Greensburg

Small school, eight-man football goes big time. NFL films was in Pretty Prairie and Greensburg the past week to shoot a program about these two small town teams and their coaches, who happen to be brothers. C.T. Young's Pretty Prairie team battled his younger brother Clint's Kiowa County team for the second time in two years on Friday night. But this time there were several cameras capturing the action for a special that will air in the NFL Network.

It was what Greensburg was best known for until the tornado that decimated it. What's left of the structures around the Big Well--the world's biggest hand-dug well according to legend--is being knocked down to make room for a new and improved one. The well has been a tourist attraction ever since the city modernized its water system in the 1930s.  But the 2007 tornado left the site in ruin. Now, the city will begin construction of a new $3.2 million museum, gift shop and well rennovation.  Most of the money is coming from the federal government.

It sounds like traditional construction, but that's about all that's traditional about a new building process, happening in Greensburg. "These little six inch blocks are the interior wall and the exterior walls are 15 inch blocks," explains Orval Howell.  A company out of Germany is building the home, built entirely out of wooden blocks that volunteers are putting together. Just a few examples of what makes the process unique, the boards used are held together with just dovetails, dowels and a few staples.

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.

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.

Originally built in 1917, Greensburg's Twilight Theater should be rebuilt by next year. The multi-function building, providing for both films and live productions. Organizers hope to have the building completed by May of next year, the five-year anniversary of the tornado that destroyed the town. Wichita businessman, Bill Warren has been active in helping the theater find the things it needs to make this project happen. The Twilight Theater will also be partnering the USD 422, since the district chose not to build a theater when the school was rebuilt.

What's normally Greensburg's public works building, is temporarily a one-stop-shop to fuel efficiency. "You can see the green light flashing, that means that everything is working," explains Joe Mentlick. He's helping Highline Technical Innovations, based out of Arkansas, install free hydrogen boosters into city and school vehicles. Both the company and city are hoping to accomplish two things with the new equipment. "One, reducing fuel consumption, and two, make what's coming out of the tail pipe much better for the environment," said Highline CEO, Charlton Coats.

The city of Greensburg has been honored with the "Global Green City" at the United Nations in New York. Secretary General of the Global Forum, Mr. Lu Haifeng, presented the award. Greensburg Mayor Bob Dixson accepted the award for the City.  “I was totally surprised when told I needed to go to the podium to receive an award.   Needless to say, it was a pleasant surprise to find that our innovation in rural Kansas is helping communities around the world.” “Our parents and grandparents survived the dust bowl and depression.  Our efforts in conservation are an extension of the values they instilled in us,” said Mayor Dixson.  “Because of the tornado, we have the opportunity to be a living laboratory.  Therefore we can help others learn from our mistakes as well as our successes.

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.

Major General Tod Bunting will retire as adjutant general in January. Bunting has been in the position for the past seven years. He was appointed in January 2004 by then Governor Kathleen Sebelius. As adjutant general, Bunting oversees the Kansas National Guard's airman and soldiers, is the director of the Kansas Division of Emergency Management and director of Kansas Homeland Security. “I’m considering some future opportunities, and truly looking forward to spending more time with my family,” Bunting says.