Alva Review-Courier -

Peter Cottontail didn't even get to hop around Progress Park in Kiowa last year with that nasty Covid pandemic. The picture is much happier this year with spring peeking out with daffodils and tulips pushing out of the soil.

Kiowa's Chamber of Commerce plans their Annual Easter Egg Hunt April 3 in Progress Park at 2 p.m. Bike races follow. Be sure and watch for details next week about an April Autism Awareness Walk that morning from 9 a.m. to noon at the park complete with food trucks, live music and more.

Kiowa Chamber co-presidents Janet Robison an Cindy Archuleta addressed Kiowa's City Council at their March meeting, telling of many upcoming events.

Kiowa's Pioneer Days is April 24. Labor Day is Monday, Sept. 6, with Kiowa's All-School Reunion that weekend with the banquet Sunday, Sept. 5. Oct. 24 or 31 is Fall Fest. Christmas in the Heartland is Sunday, Dec. 5.

Switching hats to Kiowa's Historical Society, Robison said plans are in the works to transform the city's empty lot at 7th and Main Street into a historical park. A drawing shows some of the donated antique farm equipment in a design with plants native to Kansas. She said a neat handmade train was donated by an elderly gentleman to the Historical Society and will be part of the park display. Watch for a story about this unique gift.

Robison and Archuleta talked about interest in forming a mural committee. Kiowa's Museum has some 20 windows that are boarded up or covered in fiberglass. The idea is to have paintings on the windows with various themes of Kiowa's history such as the military, Cherokee Strip Land Run, etc.

They said the historical society plans to work with South Barber's art department and involve students in the project. Robison said they hope to unveil some of the plans at the All-School Reunion in September.

Robison also said they've also been offered a good deal on the former RSI building on Main Street. The idea is to use it for the school museum and more. She asked if that becomes reality will the city council still agree to pay for insurance and electricity as they do on the current school museum building that is in bad shape.

Kiowa's Historical Society operates solely from donations and fundraisers like bake sales and cookbook sales, grants, etc.

Referring to their proposed improvements, Robison said they need to know if they have the city's support. “Something needs to be done to make this lot at 7th and Main welcoming when people pull up to that corner,” she said. Archuleta said how important it is to “make our town pretty and presentable.”

“I am amazed at the number of people who come to see our bronze horse statue (at 4th and Main). I am for doing something that attracts people to our town to come and look at things. They'll maybe eat at our restaurants, check out our stores and fuel up their vehicle. They might see that our town is clean and nice and want to move here,” Robison said. “We have to keep Kiowa looking good. It's that simple. Don't even get me started on the yards!”