KABI the General

08/21/2026

Driving Dickinson County has received a $10,000 Networked Community Solutions Grant from Network Kansas to support Young Roots Market, a new youth entrepreneurship initiative designed to provide young people with shared equipment, hands-on learning and business education.

The initiative brings together cross-sector representation from Driving Dickinson County, the Abilene Convention and Visitors Bureau, Community Foundation of Dickinson County, A Station and Chisholm Trail Extension District (K-State Research and Extension) around a shared goal of creating more opportunities for young entrepreneurs.

Young Roots Market is one of 11 collaborative, community-building projects receiving funding through the latest round of Networked grants across Kansas.

Removing barriers to getting started
At the center of Young Roots Market is a simple idea: a young entrepreneur shouldn't have to already own everything needed for a market booth before having the opportunity to run one.

Through the grant, Driving Dickinson County will create a shared lending library of market stands, canopy tents, signage, tablecloths and wind-stabilizing weights that youth vendors can borrow, helping reduce the upfront cost of participating in markets and other selling opportunities.

The initiative will pair those resources with education.

Chisholm Trail Extension District will provide hands-on workshops in gardening, cooking and maker skills, helping youth develop products they can bring to market. Driving Dickinson County will lead business basics sessions covering concepts including pricing, costs and net profit.

An original black-and-white, colorable comic book will also introduce those business lessons through storytelling in a format young entrepreneurs can keep and use.

“Young Roots Market is about removing some of the barriers that can keep a great idea from ever getting started,” said Natalie Muruato, CEO of Driving Dickinson County. “A young person shouldn’t need to already own a tent, display or other market equipment to discover that they have an entrepreneurial spark. By combining shared resources with hands-on learning and business basics, we’re giving Dickinson County youth a place to try something, learn from it and begin seeing themselves as entrepreneurs. That’s part of what becoming Roadmarkable looks like — creating opportunities for the next generation to build, grow and imagine what’s possible right here.”

Youth entrepreneurship is already taking root
The investment comes as young entrepreneurs are already finding opportunities to test their ideas in Dickinson County.

08/20/2026

Community Foundation of Dickinson County Grants and Scholarships Coordinator Jen Parks and Communications Coordinator Sara Baier visited with KABI Wake Up Call Host John Anderson about applying for grants and a special fund that was put together to see that children would be able to go on carnival rides at the Central Kansas Free Fair.

08/19/2026

From Dickinson County to Zurich: Representing Rural Kansas on the World Stage
Jackie Hynes, Marketing Director
Driving Dickinson County

Sometimes economic development happens across a table from a local business owner. Sometimes it happens at a community meeting, during a site visit or in conversations about housing and workforce.

And sometimes, it happens thousands of miles from home.

Recently, I had the opportunity to travel to Zurich, Switzerland, after receiving a personal invitation from Kansas Lt. Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland to accompany the Kansas Department of Commerce on a trade mission.

For me, this was more than an international trip. It was an opportunity to represent Dickinson County, strengthen an important relationship with one of our largest employers, learn more about global business and trade, and make sure rural Kansas was part of the conversation.

Connecting With Lindt & Sprüngli
One of the highlights of the trip was visiting Lindt & Sprüngli, the parent company of Russell Stover Chocolates.

Russell Stover's Abilene facility is one of three Russell Stover manufacturing plants in the United States and one of the largest employers in Dickinson County. That makes our relationship with Russell Stover, as well as its corporate leadership, incredibly important to our community.

While in Zurich, we had the opportunity to learn about the history of chocolate, Lindt & Sprüngli's global operations and the company's long history.

But one of the most valuable parts of the visit was simply having the opportunity to listen.

Company representatives shared some of the challenges affecting the Abilene operation, particularly workforce availability and housing.

Those were important conversations for me to hear firsthand.

Housing and workforce are already two significant issues we are working to address through Driving Dickinson County. When one of our largest employers identifies those same challenges, it reinforces the importance of the work happening here at home.

Economic development isn't just about recruiting the next company. It is also about listening to the businesses that are already here, understanding what may stand in the way of their long-term success and working together to address those challenges.

