This is the July 2024 radio show Focus on Stafford County. This month’s show covers a variety of topics including an introduction of the new Stafford County Economic Development office administrator, Sarah Hampton. Other subjects covered are childcare updates and Rural Champion funding; new housing, prices and availability; a grant for a historic district survey in Stafford; nominations for historic register designation; Hudson’s Easter egg hunt and Christmas celebrations; a grant for getting quality internet broadband services in Hudson; an update on St. John’s Pickleboard Court. and status of Gray Studio renovation.
This is the audio from our monthly radio show Focus on Stafford County. This show aired live in May 202nd. Topics include housing updates; childcare; the creation of a historic preservation district in Stafford, the Kansas Main Street Program; Pickleball courts coming to Stafford County; the Farmers Market and events surrounding the first time it opens on June 13; the Commercial Kitchen, job openings, grant writing projects and the possibility of showing outdoor movies in the park.
By Beccy Tanner
For 124 years, the Gray Photo Studio has overseen developments in downtown St. John.
Named after William R. Gray, the photographer who took photos in Stafford County for more than three-quarters of a century, the building has long been a landmark.
It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2015, but efforts to restore the building has often been a struggle and, at times, seemed to drag to a standstill.
That’s about to change.
Much work has already taken place on the exterior of the building. Now, work is ready to begin on the interior.
Late last year, the photo studio formed a partnership with Stafford County Economic Development Inc. and received a $50,000 grant from Historic Economic Asset Lifeline (HEAL) grant. In addition, there was a matching $50,000 loan from SJN Bank of Kansas.
Still, Long said, more funding is needed.
An online art auction has been scheduled for March 29th and 30th.
When work is completed – expected by the end of 2024 – it will become the Art Center at Gray Photo studio.
“We are going to sheet rock, paint and restore the woodwork,” said Carol Long, president for the Gray Studio Restoration board. “We will start on the kitchen and the bathrooms will be completed. We have one bathroom done — but even having walls up will be nice.”
Ten artists from all over have donated pieces of their art to be auctioned. They include:
Carol Long, Delvin Goode, Steven Hill, Holly Hendrick, Linda Ganstrom, Mike Stumbras, Sheldon Ganstrom and Taylor Craig.
Long said they hope to raise at least $20,000 with the auction to furnish the studio with kitchen appliances, furniture and other items.
The auction will be held through the platform Givebutter where you can also find more information about the artists and the art they are auctioning. The auction will go live March 29th at 5 p.m. and go until March 30th at 11:59 p.m. Go to https://givebutter.com/c/grayphotostudio to get signed up and ready for the auction.
“You don’t have to buy a piece of art to donate to our auction,” Long said. “You can just donate and help us match our funds.”
Local residents, Long said, can also donate to the fund through SJN Bank of Kansas by dropping off a check or mailing it to the bank at 116 E 3rd Ave., St. John, Ks. 67576 and putting Gray Photo Studio in the check memo.
Long said she is hopeful to have the studio open for visitors to view the building’s progress during town’s annual Jubilee celebration held Memorial Day weekend.
Renovation work isn’t expected to be completed by then – but it will give people a chance to chart the building’s progress.
William Gray took photos of almost every family in Stafford County from 1905 to 1947. He did so using wet plate photography and glass negatives. In Stafford, the history museum there has his collection of more than 30,000 glass negatives.
One of the most distinctive things about the building is the huge window that’s part of the building’s roof on the north side. It allowed for wonderful lighting in Gray’s photos.
Long gave credit for the building’s latest renovation efforts and funding to Stafford County Economic Development.
“If Ryan Russell (director of Stafford County’s Economic Development) hadn’t stepped forward and contracted with us to do all this fundraising and grant writing, we probably wouldn’t be moving this quickly,” Long said.
“So, with Eco Devo pushing us forward, we are going to finish this in 2024.”
This is the audio from our monthly radio show: Focus on Stafford County. The show aired in February, 2024. Topics include an upcoming Lunch & Learn book discussion of “Thirteen Ways to Kill your Community;” updates on Stafford County’s commercial kitchen, childcare; Gray Photo Studio grant, art auction and renovation; EPIC grant projects in Stafford County and the Sttafford train depot.
By Beccy Tanner
Two teams and four St. John High School students are the county winners in this year’s Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge.
Ryer Ward, placed first in the contest, which was held Feb. 7 at the Stafford County Annex.
He receives $750 and a chance to compete at the state competition on April 16th at Kansas State University in Manhattan.
His entry was called “The Pocket Shop” and details a business that would make breakfast rolls or pockets with filling.
Second place winners are Garrett McAlister, Willow Murphy, and Uricke Engelbrecht for their entry of “Unraveling Fibers.” Their business would include a subscription service for crocheting and needlework projects.
They receive $500 and have a chance at applying to be a wild card team in the statewide contest.
To participate, students must submit an executive summary of a business proposal and do an in-person presentation.
Each team is then judged on their business’s marketability, niche, and ability to grow their company as well as model.
This year’s judges included: Lea Ann Seiler, from Network Kansas; Trisha Greene, 21st Central District K-State Extension; Angela Peterson, St. John-Hudson USD 350 elementary principal; and Ryan Russell, director of Stafford County Economic Development.
Stafford County Economic Development with funding from South Central Community Foundation hosted the local YEC competition and sponsors the students to attend the state-wide competition.
EcoDevo is a 501c3 nonprofit organization with a mission to promote economic and population growth throughout the county by assisting local businesses, engaging in community activities, and promoting Stafford County as a great place to live, work, and play.
