Cloud County Tourism

Friday morning – Susie Haver hangs the Welcome flag.

Last Friday, I had an author event in Concordia – sponsored by Cloud County Tourism, which is Susie Haver and Tammy Britt. Their office is in the Cloud County Museum Annex at 130 E. 6th in downtown Concordia.

Although my book-signing / reading wasn’t until 3:30 p.m., they invited me to come for the day, so they could give me a personal tour of the town. (I felt very special.) And Concordia has some really neat stuff. Tammy took me to the Brown Grand Theatre and the Nazareth Convent and the Orphan Train Museum, and told me the story behind their carved brick wall mural.

I wasn’t able to get to everything in and around Cloud County, so I want to return – and take Dave – and eat again at the Huckleberry Tea House, and show Dave all the cool things in Concordia.

Concordia/Cloud County hosted the Kansas Sampler Festival a couple of years ago and this painting was commissioned by the Kansas Sampler Foundation in appreciation of their efforts. The artist is Cher Heller Olson. It’s a wonderful painting full of life and energy.

My sparkling hostesses: Susie Haver and Tammy Britt.

Veronica Barrington reads one of her pieces for the audience. She’s a reporter and columnist for the nearby Belleville Telescope. When I learned that, I asked her to read her latest column to us.

There was a great turnout for the event. I met people from not only Concordia, but also Minneapolis and Lincoln. I was pleased to be able to read my essay “Rock City, U.S.A.” for the president of the board of Rock City, a registered Natural Landmark.