Three-in-One in Norwich

Yesterday I was on assignment with First Generation Video. We were filming for a DVD on "how to explore." An Explorer had told me that good things were happening in Norwich so we made that our first stop. Norwich is in southeast Kingman County on K-42.


The Main Street Hardware is at 2nd and Main and that's where you'll find an abundance of good people and good energy for Norwich, a city of about 540.


The source of this abundance is Sondra Nickell. She is the owner of the hardware store and manager of forward motion in Norwich. There is so much to tell about Norwich but we'll just start with the hardware store, I mean the grocery store, no, I mean the post office. Oh my. I'm not really confused. It's just that they are a three-in-one deal.


The hardware part of the store offers all sorts of regular hardware, paint, tools, and lots of lumberyard type items.


The town lost their grocery store a couple of years ago so the back section of the hardware store is devoted to groceries. The Cheney grocery store lets Sondra buy through him -- the only way it would be possible for her to get such a small amount of groceries. The young mothers and senior citizens couldn't appreciate this effort more. They even have a couple of coolers, featuring frozen meat packaged in Kansas!


The story keeps getting better. A short time ago, Norwich was on the losing end in a battle with the federal post office. The post office was closed because of mold -- allegedly. Despite great efforts to save the post office, it's hard to beat a federal system that rewards employees for closing post offices. But, Norwich didn't give up. They are one of the few towns in the state (are there others???) to end up with a contracted post office. A CPO.


What this means is that the hardware store also houses the post office! And hardware store employees run the post office. There is an outside door where the public can come in 24 hours a day to get mail out of their box. During day hours, they can buy stamps and send packages at the hardware store post office. We are grateful for this option though it means the system doesn't have to pay an employee with federal benefits. But, we'll take it. At least Norwich has a post office and didn't have to lose their zip code.

There is so more to know about this town. The 3-in-1 post office, grocery store, post office is enough to absorb for now.

By the way, Sondra and her employees are about as friendly and helpful as you can find. What a pleasure to step into the Main Street Hardware Store.

If you're wondering how one can make a living at this, just know that Sondra is a flood adjuster and that's how she makes everything else work. She spent about three months in New Orleans.

Why would a person do this? Because they love their hometown. Understanding why you'd work this hard, so willingly just to keep a small town viable will help you "Get Kansas."

KE #2 Marci Penner


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Fabric stores bring people to town!

Kathleen Holt still owns the venerable 1887 Cimarron Hotel at 203 N. Main, Cimarron. No longer used as a bed-and-breakfast or site for Sunday chicken dinners, the north side is now home to Country Dumplings Quilt Store! You step into the lobby at the south door, take that all in, and then step into the colorful fabric store!


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This is Pat Hess. She drives in from Coldwater to work here. She loves it so much she says it's worth the hour and twenty minute one-way drive.


With antiques tucked between and among the quilts, it's a friendly and fun place to shop or to attend classes! Betty Mae Jantz is the owner and her business card says, "Serving you is SEW much fun!"

Open Tuesday-Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m., you can call 620.855.4686 or e-mail countrydumplingquilts@yahoo.com for information about classes, more.

Knowing how important fabric stores are to rural communities is to "Get Kansas!"

KE #2 Marci Penner

Where the Whirligigs Start -- and meeting a legend

I bet you've seen those crazy whirligigs west of Mullinville on U.S. 400. They just go on and on, easily over 1/4 mile. Drive into town and you'll see more -- and you'll see more east of town, too. They are everywhere! As you're looking at all these creations don't you want to meet the guy that makes all of these "things?"

You've probably heard about M.T. Liggett a time or two. In fact, his version of grassroots art was deemed so unique that he was one of the 24 finalists for the 8 Wonders of Kansas Art. The neat part about his art is that it garners lots of conversation.


The other day WenDee and I were headed back from doing a game show in Garden City and stopped in Mullinville to deliver the 8 Wonders finalist poster to M.T. I had never met him so was hoping he'd be around. Locals said they had seen him driving around at noon but they thought he wasn't home right now. After about four different sets of directions, we found his house. The neighbor said I should just leave the poster in his car. As I was leaving it, he drove up in his brown pickup. I was about to meet Mr. M.T. Liggett!

Before you know it, we were following him to his "shed" or workshop. When we got there he picked up a broken key under a metal plate and proceeded toward the front of the shed. We soon got a taste of his humor because there is no door to this place.

He was explaining all sorts of things -- including his penchant for coffee cups. Coffee cups EVERYWHERE! Well, everywhere that there wasn't other stuff. Dirt floor. This was definitely shaping up to be an Explorer adventure.

We saw his tools of the trade everywhere from signs, to paint, to metal scraps, to leftover anything.

He told us all sorts of stories including some pretty intriguing ones about his days overseas. He asked us our names and he was just sure he had one of those disc plates with the name "Marci" on it. To look for it was to find a jillion of those plates with just about any girls name on it you could imagine. Of course, none spelled WenDee. In the end, we just told him we'll be glad to come back. He gave us some crazy looking metal face piece and we felt like we were getting a gift from the grassroots Smithsonian!

We ended it all with pictures. It sure was fun meeting M.T. A living legend. That's for sure.

Kansas is full of characters and they all have a story -- and talents! To know M.T. is to "Get Kansas!"

KE #2 Marci Penner

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Purest Water in Kansas

A sign in town says the purest water in Kansas is found in Longford. That seems to make Longford the perfect town to have a bottling plant.

The following is on the website at www.longfordwater.com:
"The water near the city of Longford is known for its natural sweetness, softness and quality of its drinking water. For years, a sign on Highway K-15 boasted of the quality of the water.

