Options: Project Pathway

Options Domestic & Sexual Violence Services announces launch of Project Pathway with initial investment from the Robert E. and Patricia A. Schmidt Foundation

Hays, KS – November 5, 2021

Thanks to a $41,000 donation from Robert E. and Patricia A. Schmidt Foundation, Options Domestic & Sexual Violence Services Inc. will be launching Project Pathway, a new way of training trauma advocates. Options employs 22 staff in northwest Kansas providing 24-hour crisis-intervention services to 18 counties around domestic violence, stalking, sexual assault, dating violence, and sex trafficking through 2 offices and 1 safe house.

Barbershop Brings Harmony to Bird City

Wanted. Cheyenne and Rawlins County area families to travel to Bird City Thursday, Nov. 18, to enjoy a night of barbershop singing. The Immanuel United Methodist Church, 116 E. Fourth Street, Bird City is the location of the free event from 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. CST.
Guest means guest and there is no obligation to join either group. Sponsored by the Tumbleweed men’s Barbershop Chorus and the women’s Prairie Rose Harmony Chorus, members of both groups will be on hand to lead guests in the joys of signing harmony. Thomas Annis, Oakley, is the music director for both groups. This is a special weekly rehearsal, not a show.
Over 80 years ago, the founders of The Barbershop Harmony Society (BHS) stumbled onto something quite profound: The joy and transformation that comes with four voices singing together. The BHS wants more people to have the opportunity to experience the joy of singing.
“Our mission is to bring people together in harmony and fellowship to enrich lives through

WPAA to Host James Taylor Tribute Singer

A James Taylor tribute singer is coming Sunday, Oct. 17 at 3 p.m. CDT to Colby Community College’s Cultural Arts Center. This is a community and venue change from the pre-season show list. Grammy Award-winning songwriter and recording artist Steve Leslie performs the music of the internationally famous singer-songwriter James Taylor in an authentic concert event “How Sweet It Is!” The program is made possible through the generous gifts of the
Deane G. Hansen Foundation, Logan, and the Greater Northwest Kansas Community Foundation-Dane Hansen Community Grant for Thomas County, in addition to additional area foundations, businesses and individuals. Admission is by Western Plains Arts Association season ticket for adults $20 and students $10.
Leslie’s warm baritone and exceptional guitar technique will have audiences singing along to such James Taylor classics as “Carolina In My Mind,” “Shower the People,” “You’ve Got a Friend,” “Fire and Rain,” “Up On the Roof,” and many more. Taylor, who was born in 1948 and achieved his breakthrough in 1970, is a six-time Grammy Award winner and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000. Taylor is one of the best-selling music artists of all times having sold more than 100 million records worldwide.

WPAA to Host Jukebox Saturday Night in Oakley

 Jukebox Saturday Night is a music review of the great Big Bands during the 1930’s, 40’s and 50’s. A fun filled event for all ages that captures the exciting sounds of great melodies and lyrics performed by an energetic group of instrumentalists and vocalists who will keep you moving in your seats, tapping your toes and clapping your hands. Oakley High School will host the show at 3 p.m. Central, Sunday, Oct. 3. Admission is by WPAA season ticket or adults $20 and students $10 at the door. Jukebox Saturday Night is made possible through the generous contributions from area businesses and individual donors, including a special season grant from the Dane G. Hansen Memorial Foundation, Logan, Kan.
Jukebox Saturday Night celebrates America’s Swing Era performing the greatest hits as recorded by Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey, Glenn Miller, Duke Ellington, Jimmy Lunceford, Harry James, Artie Shaw, Cab Calloway, Benny Goodman, Bunny Berigan, Count Basie and more. Vocal selections will include songs made famous by Frank Sinatra, Doris Day, Bob Eberly, Helen

NIRA Rodeo in Colby September 17-19

More than 400 rodeo participants expected

COLBY -- About 450 contestants from 26 Kansas and Oklahoma colleges will compete in the annual Colby Community College National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association (NIRA) Rodeo Sept. 17, 18, and 19 in the E.L. Garrett Arena at the Thomas County Fairgrounds. 
Performances on Friday and Saturday begin at 7 p.m. The finals on Sunday featuring the top 10 in each event will start at 1 p.m.

Behind the Mic: Becca Vyzourek

You tune in to hear her 'All 80's Lunch Hour' and listen to the Superhits between 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on weekdays. Chelsea K went behind the mic and find out a little more about:

Becca Vyzourek!

