Greeley County Republican · His grandmother, Carmelita Slattery, even worked temporarily at the...
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Greeley County Republican 75¢ Single Copy P.O. Box 610 • Tribune, Kansas 67879 • 620-376-4264 —10 Pages— Wednesday, February 12, 2020, Vol. 154. No. 7 Our vision is a vibrant, friendly, innovative, unified community with your family, health and happiness in mind. Jan & Dan The Homecoming Royalty are l-to-r (second row) Senior candidates Lauren Crotinger, Kamryn Youmans, and Mattie Brandi, (third row) Senior boys Erny Knelsen, Kyler Smith. Michael Lehman, and Tayber Elder: Class Representatives (fourth row) Freshmen: Alayna Vestal and Clay Smith: Juniors, Alvero Bello and Veronica Generella: Sophomores, Cade Mangan and Grace Whitham: (front row) the Crown Boy is Deacon Gooch and flower girl is Baleigh Schmidt. Keith Slattery is new FSA CED for Greeley and Wallace counties Greeley County native Keith Slattery has been selected as the new Farm Service Agency (FSA) County Executive Director (CED) for Greeley and Wallace counties. He succeeds George Schmidt, who retired in December 2019. Keith has been employed at the FSA for about six and one-half years. He worked as a Program Technician in Greeley County for a little over five years before entering the County Operations Trainee (COT) Program. After training in Wichita, Kearny, and Scott counties for about 15 months, Keith applied for and received the CED job in Greeley and Wichita counties. A 2009 Greeley County High School graduate, Keith participated in activities and sports, including golf, in which he qualified three times for the State Tournament, and Scholar’s Bowl, earning two State Championships. During high school, he worked at the Greeley County Republican newspaper, as a sports writer and graphic designer. Keith graduated from Central Christian College in McPherson, Kansas, in 2013 with a bachelors degree in psychology, and also was on the school’s golf team. He began working at FSA upon graduation as a temporary employee, then became permanent, and was chosen for the COT training program in October 2018. “I was lucky in my training program to be able to actually manage offices where the current CED’s were absent for extended periods of time, so I received some good on-the-job management training,” said Keith. “That doesn’t always happen.” During his 15-month training program, Keith drove daily to one or more of three different counties. “I’m glad to have only two counties now, one being my home county.” Keith explained that the FSA has currently combined the staffing for the Greeley and Wallace county offices to cover both offices three days a week. The Tribune office is open Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays; the Wallace County office in Sharon Springs is open Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays. “We are hoping for some additional funding at some point to hire another full-time person,” added Keith. The overall mission of the FSA, said Keith, is to implement the programs in the federal Farm Bill. These programs provide assistance to farmers and ranchers. “I have inherited a really good staff here and I hope to work with them for a long time, “commented Keith. “We work well together to solve problems for the members of our communities.” Keith’s maternal grandfather, Francis Graham, and family moved to Greeley County in the mid 1950s, when he farmed and worked at the local co-op. Keith’s father, Jeff Slattery, grew up on the family farm south of Tribune. His grandmother, Carmelita Slattery, even worked temporarily at the FSA in the 1990s. Keith and his wife Monica (Veleta), also a life-long resident of Greeley County, are active in the community. Keith will continue to coach high school golf, and Monica, a paraprofessional at Greeley County Schools, also coaches junior high girls basketball. “We love it here and there is no other place we would rather be.” A favorite quote of Keith’s is from Muhammad Ali: “Service to others is the rent you pay for your room on earth”. “Perhaps serving the farmers and ranchers of Greeley and Wallace counties is my way of paying that rent.” The 2020 Greeley County All School Spelling Bee took place on February 4th in the school auditorium. There were 18 participants from grades 3-8. The contest began with class rounds to determine the class champion. The next round was the all school round to determine the county champion and runner- up. The champion will be representing our school at the State Spelling Bee. Congratulations to Reagan Crotinger for winning this year’s bee. Aidan Hill is the runner-up. The participants for each grade and the classroom winners are as follows. 3 rd grade: Quinn Kleymann, Eriana Martinez, Colin Burnet (alternate), Noemi Valenzuela (winner); 4 th grade: Luke Clevenger, Jeryn Stewart, Annaleigh Long (alternate), Bianca Vega (winner); 5 th grade: Mia Reynolds, Breanna Segers, Santiago Mora (alternate), Aiden Hill (class winner and overall runner-up); 6 th grade: James Marquardt, Shannon Robert-David, Sam Wright (alternate), Hailey Nolan (winner); 7 th grade: Jesus Chanez, Jerusalen Valenzuela, Zoey Shivers (alternate), Max Whitham (winner); 8 th grade: Kathy Alenxander, Regan Crotinger (overall winner), Kasen Felty (alternate), Joshua Valenzuela (class winner). Thank you to Ginger Gibson, Dee Ann Schneider, and Jeri Farmer-Smith for all of their help and expertise. — Kerry Dixon and Kerry Sloan, spelling bee coordinators Alan Peter of First FarmBank presented spelling bee winner Reagan Crotinger, center, and runner-up Aidan Hill with cash awards. Reagan Crotinger is county’s spelling bee winner Keith Slattery J — We are greatly saddened to learn that Hank Robertson, our next-door neighbor of so very many years, passed away last weekend. Hank