El Dorado High School is one of only two schools in Kansas to be designated an Apple Distinguished School for its implementation of the 1 to 1 Learning Initiative by Apple Computers. This is a program through which laptop computers are provided to all high school students.

Director of Technology Doug Jensen said, “El Dorado High School teachers have embraced and capitalized on the wide world of opportunities that are available because of the 1 to 1 Learning Initiative. All students regardless of their socioeconomic status have equal access to technology. In addition, digital learning has been extended into the home and community because students have their computers with them 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.”

Jensen said that on any given day at El Dorado High School one

might see students “dropping” assignments in teachers’ folders on servers; teachers publishing podcasts about the week’s as-signments; students accessing online textbooks; science stu-dents using analytical science measurement devices; students creating projects with iMovie, PowerPoint, GarageBand, Inspi-ration, iPhoto; video production classes producing media presen-tations for the public; teachers and students using the Internet to expand on topics presented in the classroom; and students creating web pages and other multi-media for the district, the community or businesses.

This year El Dorado High School will join 33 other schools Apple is recognizing nationwide, and will serve as an educator-to-educator reference site for other schools.

Since the 1 to 1 Laptop Initiative was implemented four years ago, EHS has seen a dramatic increase in graduation rate, math, reading and writing scores on state assess-ments, a decrease in the number of expulsions and suspensions, and increased collaboration be-tween staff members.

News from El Dorado, Kansas April 2009

Volume 3, Issue 2

M6 Concrete has new El Dorado home

2

International Windmillers come to El Dorado

2

ADA Tour de Cure through the Flint Hills

2

El Dorado going “green” with washer rebates

3

Leather and lace week-end

3

Vacation close to home in deluxe cabins

3

Community Calendar 4

Inside this issue:

Special point of interest-

Monthly Brown Bag Lunch– Join your friends at noon on the third Tuesday of each month at the Coutts Museum of Art, 110 N. Main in El Dorado, for an interesting, lively and free concert, artist talk or other demon-stration. Something different each month! Bring your own lunch or enjoy free light refresh-ments. Sponsored in part by El Dorado Main Street and the Kansas Arts Commission.

Sailboats in El Dorado Lake’s Sailboat Marina

EHS named Apple Distinguished School

El Dorado Today

Each El Dorado High School student receives a laptop computer for use 24/7 throughout high school.

Barton Solvents, Inc. and BG Products, Inc. announce sig-nificant progress on their new projects in the El Dorado Industrial Park. Both companies have committed to start new plants of operation.

David Casten, President of Barton Solvents, Inc., stated that Barton is breaking ground on a $10 million state of the art Distribution Branch. This will include rail, warehouse, dock, tank farm of up to fifty storage tanks, maintenance garage and

office to serve Kansas and Oklahoma.

Barton Solvents, based in Des Moines, Iowa, has addi-tional branches in Kansas City, Iowa and Wisconsin. Barton Solvents, Inc. has been BG Products, Inc.’s number one provider of base products for over twenty-five years, according to Galen Myers, President of BG Products, Inc.

“BG intends to break ground on a new manufacturing

plant this year and is thrilled with its partnership, past and future, with Barton Solvents. Barton provides quality products and services to meet BG Products’ manufacturing needs,” Myers said.

Mayor Tom McKibban stated, "This is a win-win for our com-munity. El Dorado has been involved with the petroleum industry for nearly a century, and we are honored that Barton Solvents and BG Products chose El Dorado."

Barton, BG continue partnership in El Dorado

Rebar– the metal reinforcing rods that are embedded in con-crete to keep it from cracking and breaking– is an essential element in construction, but not something one thinks about when seeing a beautiful new building. Out of sight, out of mind.

At M6 Concrete Accessories in El Dorado, they think about it because rebar is their business. Approximately 100 tons of rebar is shipped each week from M6 to construction sites, after cutting and bending to specification.

The business is enjoying its new manufacturing facility in the El Dorado Industrial Park. The 20,000 square foot building replaces an older building, and has greatly improved the work environment and productivity. Overhead light panels allow natural light, and the new 5 and 10 ton overhead cranes greatly facilitate moving of the product.

M6 Concrete Accessories worked with El Dorado Inc. and the City of El Dorado to make the new facility possible. Work was begun in August of 2008,

and was completed the follow-ing November.

Owner JD Munley com-mended both organizations for an expeditious process that allowed them to occupy their building prior to their deadline.

The El Dorado facility is one segment of a total concrete accessory business, with the retail showroom on West Street in Wichita. The business sells tools and materials, rents equipment, and is a virtual one-stop shop for concrete con-tractors.