While she puts you in a time machine during the day, Becca grew up on Musicals. As a child and on, she sang in theater and choir, finally resulting in a trip to Broadway in 1999, her senior year of high school. While in New York, Becca had the pleasure of seeing 5 different shows, including one of her

Atwood Public Library: Summer Schedule!

Tails and Tales: Summer Reading Program begins May 19, 2021! This is the day you can start logging minutes/titles on the Reader Zone App or on a paper log (pick up at the library). This will continue through July 31st and all prizes will need to be picked up by that date.

*Note: All grades listed are for those your child has just completed.

Preschoolers: We will have our summer bookworm. Keep track of titles read (pick up form at the library), bring them in and we will add them to our bookworm. Each 10 titles earns you a baggie of gummy worms for a sweet treat!

Kindergarten-2nd Grade: Read a total of 500 minutes during the time duration. After the first 100 minutes, stop in for Prize #1. After 250 minutes stop in for Prize #2, and after you complete the 500 minute goal stop in for Prize #3. If using the Reader Zone App, it will tell you when to come in.

Chelsea is Curious

 In case you don't know Chelsea- she joins you every weekday from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m. on "Superhits 106" KYVZ. 

Growing up in mountains, life was a little different in the summer (and every other season for that matter) than it is out here in northwest Kansas. And while she's lived out here for Some time- she's curious about you!

Send your answers to these questions to kyvzatwood@gmail.com so she may share with other listeners! (If you don't want your answers shared- please specify in the e-mail.)

Photo Source: Chelsea Schmitt

• What are some of your favorite summer traditions?
• Do you have a go-to genre of music or playlist for family gatherings?
• What is your favorite summer memory as a child?
• Where did/do you and your family travel?
• What's your favorite meal for warm weather?

You can answer some or all of these questions! Or make up your own! 

A special thank you to our listeners and sponsors who have supported us for Five Years! We couldn't have done it without you.

2.17.21 *No Longer Applicable*

McCook: Nebraska Public Power District will be moving to Emergency Level 3 at 9 a.m. Rolling blackouts will be conducted throughout the NPPD service territory with power being out for 45 minutes or longer in various locations until further notice.

*No Longer Applicable* Press Release- Sunflower Electric Power Corporation and Midwest Energy **Updated**

12:55 p.m. (2.16.21) Update:

The SPP has moved to an EEA1.

However, the alert level could change again due to weather and electric grid conditions. Grid conditions remain tight, so it is possible the SPP could move again to an EEA2 or EEA3 Alert Level during the next few days.

Consumers are encouraged to stay vigilant and continue reducing electricity usage.

• If SSP moves to an EEA Level 3, the SPP directs utilities to reduce a percentage of their load to balance the system. Generation providers and co-ops do not know in advance because the situation is fluid.

Notice 2.15.21

 From Thomas County Emergency Management:  please stay inside and stay warm!

Southwest Power Pool has upgraded to an Energy Emergency Alert Level 3 within the State of Kansas. What this means is that Energy Providers can utilize controlled service interruptions.  These interruptions will effect the whole state and will last roughly 30-60 minutes. Thomas County will get little to no warning when these interruptions will happen. 

Please take precautions before the outage if it takes place. Thomas County Emergency Management is working with community leaders to get a plan set up warming stations through Thomas County. 

City of Brewster will utilize the Brewster Fire Station.

City of Rexford will utilize the Community Church.

City of Colby will utilize the Emergency Mngt Building.

City of Menlo will utilize the Menlo Fire Station. 

Please check for updates and additional information.

Midwest Energy Press Release *No Longer Applicable*

Press Release: Midwest Energy:
Midwest Energy Appeals to Customers to Conserve Electricity, Natural Gas

With record-breaking cold expected to grip much of the country through mid-week, Midwest Energy is asking customers whose health permits to turn thermostats down a bit, and to not use appliances with heavy electricity consumption, beginning at 12:01 a.m. Monday, Feb. 15 and continuing through mid- week.

“Last week brought a trifecta of bad events – the lowest temperatures in decades across the entire region for more than a week; tight supplies of natural gas due to record use and supply

WPAA Cancellations and Upcoming Shows

2.10.21

Western Plains Arts Association announces the late cancellation of Nashville Legacy that was scheduled for 3 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 14 at Oakley High School due to extreme weather conditions. The musicians plan to reschedule the country program that features the music of Floyd Cramer and Chet Atkins with WPAA during the next season.

2.1.21

The lingering effects of COVID-19 has created some changes to the February and March Western Plains Arts Association season line-up. Cancellations or additions in the next two months are: