Screening to be offered Friday
LARNED — The Sunflower Early Education Center is sponsoring free developmental screenings for all children, birth through two years of age from 9 to 11 a.m. Friday at the First United Methodist Church, 701 Main Street in Larned.
For information or a screening appointment, call 1-800-692-4087 or 620-792-4807
Laotian speaker scheduled Monday
LARNED — Kenton Kersting, originally from the Kinsley-Offerle area, will share his experience as a volunteer teacher in Laos at 7 p.m. Monday, July 18 at the Jordaan Community Room, 502 Broadway.
The event is sponsored by Modern Homemakers F.C.E. Refreshments will be served. Kersting is the son of Jack and Marilyn Kersting of rural Offerle.
Kersting has worked as an English educator at the National University of Laos in the capital city of Vientiane since 2005. He will share stories about the people and nation which have captured his heart.
“Most of us in America have reduced the centuries-old culture of Vietnam and the people of that nation to ‘a war,” Kersting said. “To most Americans, the nations of Laos and Cambodia are footnotes to that war. They’re ‘over there’ and are ‘somehow connected’ with the Vietnam War.”
That connection created the sad distinction for Laos of being the most-heavily bombed nation in global history.
“In many ways the nation is still recovering from the experiences of 40 years past, but it is also experiencing incredible growth,” Kersting said. “Asian prosperity experienced by its neighbors China, Vietnam and Thailand is filtering across the borders.”
Kersting said his presentation will focus on the people and lifestyles of the nation where he now serves, bridge-building between the two nations.
“There are lots of poignant moments and experiences serving there and lots and lots of laughs as East meets West, sometimes on a crash course,” he said.
Pawnee burn ban extended
LARNED — The Pawnee County commissioners extended a burn ban for an additional seven-day period Monday afternoon for Pawnee County. The commissioners will continue to extend the burn ban if dry conditions persist.
Genealogy speaker scheduled Sunday
LARNED — The Santa Fe Trail Center’s educator/archivist, Terry Wickstrum will introduce the public to genealogical research. Visitors will learn about researching family histories at 2 p.m. Sunday, July 17.
Everyone has family stories about their ancestors. Wickstrum will provide answers of where to look for past generations and how to organize it once you find it.
Admission to the program is adults, $2; students ages 12-18, $1.50; and children 6-11, 75 cents. Fort Larned Historical Society members are free.
The Santa Fe Trail Center is two miles west of Larned on Hwy K-156. For information, call (620) 285-2054 or visit the web site www.santafetrailcenter.org.
Wet-Dry meeting canceled
LARNED — The July 17 meeting of the Wet/Dry Routes Chapter scheduled at Fort Larned National Historic Site has been canceled because of the extreme hot weather. For information, contact David Clapsaddle, 285-3295.
