Mussatto, Rod & Kim Bergquist, Dan & Linda Mollnow, Brian & Jeanette Stromgren, Richard & Jeanette Swarts, Donna Jo & Mac Thompson, Larry & Jeannine Colstrom, Maurice & Cindy Koch.
Fourth of July celebration activities flyer is available here.
In the near future, the fairgrounds, Lions Club Food Stand, 4-H barns and pavilion, parade route will be bustling with a lot of activity going on. July 10-13 are the dates for the annual fair event in Osage City. Schedules, events, etc. are posted on the Osage County Fair Association website: https://www.osagecountyfair.org/ or also check out their Facebook page.
Heather Glover is in charge of the parade which will be held Friday, July 12 at 6:30. She is diligently working to get information to the businesses and organizations to participate in the parade. She is hoping to make it a fun filled event this year. Heather reported that she is starting to receive entries; however, she hopes that there will be many more to come. Decorated golf carts and ATV’s are invited to participant in the parade this year. Golf cart and ATV drivers must be at least 17 years of age to drive in the parade. Contact the Chamber of Commerce for parade entries.
This year, a coloring contest for ages K through 5th grade (2019-20 school year) will be sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce. Students participating in the Summer Reading program at the Osage City Public Library can pick up the specific coloring page and return to the Library by June 29. Eight winners will have the opportunity to ride on the fire truck in the parade.
Directly following the parade, be sure to go out to the fairgrounds, stop at the Lions Club food stand, get a hamburger, chips & a piece of homemade pie, then take a seat & enjoy the rest of the evening at the Talent Show, sponsored by the Lions Club & Harmon Dental.
OCONOMOWOC, Wis. – ORBIS Corporation, an international leader in reusable packaging, recently hosted the Osage City Chamber of Commerce for a facility tour and ribbon cutting event to celebrate the successful launch of new injection molding presses. The local business leaders were able to see the results of the investment, which improves the flexibility and overall output at this location.
This plant produces a variety of reusable and recyclable trays, baskets and totes for use in the food, beverage and consumer packaged goods industries. These products move goods throughout the supply chain to reduce damage, to better utilize truckloads and to reduce waste. This continues to support the modernization initiative started in 2017 with press replacements. In 2018, the facility continued the plan by significantly upgrading its plastic recycling systems. The upgrade allows for up to 40% of the plant materials to be supplied with recycled products that have reached the end of their service life. Since the expansion, ORBIS has added 25% more employees.
This plant employs about 100 people, is an active member in the community and supports local libraries and high schools with scholarship and robotic team funding. With the recent upgrades, the Osage City facility is well-positioned to provide ORBIS customers with high quality trays, totes and containers while being a key contributor to the local economy.
About ORBIS Corporation: With more than 170 years of material handling expertise and 65 years of plastics innovations, ORBIS consists of a portfolio of businesses that meet the material handling needs of companies across many industries. ORBIS helps world-class customers move their product faster, safer and more cost-effectively. Using a proven approach, ORBIS experts analyze customers’ systems, design a solution and execute a reusable packaging program for longer-term cost savings and sustainability. Using life-cycle assessments to compare reusable and single-use packaging, ORBIS also helps customers reduce their overall environmental impact. ORBIS is a part of Menasha Corporation, one of the oldest family-owned manufacturers in the United States. As a steward of sustainability, ORBIS is committed to a better world for future generations. For more information, please visit www.orbiscorporation.com, www.facebook.com/ORBISCorporation, www.twitter.com/orbiscorp or www.youtube.com/orbiscorp.
With all of the beautifully groomed yards and flower beds in Osage City, the Osage City Chamber of Commerce is once again sponsoring a “Yard of the Month” Recognition during the months of June through September. The selection of the yard will take place during the first few days of each month. In appreciation of the beauty and hard work for the selected yard, the home owners will receive a $25 Osage City Chamber Buck Certificate to be used at an Osage City business.
We are pleased to announce that Clifford and Donna Butterfield’s yard has been selected for the month of June. Their home is located at 513 Miller.