Call in the reinforcements- M6 Concrete Accessories

Page 2 E l Dorado Today Volume 3, Issue 2

The El Dorado ride features a tour of the beautiful Flint Hills on a 7, 25, 50, 75 or 100 mile ride. The route begins and ends in El Dorado’s East Park. The seven mile Family Ride extends to El Dorado Lake and back on the city’s paved bike path. The longer rides begin with a police escort out of town and head toward El Dorado Lake, then on to Highway 177 into the Flint Hills through sweeping views, rolling hills and endless sky.

Riders will be supported by a team of volunteers at rest stops every ten to twelve miles along all routes. The Finish Line Party will feature entertainment, music, exhibits and lunch.

Approximately 150 riders are expected in El Dorado for the May 30th event. The goal set for this ride is $50,000.

Riders may register individually or as a team by calling 1-888-DIABETES or online at diabe-tes.org/tour.

ADA Tour de Cure routed through the Flint Hills El Dorado is one of two sites in Kansas designated for this year’s American Diabetes As-sociation Tour de Cure, a series of bicycling fundraising events held in 40 states.

The nation-wide Tour de Cure raises funds to support the efforts of the American Diabetes Association to find a cure for the disease. Riders raise money for each mile ridden that supports diabetes treatment, education, and advocacy for those who suffer from the disease.

On May 30th Tour de Cure Family riders will travel on the City’s bike path to El Dorado Lake.

Raw rebar material is bent and cut to specification for new construction projects.

Windmill enthusiasts from across the nation, Canada and Mexico will travel to El Dorado June 3, 4, and 5 to attend the 21st Annual International Windmillers Trade Fair and Convention.

What goes on at a Windmillers Trade Fair? Well, trading, of course– windmill parts, pieces and tall tales– between wind machine collectors from around the country. In addition to trading, the fair includes demonstrations on restoration techniques, talks on

wind power history, and exhibits of unusual and rare windmills, windmill counter weights and salesman models.

The Trade Fair was started in 1989, and moves from state to state each year. This is the first time the event has been held in Kansas, and is hosted by the Butler County History Center, the El Dorado Con-vention and Visitors Bureau and Flint Hills Windmill and Pump Service.

Approximately 300 attendees are expected. Special features of this year’s fair are an exhibit of rare Kansas made windmills, an evening at the farm of Joe and Donna Harper of Sedgwick for a barbeque and tour of their large windmill collection, and the attendance of noted author and historian T. Lindsay Baker.

The exhibits are free and open to the public.

For more visit www.international windmilltradefair.org.

International Windmillers to descend on El Dorado

Historic windmills on display at the 2008 International Windmillers Trade Fair.

Feel like you’re on vacation minutes from home small one-room cabins with sleeping quarters, and deluxe cabins, which are full service with kitchen, restroom, sleeping quarters and a screened porch. They vary in size and sleep from 4 up to 10 people.

Laundry facilities are even avail-able in the Bluestem Point and Walnut River campgrounds. All the cabins have electricity and most are handicapped accessible.

Is your idea of the perfect vaca-tion to stay in a rustic cabin near the water where you can build a campfire, go fishing, boating and hiking? One does not have to travel miles and miles to reach such a spot! That vacation spot is as close as El Dorado Lake!

In addition to the 1,100 camp-sites located throughout the four campgrounds of the State Park, there are ten cabins.

Two styles of cabin are available– camping cabins, which are

Page 3 E l Dorado Today Volume 3, Issue 2

delays future capital expenditures.

A high efficiency clothes washer could save over $500 in operating costs and use up to 75,000 gallons less water over its lifetime compared to a regular clothes washer.

To promote the purchase of these high efficiency machines, and to comply with the Climate Protection Agreement, the City of El Dorado has instituted a rebate program. The program gives a $100 rebate to any residential customer

Washer rebates another way our city is “going green” purchasing an “Energy Star” labeled clothes washer with a maximum water factor of 7.0 or lower. A list of qualifying washers can be found at ener-gystar.gov.

Washers must be purchased new from a local vendor. The program lasts through the end of 2009, or until funds are de-pleted.

Applications are available from the City, and should be submit-ted with a sales receipt dated after March 1, 2009.

In 2007, the City of El Dorado adopted the U.S. Mayor's Climate Protection Agreement, which among other important initiatives, is the commitment to purchase “Energy Star” appliances and to increase the efficiency in water and waste-water systems.

While El Dorado has no short-age of water, conserving water saves everyone money. Energy savings are immediate and sav-ing water reserves capacity in existing treatment facilities and

A high efficiency washing machine can save 75,000 gallons of water over its lifetime.

Make it a leather and lace weekend, June 12, 13, 14

The Extreme Bull Blowout will take place at the Frontier Western Celebra-tion in El Dorado.

The weekend of June 12-14 will be the perfect time to ex-perience the entire gambit of what Kansas has to offer– from the rough and rowdy Old West flavor of El Dorado’s Frontier Western Celebration to the refined beauty of the music of the Kansas City Symphony on the Doyle Creek Land and Cattle Company Ranch near Florence– all within the boundaries of the Flint Hills.