Bringing a Little Piece of Abilene to Switzerland
We also had the chance to bring a little bit of Abilene and President Dwight D. Eisenhower with us to Switzerland.

We presented Ana Dominguez of Lindt & Sprüngli with a signed book about President Eisenhower from Martin Teasley, along with an "I Like Ike" coin.

Later, during a business luncheon where the Kansas Department of Commerce showcased Kansas to Swiss business leaders, I shared Ike buttons with attendees.

It may have been a small gesture, but it gave us an opportunity to tell the story of Abilene.

We have something special in Dickinson County. President Eisenhower's legacy gives Abilene international name recognition and provides us with a natural way to begin conversations about our community, our history and the opportunities available here.
And yes, I have to admit, handing out "I Like Ike" buttons at a business luncheon in Switzerland was a pretty memorable economic development moment.

Seeing Economic Development From a Global Perspective
The trip also gave me the opportunity to meet with Swiss businesses interested in the United States and hear firsthand how companies think about international investment, trade and location decisions.

It broadened my understanding of just how interconnected our economy has become.

Tariffs, international trade negotiations, foreign investment and decisions made in corporate offices thousands of miles away may sound far removed from rural Kansas.

They aren't.

Those decisions can ultimately affect manufacturers, suppliers, employees, families and communities like ours.

That is why relationships matter.

And it is why I believe rural communities need to be represented in these conversations.

We may not be the largest community at the table, but Dickinson County has a strong story to tell. We have manufacturers with global connections, Interstate 70, rail access, a strong agricultural economy, an entrepreneurial spirit, a committed workforce and communities that care deeply about their future.

Our responsibility is to make sure people know we are here.

Bringing What I Learned Back Home

This trip also challenged me professionally.

I came home with a stronger understanding of international trade, foreign direct investment and the factors global businesses consider when making decisions.

Just as importantly, I came home with new relationships.

Economic development is a relationship business. The network built through opportunities like this can lead to new ideas, resources, introductions and partnerships that may benefit Dickinson County long after the trip itself is over.

That is part of what makes these opportunities so valuable. The goal isn't simply to travel somewhere new. The goal is to bring something valuable back.

New knowledge.

New relationships.

New perspectives.
And a better understanding of how we can position Dickinson County for the future.

A Team Working for Kansas

Another thing this experience reinforced for me is just how fortunate Kansas is to have the team we have at the Kansas Department of Commerce.

Since locating in Kansas, I have continued to be impressed by the resources, relationships and energy the Commerce team brings to economic development across our state. Seeing them work internationally gave me an even greater appreciation for what happens behind the scenes.

They are economic developers, but they are also relationship builders, diplomats and forward thinkers. They understand that attracting investment to Kansas takes patience, credibility and relationships that may be developed over months or even years.

Kansas has been successful in securing significant new investment and creating new opportunities across the state. What I appreciate just as much is that the Department of Commerce continues to recognize the important role rural communities play in the overall Kansas economy.

Rural Kansas brings agriculture, manufacturing, energy, transportation, small businesses, entrepreneurship and a tremendous quality of life to our state's economic landscape. Having a state partner that understands those strengths make a difference for communities like ours.

The trip gave me an opportunity to see firsthand the work being done to position Kansas on a much larger stage, and I came home even more committed to making sure Dickinson County is ready to take advantage of the opportunities those efforts can create.

Thank You to the Kansas Department of Commerce

I am incredibly grateful to Lt. Governor Toland and the Kansas Department of Commerce team for the invitation and for giving me the opportunity to join them on the world stage.

The experience strengthened my economic and business development skills, expanded my understanding of international trade and investment, and allowed me to build relationships with an amazing network of business leaders and economic development professionals.

Most of all, I was proud to represent Dickinson County and Driving Dickinson County.

Whether economic development conversations happen in Abilene, elsewhere in Kansas or halfway around the world in Zurich, the goal remains the same: listen to businesses, build strong relationships, create opportunity and make sure Dickinson County has a seat at the table.

Sometimes moving Dickinson County forward means taking our story farther down the road.

And that is pretty Roadmarkable!