The Longford water is unique because the water is naturally filtered by the distintive underground formations in the area. The rocks near Longford form a distinctive part of the Kiowa Formation and include siltstone, relative scarce sandstone, minor lignite and abundant clay rocks. These rocks mark the base of the Kiowa Formation in parts of North Central Kansas and are named for the excellent exposures near Longford, in Southwest Clay County."

I fell for it and have been a Longford Water fan ever since. In fact I was in town the other day and picked up over 300 bottles to use at our We Kan! Conference. Wava was at lunch so I backed up to the warehouse and loaded up my bottles. She found me later taking pictures in the middle of the street.

The city, population under 100, has some pretty great things. One not pictured here (because the sun was wrong) is the Coachlight Restaurant. 785.388.2437. When it's closed on Monday everyone goes to the bar and grill across the street to eat. Pretty good having those options in a small town.



Clarissa Kramer painted this mural found on the side of a downtown building. And, the bank is the original bank in town dating back to the early 1900s and you can see historic Longford photos inside. The exterior walls feature local Dakota sandstone. They also have a post office and Janice's Dream, a great place to get your hair beautified or get directions.


This Dakota sandstone sets by the restaurant as a memorial to their centennial in 1975. Maybe you've heard of Longford because of their great rodeo! Also, the giant stone buffalo is out in a pasture about 8 miles from town.

How can a small town have all these assets? Spend some time in Longford and you'll "Get Kansas!"

KE #2 Marci Penner


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The 8 Wonders of Kansas Commerce are...

The 8 Wonders of Kansas Commerce were announced earlier today:

Big Brutus, West Mineral
Brant's Meat Market, Lucas
Frontenac Bakery, Frontenac
Hemslojd, Inc., Lindsborg
MarCon Pies, Washington
Moon Marble Company,
Stafford County Flour Mills, Hudson
Vonada Stone Company, Sylvan Grove

As soon as I hit the send button with the announcement I know there will be recipients on the receiving end shouting in joy. That's exactly what happened in Pittsburg where Craig Hull leaped out of his chair in celebration. He's on the board of Big Brutus and is the biggest fan Frontenac Bakery could ever have. So he was pretty happy.

He called Brian Hite, owner of the Frontenac Bakery, and Brian said something to the effect that this was a big day for not only them but for the whole city of Frontenac!

Of course, that caused my eyes to water.

Maybe this contest means most to small towns. Recognition that they matter.

More ramblings...
Doug Brant in Lucas teased that he was going to pull out his magic marker and was ready to give autographs. I called Vonada Stone Company but no answer. They are probably out in the shop or field and don't even know what happened yet.

But you also know that there are finalists that are disappointed. And that's always hard. It's not quite as awful as having to tell cities that they weren't selected to host the Kansas Sampler Festival but it's still hard.

After you research and write about all 24 finalists you start to feel attached to them. I mostly hope the public reads the write-ups. The write-ups are where you find out how impressive each of the finalists are. They are the gold standard in their field and have unbelievable stories. Click on any of the thumbnail pictures at www.8wonders.org and read about them. You'll be proud they are in Kansas!

Contests are gaining in momentum...
The other great thing is that the contests continue to gain momentum. With each contest (architecture, art) we've had an increased number of votes. This time we had 9,805 voters from every state in the union and many foreign countries. Schools, nursing homes, international customers -- all focusing on what our state has to offer.

Next contest is Cuisine. Omigosh! This one is going to be nuts. How the Selection Committee will ever decide is beyond me. It's going to be rowdier than any meeting to date -- and they've all been pretty darn exciting.

Understanding Kansas Commerce is one way to "Get Kansas!"

KE #2 Marci Penner

Not in Kansas Anymore!

It doesn't look like they're in Kansas anymore! Pictured are Connie Hall and Rick Dykstra of the Geary County Convention & Visitors Bureau and Donna Price, CVB director of Sherman County. They are on the road to Los Angeles to set up a booth at the Adventures in Travel Expo. It's the largest trade show of its kind in the nation. And yes, Kansas does belong there!

Donna says their booth at the show helped people understand that Kansas is a beautiful state with much to offer. Many of those that came by the booth were surprised at the Kansas photos and the story of our history.

This small contingent of Kansas ambassadors made some great contacts and have already been contacted by a media outlet that wants press releases, announcements etc.

People have such a stereotype of Kansas so any kind of information helps re-shape their view. When they spend a few minutes asking questions, they start to get interested. We're one location that hasn't been over sold and that makes us desirable to many people.

This year, Donna has also represented Sherman County and Northwest Kansas at travel shows in Denver, Kansas City, and Wichita. That's a lot of road time but Donna is glad to do that for her sunflower state.

Thanks to Donna, Connie, Rick, and everyone else out there representing Kansas and helping people "Get Kansas!"

KE #2 Marci Penner

A sandy morning walk

Kansas has so many diverse trails to walk! To appreciate the sandy soil of the Arkansas River Lowlands, the Sand Hills State Park trails are recommended.

Trailheads are off K-61, north of Hutchinson, to the east on 56th or 69th.

Woodlands, mid-grass prairie (but we saw winter big blue stem turkey feet!), yucca, sumac and more make it a place with a rich eco-sytem. Winter vegetation looks so bleak but if you look closely you see stages of life and the sand confirms the presence of many little scampering animals, as well as deer. The squirrel and hawk nests are evident. The animal trails are all over the place -- and it's evident that some geo-cachers use those trails as well.

The grounds are well taken care of and the trails are well marked.

Anyone who has walked this trail recognizes the tree that some hiker is kissing in this picture.

Winter is good in Kansas and it primes us so well for spring.

Recognizing our diverse regions and being at peace with winter is to "Get Kansas!"

KE #2 Marci Penner