The Kansas Department of Commerce has launched the new Building Local Opportunities for Community Knowledge, or BLOCK, grant program to support transformational downtown development. The program will award one Kansas community $500,000 to revitalize an entire downtown block through a coordinated project rather than improvements to individual properties. Eligible projects may incorporate building rehabilitation, infrastructure improvements, public spaces, accessibility, beautification, signage, lighting, and other elements designed to strengthen a downtown district. Applications opened September 11 and must be submitted by September 30, 2026. Kansas communities interested in downtown revitalization, including local governments, economic development organizations, chambers, property owners, and community partners, are encouraged to review the program requirements and consider opportunities for collaboration. This new competitive program offers Kansas communities an opportunity to think comprehensively about how an entire downtown block could be transformed to support businesses, residents, visitors, and future economic development.

The Kansas Department of Commerce has announced a new round of Strategic Economic Expansion and Development, or SEED, grants designed specifically to support quality-of-life improvements in smaller Kansas communities. A total of $250,000 is available for projects in communities with populations of 5,000 or fewer. SEED funding is intended to help rural communities make investments that support economic development and improve the quality of life for residents. Eligible organizations and community partners are encouraged to review the current grant guidelines, eligible project categories, application requirements, and deadlines through the Kansas Department of Commerce. For communities such as those throughout Morton County, programs specifically designed for populations under 5,000 can provide valuable opportunities to pursue projects that might otherwise be difficult to fund locally. Community organizations, local leaders, nonprofits, and others involved in rural development are encouraged to review the program and determine whether an upcoming local project may qualify.

Support the Elkhart Senior Center at its Bierocks Fundraiser on Friday, October 9, 2026. Proceeds will help raise money for new flooring throughout the Senior Center building. Bierocks may be pre-ordered by the dozen for $35 or by the half-dozen for $18; pre-orders will be provided frozen. Individual meals are $10 and include a bierock, corn salad, and cookies. To-go meals will be available beginning at 4:00 PM and will continue until sold out. Pickup will be at Cat Tales, located at 555 Morton Street in Elkhart. Community members are encouraged to place their orders and enjoy a homemade meal while helping the Elkhart Senior Center make an important improvement to its facility.

Berning Veterinary Services is encouraging area cattle producers to schedule pregnancy checking appointments with Dr. Jayden Simpson or Dr. Kyle Berning. Pregnancy checking can provide valuable herd management information by helping producers identify open cows and heifers before carrying unnecessary winter feed costs. Evaluations may also help identify potential herd health or management concerns and indicate when a bull may be underperforming. Regular veterinary herd work can also help producers establish and maintain a veterinarian-client-patient relationship for ongoing livestock health needs. Berning Veterinary Services provides veterinary care for livestock and companion animals. Producers interested in scheduling pregnancy checks or requesting additional information can contact Berning Veterinary Services at 620-355-9110.

The Doric Theatre in Elkhart has two movies scheduled for Wednesday through Saturday, September 16–19. Mutiny will be shown Wednesday and Thursday, September 16 and 17, followed by the family-friendly PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie on Friday and Saturday, September 18 and 19. Oscar’s Lounge and theatre doors open each evening at 6:30 PM, with movies beginning at 7:30 PM. Whether you’re looking for an action-packed night at the movies or a fun family outing with the kids, make plans to enjoy the big screen at Elkhart’s hometown theatre.

The Elkhart Senior Center has released its October 2026 weekday lunch menu, featuring meals such as fried chicken, pork stew, chili, chicken spaghetti, smothered steak, shepherd’s pie, pork ribs, chicken and dumplings, hamburgers, meatloaf, ham and beans, breakfast bowls, chicken strips, pork chops, and more. Cook’s Choice meals are scheduled for October 8 and 22. The Senior Center is located at 647 S. Cosmos in Elkhart. For information about meals, contact the Elkhart Senior Center at 620-697-2322. Delivery is coordinated by Tim Perkins at 620-360-0388. The October calendar also recognizes support from several local businesses, churches, and organizations that help provide meals throughout the month. Community members are encouraged to review the full menu for daily meal selections and sides.

The Elkhart Senior Center has a full calendar of activities planned for October 2026. Regular activities include Games on Mondays, blood pressure checks on Tuesdays, Bible Study on Wednesdays, and Movie & Popcorn on Fridays. Special events include a Flu Clinic at the Senior Center from 10:00 AM to noon on October 2, Bierock Making at 10:00 AM on October 3, a Site Council meeting on October 8, and the Fall Festival at Cat Tales from 4:00 to 7:00 PM on October 9. Medicare Open Enrollment begins October 15, and Mary Beck with the Department of Health Services will give a presentation on October 21. The calendar also includes dance outings in Liberal, Hugoton, and Guymon, plus the Elkhart Grade School Spook Parade at 2:30 PM on October 30. Community members are encouraged to review the full calendar for additional activities and observances throughout the month.

Morton County residents are encouraged to participate in the 2026 Morton County Community Health Needs Assessment Survey and share their experiences, opinions, and ideas about the factors that affect local health and quality of life. Community feedback will help identify Morton County’s strengths, needs, and priorities and may guide future programs, services, and resources. The survey only needs to be completed once, and both online and paper options are available. Residents are encouraged to share the survey with family, friends, neighbors, and others who live in Morton County so the assessment reflects as many perspectives as possible. Surveys are due by October 16, 2026. Results from the Community Health Assessment are expected to be shared publicly after the first of the year in 2027. Your participation can help local organizations better understand what the community needs now and in the future.