08/19/2026

County Administrator Janelle Dockendorf and County Clerk Jennifer Gayton visited with KABI Wake Up Call Host John Anderson about the Primary and preparing for the General Election, Janelle reported that they have hired Saline County Deputy Administrator Hannah Bett to fill the Assistant County Administrator job as Marcus Rothchild moves on to work for a Bank.

08/18/2026

The Cowboy football team kicks off the season at Concordia on Friday, September 4! Catch every game, throughout the season, on KABI!

KSAL is your number one source for salina local news, weather, sports, auctions.

08/17/2026

Memorial Health System to receive $150,000 KDHE grant

(August, 17, 2026) – Memorial Health System in Abilene has been announced as one of seven recipients of Kansas Department of Health and Environment funding for the Community Health Worker + Accountable Food is Medicine Grant Program (CHW+AFIM), an initiative with the Rural Health Transformation Program. Memorial Health System will receive $150,000 of the $1,007,152 awarded to rural health care organizations across the state to implement or expand CHW and AFIM programs – increasing community access to health and social services and clinical nutrition.
MHS sought funding through the CHW+AFIM Program to implement the Healthy Dickinson County Initiative, a comprehensive program designed to improve outcomes for patients with diabetes and hypertension by integrating Community Health Workers, medically tailored meals, social determinants of health screening and community resource navigation.
“The program at MHS, Nourish & Navigation, highlights two topics we care deeply about: public health and our community,” said Kimberly Haverly, Memorial Health System administrator. “The grant will assist us in hiring two Community Health Workers. One CHW will serve as a Community Resource Navigator focused on screening, resource coordination and addressing social needs. The second CHW will serve as a Food Is Medicine Coordinator responsible for enrollment, meal coordination, patient follow-up and outcome tracking.”
The recipients of the CHW+AFIM funds will foster collaborative arrangements between a Kansas-based organization and at least one eligible provider to implement or expand CHW+AFIM projects. These transformative projects will improve health outcomes among rural Kansans by integrating CHWs, who serve as frontline public health workers with a deep understanding of their communities, into clinical settings and connecting individuals to health and social services. Projects

will also deliver AFIM programs, a model which clinically integrates outcomes-based nutrition interventions, such as medically tailored meals and produce prescriptions, to improve chronic disease outcomes. Though the program is not allowed, under federal funding restrictions, to directly purchase food, it supports services and structures that reinforce the role healthy food can play in overall health.
“By integrating CHWs and AFIM into rural communities, we’re providing critical supports at a time when many rural Kansans need access to reliable health care services more than ever,” Kansas Governor Laura Kelly said. “I look forward to the positive impact these initiatives will have in some of our most vulnerable communities.”
Awardees of the grant program were selected through a competitive application process that evaluated proposals based on community need, long-term financial sustainability, innovation and alignment with federal and state rural health priorities.

