PCDI Annual Banquet set for LCC Wellness Center March 5

The annual Prowers County Development Incorporated banquet meeting will be held Wednesday, March 5 at 6:30pm at the LCC Wellness Center.  PCDI Executive Director, Lance Benninghoff said the keynote speaker is Marci Penner of the Kansas Sampler Foundation.  Penner will discuss succession planning and how to preserve and sustain rural culture.  Benninghoff said he will speak on the development of a new website for PCDI as well as a series of business seminars which PCDI will host through 2014. 

Benninghoff said several speakers will provide information on topics mentioned by local business owners and managers such as customer service training, public safety in the business place, agri-marketing and safety issues and estate planning for agriculturally oriented businesses.  He said the first seminars are scheduled to begin in either May or June.  Benninghoff noted that economic reports show Prowers County ranks 6^th out of the ten top agriculture producing counties in the state. 

Invitations have already been sent to business owners throughout Prowers County, but those who wish to be included for the dinner must RSVP at 336-2384 by the end of the business day, Wednesday, February 26.  The banquet meeting, excluding the dinner, is open to those who received invitations mailed by PCDI.  The election for four board of director positions will also be conducted during the business portion of the banquet.  Three members have indicated they will run for re-election and nominations will be accepted from the floor. 

Board members approved a memorandum of understanding between PCDI and ARPA, Arkansas River Power Authority which enlists the services of Benninghoff as a regional coordinator.  His duties include providing updates to the U.S. District Court on a LED Lighting project for ARPA member communities.  The financing for the lighting updates was ordered by the court as a result of litigation between ARPA and WildEarth Guardians which was settled last year. 

Benninghoff has been asked to serve on a committee to outline a master plan for a Parks, Trails and Recreation project which is being funded by a grant awarded to the City of Lamar and was organized by LiveWell Prowers County.  The first sessions will be one in Spanish set for Friday, February 28 at Lincoln School, while the others will be Saturday, March 1 and will focus on health oriented programs for a Sports Hub Area, Civic Center Area, Willow Creek Area and Northside Neighborhood Area.

By Russ Baldwin