This is the audio from our monthly radio show: Focus on Stafford County. This show aired live Thursday, Jan. 25. Topics included a $50,000 HEAL grant that was awarded to the W.R. Gray Studio in St. John and a $50,000 loan from SJN Bank for the studio’s renovation. Other subjects included the Stafford County Port Authority, updates on the upcoming Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge; the county’s commercial kitchen, childcare, the Community Fair Building and new housing construction.
By: Ryan Russell
Gray Photo Studio (GPS) is soon to be renovated and will soon after open it’s art studio after receiving a $50,000 matching grant from Kansas Commerce Historic Economic Asset Lifeline (HEAL) program. SJN Bank of Kansas, which is always looking for ways to help develop Stafford County, has provided GPS with it’s match in the form of a loan. Without the matching loan, the HEAL grant would not have been possible.
Stafford County Economic Development Inc. (SCEDI) has been working with GPS to develop a plan to complete the historical building. SCEDI and GPS have a fiscal and administrative partnership. The buildings renovations will start no later than April and be completed by the end of the year. In March SCEDI and GPS are planning an online art auction that will benefit the GPS, with over 10 artists committed to donating pieces of art for the auction.
Stafford City Manager Jami Downing also applied on behalf of Stafford and received a HEAL Grant to renovate one of Stafford’s downtown buildings. See Governor Laura Kelly’s announcement of all the counties to receive the HEAL Grant.
https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/KSOG/bulletins/386bc8f
By Beccy Tanner
There may be a new/old look coming soon to the northwest corner of St. John’s Square.
A $45,000 matching grant awarded by the Kansas Creative Arts/Industries Commission – a division of the Kansas Department of Commerce—will portion some of that grant to St. John for use in building a Victorian-type gazebo.
The largest portion of the grant will go to Stafford to help them in helping the city construct a band shell.
A study last year determined both communities lack public outdoor spaces for special events.
Stafford’s project is called “Spaces Within The Places” and celebrates Stafford as the Gateway to Quivira.
With the annual Jubilee and Homecoming events held in the St. John Square, about $4,500 of the grant will go to St. John for construction of the gazebo and concrete pad.
In applying for the grant, Ryan Russell, director of Stafford County Economic Development wrote:
“These spaces will draw people together to hear music from all kinds of artists and bring young families together to enjoy the outdoors.”
The 10 x 16-foot gazebo in St. John will cost roughly $10,000 with $4,500 coming from the grant. The City of St. John will provide the remainder in funding along with the concrete pad and electrical wiring and sound for the gazebo.
Sturdi-Bilt near Hutchinson is constructing St. John’s gazebo.
It is expected to be delivered to St. John sometime in April or early May – in time for the Jubilee.
At the beginning of the 20th century, the square boasted a similar type of gazebo, and it was used as a forum for bands and special events. It eventually fell into disrepair and was torn down.
It is hoped the new gazebo will be a gathering place for people to once again come together.
This is the audio from our monthly radio show Focus on Stafford County. This show aired in December. It includes discussion on Giving Tuesday, Stafford County’s commercial kitchen, the partnership between Stafford County Economic Development and the Ida Long Goodman Memorial Library’s Lunch and Learns, a new gazebo for the St. John Square and some upcoming grant writing workshops.
2023 SCCF $5,000 Children’s Health Grant Recipient:
City of Stafford: West Park Equipment Update
2023 SCCF Community Grant Recipients:
Lucille M. Hall Museum for Education and History:
Isaac B. Werner Memorial Fireproof File Cabinet……………… $1,000
USD 349 – Stafford Schools: Art Program Materials and Supplies……………. $1,000
Macksville Middle School: Social Studies Books…………………………………….. $1,000
Zenith Community Presbyterian Church:
Stafford Ministerial Alliance Food Assistance Program……….. $1,500
USD 350 – St. John-Hudson Schools:
Therapy Dog Training and Certification………………………………. $1,760
Macksville City Library: Hometown Hospitality on Display Project………….. $1,395
Nora E. Larabee Memorial Library: Computers………………………………………. $1,000
St. John High School: Robotics Technology……………………………………………. $1,000
USD 350 – St. John-Hudson Schools: Orff Instruments……………………………. $1,838
Stafford County Core Community: Core Curriculum…………………………………. $680
Macksville Grade School: Library Books……………………………………………….. $1,000
Macksville Grace Church: Food Pantry and Necessities Nook Supplies……… $2,000
City of Stafford: Uptown Sound System………………………………………………….. $1,462
St. John Elementary School: STEAM Day Supplies………………………………….. $1,240
St. John High School: Cameras……………………………………………………………….. $950
Macksville High School: Leadership Workshop and Supplies…………………… $1,600
Stafford County Economic Development:
Youth Entrepreneur Challenge Supplies………………………………. $1,880
Nora E. Larabee Memorial Library: ADA Bathroom Project…………………….. $1,954
2023 SCCF $250 Teacher’s Grant Recipients:
St. John Elementary School: Social Emotional Online Learning………. Michelle Christiansen
Macksville Junior High and High School: Care Closet Restock……. Jessica Neeland
St. John Elementary School: Shoe Lacing Trainers…………………………… Trish Wade
St. John Junior High School: Classroom Library Books………………….. Andrea Long
St. John Elementary School: Kagan Cooperative Learning Materials. Bonnie Ward
Stafford High School: Classroom Library Books………………………….. Dianna Fisher
USD 350 – St. John-Hudson Schools: Ceramics Tools and Glazes…….. Brad Emery