Osage City’s spring citywide garage sales are set for April 19-20, 2019. Sellers can sign up with Tricia Gundy at Peterson Assisted Living, Robyn Williams and staff at Edward Jones, or Kathy Ayers and staff at First National Bank, to get their sale listed on a map distributed by the Osage City Chamber of Commerce. There will be a legend on the map to give buyers an idea of what might be for sale at each location. A $5 donation to be placed on the map goes toward the Chamber’s local scholarship fund. For more information, contact Tricia Gundy at 785-528-3301 or 785-219-9727.
Have you considered joining the Osage City Chamber of Commerce? Did you know that you don’t have to own a business to be a member of the Osage City Chamber of Commerce? Are there different types of memberships? What are the benefits of belonging to the Osage City Chamber of Commerce?
Eligibility
Any person, firm, association, corporation, partnership, non-profit organization or estate having an interest in the objectives of the organization shall be eligible for membership.
Types
- Regular Memberships – Any person, firm, association, corporation, partnership or estate having an interest in the objectives of the organization shall be eligible for membership. Any regular member shall have the discretion to designate their voting member.
- Non-Profit Memberships – non-profit organization being a regular member with a member designated for voting purposes.
- Associate Memberships – Any person having an interest in the objectives of the organization. Associate Members have no voting rights, nor may they serve as an officer or director, unless otherwise approved by the Board, but they will have all other membership privileges and responsibilities.
Procedure
Any applicant shall become a member upon payment of the regularly scheduled dues.
Positive impact of Chamber Membership
As a member of the Osage City Chamber of Commerce you are more informed, better educated, and directly connected to your peers. Whether you are an individual, firm, association, corporation, partnership, non-profit organization, estate, starting a new business, or you are an established business owner, membership with the Osage City Chamber of Commerce provides a multitude of opportunities to grow and connect to the community.
- Networking Opportunities: After Hours Mixers, Monthly Luncheon, Ribbon Cuttings
- Promotion Opportunities: Community Directory, E-mail Blast, Sponsorships, Advertising, Community Message Center Sign
- Member Events: Fair Parade, 4th of July Celebration, Garage Sales, Beer Festival, Christmas Opener, Home Tour
For more information about becoming a member, email: osagecitychamber@gmail.com; visit our website www.osagecitychamber.com, or call 785-219-2510.
Membership drive for 2019 will begin at the end of October. If you would like to be a member of an organization that strives to continue to improve the community, please consider joining the Osage City Chamber of Commerce.
Categories
Kiwanis Serves Children of Osage City
Submitted by Dave Azwell
The Osage City Kiwanis Club supports the children of USD 420 with a number of service leadership programs (SLP’s) at the various schools. Faculty advisors who are also club members and other staff members provide invaluable guidance for the students in the high school, middle school and elementary school. The purpose is to promote service and leadership as integral parts of their education. It also introduces them to fundraising as a way to help provide funds for their activities and to support special events or organizations.
The Key Club is made up of high school students. Their activities include recycling miscellaneous papers/magazines each month, helping with the Kiwanis biscuits and gravy breakfast and supporting school and community activities. Imaginative club fundraising activities for a variety of causes and attending the Kiwanis Key Leader Conference are also a part of the Key Club experience. It’s not all work as fun activities are included.
Builders Club involves the middle school students. Some of their activities have included helping with the Kiwanis chili feed, recycling papers/magazines each month, reading to Kindergarten students, sponsoring a Student of the Week and other school and community activities. People have made note of the great help provided by the members. Some prolific fundraising projects have been a part of their activities.
The elementary school has the K-Kids program for 5th graders and they are an active bunch. Service projects include paper/magazine recycling once a month, helping the principal with morning duty, monitoring classes, recycling the lunchroom trash during lunch and campus cleanup which involves picking up trash in and around school property. Fundraising has included innovative ways of raising funds, Trick or Treat for UNICEF and food drives including non-perishable items for ECAT which have led to some astounding numbers of items collected. A back-to-school swim party each fall and the Christmas party are a couple of the fun events each year.
The BUG program (Bringing Up Grades) is for the elementary students in the fourth and fifth grades. It helps promote the importance of obtaining and maintaining good grades as well as understanding the value of doing well in classes, completing homework, having a good attitude and exhibiting good behavior in school. Students who maintain or improve their grades and classroom presence are rewarded with a pizza party at the end of the first semester and a hot dog feed at the end of the school year.