leaves the community and region an amazing legacy of children and their spouses, grandchildren, and other relatives. It’s too easy to take your neighbors for granted. We always waved at Hank, visited over the backyard fence, and watched over each other’s homes and comings and goings. After Hank’s wife Alice died five years ago, we would see Hank walking his little dog and visit for a few minutes. I didn’t consider that he might not always be there. Hank was a dedicated farmer and also pharmacist, and I often saw pictures of him on the internet at his grandchildren’s sporting and other events, applauding and supporting their efforts. He was there for them, and proud of them. I remember that we once had a big black cat that liked Hank and Hank liked her. She would visit him and get lots of petting, and liked to get in his garage where they stored a special car. He said she liked that car. Several times I think she got caught by accident in Hank’s garage overnight, having sneaked in to nap in that car. Hank didn’t seem to mind. We extend our condolences to Hank’s large extended family. It will be different in our neighborhood without Hank there. We, and many others, will miss him. **** J – This Friday is Valentines Day, as well as Greeley County High School’s homecoming basketball games. Good luck to the Jackrabbits!! I remember in school how exciting and/or disappointing Valentines Day could be, depending on who got (or didn’t get) valentines from whom…. **** D — The winter sports season is coming to a close. The Jr. High basketball teams have finished their season and the High School teams have two more weeks of regular season play. The post season regional tournament will be held in Tribune this year during the week of February 24. From looking at the team records it will be a tough regional for both the Tribune boys and girls teams. The top two teams in the regional tournament will advance to sub-state play. **** D — I heard a report from one older farmer that the water on the full moon this week indicated that we would have a big snow. I like the idea of predicting the weather from the moon, but I simply have never learned how to read the signs. But we could sure use a wet snow. **** D — I follow an economist Benjaman Fulford who looks at the world a little differently than most. He says that the funny money games don’t add to the economy and if you want to get a handle on what’s really happening you need to look at real stuff like durable goods orders or the Baltic Dry Index that measures the quantity of goods that are shipped. Now in the middle of the country we don’t have much shipping. Our stuff in Western Kansas moves on trucks or trains. There are no official numbers on the amount of truck shipments, but if I count the number of trucks that pass the newspaper office on Highway 27, then I would have to say that our economy is strong. ****
Transcript of Greeley County Republican · His grandmother, Carmelita Slattery, even worked temporarily at the...
Greeley County Republican
75¢ Single Copy
P.O. Box 610 • Tribune, Kansas 67879 • 620-376-4264 —10 Pages— Wednesday, February 12, 2020, Vol. 154. No. 7
Our vision is a vibrant, friendly, innovative, unified community with your family, health and happiness in mind.
Jan & Dan
The Homecoming Royalty are l-to-r (second row) Senior candidates Lauren Crotinger, Kamryn Youmans, and Mattie Brandi, (third row) Senior boys Erny Knelsen, Kyler Smith. Michael Lehman, and Tayber Elder: Class Representatives (fourth row) Freshmen: Alayna Vestal and Clay Smith: Juniors, Alvero Bello and Veronica Generella: Sophomores, Cade Mangan and Grace Whitham: (front row) the Crown Boy is Deacon Gooch and flower girl is Baleigh Schmidt.
Keith Slattery is new FSA CED for Greeley and Wallace counties
Greeley County native Keith Slattery has been selected as the new Farm Service Agency (FSA) County Executive Director (CED) for Greeley and Wallace counties. He succeeds George Schmidt, who retired in December 2019.
Keith has been employed at the FSA for about six and one-half years. He worked as a Program Technician in Greeley County for a little over five years before entering the County Operations Trainee (COT) Program. After training in Wichita, Kearny, and Scott counties for about 15 months, Keith applied for and received the CED job in Greeley and Wichita counties.
A 2009 Greeley County High School graduate, Keith participated in activities and sports, including golf, in which he qualified
three times for the State Tournament, and Scholar’s Bowl, earning two State Championships. During high school, he worked at the Greeley County Republican newspaper, as a sports writer and graphic designer.
Keith graduated from Central Christian College in McPherson, Kansas, in 2013 with a bachelors degree in psychology, and also was on the school’s golf team. He began working at FSA upon graduation as a temporary employee, then became permanent, and was chosen for the COT training program in October 2018. “I was lucky in my training program to be able to actually manage offices where the current CED’s were absent for extended periods of time, so I received some good on-the-job management training,” said Keith. “That doesn’t always happen.”
During his 15-month
training program, Keith drove daily to one or more of three different counties. “I’m glad to have only two counties now, one being my home county.”
Keith explained that the FSA has currently combined the staffing for the Greeley and Wallace county offices to cover both offices three days a week. The Tribune office is open Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays; the Wallace County office in Sharon Springs is open Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays. “We are hoping for some additional funding at some point to hire another full-time person,” added Keith.