The Frontier Western Celebra-

tion starts Friday night with the NFPB Sanctioned Extreme Bull Blowout bull riding event at 7 p.m. Later the LoCash Cowboys will be entertaining at an outdoor concert.

Saturday morning begins with a free chuck wagon breakfast at 9 a.m. Heritage events and demonstrations also begin at 9 and continue through the after-noon. There is more bull riding at 7 p.m. and a street dance that evening.

Sunday brings cowboy church and a trail ride at El Dorado Lake. Most events take place at the El Dorado Civic Center, 201 E. Central.

For concert goers, symphony events begin at 1 p.m. on Satur-day, and are about a 45 minute ride from El Dorado. The Kansas City Symphony will play at 6:45 at the open air concert site.

For more information visit www.eldoradomainstreet.org.

Cabins at El Dorado Lake offers all the comforts of home in a rustic setting.

The deluxe cabins are furnished and have large as well as small appliances.

Other State Park amenities include ten boat ramps, a full service marina, a sailboat marina and many nature trails for hiking, biking and horseback riding.

Cabins may be reserved year round by calling the El Dorado State Park office at 316-321-7180. Prices range from $30 to $110 per night.

El Dorado Inc. is a public/private partnership with the City of El Dorado whose mission is to further the economic development of the El Dorado area and its environs. The primary objectives of El Dorado Inc. shall be to benefit the community as measured by increased employment, payroll, business volume, housing starts and similar factors.

For El Dorado Inc. membership information, contact Linda Jolly at 321-1485 or lkjolly@eldorado-inc.com

El Dorado Inc. 201 E. Central P.O. Box 350 El Dorado, KS 67042

We’re on the web! Visit us at www.eldorado-inc.com and www.visiteldoradoks.com

Phone: 316-321-1485 Fax: 316-321-5419 E-mail: lkjolly@eldorado-inc.com

El Dorado, Kansas—Where we enjoy the fine art of living well!

News from El Dorado, Kansas

315 S. Main, 7:30pm Apr 21 Brown Bag Luncheon - Terry & Mary Corbett, Art & Music Coutts Museum of Art, noon Apr 24 & 25 Dance Concert Fine Arts Theatre, Butler CC Apr 25 Acoustic Eidolon Iron Horse Concert Hall, 315 S. Main, 7:30pm May 1 History Alive Program: Amelia Earhart Coutts Museum of Art, 7 p.m. May 1 & 2 Vocal Concert Fine Arts Theatre, Butler CC May 2 -Vintage BIG Truck Show Butler County History Center -Marianne Koke Memorial Concert & BBQ Iron Horse Concert Hall, 315 S. Main, 7:30pm May 8 & 9

Apr 3 - May 27 "Celebration of Flight: Women in Aviation Coutts Museum of Art Apr 9, 10, 11 Annual Governors One Shot Turkey Hunt Various locations Apr 11 Flatland String Band Iron Horse Concert Hall, 7:30pm Apr 15 - May 11 Annual Student Art Exhibit Erman B. White Gallery, Butler Community College Apr 16, 17, 18 Theatre Production Fine Arts Theatre, Butler CC Apr 18 -"Art See Event" Coutts Museum of Art, 2 p.m. -"Foundations of Faith" Historic Church Tour Butler County History Center -Colin O'Brien Iron Horse Concert Hall,

El Dorado community calendar Butler Jazz Days Fine Arts Theatre, Butler CC May 9 Spring Creek Iron Horse Concert Hall, 315 S. Main, 7:30pm May 12 BCC Student Art Sale Erman B. White Gallery, Butler Community College May 16 Boulder Acoustic Society Iron Horse Concert Hall, 315 S. Main, 7:30pm May 19 Brown Bag Luncheon - Don & Andy Koke, Pros from Dover Coutts Museum of Art, noon May 30 Alferd Packer Memorial String Band Iron Horse Concert Hall, 315 S. Main, 7:30pm May 31 Wichita Bullstockings vs. El Dorado Broncos - 1890's rules McDonald Stadium

Weekly in June "Butler Kids College" Butler Community College Call 316-322-3193 for specifics Jun 1 - 5 "Thomas Hart Benton" One week traveling exhibit Coutts Museum of Art Jun 3, 4, 5 International Windmillers' Trade Show & Convention Butler County History Center Jun 12-14 -El Dorado Main Street ... Frontier Western Celebration El Dorado Civic Center & Butler County History Center -Kafir Corn Carnival Butler County History Center Jun 12 - Jul 24 "Elk River Suite...Watercolor paintings by Eleanor Crank" Coutts Museum of Art Jun 16 Brown Bag Luncheon - Brenda Yarnall, Artist Coutts Museum of Art, noon