8 Wonders of Kansas History!

Kansas Sampler Foundation is all about promoting Kansas. Their latest contest is to name the 8 Wonders of Kansas History. Atchison has one of the 24 finalists and we want you to vote for us!
The Kanza Tribe and Lewis & Clark's Independence Creek is an important part of Kansas ...and Atchison...history. Follow the link and read more about all 24 of the nominees.

http://www.kansassampler.org/8wonders/history.php

You must vote for 8. You may vote three times from your email address. Help us promote Atchison!! Vote today!

Annual Spring Clean Up

Saturday is our Annual Spring Clean Up! This year generous donations from Bradken and Cargill will allow us to serve lunch to our volunteers!

Bank of Atchison and MGP Ingredients have issued challenges to their employees to get involved so we expect great participation!

We have numerous sponsors who donate money, trash bags, and gloves. The entire city is mapped out and volunteers are given specific areas to clean up.
This year is especially important after one of the most difficult winters in recent history.

The County of Atchison is funding a truck to pick up old tires. We will accept up to 8 tires from each person with an Atchison County license plate that brings them to the Santa Fe Depot until the truck is full.

The following businesses have contributed to the Clean Up campaign : A Touch of Class, Atchison County, Atchison Dental Associates, Atchison Eye Center, Atchison Hospital, Atchison Tree Board, Bank of Atchison, Berger Company, Blish -Mize, Bradken, Bunge Milling, Cargill Ag Horizons, Colonial Realty, Consumer Oil, Exchange Bank, Free Country Design & Construction, Jim Duitsman, JD Farris Law Firm, Kansas Gas Service, L&L Construction, MGP Ingredients, Main Street Decorating, McDonald's, Tate Plumbing & Construction, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, Unit Rail, and Wal-Mart

THANK YOU to each and every one! And THANK YOU to the many volunteers who will help on Saturday!! It is a huge community effort that certainly pays off!!

Amelia Earhart Festival Announcement!

The Amelia Earhart Festival has announced the 2010 Pioneering Achievement Award Winner. Lynette Woodard will be honored at the 14th Annual Amelia Earhart Festival in July. Much as Amelia was a pioneer, Lynette has been a pioneer in women's basketball. She played college ball at the University of Kansas, where she was a four time Kodak All-American and a two-time GTE Academic All-American. She is the most prolific scorer in women's college basketball history with a total of 3,649 points in her college career. She was awarded the Wade Trophy in 1981 as the nation's top college player. She was a two time Olympian, including winning a gold medal in the 1984 games. And like Earhart's surge into a world dominated by men, Woodard opened the door for women in a unique way when she became the first female player for the legendary Harlem Globetrotters in 1985. Her career culminated with a stint in the newly-organized WNBA in 1997.

Lynette will participate in the Speaker's Symposium at Benedictine College on July 17th, and will be the featured speaker at the Pioneering Achievement Award Luncheon where she will receive the award. This year's symposium, "Notable Kansas Women" starts at 11 am on Saturday, July 17th; is free and open to the public. The luncheon is at 12:30. The cost for the luncheon is $15 and reservations may be made after May 1 by calling the Atchison Area Chamber of Commerce. 913.367.2427

The calendar says this weekend Spring will arrive! So the businesses in Atchison want to celebrate with you! Come in to any of the participating businesses on Friday or Saturday and register to win! We're giving away $400!!
Someone will have fun spending $400 in any of the 110 businesses that currently participate in the gift certificate program.

So put yourself in a SPRING mood by shopping and dining in some of Atchison's finest establishments!! SPRING IS HERE!!!

on the calendar anyway :)

March 30 Farm CIty Banquet

Atchison's annual Farm City Banquet is a time to celebrate the agricultural part of our community. Businesses throughout the area purchase tickets and give them away to their customers. They also give some to the Chamber for us to distribute to the ag community. On March 30th we will gather at the Atchison Heritage Conference Center for a great meal and some good fun. There will be booths to visit with information and giveaways. We can't wait to see who bakes the best pie this year. If you're coming to the banquet, be sure to bring a pie for the contest! After we give prizes for the BEST pie, Jeff Hoffman will be our MC and auctioneer and you could go home with a fantastic pie baked by one of Atchison county's best cooks! We'll also see how good at roping you might be....prizes again for the best! Plan to join us to celebrate Farm City on March 30th!

SPRING Open House! part two!

Twenty Atchison businesses are celebrating Spring March 19 & 20 with an Open House! They'll have specials and promotions to help you quench your Spring Fever! Be sure to visit all 20 and register because we're giving away $400!! Participating businesses are Willowbrook, Schweser's, Radio Shack, MoJo Cove, March Furniture, Lopez de Mexico, Hilligoss Shoe Store, Doodlebugs, Cottage of the Seasons, Ann Quinn's Furniture and Home Store, Snowball, The River House, Parker House, Marigold Bakery, Main Street Decorating, Kathryn's for Tea, Flyer's, Curves, Ball Brothers, and Amazing Deals/WOW! Only $1.25. Register at every one for more chances to WIN!

SPRING Open House!

I don't know about you, but by this time of year, I 'm tired of winter. I'm full of SPRING FEVER! I want to get out of the house and have some fun...buy something NEW! Our merchants want you to have some fun in ATCHISON! So....March 19 & 20, we're having a SPRING OPEN HOUSE! Twenty businesses will be having special spring sales and promotions for the weekend. Stop in...register to win $400 in Chamber gift certificates!! All you have to do is visit any of the participating businesses and register to WIN! Or visit them ALL for more chances to WIN! On Monday, March 22, we will post the winner on our facebook page and on this blog. The lucky shopper can pick up their gift certificates at the Chamber office and spend $400 at any of over 100 Atchison businesses! Now that will be a fun shopping spree!

St Patty's Day!

We'll celebrate St. Patty's Day on Saturday, March 13th with a parade! The theme for 2010 is "Irish Roots & Leprechaun Boots". It will be a fun afternoon with prizes given to the the best entries immediately following the parade. Come enjoy the day in Atchison... a unique array of dining options... an eclectic collection of locally-owned shops... we'll see you in Atchison!

What is the Kansas Legislature doing?

This is your opportunity to talk to your representative in Topeka face to face and find out! Saturday morning at 9 am the Chamber is hosting a Legislative Coffee at the Santa Fe Depot.
THANK YOU to AT&T for sponsoring the event!! It begins at 9 am and Rep. Jerry Henry and Rep. Melanie Meier have confirmed that they will attend. If you have questions and would like to speak to your representative.....come to the Depot Saturday at 9 am! We'll see you there!!

Smithsonian Exhibit comes to the Santa Fe Depot!

An After Hours hosted by the Atchison County Historical Museum in the Santa Fe Depot will open the newest exhibit! The traveling Smithsonian "Journey Stories" exhibit opens Friday, February 26th with a reception from 5-7 pm. Be prepared for a rousing journey, and even a chance to share your story of how you wound up a Kansan. Local stories are included in this newest show at the Museum