08/17/2026

Abilene Dedicates New Wild Bill Hickok Monument at Old Abilene Town
A legendary figure from Abilene’s Wild West past now has a permanent place in the community following the dedication of a new Wild Bill Hickok monument at Old Abilene Town.
Community members, visitors, history enthusiasts and members of the artist’s family gathered Sunday, August 16, for the official dedication of the bronze statue honoring James Butler “Wild Bill” Hickok, who served as Abilene’s marshal during the town’s famous cattle-driving era.
Old Abilene Town Board Member Lisa Kijowski welcomed attendees, followed by remarks from Abilene Convention & Visitors Bureau Director Julie Roller Weeks about the project. Brock Nelson spoke on behalf of the Young family, and Abilene Mayor Brandon Rein thanked the family for the gift to the community.
Following the dedication, attendees gathered at the Alamo Saloon for refreshments and a performance by Wild Bill Hickok and Agnes Thatcher Lake reenactors. Guests also received commemorative Wild Bill Hickok playing cards and hand fans featuring the new statue as keepsakes from the occasion.
The monument was created by artist David R. Young, whose work also includes the Wild Bill Hickok monument at Hickok’s gravesite in Deadwood, South Dakota, creating a fitting connection between two communities that played important roles in Hickok’s story. The monument base was designed by Lynn Peterson and installed by LeDuc Memorial Design.
Hickok arrived in Abilene in 1871, when the community was one of the most important cattle towns at the end of the Chisholm Trail. Thousands of Texas longhorns were driven north to Abilene, where they were shipped by rail to eastern markets. The booming cattle trade brought cowboys, gamblers, saloons and the challenges of maintaining order in a rapidly growing frontier town.
Hickok’s time in Abilene lasted only a matter of months, but his service as marshal became one of the most recognizable chapters in the community’s history.
“Wild Bill Hickok is a name people around the world recognize, but Abilene is one of the places where his legend was made,” said Julie Roller Weeks, director of the Abilene Convention & Visitors Bureau. “This monument gives visitors another reason to discover that story right here, in the town where Hickok once walked Texas Street and served as marshal.”
The dedication was held as part of Chisholm Trail Days: Longhorns & Legends, a weekend celebrating the people, cattle and stories that helped make Abilene one of America’s most famous Old West towns. The event included longhorn parades through Old Abilene Town and other activities bringing the community’s cattle-town history to life.
The new monument adds another stop for visitors exploring Abilene’s Chisholm Trail and Wild West story. Today, visitors can experience Abilene’s cattle-town history at Old Abilene Town, the Dickinson County Heritage Center and throughout the community through public art, historic sites and attractions celebrating the cattle drives and legendary characters that helped put Abilene on the map.
The Wild Bill Hickok monument is located at Old Abilene Town, 201 SE Fifth Street in Abilene.

08/15/2026

After more than a decade working in municipal government finance, including nearly four years with Dickinson County, Marcus Rothchild is preparing to leave public service for a new opportunity in the private sector. Rothchild, the county’s assistant administrator and finance director, will leave his position on Aug. 21 and begin work as a loan officer with Solomon State Bank in September. Rothchild began working for Dickinson County in December 2022 after previously working for the City of Abilene. He has spent more than 12 years in municipal finance.

08/14/2026

Visitor Spending Generates $21.4 Million in Dickinson County
ABILENE, Kan. – Visitors spent an estimated $21.4 million in Dickinson County in 2025, according to new economic impact data released by Kansas Tourism and prepared by Tourism Economics, an Oxford Economics company.
Visitor spending included $7.9 million on transportation, $5.5 million on food and beverage, $3.3 million on retail, $2.7 million on lodging and $1.9 million on recreation.
Overall Dickinson County visitor spending decreased 4.2% from 2024.
Dickinson County ranked 38th among Kansas' 105 counties for visitor spending, placing the county in the top 36% statewide.
"$21.4 million in visitor spending is significant because those are dollars coming into our county and supporting local restaurants, retailers, lodging properties, attractions and other businesses," said Julie Roller Weeks, director of the Abilene Convention & Visitors Bureau. "At the same time, the numbers are a good reminder that tourism is competitive, and we can't take visitors for granted."
That competition is especially apparent along the Kansas I-70 corridor. Abilene's neighboring cities are three of the state's highest-ranking counties for visitor spending: Saline County ranked sixth, Riley County seventh and Geary County 13th.
"We are surrounded by communities that are actively competing for visitors, events, overnight stays and visitor spending," Roller Weeks said. "But that's also an opportunity. There are a lot of people already traveling to and through this part of Kansas. Our job is to give them a reason to choose Abilene, stay longer and spend more while they're here."
Abilene has demonstrated its ability to compete as a visitor destination. The community has been named one of USA TODAY's Best Historic Small Towns in America for seven consecutive years and recognized as one of True West Magazine's Top 10 True Western Towns. Its attractions and tourism initiatives have also earned numerous awards and accolades.
But attracting visitors is only part of the equation.
"Destination marketing can put Abilene on someone's radar and help get them here, but once they arrive, we need opportunities for them to spend money," Roller Weeks said. "Every meal purchased, overnight stay, shopping trip, attraction ticket and additional activity helps keep more visitor dollars in our community."
Capturing that spending is a community-wide effort. Restaurants, retailers, lodging properties, attractions and other businesses all play an important role. Convenient hours, great customer service and experiences that encourage visitors to stay longer can help maximize the economic impact of every visit.
The impact extends beyond tourism-related businesses. When visitors eat, shop and make other taxable purchases, they also contribute sales tax revenue that helps fund state and local government services and voter-approved special sales tax initiatives.
“These numbers give us a benchmark and an opportunity,” Roller Weeks said. “Abilene has proven it can compete as a destination. Our focus now is on how we build on that success and grow our share of the visitor economy.”

