BENEFIT: A Benefit Soup Supper (chili, soup, crackers, pie, cake, cookies, brownies) for the Donna Hudson and Michelle Eck families will be held February 3, beginning at 4:00 p.m. in the Jr/Sr High Cafeteria, on the evening of the basketball games against Cheney. Donna and Michelle both work at Medicine Lodge Grade School and have both been diagnosed with cancer. All proceeds will be used to aid the families in defraying their expenses. There will also be a raffle of a small cedar chest and an auction of items donated and autographed by Martina McBride and a baseball bat autographed by Andy Dirks (Detroit Tigers). T-shirts will be sold for the game (we are going to try to PINK OUT the gym). To purchase yours before the game, email Kialee Bender at kbender@cyberlodg.com. There will also be t-shirts available the evening of the game. FOR ANYONE WEARING THEIR T-SHIRT, ADMISSION TO THE GAME WILL BE $1.00. (All passes will be honored as usual.)

GOVERNMENT COMMODITIES DISTRIBUTION: in Fellowship Hall, at the United Methodist Church, 108 East Second Avenue in Medicine Lodge on February 1, 2012 from 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

VETERANS SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE: Vincent Scott Dorsey, Veterans Service Representative of the Kansas Commission on Veterans Affairs, Fort Dodge, Kansas, will be in Medicine Lodge at the Raleigh Law Office from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon on Tuesday, February 14, 2012 to assist Veterans, their dependents or survivors with questions concerning veterans benefits.

AMERICAN LEGION POST 98 ISABEL: Steak supper, Monday, February 20, 2012, at 6:30 p.m. for members, wives and guests.

HAM DINNER: Sponsored by the St. John’s Lutheran Men’s Club at the Lutheran Church in Nashville on Sunday, February 12, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Free will donation.

COMMUNITY EASTER CANTATA: Singers wanted for the Community Easter Cantata. Everyone welcome from high school age and up. We will start practicing at 7 p.m. at the United Methodist Church on Wednesday Feb. 8th. Child care will be provided. The performance is planned for Palm Sunday evening at the Heritage Center. The music is fun and uplifting and we are sure to have a great time!

ALUMNI BAND: The next practice for the Alumni Band is Saturday, February 4th at 2:00 PM. All present and former band members are invited to attend to prepare for our performance on Friday, February 17th at the home basketball game.

BLOOD DRIVE: Monday, February 6, 2012, 12 to 6 p.m. United Methodist Church. Child care available.

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS and AL-ANON will be restarting in Medicine Lodge on Tuesday, February 7th. Meetings will be every Tuesday at 8:00 p.m. at 109 W. 1st (American Legion Building). For information, call Greg at 886-5962.

FFA BREAKFAST: February 11, 6:00 a.m.-10:30 a.m., Medicine Lodge High School AG Shop. Donations accepted. Serving eggs, bacon, sausage, pancakes, hash browns, biscuits and gravy.

KANSAS MISSION OF MERCY (KMOM) will hold their 11th annual dental clinic on February 17 and 18 in Kansas City, Kansas. Each year, dentists in Kansas donate approximately $50,000 to the annual campaign. Additionally, the Kansas Dental Charitable Foundation (KDCF) has donated more than $7.5 million in dental care through its signature event, the Kansas Mission of Mercy. More than 17,000 have been served thanks to the generous contributions of Kansas dentists, hygienists, and dental assistants. To volunteer or for more information, visit www.ksdentalfoundation.org/ or call the Barber County Public Health Department at 620-886-3294.

FREE TAX PREPARATION: Free tax help will be available at: Leisure Time Center, 213 N. Main Street, Medicine Lodge, Kansas - Tuesdays and Fridays at 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM - Feb. 3, 2012 through Apr. 13, 2012 (closed Apr. 6 for Good Friday). Lincoln Library, 201 N. Main, Medicine Lodge, Kansas - Mondays Feb. 13, Feb. 27, and Mar. 19 at 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM - Saturdays Feb. 11, Feb. 25, Mar 3, and Mar. 17 at 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM. If these times don’t fit your schedule, you may make an appointment for another time by calling site coordinator Nancy Bell at 620-886-5052.

Questions? Call John Kirkbride at 620-886-5002 or 620-886-1590.

SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION: Seniors can now begin working on their local scholarship applications. The application can be found on the school website. It is due March 1, 2012. The awards presentation will be Sunday, April 29 at 3:00 p.m. If anyone in the community would like to award a scholarship, he/she can contact Cheryl Theis at 886-5667 or ctheis@cyberlodg.com.

WEST ENTRANCE: To access The Wellness Center now open in the old Middle School building cafeteria at the corner of Main and First, please enter through the west door. Monday through Friday, 5:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to noon.

PHOTOS NEEDED: We would like to update our service men and women photos in the window of Allegiance Communications. If you have an updated photo, please call Ella Bell at 886-5335.

Bible lesson for K - 6th grade: This action-packed time also includes songs, Scripture memory, a missions story and review games focused on the lesson's theme. Fill out a permission form at the school office, and your child can ride the church bus from the school to club, and home afterward. Call 886-3597 with questions.

FOOD BANK: We are now collecting food donations for the Medicine Lodge Food Bank. Please drop off items at Allegiance, 108 N. Main, during normal business hours.

FIGHT CANCER WITH DAFFODILS: You can fight back against cancer and share hope for those facing the disease by supporting the American Cancer Society Daffodil Days. This long-standing program, which involves offering daffodils to donors every spring in appreciation for their contributions, is about more than just giving beautiful flowers; it is an opportunity to share hope for a world with less cancer and more birthdays, where cancer never steals another year from anyone’s life. For a donation of $10, everyone from school children to corporate CEOs can send a bouquet of fresh-cut daffodils to someone special to support the fight against cancer. The last day to order daffodils is February 17, 2012; daffodils will be delivered in mid March. For more information about Daffodil Days, contact Debbie Winter at 620-886-0381 or the Society, 800-359-1025.