Faces and places

Farm owners and operators should sign their Direct and Counter-cyclical Program contracts by Monday to qualify for program payments for crop years 2002 and 2003. Otherwise, a $100 late filing fee will be assessed per farm. For more information, call the Douglas County Farm Service Agency at 843-4260.

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The deadline to enter the Conservation Reserve Program has been extended to June 13. The program is the nation’s largest private lands environmental improvement program. The 2002 Farm Bill authorized CRP enrollment up to 39.2 million acres. CRP participants voluntarily remove environmentally sensitive land from agricultural production by entering into long-term contracts for 10 to 15 years. In exchange, participants receive annual rental payments and a payment of up to 50 percent of the cost of establishing conservation practices. Producers can sign up at the Douglas County Farm Service Agency, 3010 Four Wheel Drive. For more information, call 843-4260.

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The application deadline for The Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvement Program has been extended to June 27.

As part of the 2002 Farm Bill, the legislation will provide financing to support these types of projects in rural America. The program is funded at a level of $23 million annually during the next five years to provide financial assistance for the purchase of renewable energy systems and to make energy efficiency improvements.

For more information, call (620) 784-5431, ext. 37 or click on www.rurdev.usda.gov/ks. E-mail can be sent to 2002farmbillRD@ks.usda.gov.

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Ronn Johnson was recognized by Aquila for his 25 years of service to the company. He joined Aquila in 1978 in Lawrence as a meter reader. He is responsible for customer services and appliance repairs.

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Coordinated Systems and Supplies Inc. announces the hiring of Jennifer Peters as account executive. Peters recently returned to her hometown of Lawrence after four years of working for Toro International in Abilene, Texas, and Riverside, Calif. Peters will be responsible for sales of printed and promotional items to national franchise hotels and motels across the United States.

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Craig Brown, of Realty Executives-Hedges Real Estate, recently completed the coursework required to earn the real estate designation. The GRI designation is attained through the successful completion of more than 90 hours of advanced instruction. The classes are approved by the National Association of Realtors, and are taught by a multi-state faculty of nationally-recognized real estate instructors.

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Central National Bank of Lawrence was recognized in the 2003 Edition of Ingram’s, The Greater Kansas City Area Book of Leads and Lists, as the No. 17 ranked Top Area Small Business Administration Lender. The ranking was based upon gross volume of Kansas City area loans approved.

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Overland Park-based Brooke Corp. began trading shares on the American Stock Exchange on Thursday under the trading symbol (AMEX: BXX). Brooke Corp. is the parent company of a family of companies that serves the insurance and financial services marketplace. The company operates an office in Lawrence.

Honors and awards

The Lawrence Convention and Visitors Bureau announced the winners of two contests that it sponsored to celebrate National Tourism Week which was May 10-18.

A photo contest, open to area youth, amateur and professional photographers, looked to area artists to capture the most enticing things about Lawrence on film. Residents submitted 38 entries in six different categories. The categories were Let it Snow, Ashes to Immortality, City of the Arts, People of Lawrence and Sporting Lawrence. Photos were evaluated for originality, artistry, impact and content relative to visitors.

The following division winners were honored May 9 at a Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours: Kathryn Conrad, City of the Arts and Ashes to Immortality; Ann Dean, People of Lawrence; Laura Kelly, People of Lawrence; Nicole Knopick, Let it Snow; Tom Soetaert, Ashes to Immortality and City of the Arts; Sheila Starr, Sporting Lawrence.

Soetaert, the grand-prize winner, submitted a photograph of people viewing one of Lawrence’s many outdoor murals.

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The Lawrence Convention and Visitors Bureau honored outstanding Lawrence hotel employees May 13 during an open house at the Lawrence Visitor Information Center. The outstanding employees were nominated by their property’s general manager for their commitment to providing outstanding customer service to visitors.

Gwyn Corso, a public areas employee at the Lawrence Hampton Inn, was named Outstanding Hotel Employee. Other nominees were: Sabrina Daukei, Baymont Inn & Suite; Skylar Sterling-Simon, Eldridge Hotel; Megan Thomas, Holiday Inn Express & Suites; Garrett Stults, Ramada Inn, and Dave Trimble, Lawrence Holidome.

Coming events

Housing & Credit Counseling Inc. will present a Homebuyer 101 workshop from 1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday at the Topeka Public Library. The workshop will cover loan products, down payment and closing assistance and what is affordable. Speakers will be Paulean Carter, of Capitol Federal Savings, and Chris Francois, of US Bank.

Admission is free but seating is limited. To make reservations call (785) 234-0217 or (800) 383-0217.

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The Lawrence Chamber of Commerce announces the following ribbon cuttings:

• Papa Murphy’s Take N Bake Pizza, 11:30 a.m., June 10, 4000 W. Sixth St.
• Lawrence Memorial Hospital Wound Center, 4:30 p.m., June 19, 1112 W. Sixth St., Suite 109.
• Wilkerson, Anderson & Anderson DDS, 5 p.m., June 20, 831 Vt.
• Subway, 11 a.m., June 24, 1008 Mass.
• The Cup, 11:30 a.m., June 27, 4000 W. Sixth St., Suite E.

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The K-10 Assn. will have its annual meeting and luncheon from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Shadow Glen Clubhouse at Cedar Creek in Olathe. The featured speaker will be Deb Miller, secretary of the Kansas Department of Transportation. The Service and Development Awards will be presented and 2003-2004 officers will be elected.

The cost is $25 for members and $30 for nonmembers. To make reservations, call (785) 841-7166 or (913) 649-9510. The fax number is 841-0946. The e-mail address is SMARTCORRIDOR@aol.com.

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The Kansas University Small Business Development Center will present a start-up business seminar “Exploring Entrepreneurship” on June 3. The seminar will cover topics such as resources for starting a company, business planning, financing, marketing, record keeping, and insurance /tax topics. Area business professionals and entrepreneurs will share their experiences.

The seminar will be from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce offices, 734 Vt. The seminar cost is $25 and includes an extensive business resources notebook. To register call 843-8844 or e-mail office@kusbdc.net.

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Chris Watkins of Mind Share Inc. will speak at the monthly networking luncheon of Home Business Connection. The luncheon will be from 11:15 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 18 at Hereford House South in Leawood.

Watkins received the Arthur E. Lowell Award for Excellence in Organizational Communications for the International Association of Business Communicators. She is adjunct professor in management and marketing at Baker University’s School of Professional and Graduate Studies. She is a certified trainer for the Center for Business and Technology at Johnson County Community College and the Business Development Center.

To make reservations, call (913) 981-4343.