The overall mission of the FSA, said Keith, is to implement the programs in the federal Farm Bill. These programs provide assistance to farmers and ranchers.
“I have inherited a really good staff here and I hope to work with them for a long time, “commented Keith. “We work well together to solve problems for the members of our communities.”
Keith’s maternal grandfather, Francis Graham, and family moved to Greeley County in the mid 1950s, when he farmed and worked at the local co-op. Keith’s father, Jeff Slattery, grew up on the family farm south of Tribune. His grandmother, Carmelita Slattery, even worked temporarily at the FSA in the 1990s.
Keith and his wife Monica (Veleta), also a life-long resident of Greeley County, are active in the community. Keith will continue to coach high school golf, and Monica, a paraprofessional at Greeley County Schools, also coaches junior high girls basketball. “We love it here and there is no other place we would rather be.”
A favorite quote of Keith’s is from Muhammad Ali: “Service to others is the rent you pay for your room on earth”.
“Perhaps serving the farmers and ranchers of Greeley and Wallace counties is my way of paying that rent.”
The 2020 Greeley County All School Spelling Bee took place on February 4th in the school auditorium. There were 18 participants from grades 3-8. The contest began with class rounds to determine the class champion. The next round was the all school round to determine the county champion and runner-up. The champion will be representing our school at the State Spelling Bee.
Congratulations to Reagan Crotinger for winning this year’s bee. Aidan Hill is the runner-up.
The participants for each grade and the classroom winners are as follows.
3rd grade: Quinn Kleymann, Eriana Martinez, Colin Burnet (alternate), Noemi Valenzuela (winner);
4th grade: Luke Clevenger, Jeryn Stewart, Annaleigh
Long (alternate), Bianca Vega (winner);
5th grade: Mia Reynolds, Breanna Segers, Santiago Mora (alternate), Aiden Hill (class winner and overall runner-up);
6th grade: James Marquardt, Shannon Robert-David, Sam Wright (alternate), Hailey Nolan (winner);
7th grade: Jesus Chanez, Jerusalen Valenzuela, Zoey Shivers (alternate), Max Whitham (winner);
8th grade: Kathy Alenxander, Regan Crotinger (overall winner), Kasen Felty (alternate), Joshua Valenzuela (class winner).
Thank you to Ginger Gibson, Dee Ann Schneider, and Jeri Farmer-Smith for all of their help and expertise.
— Kerry Dixon and Kerry Sloan, spelling bee coordinatorsAlan Peter of First FarmBank presented spelling bee winner Reagan
Crotinger, center, and runner-up Aidan Hill with cash awards.
Reagan Crotinger is county’s spelling bee winner
Keith Slattery
J — We are greatly saddened to learn that Hank Robertson, our next-door neighbor of so very many years, passed away last weekend. Hank leaves the community and region an amazing legacy of children and their spouses, grandchildren, and other relatives. It’s too easy to take your neighbors for granted. We always waved at Hank, visited over the backyard fence, and watched over each other’s homes and comings and goings. After Hank’s wife Alice died five years ago, we would see Hank walking his little dog and visit for a few minutes. I didn’t consider that he might not always be there. Hank was a dedicated farmer and also pharmacist, and I often saw pictures of him on the internet at his grandchildren’s sporting and other events, applauding and supporting their efforts. He was there for them, and proud of them. I remember that we once had a big black cat that liked Hank and Hank liked her. She would visit him and get lots of petting, and liked to get in his garage where they stored a special car. He said she liked that car. Several times I think she got caught by accident in Hank’s garage overnight, having sneaked in to nap in that car. Hank didn’t seem to mind. We extend our condolences to Hank’s large extended family. It will be different in our neighborhood without Hank there. We, and many others, will miss him.
****J – This Friday is Valentines Day, as well as Greeley County High School’s homecoming basketball games. Good luck to the Jackrabbits!! I remember in school how exciting and/or disappointing Valentines Day could be, depending on who got (or didn’t get) valentines from whom….
****
D — The winter sports season is coming to a close. The Jr. High basketball teams have finished their season and the High School teams have two more weeks of regular season play. The post season regional tournament will be held in Tribune this year during the week of February 24. From looking at the team records it will be a tough regional for both the Tribune boys and girls teams. The top two teams in the regional tournament will advance to sub-state play.
****D — I heard a report from one older farmer that the water on the full moon this week indicated that we would have a big snow. I like the idea of predicting the weather from the moon, but I simply have never learned how to read the signs. But we could sure use a wet snow.
****D — I follow an economist Benjaman Fulford who looks at the world a little differently than most. He says that the funny money games don’t add to the economy and if you want to get a handle on what’s really happening you need to look at real stuff like durable goods orders or the Baltic Dry Index that measures the quantity of goods that are shipped. Now in the middle of the country we don’t have much shipping. Our stuff in Western Kansas moves on trucks or trains. There are no official numbers on the amount of truck shipments, but if I count the number of trucks that pass the newspaper office on Highway 27, then I would have to say that our economy is strong.
****