The Morton County Chamber of Commerce is launching the Living Stories Project to help preserve the stories, photographs, memories, and history that have shaped Morton County. Community members are encouraged to submit old photographs, family histories, personal stories and memories, homestead, farm and ranch histories, business stories, school and community memories, interesting pieces of local history, and everyday stories that deserve to be remembered. Submissions do not need to be professionally written—a paragraph, scanned photograph with names, family memory, handwritten note, or story is welcome. The Chamber’s current goal is to collect as much material as possible before determining the best way to organize, preserve, and ultimately print these stories in a future Morton County history publication or similar project. History is still being made today, and the Chamber hopes to preserve both the past and the stories being lived now for future generations. Send submissions to livingstoriesmtco@gmail.com.

The Morton County Chamber of Commerce invites golfers to its annual Golf Tournament on Saturday, October 3, 2026, in Elkhart. The tournament will feature a three-person scramble with a 10:00 AM shotgun start. Registration is $300 per team and includes a meal, with cash payouts, hole prizes, and mulligans available. Following the tournament, everyone is invited to participate in a Closest to the Pin contest on Hole #2 for an additional $20 registration fee. You do not have to participate in the tournament to enter the Closest to the Pin contest. Gather your team and join the Chamber for a day of golf, friendly competition, prizes, and community fun. To register your team or request additional information, contact the Morton County Chamber of Commerce at 620-697-4600.

Business owners, creators, musicians, influencers, and others whose identity or original content is part of their work may want to follow the bipartisan NO FAKES Act of 2026. The legislation would establish federal protections against unauthorized AI-generated replicas of an individual’s voice or likeness while creating a national framework addressing digital replicas. The Connected Commerce Council supports the proposal, noting that unauthorized AI replicas can threaten creators who have built businesses around their voices, appearances, and original content. The legislation was introduced in May and advanced through the Senate Judiciary Committee in June before being placed on the Senate Legislative Calendar in July. It has not yet been passed by either chamber of Congress. The proposal is part of the growing national discussion surrounding artificial intelligence, intellectual property, creators’ rights, and responsible use of emerging technology. Connected Commerce Council

The Doric Theatre in Elkhart has announced its upcoming movie schedule through October 10. Tony will be shown Wednesday and Thursday, September 30 and October 1, followed by Coyote vs. Acme on Friday and Saturday, October 2 and 3. The following week, The Rivals of Amziah King will play Wednesday and Thursday, October 7 and 8, with The Dog Stars showing Friday and Saturday, October 9 and 10. Doors open each evening at 6:30 PM, with movies beginning at 7:30 PM. Make plans for a night at the movies and enjoy the latest lineup on the big screen at Elkhart’s hometown theatre.

A bipartisan proposal in Congress could change how major search engines operate and how businesses connect with customers online. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Eric Schmitt introduced the SEARCH Act of 2026 in July. The proposal addresses competition in online search and digital advertising and includes restrictions involving default search agreements, integrated search services, and access to certain search data. For small businesses, the discussion is especially relevant because search engines increasingly connect services such as maps, reviews, business profiles, product information, and advertising that help customers discover local businesses. The Connected Commerce Council highlighted the proposal in its September small-business update and encouraged policymakers to consider how changes to interconnected search services could affect businesses that rely on those tools. The SEARCH Act has been introduced and referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee and has not become law.

Morton County Library invites young children and their families to participate in the Fall Story Time session beginning Wednesday, September 2. Story Time is designed for children from birth through age 5 and will meet from 10:00 to 10:30 AM, followed by Preschool from 10:45 to 11:15 AM. Fall Story Time dates are September 2, 9, 16, 23, and 30; October 7, 14, 21, and 28; November 4 and 18; and December 2. Families interested in participating should complete the registration form provided by the library and return it before Story Time begins on September 2. The program provides an opportunity for young children to enjoy stories, learning, and time with other children throughout the fall season. Contact Morton County Library for additional information or registration materials.

Small businesses that sell through major online marketplaces may want to follow the proposed Online Sellers’ Bill of Rights Act of 2026. Introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives in July, the legislation would establish protections for third-party sellers using large e-commerce platforms, including procedures involving account suspensions, inventory, funds, and marketplace policy changes. The proposal is intended to give independent online sellers greater transparency and recourse when marketplace actions disrupt their businesses. The Connected Commerce Council newsletter shared with the Morton County Chamber also notes an important consideration for small businesses: marketplaces must retain the ability to respond quickly to fraud, counterfeit goods, and unsafe products that can undermine customer trust. The legislation has been introduced and referred to the House Judiciary Committee; it has not become law. Morton County businesses selling products through major online marketplaces can review the proposed legislation and follow its progress.

The Doric Theatre in Elkhart has two movies scheduled for Wednesday through Saturday, September 30 through October 3. Tony will be shown Wednesday and Thursday, September 30 and October 1, followed by Coyote vs. Acme on Friday and Saturday, October 2 and 3. Oscar’s Lounge and theatre doors open each evening at 6:30 PM, with movies beginning at 7:30 PM. Make plans to enjoy a night out at the movies and support Elkhart’s hometown theatre. Visit the Doric Theatre website for additional movie information, upcoming schedules, and theatre updates.

Calling all quilters! The Prairie Point Quilt Guild will hold its annual Quilt Retreat October 16–18, 2026. Quilters are invited to mark their calendars and join the guild for a weekend filled with quilting, laughs, fun, games, prizes, and time spent with fellow quilting enthusiasts. Whether you enjoy working on your own projects or simply spending time with others who share your love of quilting, the annual retreat offers an opportunity to gather, create, and have fun together. Additional retreat details, including registration information and location, are available by contacting Diane Finn. Call, text, or message Diane at 316-461-9690 or email dfinn3466@gmail.com for more information.