08/14/2026

There’s something new to discover at Solomon City Park — and visitors are invited to become part of it.

Completed in August, a new mural now stretches across the park restroom building, transforming what was once a blank wall into a nature-inspired scene featuring a sprawling tree, tall grasses, wildflowers and sunflowers. Beneath the branches, a painted swing creates the perfect spot to step into the scene and snap a photo.

The artist behind it is 2026 Solomon High School graduate Caylee Cook, who is preparing for her next chapter at Fort Hays State University, where she plans to pursue a bachelor’s degree in art education.

But before leaving for college, Caylee has left a piece of her creativity behind in the community where she grew up.

From a Blank Wall to Something That Brings Joy
The mural grew out of recent improvements to the Solomon City Park restroom facility, completed with support from the Community Foundation of Dickinson County.

As that project developed, the City began looking at the building’s large exterior wall a little differently. Facing much of the activity within the park, the blank wall offered an opportunity to add something new to the space — something that could bring personality and joy to a place where families, organizations and community members regularly gather.

The City approached Caylee, whose artwork has already been part of the community for several years through designs she created for the Solomon Festival’s temporary stage.

The initial direction for the mural was simple: create something that would bring joy to people visiting the park.

City representatives and Caylee exchanged ideas about what the mural might become, and then Caylee was given the creative freedom to make the design her own.

“We wanted this mural to bring some joy to the park, and we knew Caylee could make it something special,” Mayor Brandy Gray said. “We shared some ideas, she shared some ideas, and then we gave her the freedom to make it her own. I think that trust is important, especially when we have talented young people in our community who are ready for an opportunity to show what they can do.”

For Caylee, making the mural her own meant drawing inspiration from nature while creating something people wouldn’t simply look at, but could interact with.

“What inspired the design was something revolving around nature and something interactive that people could take photos in front of,” Caylee said.

The result is a scene filled with layers of grasses, flowers, curling vines and small details surrounding the large tree and swing.

“I wanted the mural to be something that you could look at over the course of time and find something new every time you look,” she said.

Growing Through the Process
Creating artwork on the scale of a building was a much different undertaking than Caylee’s previous projects.

She described the process as long but enjoyable, with one of her favorite parts being the opportunity to work with depth and create the mural in her own artistic style.

The experience also gave her an opportunity to grow as an artist.

“It is a very long process, but a good one,” Caylee said. “I learned a lot from it, especially from myself. I definitely have grown more through this experience and appreciate the City Council for putting their trust in me.”

The mural project was supported by the Solomon Community Fund, helping turn the idea of transforming an ordinary park wall into a permanent piece of public art into a reality.

A Piece of Home to Come Back To
The timing makes the project especially meaningful.

Caylee completed the mural at the same time she is preparing to leave Solomon for college. Unlike the temporary pieces she has created in the past, this one will remain.

Years from now, she will be able to return to the park and see not only the mural she painted, but a snapshot of who she was as an artist at the beginning of her journey.

“I feel that I’ll have something that I can look back on, especially being so young and doing it,” Caylee said. “I have so many years that I could go and remember where I was in my abilities.”

It’s also a lasting example of what can happen when a community sees an opportunity, invests in local talent and gives a young person the freedom to contribute something of her own.

“The best community projects happen when people contribute what they can,” Gray said. “The Community Fund provided support, Caylee shared her talent, and together we created something that makes Solomon a little more beautiful and a little more our own.”

As for what Caylee hopes people think when they see her newest — and most permanent — piece of artwork?

“I hope people like it.”

Stop by Solomon City Park, see what details you can find — and don’t forget to take a photo on the swing.

About the City of Solomon
The City of Solomon serves the residents of Solomon, Kansas, and works to support a welcoming, connected community through quality public services, community amenities and local partnerships. Learn more at the City of Solomon website.