News for 3/25/2020

PLEASE KEEP IN MIND THAT INFORMATION PRESENTED

CAN CHANGE AT ANY TIME!!!

Rusty Tractor Carry-out Only 

In compliance with the recommendation of the Smith County Health Officer, the Rusty Tractor will only be doing carry-out orders only. Please call either the Rusty Tractor at 785-476-2500 or the Corner Corral 785-476-2282 to place your order.  Orders will need to be picked up at Corner Corral.

Thank you for your continued support and understanding during this time.

Grocery Store Update

For your safety and ours, we are doing Curbside service. Call 785-476-2852, give us your order and phone number and when your order is done we will call you back with your total and meet you in the parking lot. Your patience and understanding is appreciated. Please also understand we are very limited on certain items during this time. 

Library Currently Closed

Kensington Community/School Library is closed until further notice. We are assessing things day to day and your patience is appreciated. If you would like a library card to take advantage of the awesome digital resources available from Hoopla, Sunflower elibrary and the State Library, please contact me by email and I will set it up!

Ebarnes@usd110.net, message me on facebook, or feel free to call or text 785-476-8185. If you would like a stash of real books and DVDs contact me and I will arrange a pick up time. The library doors and return slot will remain locked for the time being. Thanks for your cooperation and understanding!

Erica Barnes, Library Director

USD 110 Thunder Ridge Patrons

On March 17, 2020 Governor Laura Kelly announced all school facilities will close for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year. We are working with the Kansas State Department of Education to develop alternative learning opportunities for all students and will share more information soon.

We understand the hardship a school closure places on our families as well as the social and emotional impact it may have on our students. Our district leadership team and Board of Education have been developing a contingency plan since mid-March, including how to provide breakfast and lunch for our students.

We are working on a plan to provide meals for those students that need them during the week.  The school district is applying for a waiver so that we are able to serve meals. The meals will be of a “Grab and Go” nature.  Pickup locations will be designated as soon as the waiver is approved. More information will be provided this week.  

We are also working on other critical issues, such as what this means for our seniors and how this will affect next school year. We will provide updates on these issues as soon as the information is available. We do not anticipate delivering any type of instruction to students prior to Monday, March 30, 2020.  Teachers will use the week of March 23 -27 to work on lesson plans and collaborate on the best ways to best serve our students.

We are committed to working together as a community to support one another throughout these unprecedented times, and communication will remain a top priority. 

As a reminder, this school closure is in response to the current public health crisis. The focus should remain on preventing the spread of the coronavirus, or COVID-19 as it is also referred to.

Please be mindful of the following:

• Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.

• Cover your nose and mouth when coughing and sneezing (cough/sneeze into your sleeve or a tissue).

• Please keep sick children at home.

• Avoid close contact with anyone with cold or flu-like symptoms.

Follow additional guidance from these sources:

• National Center for Disease Control (CDC) 

• Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) 

Sincerely,

Jeff A. Yoxall, USD 110 Superintendent

Thunder Ridge Schools

District Lions Convention

Darold and Joyce Grauerholz, Joan Nech, and Greg and Robin Billings attended the annual Lions District Convention in Hays March 13-14. Darold and Joyce attended the evening banquet Friday night and the other members joined them Saturday, the 14. The convention was held in the Student Union on Fort Hays campus. Different sessions were held on various topics, a general meeting followed, and an auction was held to raise money for the Lions Sight Foundation. 

A luncheon banquet was also held to honor some of its members. Lion Darold Grauerholz was honored with a Melvin Jones Award for his work and dedication to the Sight Council. Darold has served many years in various positions on this council. He collects eye glasses from local optometrists to be distributed world-wide through the lions. He has also volunteered many years at the Lion’s eye screener bus at the state fair. He has impacted many lives through his service with the sight council and lions club. 

The Peace Poster contestants and winners were also celebrated at the banquet. Our local winner, Rueben Steenkamp, and his family were in attendance of the banquet. Rueben received an honorable mention for his participation in the contest. 

Sight has always been a central focus of the International Lions Club. Eye glass collection boxes are located at the Kensington Community Store as well as the Farmer’s National Bank.       Glasses are collected and distributed world-wide through the efforts of International Lions Club. All donations help and make an impact in people’s lives!

Darold Grauerholz received the Melvin Jones Award for service. Here he is with District Governor Tom Baumann and the International Governor.

Rueben, with parents Rudolph and Esta, and little brother Philip Steenkamp.

Joyce and Darold Grauerholz, Joan Nech, and Robin and Greg Billings.

Erica Barnes Library Director; K-3 & HS Librarian Kensington Community/School Library 785-476-2219 or 8185 (cell) Fill your mind with truth; fill your heart with love; and fill your life with service. - Thomas S. Monso