In addition to the sponsored programs, OC Kiwanis funds other USD 420 activities such as scholarships for seniors, the elementary school’s W.A.T.C.H DOGS program, After Prom, Key Leader, the booster club and Teacher Appreciation Day. Kiwanis supports organizations such as the public library’s youth programs, ECAT, the warmth fund and the American Legion’s Boys State.
Submitted by Kenna Burns
ECKAN has been awarded a generous grant which they are going to use for several areas of need that they support within their organization.
Savings account with Case Management Emergency Needs and Chamber Bucks Incentives
Program is to encourage monthly meetings with clients, meet their immediate emergency needs, and work together to encourage a savings account for clients with a 2/1 Match. So they have a total of $1000 emergency fund.
Nutrition Class = Currently working with Cheryl Mussatto to offer a Nutrition class to clients, this money will be used to pay presenter fees, cost of food, incentives including (Chamber Bucks) for those who sign up and attend.
Dental Program: Used to continue helping clients with dental needs that go beyond the standard cleaning, fillings, exams.
Budgeting Class=Working with HCCI to offer the following classes:
Banking Basics
One-hour class for individuals who need an unbiased view of the different banking options that are currently available to consumers. Learn:
- How having a savings and/or checking account can help you stay organized with your finances;
- What to expect when you decide to open your first account.
So Much Debt, So Little Time
Feeling overwhelmed by past-due notices or plagued with garnishments? Learn:
- Repayment options so you can get out of debt and on with your life;
- How different types of debts impact your bank account, paycheck, credit score;
- What laws protect you when you have debts in collections.
Submitted by Troy Hutton
Osage City High School is beginning a new class that will include the development of partnerships with businesses to do job shadowing and/or possible internships. This class is just getting established, but will be designed to expose students to jobs that they are interested in pursuing for careers. We are interested in hearing from any businesses in town interested in working with the school to provide this type of partnership. This could include but is not limited to business aspects such as supply, purchasing, marketing, medical, programming, processing, financial, etc.
Any business interested in this possibility can contact Mr. Heward at theward@usd420.org.
Planning has begun for the annual Christmas on Market celebration Nov. 24. We encourage you to mark the date on your calendar and plan to shop local that weekend as many of our hometown businesses will be offering great opportunities for holiday gifts. The theme this year is: Christmas on Market 2018: “Country Christmas”.
In addition to shopping, activities will be held throughout the day including breakfast, lunch, visits with Santa, jingle bell run 5K, in store activities, chili cook-off, chili feed, gingerbread house building, craft show, raffle drawing, Kansas City Chief’s Wolf mascot, Topeka Pilots ice hockey mascot, Topeka Drum Corp, free photo booth, free poker run, bake sale, emergency services showcase, fire truck rides, ping pong throw, story time, bingo and the traditional lighted Christmas parade.
Event details will be announced as they are confirmed in the coming weeks. If you are interested in helping with the planning of this annual Chamber event, contact Jeanette Swarts at 785/249-5451. The next planning meeting will be October 3, 5:30 p.m. at Harmon Dental office.
For the second consecutive year, Osage City has been asked to welcome the bicycle riders and relay runners as they travel through Osage City on the Dirty Kanza Promotions “Rush the Rails” event on Saturday, October 6th. There are three locations that will designate the length of the trail chosen by the participants. The route starts in Osawatomie, full distance (96 miles); Vassar/Pomona State Park, half distance (54 miles); Admire, short distance (25 miles); finish line at Council Grove. Participants may choose which course length they want to participate in. The relay runners will be either a four person team or eight person team. This is not a timed event.
The Chamber of Commerce will host the event at the Depot as the Santa Fe Park area has been designated as one of the stopping points for the participants. The Chamber of Commerce would like to take this opportunity to show off our community and express our generous hospitality. Participants will be welcomed to take a break and relax on the shaded lawn of the Santa Fe Park, enjoy snacks provided by the Osage City Kiwanis Club and the Osage City Lions Club, sandwiches, water refills, which will be provided at the Depot. The Depot Museum and model train areas will be opened for the visitors to enjoy and learn a little about the history of Osage City. Osage City and surrounding communities are welcome and encouraged to come and visit with the participants that will be passing through our community throughout the day from approximately 10:00 am to 3:30 pm. Contact Jeanette Swarts at 785-249-5451 if you have any questions.
Come sample dozens of craft and import beers featuring several brewed right here in Kansas. Enjoy the music of The Bryton Stoll Band while satisfying your hunger from the Saucy Lady BBQ food truck.
There will be a raffle table with drawings for some awesome craft beer related items. Every taster will get a sample glass to take home. Event will be from 4:00-7:00 p.m. Sept. 29th at the Pavillion, Osage City Fairgrounds. Ticket sales benefit the Osage City Chamber of Commerce, which in turn benefits The Warmth Fund, E.C.A.T., college scholarships for high school seniors and the July 4 fireworks, among others.
Advance tickets are just $25 with tickets at the gate $30 with DD’s. Tickets are available at Jerrys Thriftway, Stark Car Wash, Bank of Osage City, Mulready’s Pub in Emporia and online at brownpaperticket.com All attendees must be at least 21 years of age.
COF is celebrating their 50th year & they would like to invite the community to attend an open house Wednesday, September 26 from 11:00-1:00 at their facility located at 532 Holliday (old Dollar General Store). The Chamber of Commerce will be having a ribbon cutting ceremony & the COF will be serving a light lunch with an opportunity to meet the staff & tour the facility.
September marks the fourth & final month of recognizing a “Yard of the Month” for 2018, sponsored by the Osage City Chamber of Commerce. Recognition was during the period of June through September. The selection of the yard took place during the first few days of each month. In appreciation of the beauty and hard work for the selected yards, the home owners will receive a $25 Osage City Chamber Buck Certificate to be used at any Osage City business.
With the assistance of Mother Nature providing the area some much needed rain, Robert & Cheryl Shaffer’s yard became green again along with their beautiful & intriguing landscape areas. We are pleased to announce that Robert & Cheryl Shaffer’s yard has been selected for the month of September. Their home is located at 849 Romine Ridge.
Adam Burnett, Osage City Chamber of Commerce member and employee of Resource Center for Independent Living, is not only busy at work, he also is active participating in the sport of boccia. He has been very successful in recent competitions at the national level.
Burnett, originally of Melvern and now Osage City, has worked at RCIL, in Osage City, since 2002. He was introduced to the Paralympic sport of boccia in 2016. Boccia is a throwing sport that tests an athlete’s coordination, accuracy, concentration, and ability to strategize. It can be played in a team or pair or individual competition.
What started out for Burnett as playing “just for fun” became more serious following a third place finish at the U.S. national tournament in 2016. He was then selected to Team USA in 2017 and represented the United States in two international tournaments that year, first in Montreal, Quebec, and then in Cali, Colombia.
Burnett won gold at the US National Tournament in 2017, but he is most proud of being a member of the first BC4 pair to ever win an international match for the United States, when he and his partner defeated Argentina last summer in Colombia.
“It’s really exciting and an honor to wear the Team USA gear and represent my local communities when we travel and compete,” Burnett said.
Most recently, he participated in Montreal in April 2018, and won his second national championship on July 1, 2018, in Chicago, Ill.
He said he loves the challenge of the sport and credits his wife, Beth, for holding him accountable and pushing him to continue practicing and improving his skills. Burnett said he also thanks USD 420 and Osage City Parks and Recreation for allowing him access to train.
“Thanks also to the Twin Lakes Cruisers, RCIL, and countless other individuals who have encouraged me and helped support my efforts,” he said.
Burnett’s ultimate goal is to help Team USA qualify for the 2024 or 2028 Paralympic games.
To follow his journey visit the “Team Adam” page on Facebook or see www.usaboccia.org.
It is that time of the year again for the Fall Osage City Citywide Garage Sale. This is a great opportunity to roam around Osage City looking for the best bargains or to get rid of some of that “stuff” you never use and free up some space.
The Citywide Garage Sale is set for Sept. 14 and 15. For a map of the sales, stop by Peterson’s Assisted Living (Tricia Gundy), the Bank of Osage City (Kaitlin Swindale) or the First National Bank (Kathy Ayers), or other area businesses.
For more information, call Tricia Gundy, chairperson, Osage City Chamber Garage Sale Committee, at 785-528-3301.