Greensburg

by Chris Durden After the tornado destroyed Greensburg, hundreds of Kansas National Guardsmen were there to help. That number has since dropped to 40. But more will soon be on their way back. 130 soldiers with the 891st Engineer Battalion will have their annual training in Greensburg. They'll be in town June 10th through the 22nd. The Battalion's commander says troops will help with debris removal, the demolition of the high school and other construction projects. The 891st is based in Iola.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. (AP) - Community leaders are hoping that Greensburg's recovery efforts continue remain largely unscathed by the economic crisis. Greensburg City Administrator Steve Hewitt tells The Hutchinson News that anything could tip the city in any direction as it tries to recover from the May 2007 tornado that nearly destroyed the town. Hewitt said that through conversations with local bankers he has learned that, generally, people with good credit are still able to get loans to build new houses.

GREENSBURG, Kansas (AP) - A Kansas couple is accusing an Oklahoma contractor of skipping out with $181,000 after finishing only about 30 percent of their home just outside Greensburg. Robin and Marilyn Brown allege that Al Soulek of Oklahoma City-based AAA Renovations disappeared with the money they had given him to replace their home that was lost in last spring's tornado. The Browns filed a report Monday with the Kiowa County Sheriff's Department. Greensburg attorney Kevin Stephenson has become involved in the case and is pursuing legal action against Soulek and his wife, Sandy.

It's been four years since a devastating tornado ripped through the small town of Greensburg, Kansas. In 2007, a massive EF-5 tornado tore a path through the Kiowa County town. The twister killed 13 people and hurt dozens of others...it also damaged or destroyed over a thousand homes. Since the tornado, the town has worked to rebuild as a "green" town which showcases technology aimed at saving energy and protecting the environment.

Scott Reinecke never thought about leaving when his house was destroyed. “What it boiled down to was Greensburg is our home and where we want to be,” says Reinecke whose home was destroyed by the 2007 tornado. To rebuild his house, Reinecke took out a construction loan. He used that money to pay his contractor along the way.  He says looking back now, he missed some red flags. “The signs showed up early on in retrospect,” says Reinecke. Reinecke says the contractor, M3 Construction owned by Ed Medina, filed for bankruptcy in the middle of the project.

by Chris Durden The city of Greensburg and Kiowa County are getting millions of dollars from the federal government. The $2.3 million Department of Labor grant will be used to hire stupport staff for the reconstruction effort. A tornado destroyed much of Greensburg on May 4th of last year. "Greensburg in particular faces the daunting task of rebuilding their community from scratch since the storm wiped out nearly every physical structure in town.  This grant will allow city officials to hire technical experts who are familiar with building urban areas from nothing, and in the end will help lay the groundwork for an energy efficient and economically prosperous city and county," Senator Sam Brownback said in a statement announcing the grant.

They make environmentally friendly products, and now a German company will call Kansas' most environmentally friendly town home. HIB-Systems AG has signed a letter of intent with the city of Greensburg to build its first U.S. manufacturing plant in the city's new business park. Officials with HIB says the 10,000 square foot plant will employ 27 people when it first opens. The plan is expected to open in May of 2012. The company produces environmentally friendly modular wall systems for residential and commercial purposes.

A town that once received help because of a tornado, is now a town offering help. From green building practices to a business incubator on Main Street, everywhere you look Greensburg proved it could make a come back. Thursday local leaders from Tuscaloosa, Alabama and Reading Kanas toured places like the hospital, eager to learn. "Greensburg did it right. My thing is we only have one chance and we want to do it right,"  said Tuscaloosa City Council member Bob Lundell.   Lundell and others toured places like the Kiowa County Memorial Hospital.

The people of Greensburg  came together Sunday for a community worship service.  They remembered the EF 5 tornado's destructive force that leveled the town five years ago. "Five years ago, we didn't have the opportunity to meet like this,” a preacher said. That's because five years ago, following the aftermath of an EF 5 tornado, the Greensburg community had to wait a week to come together like this. "This really is a nod to that and in remembrance of that service, for all of us to gather as a community.  And this, five years later, to celebrate five years later as a group everything we've been able to accomplish,” resident Stacey Barnes said.

It's not everyday the Governor, the Homeland Security Secretary and people, packed shoulder to shoulder, show up for the opening of a grocery store. Govenor Kathleen Sebelius told the crowd, "The Greensburg model will be built across this country and you should feel very proud of that...that's a good thing. " Dillons officially dedicated their new "green" grocery store in Greensburg on Wednesday. But for people in the community, the building is more than bricks and mortar, it's a sign of how far they've come.